Senior Fishery Officer

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 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 Sustainable Aquaculture area of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) and is based at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Fishery Officer (Aquaculture) will work under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director, NFI.

Technical Focus

Lead all aspects related to the coordination and operationalization of meetings of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Sub-Committee on Aquaculture and the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITWG AqGR), work closely with the technical secretaries of COFI and the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) to ensure consistency and complementarity, advocate for the integration of aquaculture into relevant dialogues on agrifood transformation, coordinate aquaculture contributions to NFI's inputs for FAO Statutory Bodies and other relevant fora, and liaise with FAO Decentralized Offices regarding global and regional agreements relevant to aquaculture, in line with FAO's Blue Transformation Roadmap and the Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture (GSA).

Key Results

Leadership and technical policy expertise for the planning, development and implementation of Divisional programmes of work, projects, products and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Plans, manages or leads highly specialized or multidisciplinary teams; leads, coordinates and/or participates in Organization-wide, cross-divisional committees, project teams and working groups, and/or provides technical leadership/secretariat services on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies.

• Analyses global and country specific requirements and relevant technical issues to provide critical input into the FAO Strategic Framework, Programme of Work and Budget, work plans and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies.

• Implements and monitors programmes of work involving the development of the approach, evidence-based strategies and related tools, methodologies and the supporting system/database, monitoring and reporting frameworks.

• Conducts, designs and oversees research and analysis activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovation, technical reports, publications and/or on-going programme development as well as the provision of technical and/or policy advisory services.

• Provides technical and policy advice to Members and technical support to Decentralized Offices in the development and implementation of their programmes.

• Leads and/or collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to, and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within Members such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events, including preparation of related information, learning and on-line tools.

• Represents the Organization at international meetings and conferences, identifies and implements strategic partnerships, advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national stakeholders.

• Leads and/or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Specific Functions

• Acts as Secretary to the Committee on Fisheries Sub-Committee on Aquaculture (COFI\:AQ), including organizing regular sessions of COFI\:AQ, intersessional COFI\:AQ Bureau meetings and related activities, and coordinates COFI\:AQ processes with the Secretary of COFI and the Secretaries of other COFI Sub-Committees.

• Monitors the implementation of COFI\:AQ's programme of work.

• Acts as Secretary to the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITWG AqGR), including organizing regular sessions of the ITWG AqGR, intersessional meetings and related activities.

• Monitors the implementation of ITWG AqGR's programme of work.

• Coordinates, in liaison with divisional teams, all aquaculture-related inputs to relevant working documents of FAO's Statutory Bodies (Conference, Council, FAO Regional Conferences, COFI); reports on COFI\:AQ outcomes at meetings, as requested, and ensures appropriate follow-up action on decisions and recommendations made, and monitors progress.

• Coordinates NFI's inputs to international aquaculture-related UN processes, conferences, and consultations, in cooperation with relevant teams.

• Manages and updates the electronic questionnaire on the implementation of the aquaculture-related provisions of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (COFI\:AQ Questionnaire) and related instruments, oversees the analysis of the responses, produces progress reports for COFI\:AQ, and develops strategies for promoting the COFI\:AQ Questionnaire and disseminating information on its implementation.

• Promotes COFI\:AQ, the Global Sustainable Aquaculture Advancement Partnership (GSAAP) and the GSA at international, regional and national levels, and develops strategies to mobilize resources in support the programme of work.

• Liaises with FAO Decentralized Offices and the Secretariats of the Regional Fisheries Bodies/Aquaculture Networks to promote global aquaculture and contribute to regional initiatives supporting the conservation, management and sustainable development of aquaculture and aquatic environments.

• Coordinates liaison between FAO and the Regional Fisheries Bodies/Aquaculture Networks, regional economic groups, international non-governmental organizations and other international institutions and agencies and partnerships concerned with aquaculture.

• Contributes to information and awareness-raising products (including for policy briefs, flagship publications, key messages, talking points, presentations, opinion pieces, and social media content) to highlight FAO priorities and achievements in work related to promoting global and regional coordination, international collaboration, implementation of the Code and action on sustainable aquaculture.

• Initiates, develops and/or manages the preparation of proposals to mobilize extra-budgetary resources.

• Performs other duties, as appropriate.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in aquaculture, or with relevance for aquaculture such as biology, zoology, ecology, marine science, agricultural science, political science, international relations, or other related disciplines.

• Ten years of relevant experience in aquaculture development including in the field of international governance of aquaculture or 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

• Leading, Engaging and Empowering

• Communication

• Partnering and Advocating

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

• Strategic Thinking

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential.

• Extent and relevance of experience in leadership, project coordination and management, and collaboration with national and/or regional authorities.

• Extent and relevance of experience in the field of international aquaculture affairs, the development of technical standards and international instruments contributing to the implementation of the Code.

• Relevance of academic background.

• Depth of knowledge of issues related to aquaculture.

• Demonstrated capacity and experience in the organization and conduct of international meetings, and in the production of meeting reports.

• Extent of oral and written communication and negotiation skills.

• Extent and relevance of experience in establishing and maintaining partnerships with UN agencies, other intergovernmental organizations, international non-governmental organizations, as well as donors and government institutions and agencies.

• Ability to mobilize resources.

• Demonstrated analytical and technical writing abilities.