Fishery Officer (Aquatic Food Value Chains)

Organizational Setting

The FAO 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 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 security and poverty reduction; post-harvest utilization, marketing and trade with due regard to the protection of the environment, food security and 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 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 post is located in the Value Chain Development Team (NFIMV) within NFI at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Fishery Officer (Aquatic Food Value Chains) reports to the Senior Fishery Officer, Value Chain Development Team (NFIMV.)

Technical Focus

Aquatic food value chains analysis, market access facilitation, sustainable aquatic food production and consumption promotion, project management and advisory services to Member Nations on aquatic food value chain improvements in support to delivering mainly better production, better nutrition and better environment outcomes and outputs.

Key Results

Research, technical analysis and project related services to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services.

Key Functions

• Researches, analyses and provides access to fisheries and aquaculture technical, social, economic, environmental, institutional and technology related data, and information and/or related policy issues to support the delivery of fisheries and aquaculture programmes, projects, products, publications and services.
• Produces a variety of technical data, statistics, information and reports, as well as input for technical documents and web pages.
• Provides technical, statistical, and/or analytical services on various studies, projects and initiatives, and/or assessments; provides technical backstopping to field projects.
• Participates in the development of improved/updated technical, statistical and/or analytical tools, methodologies, systems, databases and/or key social/economic/environmental/ nutritional and/or early warning indicators, etc.
• Participates in multidisciplinary teams and/or leads working groups/teams; collaborates with other Divisions/Offices/Centres on work groups and committees and promotes best practices.
• Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development activities within Members, such as organizational development and individual learning events, including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools.
• Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and influences partners in stakeholder consultations.
• Supports resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Specific Functions

• Coordinates operational and technical support to implement the GCP/GLO/1321/ROK project focused on sustainable aquatic food value chain development in Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCS), including contributing to project planning, supervising data-collection and analysis, monitoring and coordination of project activities, organization of stakeholder meetings and discussions, reporting and developing related presentations.
• Supports the development, revision and implementation of the appropriate methodological guide for value chain analysis, including the planning, implementation/delivery, reporting and monitoring of the economic, social and environmental analysis sections of projects mentioned above.
• Assists decision making regarding value chain improvement solutions selection and implementation.
• Facilitates the establishment of sustainable multi-stakeholder platforms for aquatic food value chain development in project countries.
• Develops and implements policy guidelines and outputs based on the project results to promote inclusive, efficient and sustainable aquatic food value chains in Member Nations.
• Supports the development and dissemination of information products to improve aquatic food value chain efficiency.
• Contributes to the development of new aquatic food value chain development project proposals.
• Participates in the recruitment of consultants and procurement of services, including the drafting of Terms of Reference and technical specifications, organization and delivery of workshops, capacity development and training events.
• Represents the project in international meetings and in high-level regional and national meetings and undertakes missions as appropriate to monitor project progress and take corrective action, as required.
• Performs other related duties, as required.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in agricultural/fishery economics, food science/technology, business administration or other fields relevant to food value chains.
• Five years of relevant experience in food value chain development and related fields.
• Working knowledge (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.
• Experience in value added aquatic food products is highly desirable.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the field of aquatic food value chains and sustainability policies.
• Depth of familiarity with fisheries sector in developing countries.
• Extent and relevance of knowledge of food value chains, sustainable seafood products and policies.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the planning and implementation of projects related to food value chains and sustainable fish products, processing and policies.
• Extent and relevance of knowledge of policy issues related to value added aquatic food products is highly desirable.