Project Officer (Fishery/Technical Adviser)

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• 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
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• 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 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
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 fishery 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 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 administratively located with the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC). The project, ‘Sustainable Management of Tuna Fisheries and Biodiversity Conservation in the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction’, is one of the five projects of the GEF-7 Common Oceans II Programme ‘Global Sustainable Fisheries Management and Biodiversity Conservation in the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ)’. The objective of the project is to achieve responsible, efficient and sustainable tuna production and biodiversity conservation in the ABNJ in face of a changing environment. It will be implemented through a Project Management Unit (PMU) which will be headed by the Project Officer/Technical Adviser who will be assisted by a part-time Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and one part-time Administrative Assistant. The PMU will be responsible for carrying out the day-to-day activities of the project and will ensure implementation of the project in accordance with the approved project document and in compliance with the GEF requirements, rules and procedures.
The overall Common Ocean II Programme consists of five projects: two global projects, which will promote more sustainable management of tuna and deep-sea fisheries, a third project that seeks to build capacity to improve cross-sectoral collaboration and coordination on key common ocean issues at global level, and a fourth project that examines multi-sectoral governance (stewardship) in a pilot area, the Sargasso Sea. A fifth project will ensure effective coordination, communication, partnerships, lesson learning and knowledge management between the other child projects and support innovative financing initiatives for sustainable use of common ocean resources across the Programme (programme level focus).
The post is located within the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines
The Project Officer (Fishery/Technical Adviser) reports to the Executive Secretary, IOTC, and is under the direct supervision of the Senior Fishery Officer/Common Ocean II Program Coordinator.

Technical Focus
Communication and coordination, promote and represent the project externally, tracking project progress and provide technical support, monitoring financial resources, responsible for progress and financial reports.

Key Results
Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of programmes, projects, products and services.

Key Functions
• Provides technical leadership assistance on the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects; assists in the review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, liaises with relevant parties.
• Coordinates of programmes and reviews the assessments of issues and trends for the implementation of programmes and projects and the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies.
• Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, 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 on the development of policies and strategies, as well as national protocols and guidelines for projects with specific domains related to FAO’s work.

Specific Functions
• Contributes to programme coordination with project inputs for reports, knowledge management and communication, monitoring and evaluation, financial management and facilitates collaboration opportunities for synergies and joint activities with other Common Oceans projects.
• Manages and supervises human resources allocated to the PMU.
• Acts as the Secretary for all Project Steering Committee (PSC) meetings and activities, including preparation of documents and reports.
• Works closely and establishes working relations with the Project’s partners and develops and maintains regular contacts and partnership with them to ensure effective implementation of project supported activities at the national, regional and global level.
• Coordinates the design of a project monitoring system and exercise overall management responsibility of the regular monitoring and review of the execution of the components and sub-components.
• Ensures preparation and submission of Annual Work Plans as well as the project’s financial and technical reports as required.
• Represents the project in relevant meetings and conferences and facilitates coordination and integration where appropriate and beneficial to the achievement of the Project’s objectives.
• Provides technical oversight and support of project activities.
• Coordinates and participates in ongoing initiatives related to tuna fisheries relevant for the project, involving partners and other international initiatives.
• Ensures the establishment of links and promotes collaboration with other initiatives on innovation and technology to support sustainability and mitigation strategies in tuna fisheries.
• Promotes dialogue with other initiatives on improving fisheries governance and the use of market-based initiatives.
• Assists in the technical oversight of fisheries private sector engagement activities in other Common Oceans projects.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in biology, fishery science, marine ecology or related discipline.
• Seven years of relevant experience in fisheries project management.
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited (intermediate – level B) knowledge of one of the other FAO official languages (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, is desirable.

• Familiarity with the Regional Fishery Management Organizations as well as other multi-lateral bodies working in the ABNJ for sustainable use and biodiversity conservation.
• Relevance and extent of experience in technical cooperation’s related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes.
• Relevance and extent of experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proven experience as project coordinator or a team leader or team builder.
• Experience in working with financial donors.
• Experience in preparing project technical and financial reports.