Organizational Setting

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) is one of FAO’s core technical divisions under the Natural Resources and Sustainable Production Stream at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. The Division collaborates with Members and partners to promote the responsible and sustainable management of aquatic food systems, aiming for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life. To fulfil its mandate, the Division focuses on the global development of fisheries and aquaculture through the implementation of its Blue Transformation, a strategic approach that outlines a vision for sustainable and resilient aquatic food systems. Additionally, it extends support to Members through normative instruments and in collaborations with Regional Fishery Bodies (RFBs) established within the framework of the FAO Constitution.
The Assessment and Management Team (NFIFM) of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) is a multidisciplinary team responsible for all programmes and activities related to assessment and management of fisheries and conservation of fishery resources, including all aspects of fisheries management and assessment related to the social, economic and ecological dimensions in the framework of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF). The Team: 1) provides information, advice and technical assistance to FAO Members and Regional Fisheries Bodies and Arrangements on Fisheries Management and Assessment globally, covering all its technical areas of work; 2) promotes and supports the development, dissemination and adoption of tools, methods and approaches to facilitate the management, monitoring and assessment of fisheries under the EAF framework; 3) monitors the global status and trends of fish stocks and fisheries; 4) supports the monitoring of all the relevant Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs) indicators; 5) supports and promotes cooperation and coordination with other institutions and programmes concerned with responsible fisheries; and 6) provides technical advice and information on the availability and role of processes and tools for fisheries governance and management in ocean governance and relevant multi-lateral environmental agreements, with a focus on the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF). The Team develops and implements a large portfolio of programmes, projects and activities in an integrated and coordinated way, to deliver on its mandate at the service of FAO Member Nations.
The post is located in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Fishery Officer (Fisheries Assessment and Management Advice) reports to the Senior Fishery Resources Officer, under the overall supervision of the Senior Fishery Resources Officer/Team Leader, Assessment and Management Team, NFI.

Technical Focus

The Fishery Officer (Fisheries Assessment and Management Advice) will work as part of a multidisciplinary closely collaborating team dealing with integrated multidimensional, evidence-based and participatory fisheries management, assessment and advice in the context of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF). She/He will work on the multidimensional (economic, social and ecological) assessment of fisheries with an emphasis on the economic dimension and the production of evidence-based fisheries management advice in a food systems context. A major focus of the work will be on the economic aspects of small-scale, multispecies/multigear and Data- and Capacity-Limited fisheries, particularly in developing countries. She/he will work in close cooperation with team members as well as with other officers in the Division, including the technical area of value chains.

Key Results

Research, technical analysis and project related services to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services.

Key Functions

•    Researches, analyses and provides access to fisheries and aquaculture technical, social, economic, environmental, institutional and technology related data, and information and/or related policy issues to support the delivery of fisheries and aquaculture programmes, projects, products, publications and services.
•    Produces a variety of technical data, statistics, information and reports, as well as input for technical documents and web pages.
•    Provides technical, statistical, and/or analytical services on various studies, projects and initiatives, and/or assessments; provides technical backstopping to field projects.
•    Participates in the development of improved/updated technical, statistical and/or analytical tools, methodologies, systems, databases and/or key social/economic/environmental/ nutritional and/or early warning indicators, etc.
•    Participates in multidisciplinary teams and/or leads working groups/teams; collaborates with other Divisions/Offices/Centres on work groups and committees and promotes best practices.
•    Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development activities within Members, such as organizational development and individual learning events, including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools.
•    Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and influences partners in stakeholder consultations.
•    Supports resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Specific Functions

•    Contributes to the development and application of approaches, methods and user-friendly tools and processes for integrated multidimensional evidence-based assessment and the production of management advice for Data- and Capacity-Limited fisheries, with an emphasis on the economic dimension of fisheries.
•    Contributes to the development, dissemination and application of approaches, methods and tools for the collection, management and analysis of fisheries-related data and information, with a focus on the economic aspects of small-scale, multispecies/multigear and Data- and Capacity-Limited fisheries.
•    Provides technical and scientific support for evidence-based fisheries assessments and the production of management advice to fisheries research and management institutions from FAO Members and to Regional Fisheries Bodies and Arrangements, functioning as Technical Secretary of one of those under the responsibility of FAO.
•    Provides technical and scientific support for designing, implementing and monitoring systems for the collection, management and analysis of fisheries-related data and information, including local and traditional knowledge, to national, regional and global institutions.
•    Supports the development and delivery of the FAO Training Programme on Fisheries Data, Assessment and Advice to fisheries experts from Members.
•    Contributes to the monitoring and reporting on the State of World Fisheries, particularly on the economic dimension.
•    Formulates, develops, implements, monitors and reports on programmes and projects supporting the delivery of the Team’s goals and objectives.
•    Participates actively in efforts to mobilize extra-budgetary resources to support the delivery of the Team’s goals, objectives and work programme.
•    Supports and promotes the inclusion of gender dimensions in the assessment of the state of fisheries and the production of management advice.
•    Performs any other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in quantitative fisheries economics, natural resource economics, economics, econometrics, fisheries management, fishery science, natural resource management, applied statistics, mathematics/mathematical biology, law or business administration or related discipline.
•    Five years of relevant experience in quantitative assessment of fisheries (including assessment of socio-economic state of fisheries and exploitation, assessment of fish stocks and/or assessment of impacts of fisheries management measures on the fisheries as a whole), preparation and communication of fisheries management advice.
•    Working knowledge (full 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 and/or knowledge in the quantitative and qualitative analysis of data and information related to the assessment of fisheries (including assessment of socio-economic state of fisheries, assessment of fish stocks and exploitation and/or assessment of impacts of fisheries management measures), preparation and communication of fisheries management advice.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in the assessment and production of management advice for small-scale, multispecies/multigear fisheries, in Data- and Capacity-Limited situations, in a multidimensional assessment perspective, with explicit consideration of the socio-economic aspects of these fisheries.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in the use of programming languages like R, Python, SQL and/or C , the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS), the design and development of databases and other tools for management and analysis of data and information.
•    Extent and relevance of experience and/or knowledge of processes, methods and tools for estimation of fisheries parameters, including the collection, management and analysis of fisheries data for use in assessment, monitoring and advice processes, particularly for the economic aspects of small-scale, multispecies/multigear fisheries in Data- and Capacity-Limited situations.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in developing, organizing and delivering training actions on the socio-economic performance of fisheries), preparation of management advice, or collection, management and analysis of fisheries-related data and information.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in providing scientific and technical support and advice to national, regional and global fisheries research and management institutions, particularly Regional Fisheries Bodies and Arrangements.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in formulating, managing and reporting on programmes and projects.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in mobilizing resources and establishing relationships with resource partners.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in different countries and regions, especially in developing countries and countries in transition in Africa, South America, South Asia and Pacific/ Small Island Developing States (SIDS).