Organizational Setting

The key mission of the FAO Country Offices, which are headed by the FAO Representatives, is to assist and support national governments to develop policies, strategies and programmes and projects to accelerate the implementation and achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in the area of FAO’s global mandate and Strategic Objectives. More specifically, FAO’s response aims at addressing national needs and priorities in achieving food security, and to reducing hunger and malnutrition, to help developing the agricultural, fisheries, livestock and forestry sectors, and to using their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner, in line with FAO’s mandate and Strategic Objectives. Agrifood systems are at the core of the 2030 Agenda and offer a wealth of opportunities to help Countries reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By supporting agrifood systems transformation, FAO aims to ensure that these systems are more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable -for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Liberia, the direct coordination and guidance of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and in collaboration with the Assistant FAOR-Programme and the project team, the Project Technical Advisor will be responsible for the technical leadership of the project and day-to-day coordination, implementation and monitoring of the GCP/LIR/032/JPN project activities including budgeting, planning and reporting; and supporting in resource mobilization and partnership strengthening.

Technical Focus

Natural Resource Management and food systems resilience, fisheries post-harvest infrastructure activities, women in fisheries, best practices capacity building, aquaculture and IUU. Supports the monitoring and implementation of the project workplans and budget.

 
Tasks and responsibilities

The key functions of the Project Technical Advisor include;

•    Providing technical leadership on the development, the implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects; assists with the review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, liaises with relevant parties; identifies follow-up actions;
•    Ensure oordination 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;
•    Provide technical expertise for the appropriate planning, development and implementation of the project and the timely delivery of project results in a coordinated manner between partners;
•    Coordinate the needs assessment missions and mapping of fishers, fishmongers and processors associations and groups including targeted scenario analysis of the fisheries subsector;
•    Support the identification, registration and organization of beneficiaries into groups suitable for community-based fisheries management frameworks and fish processing activities;
•    Lead the identification of sites for the construction of the fishery post-harvest infrastructures, including the land tenure matters with NaFAA and the local authorities;
•    Support the planning, contracts processing and the construction of fishery post-harvest infrastructures (landing site, FTT kilns), with the support of the international consultant;
•    Follow-up the construction of the fisheries infrastructure, including keeping a continuous communication and supervision of the service providers;
•    Support the procurement of the project inputs: the “fish hygiene, handling, transformation distribution kits”, sea safety kits and biomass briquette machines to fishmongers/processor and fisher folks organizations;
•    Lead the distribution, accompanied by the relevant training programs, of the various inputs to the different beneficiaries’ groups;
•    Lead the site identification, design-layout and construction of the integrated fish culture (Paddy rice and fish) system;
•    Provide support, in earthen pond management and maintenance;
•    Oversee and coordine trainings in MCS capacity development, including training to government partners on the new IUU combat technologies;
•    Support the FAOR with facilitating the liaison between the donor, FAO and partners for transparent communication and visibility on issues relating to the project;
•    Monitor the project budget and ensure that resources are allocated and used for project execution in a timely and efficient manner according to FAO rules;
•    Supervise the preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.
•    Contribute to consultative and other meetings, conferences, to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations;
•    Participate in project technical meetings with the Project Coordination Unit and NaFAA;
•    Plan, organize and ensure the timely implementation of the project activities under the Output 1: Enhanced small-scale fisheries in the sea; Output 2: Female fish processors livelihoods improved; Output 3:  Integrated agri-aquaculture promoted in rice fields; Output 4:  Capacity developed to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
•    Ensure results and quality -based project implementation and monitoring in line with the logical framework, work plan and approved budget;
•    Lead dissemination of project results and communication and visibility activities;
•    Represent FAO in agriculture and food security technical discussions;
•    Coordinate, guide and monitor project activities in collaboration with relevant national field staff, operational units as well as the project LTO. As needed, periodically review and, if necessary, refine the project work plan for each aspect of project execution.
•    Any other duties as may be required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced University Degree in Fisheries, Aquaculture, Marine Biology or relevant field
•    At least seven (7) years of relevant experience in small-scale fisheries development and post-harvest fisheries and/or aquaculture technologies and infrastructure
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of another FAO language (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian)

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Proven ability to work with multiple stakeholders (including private sector value chain actors) in a constructive and culturally sensitive manner
•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work Demonstrable experience in project organization/implementation and ability to serve as an effective communicator and negotiator with excellent oral presentation skills;
•    Extent and relevance of experience in one or more of the following disciplines: sea safety, integrated agri-aquaculture systems and women empowerment programs
•    Extent and relevance of experience in designing and facilitating training sessions and capacity-building workshops, including the development of training materials
•    Extent and relevance of experience in leading and preparing flagship publications, quality of analytical writing and oral communication skills, including publication record
•    Familiarity with the environmental and social safeguard requirements of the FAO
•    Knowledge or ability to understand FAO Rules and Regulations

Selection Criteria 

•    Very high skills/knowledge of background related to the ToR’s requirements
•    Experience with UN and other International Organizations would be an asset
•    Strong report writing skills in English
•    Filed Experience in Liberia or in Africa is an advantage