Technical Adviser (Fisheries)

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for Africa (RAF) is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with Divisions, Offices, Centres at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities.

RAF also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies.

RAF develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs). The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.

West African fisheries are a vital source of food security, livelihoods, and socio-economic revenue. However, it faces significant challenges as overfishing, Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, and limited surveillance and monitoring of under managed resources, limited and inconsistent data, climate change, vulnerability of coastal communities and the depletion of fish stocks. Addressing these challenges necessitates a multi-faceted approach to strengthen fisheries resilience and sustainability in West Africa. Collaboration with Regional Fishery Bodies (RFBs), particularly, the Sub-regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) and the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) and the European Fisheries Contral Agency (EFCA) will build capacity and establish science-based approaches to fisheries management vital to the sustainable management of marine resources.

The "Improved Regional Governance of Marine Resources in the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF) area" (PESCAO) Programme ended in 2023 and laid out a series of recommendations. Building on them, FAO with the European Union Supported Programme, the “West Africa Sustainable Oceans Programme” (WASOP), aims to implement actions on improving stock assessments and data collection, empowering national institutions and communities through co-management approaches, enhancing access to knowledge the artisanal sector, implementing climate-resilient practices, restoring critical marine habitats and advancing scientific research. Additionally, the CECAF's normative functions, as an article VI body will be supported and effectively executed, including the planning and operation of Working Groups, the Scientific Sub-Committee, and the Committee, ensuring that they effectively contribute to the overarching goals of sustainable fisheries management in the region.

The position is located in the Regional Office for Africa (RAF) in Accra, Ghana.

Reporting Lines

The Technical Adviser (Fisheries) reports to the Lead Technical Adviser for overall guidance on matters relating to policy, governance and management support in the fisheries sector. He/she will also collaborate with the CECAF Secretariat and associated technical staff, and with FAO Subregional Offices and Fisheries and Aquaculture (NFI) Division, as required.

Technical Focus

Fisheries management, ocean governance and project management with a focus on the West Africa Region, with exposure to European Union (EU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) frameworks. With a focus on FAO's Strategic Objectives, the FAO Blue Transformation Roadmap, the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and associated technical guidelines, to achieve improved regional fisheries governance in West Africa and increase the contribution of fisheries and aquaculture to food and livelihoods security.

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

• Coordinates the project activities, its staff as well as project facilities; and assumes responsibility for the complete planning, administration, implementation and monitoring of the project activities.

• Supervises staff and consultants, including the preparation of the Terms of Reference for staff/consultants to be recruited, as well as oversees project facilities and equipment.

• Prepares and updates the project's work plan and monitors the budget.

• Drafts the necessary contracts and procurement documents, monitors the performance and budget, and follows-up processes (LoAs, service provider contracts, technical specifications, evaluation reports, etc.).

• Collaborates closely with the Lead Technical Officer and Operations Officer for guidance and smooth implementation of project activities and reports to the European Union as required, in the context of the FAO Blue Transformation objectives and roadmap.

• Leads the organization of events and training activities (technical modules, consultants to be recruited, preparation of concept notes, letters of invitation, information notes, identification of participants, venues, etc.).

• Plans, leads and organizes the activities and a series of meetings to implement the CECAF-WASOP workplan.

• Provides technical and logistic assistance in the implementation of surveys, workshops, training activities and studies identified in the project work plan.

• Develops and maintains appropriate liaison with the executing agencies of each participating country, the two West African Regional Fishery Bodies, EFCA, CECAF partners, key Inter-governmental bodies, co-financers, the relevant FAO Regional and Subregional Offices in Africa and other regional programmes and projects (including FAO Ecosystem Approach of Fisheries (EAF)-Nansen Programme).

• Provides support to the EU Delegation coordination role of WASOP Objective 1 tasks in collaboration with implementing partners (EFCA, FAO, FCWC and SRFC).

• Prepares and submits progress reports and prepares the draft terminal report of the project.

• Supervises and edits the technical and consultants' reports.

• Supports the development of the appropriate documentation for scaling up of the project; provide inputs to allow reporting on/to co-financing donors as required.

• Performs any other duties related to the FAO WASOP project as required.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in agricultural economics, development economics, rural sociology, food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture (including livestock, forestry and fisheries), or related field

• Seven years of relevant experience in technical cooperation related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes.

• 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.

• Extent and relevance of experience in marine natural resource management, policy advice and analysis relating to fisheries management, ocean governance and ecosystem approaches in developing countries, especially in Africa.

• Extent and relevance of coordinating and implementing complex multi-country projects involving a range of partners.

• Extent and relevance of experience in establishing and maintaining partnerships with UN agencies, Regional Fisheries Bodies, international organizations and institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as donors and government institutions and agencies.

• Extent of familiarity and working experience in the CECAF region, ECOWAS and/or the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem, the Gulf of Guinea Large Marine Ecosystem region is desirable.

• Intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of French, Portuguese and/or Spanish is considered an asset.