Technical Adviser (Fisheries and Marine Research and Management)

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• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
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• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

FAO's Subregional Office for Southern Africa (SFS) is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for addressing subregional food, agriculture and rural development priorities. It develops and maintains relations with subregion-wide institutions including Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs). The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of FAO's Regional Office for Africa (RAF).
The Subregional Office provides support to the Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC) through several regional and national initiatives. The World Bank-funded project, “TRANSFORM - Fisheries Sector Management in the South-West Indian Ocean Region and Maldives Project”, in collaboration with the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), includes a regional component benefiting the SWIOFC. Component 1 of this project focuses on “Enhancing evidence-based management advice for the Fisheries Sector in the South-West Indian Ocean Region” and reinforcing regional collaboration.

The FAO and SWIOFC have worked closely with the IOC on several fisheries-related projects over the past 20 years, including SWIOFish1 and SWIOFish2.

Under the TRANSFORM project, FAO will provide scientific and technical expertise through a Technical Assistance (TA) agreement. A Technical Implementation Support Unit (TISU) will coordinate FAO's activities under this agreement. The TISU will be led by the Scientific and Technical Advisor (STA), supported by a National Programme Officer (NPO), a Programme Manager and a Financial and Administrative Assistant.
The position is located in the Subregional Office for Southern Africa (SFS) and based in Maputo, Mozambique.

Reporting Lines

The Technical Adviser (Fisheries and Marine Research and Management) reports to the Secretary of the SWIOFC and works under the overall supervision of the Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa.

Technical Focus

The role involves providing scientific and technical services, as well as supporting, monitoring, managing and reporting on regional programmes and partnerships.

Key Results

Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support technical cooperation-related programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Leads the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned technical cooperation-related programmes/projects; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, liaises with relevant parties; identifies follow-up actions.
• Coordinates technical cooperation activities and programme-related activities, reviews the assessments of issues and trends for their implementation and leads the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies.
• Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analyses, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.
• Contributes to consultative and other meetings, conferences, including proposals for agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.
• Participates in activities such as structuring of training workshops, seminars; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties.
• Provides advice regarding the development of policies and strategies related to technical cooperation, as well as regional, subregional and national protocols and guidelines for projects with specific domains related to FAO's work.

Specific Functions

• Provides technical guidance for implementation activities under the Technical Assistance (TA) agreement and ensures quality and timely delivery of outputs.
• Leads the preparation and directly contributes to written outputs, e.g. background papers, analyses, substantial sections of reports and studies and deliverables like training materials and products, software developed, protocols and other deliverables and products under the TA.
• Provides scientific and technical advice and support on fisheries management and assessment, data collection, management and analysis and policy development and implementation.
• Oversees and contributes to research and knowledge production in line with the TA.
• Coordinates and provides technical and scientific guidance to Technical Implementation Support Unit (TISU) and other experts and reviews all technical outputs and documents prepared by them.
• Coordinates technical meetings, including agenda preparation and document presentations under the TA and as required by the SWIOFC, in liaison with the Secretariat.
• Represents FAO in technical meetings and leads missions as required.
• Supervises and supports experts, consultants, government officials and stakeholders involved in the project.
• Facilitates, coordinates and technically supervises communication and outreach of the programme's outcomes under the TA Agreement, in liaison with the Regional Project Management Unit (RPMU) of the IOC and the Secretariat of the SWIOFC.
• Ensures coordination and synergies between TRANSFORM project activities and other regional and national initiatives.
• Provides leadership for operational activities under the TA Agreement and TISU operations.
• Coordinates project implementation between FAO and IOC, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and technical quality.
• Leads the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies.
• Supervises TISU personnel and ensures effective coordination among technical and support teams.
• Leads the recruitment of technical experts, manages contracts and oversees the preparation of agreements.
• Leads the preparation of work plans and contractual arrangements for implementation of project activities and oversees financial and operational controls of project's budget and expenditure.
• Ensures timely reporting to stakeholders.
• Performs other related duties as required.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in fisheries, fisheries management, natural resource management, marine affairs or related disciplines to fisheries.
• Seven years of relevant experience in fisheries development and regional cooperation with a specialization (or focus) in fisheries assessment and fisheries management.
• Working knowledge (full proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building effective relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.
• Extent and relevance of experience in fisheries assessment, management, development and related areas, including the application of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries and other instruments of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries in data- and capacity-limited fisheries.
• Extent and relevance of experience in collection, management and analysis of fisheries data and information including fisheries socioeconomics data and value networks, in resources-limited context.
• Extent and relevance of experience in knowledge production and research in fisheries in resources-limited context.
• Knowledge of current global issues, trends, constraints and research needs related to the fisheries subsectors in the region, including small-scale fisheries.
• Demonstrated experience in drafting technical reports, papers and other knowledge and communication products.
• Extent and relevance of experience in coordinating and/or developing, implementing and evaluating capacity development programmes in fisheries.
• Extent and relevance of experience in conducting training and institutional capacity development.
• Experience in preparation and management of programmes/projects and processes; an asset with Regional Fisheries Bodies or similar institutions.
• Proven capacity to work and establish and maintain working relationships and partnerships with government and non-government representatives, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as donors and government institutions and agencies.
• Extent and relevance of work experience in SWIO countries.
• Knowledge of other languages of the SWIOFC (Portuguese and Swahili) is desirable.