Fishery Officer (Spatial Planning and Management)

1H051H05

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• 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
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• 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.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through 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
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) is responsible for the economic, social, institutional, governance and policy aspects of FAO's activities related to fisheries and aquaculture and their development, with particular emphasis on human well-being, food security and poverty reduction; post-harvest utilization, marketing and trade with due regard to the protection of the environment, food security and the well-being of fishing communities; collection, compilation, validation, trend analysis and dissemination of the best available and up-to-date fishery statistics and for the syndication of the FAO information on all aspects of world fisheries and aquaculture. The Division is also responsible for FAO's activities related to the management and conservation of the living aquatic resources used by fisheries and aquaculture, including the biodiversity and ecosystem maintenance, with particular emphasis on the most vulnerable and threatened species and habitats; management of responsible fisheries and aquaculture in accordance with modern management standards and best practices; development of fisheries technology, with due regard to the protection of the environment, food security and the well-being of fishing communities, including the safety of fishers and fishing vessels.
The position is located in the National Planning and Development Support Team (NFIAN) in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines
The Fishery Officer (Spatial Planning and Management) reports to the Senior Fishery Officer/Team Leader of the National Planning and Development Support Team (NFIAN) in the Sustainable Aquaculture area under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director, NFI.

Technical Focus
Support the work in the Sustainable Aquaculture area in implementing policies and programmes that seek to maximize the impacts of aquaculture on Members' economic, social and environmental objectives, including food security and nutrition, and help meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets within the FAO Strategic Framework and priority programmes, such as the Blue Transformation. The programme of work and activities should follow the FAO Common Vision for Sustainable Food, Agriculture and the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and associated technical guidelines and seek to mitigate the impacts of aquaculture on climate change, while at the same time reducing vulnerability to climate change and other external stressors.

Key Results
Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of divisional programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with the Division’s objectives and the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions
• Plans and leads components of multi-disciplinary teams, leads and/or participates in Organization-wide, cross-divisional committees, project teams and working groups, and/or provides specialized expertise on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies.
• Develops technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks and related methodologies, tools, systems and databases, etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programmes of work, projects, products and/or services.
• Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative approaches and strategies, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical/policy/ specialist/advice and expertise.
• Responds to country requests for technical and policy assistance; provides technical advice, assistance and solutions to Decentralized Offices and provides technical backstopping to field projects.
• Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to, and ensures the quality/effectiveness of, capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within Member countries such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools.
• Promotes international cooperation/advocates best practices, supports increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international/intergovernmental meetings.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy.

Specific Functions
• Plans and leads spatial planning components of a programme of work on marine, brackish and freshwater aquaculture designed to improve resource use efficiency, minimize environmental impacts and enhance biosecurity while reducing vulnerability to climate extremes and other external stressors.
• Provides technical support to countries in the assessment and identification of the most suitable aquaculture sites, taking account of sustainability factors including environmental carrying capacity, economics, markets and social aspects, and in establishing geospatial datasets to enable assessment and monitoring of land and water use and availability for aquaculture development as well as monitoring the growth of aquaculture and aquaculture systems.
• Supports the capacity development plans on geospatial technologies, including preparation of training and workshop material, preparation of information for meetings and conferences.
• Disseminates the geospatial data and metadata produced for use in planning for aquaculture management and sustainable development, in the various media formats such as digital and paper atlas, map layouts, posters.
• Prepares technical and scientific reports, papers and guidelines related to spatial planning for sustainable aquaculture development.
• Supports the development of the divisional programme on aquaculture economics and business as well as on governance.
• Contributes to the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division's cross-cutting initiatives on Sustainable Development Goals, climate change, biodiversity, food security and nutrition, as required.
• Develops aquaculture planning, management and development programmes/projects and secures, or contributes to securing, extra-budgetary funds to support their implementation.
• Performs any other tasks required.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in biology, aquaculture, aquatic sciences, fisheries/aquaculture economics, geography, spatial planning, environmental sciences, or related fields.
• Seven years of relevant experience in aquaculture planning and development, aquaculture technological innovations, aquatic environmental research and/or management, spatial data handling and analysis, satellite data processing and management, GIS and remote sensing applications for assessment of land, water, human, economic resources and/or other natural resources, development of methodologies in the field of aquaculture and/or environmental monitoring or related fields.
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies
• Results Focus
• Team Work
• 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 or knowledge of aquaculture and in provision of scientific support and advice to national, regional and international fisheries and aquaculture management and conservation bodies in both developed and developing countries.
• Extent and relevance of experience in spatial designation, particularly in inland, brackish, and marine aquaculture, through the application of GIS and satellite remote sensing and other technologies.
•Extent and relevance of experience in the application of ecosystem approach to aquaculture (EAA) planning and development.
• Extent and relevance of experience in developing planning and management frameworks to effectively integrate aquaculture into local and national planning and economies to enable its effective sustainable management.
• Extent and relevance of experience in planning and implementation of research and/or development programmes in aquaculture or aquatic environmental management.
• Depth of knowledge of current global issues, trends, constraints, and research needs related to the planning of the use and management and conservation of aquatic resources and ecosystems.
• Demonstrated ability to support countries in assessing and monitoring of natural resources using geospatial technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement aquaculture planning, management and development programmes.
• Demonstrated ability to raise awareness, communicate effectively and mobilize resources for aquaculture planning and development programmes.
• Extent and relevance of experience in organizing international meetings, seminars and training courses.