Organizational Setting

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.
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Division 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 for the responsible and sustainable management of aquatic food systems, aiming for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life. To fulfill 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 Division 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. 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 SDG 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. 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 countries.
Efficient assessment and management of fisheries requires support from multiple technical disciplines, that allow for the development of high-quality assessment and advice to fisheries management, as well as the development and implementation of effective management strategies. Many of the tasks associated with this work are time-limited in nature, requiring an intensive use of specialists in multiple areas of work.

The purpose of this call is to attract global talent for Consultant and Personal Services assignments that may provide support and/or leadership to fisheries projects and technical support processes in the Fisheries Assessment and Management area. The assignment may be located in various locations, depending on the requirements, with potential travel for field missions. Suitable and qualified experts will be included in a roster of experts that will be used to identify candidates for relevant short-term assignments with NFIFM. The assignments can range in duration from a few days or weeks to a maximum of 11 months (on a when-actually-employed basis).

Reporting Lines

The Consultants/PSA Subscribers will work under the overall supervision of the Team Leader, Assessment and Management Team, and will report to a relevant Officer of the Team.

Technical Focus

The Consultant or PSA Subscriber will work as part of a closely collaborating multidisciplinary team to provide advice and/or technical support, lead or manage projects, activities, research, analyses, and development on issues and tasks related to the assessment and management of marine and/or inland fisheries, considering the social, economic, ecological and/or institutional dimensions of fisheries food systems.

Tasks and responsibilities

The tasks and responsibilities of each selected Consultant or PSA Subscriber will be defined in the Terms of Reference for the specific assignment. In general, assigned tasks and responsibilities will usually include one or more of the following elements depending on the assignment and the expertise of the Consultant:

•    Organize and participate in field missions and other events in support of the delivery of NFIFM’s programme of work, including for consultation, training, capacity development and technical assistance to beneficiaries of FAO support programmes and projects;
•    Prepare training and dissemination materials (lecture support material, e-learning materials, manuals, exercises and other materials); develop, deliver and/or assess training actions (e-learning courses, training courses and workshops, and other training-related activities);
•    Prepare or review technical documents, publications and technical/scientific reports;
•    Provide technical support and advice to fisheries organizations from member countries or regional organizations, and to projects developed, implemented and/or managed by NFIFM, including direct support at meetings and workshops, remote assistance and coaching/guidance, or on site with the organizations requiring support, including on institutional capacity;
•    Manage data and information related to the assessment and management of fisheries, including geospatial data and local knowledge, as well as to the planning and monitoring of the work developed by the team;
•    Lead or contribute to relevant studies, publications and analyses, knowledge products and dissemination materials related to NFIFM’s areas of work (Management and Assessment of fisheries food systems), including research and the development and implementation of guidelines, guidance, tools, capacity development and training materials, or similar products;
•    Lead or contribute to the development of technical tools supporting the work of NFIFM as well as supporting FAO members in discharging their responsibilities related to the assessment, monitoring and management of fisheries food systems, covering the social, economic, biological and institutional dimensions of fisheries food systems; this may require knowledge on the use of, but not limited to, data management tools, geographical information systems (GIS), fisheries assessment methods and models, decision-support tools and tools supporting the collection, management and analysis of fisheries-related data and information;
•    Support the collection, management, collation and/or analysis of data and information related to the multidimensional assessment and management of fisheries food systems, including the development of tools and processes and/or the application of said tools and processes to actual situations of assessment and/or management of fisheries;
•    Represent NFIFM in internal and external meetings, in particular those related to the development and implementation of NFlFM’s-led programmes/projects (only for consultants);
•    Formulate projects in accordance with FAO’s strategic framework and the FAO’s project cycle;
•    Coordinate, implement, operate and manage assigned programmes/projects and/or project components and activities in accordance with FAO rules, procedures and systems, and donors’ requirements;
•    Any other duty related to NFI’s areas of work and to specific assignments.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Consultants should hold an advanced degree or a first level degree with 2 additional years of experience in / PSA Subscribers must have the relevant educational background in economics, biological sciences, oceanography, limnology, geography, sociology, development, communications, information management/technology, data or computer science, management/business administration or other field relevant to NFIFM work.

•    Relevant experience in the field of management and assessment of fisheries, or in technical areas related to support to NFIFM work, like collection, management and/or analysis and presentation of data and information (including but not limited to scientific information, local knowledge and spatial data), sampling and estimation of fisheries parameters, geography, database management, training and capacity development, project design and management, report writing, or other necessary to support the work of NFIFM: minimum 1 year of experience for category C; minimum 5 years of experience for category B; minimum 10 years of experience for category A.
•    Consultants are required to have working knowledge (level C) of one official FAO language (English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian) .PSA Subscribers are required to have working knowledge (level C) of one FAO language.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Extent and relevance of experience in one or more of the main areas of work of NFIFM;
•    Extent and relevance of experience in training and capacity development;
•    Extent and relevance of experience in technical support areas of relevance to the work of NFIFM, including databases, geographical information systems, data exploration and analysis tools, presentation and visualization of data and information and other technical support areas;
•    Extent and relevance of knowledge of current global issues, as well as trends, constraints, and knowledge and advice needs related to the assessment and management of fisheries, in marine and inland systems;
•    Extent and relevance of knowledge and experience with the specific natural, economic and cultural conditions of living and working in the regions where most of the work of NFIFM is developed (Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Central and South America, and Small Island Developing States – SIDS);
•    Extent and relevance of experience in development and/or management and/or support of projects and Programmes, including formulation, work planning, resource mobilization, budgeting, implementation, reporting, communication and information/knowledge management;
•    Extent and relevance of experience in providing programmatic support services such as in communication, information/knowledge management, information and communication technologies or other relevant technical support areas;
•    Ability to effectively use standard office software, such as MS Office (Windows, Word, Outlook, Excel, Power Point);
•    Extent and relevance of experience in working and negotiating in multi-cultural environments, or with people of different cultural matrices;
•    Extent and relevance of experience in coordinating and liaising with industry, academia, national authorities, UN agencies, donors, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations.

Selection Criteria

•    Limited knowledge of a second FAO language is an asset for COF.REG.