International Consultants (COF.REG) /Subscribers to Personal Services Agreements (PSA.SBS) represent an important source of expertise for FAO, making their specialist contributions across the globe towards the achievement of the Organization’s strategic objectives. For FAO to be able to attract and employ the best possible experts in the wide range of technical areas of its mandate, a competitive selection process has been introduced. This process is intended to create a pool of candidates which can be called upon when their expertise is required, ensuring a transparent and rigorous selection process.

The FAO Fisheries Division (NFI) promotes policies and strategies aiming at sustainable and responsible development of fisheries and aquaculture in inland and marine waters.

Under NFI’s Cross-cutting Areas of Work, the Resilience Team addresses the need to mainstream biodiversity considerations and coordinate the development and implementation of climate change adaptation, mitigation, and disaster risk management measures across the full range of fisheries and aquaculture practices, through field operations, normative work, and partnerships. It assists Members on the updating of national plans in accordance with international biodiversity, climate and disaster initiatives, and the implementation of actions required to service provisions of those agreements, including through nature-based solutions that promote the restoration and conservation of ecosystems, and to help achieve biodiversity, climate, and food security goals.

The growing occurrence and intensity of disasters and extreme weather events, as well as slow onset events have a complex impact on aquatic food systems and the livelihoods of those who depend on them. There is growing international recognition that the fisheries sector plays a central role in this DRM context – particularly in Small Island Development States (SIDS), and Least developed Countries (LDCs). With the increasing frequency of and intensity of disasters and their devastating effects on fisheries lives and assets, livelihoods, and food security as well as national economies, improving Disaster Risk Management (DRM) of the fisheries sector and its portfolio in NFI is crucial.

Assignments pursuant to this Call for Expression of Interest may be at the Organization’s headquarters in Rome (Italy), home based, or on field missions, as required.

The COF.REG/PSA.SBS will work under the overall supervision of the Team Leader of NFISR and the direct supervision of the technical officer of NFISR (Fisheries Resources Officer – Shocks and Emergencies), in close collaboration with the FAO Representation in the relevant country of assignment, and in close collaboration with other technical officers and consultants where required.

FAO’s work is on Disaster Risk Management includes support on activities related to prevention, preparedness, response and rehabilitation of the fisheries and aquaculture sector. The work includes support the planning, development, implementation, monitoring of programme of work on DRM in Fisheries and Aquaculture with FAO development partners, including coordination and operational assistance. The team is currently seeking specialists to assist in the implementation activities addressing disaster risk management activities at national and regional level. The areas of focus include post-disaster damage and needs assessments of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, use of digital tools in post-disaster damage and needs assessments, anticipatory action including Early Warning Systems, e.g., developing response and rehabilitation plans for the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

The tasks and responsibilities of each selected COF.REG or PSA.SBS will be defined in the Terms of Reference for the specific assignment. In general, depending on the specific assignment, designated tasks and responsibilities will normally include a number of the following elements:

• Support project formulation in accordance with FAO’s Strategic Framework and the FAO project cycle in relation to DRM and associated processes such as climate change.

• Carry out coordination, implementation and administration of assigned activities in accordance with FAO rules, procedures and systems, and donor requirements.

• Support implementation of the global, regional and country focused projects.

• Provide substantive technical inputs to relevant activities and projects, including studies, publications and analyses, knowledge products and dissemination materials related to NFISR’s areas of work, including guidelines, manuals, research papers, capacity building and training materials, and related websites.

• Collect, manage and analyze data to be used to inform and guide the teams’ technical and policy work.

• Perform outreach and communication-related activities.

• Any other duties related to NFISR’s areas of work.

• Carry out organization of and participate in external events (including field missions) in support of the delivery of NFISR’s programme of work, including consultation, trainings, capacity building and technical assistance.

• Collaborate with other FAO divisions, UN agencies (e.g. WMO, UNDRR, UN Environment, World Bank), intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and other external partners in the areas of NFISR’s programme of work, as well as areas of mutually beneficial interest to FAO Member countries.

• Contribute to NFISR’s work related to resource mobilization, monitoring of regular programme expenses and organization of international meetings.

• Assist beneficiary countries in undertaking the necessary policy and legislative revisions for the adoption and effective implementation of the provisions of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and complementary international instruments.

• Support implementation of global, regional and country focused projects.

• Represent NFISR at internal and external meetings, particularly those related to the development and implementation of NFISR’s activities.

• Prepare and organize consultations, workshops and technical meetings.

• Collaborate with relevant institutions, networks and platforms that could help FAO leverage its messages and advance global dialogue on various issues related to NFISR’s programme of work, helping the Organization specifically to implement its Programme Priority Area (PPA) on Blue Transformation, as well as FAO’s PPA on Agriculture and Food Emergencies.

• COF.REG: University degree in fisheries management, coastal and marine resources management, disaster risk management, natural resources management, development studies, environmental sciences, or in a filed directly related to one or more of the following areas: disasters, climate change, and sustainable fisheries management

PSAs: University degree in the above areas. A technical diploma plus demonstrated and relevant professional experience   of at least 4 years can be accepted in lieu of a university degree.

• Relevant experience in one or more areas in the field of disaster risk preparedness and/or response, disaster risk management and or climate change in fisheries, environmental impacts of the fishing sector; fisheries micro-finance and credit and/or social protection, early warning systems and emergency response

COF.REG level C: Two to four years of relevant experience in the technical areas listed above.PSAs level C: one to four years of relevant experience in the technical areas listed above

COF.REG/PSAs level B: at least five years of relevant experience in the technical areas listed above.

COF.REG/PSAs: level A: at least 10 years of relevant experience.

• Working knowledge (level C) of English for COF/PSA.

• Results Focus

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Building Effective Relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

• Work experience in more than one location or above mentioned area of work, particularly in developing countries, is desirable.

• Extent and relevance of field experience in a technical area of assignment.

• Extent and relevance of experience in providing technical advice at local, national, regional and global levels.

• Extent and relevance of knowledge in the implementation of international instruments, standards and guidelines, related to pertinent field of expertise.

• Extent and relevance of experience in project/programme formulation and implementation of projects, programmes and studies in the pertinent field of expertise.

• Extent and relevance of knowledge and understanding of the work of international organizations, regional entities and national governments.

• Extent of experience with working in a team of professional staff from diverse technical and cultural backgrounds and expertise.

• Extent of experience in monitoring, knowledge management and information dissemination.

• Extent of experience with capacity development and knowledge sharing activities.