Fisheries - Social Scientist - Development Consultant

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is currently implementing a Global project, “Creating an enabling environment for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries” (GCP/GLO/965/SWE). The project’s objective is to support participating member countries to develop National Plans of Action in support of the implementation of the SSF Guidelines (NPOA-SSF) with a view to implementing the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). The SSF Guidelines were endorsed by the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in 2014 and are founded on a human rights-based approach to small-scale fisheries governance and development. The NPOA-SSF is being developed under the FAO Umbrella Programme for the Promotion and Application of the SSF Guidelines entitled “Enhancing the contribution of small-scale fisheries to food security and sustainable livelihoods.”

Food insecurity and poverty in small-scale fishing communities is of a multidimensional nature and is not only caused by dwindling fishery resources and low incomes but also due to factors that impede full enjoyment of human rights including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. Small-scale fisheries tend to be inadequately addressed, both with regard to resource management and from a broader social and economic development perspective, including for food security and poverty eradication. The SSF Guidelines were developed to address this situation.

Implementation of the SSF Guidelines will support achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular 14.b (Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets) but also SDGs 1 No poverty, 2 Zero hunger, 5 Gender equality, 12 Responsible consumption and production, 13 Climate action, and 16 Peace, justice and strong institutions.

As a specialized agency of the United Nations with vast technical experience in small-scale fisheries development, the FAO wishes to support the Namibian Government, through the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) to guide the development and implementation of the National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries.

This consultancy will support the Government of Namibia to review the status of Small-Scale Fisheries Sector in Namibia against the SSF Guidelines including developing a methodology to profile the SSF sector. The assignment will also assess the degree of alignment between the Small-Scale Fisheries plans / programmes and strategies against the SSF Guidelines to provide evidence-based information to support the development of the NPOA-SSF.

Reporting Lines

The work will be under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Namibia and under direction and supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme), as well as the National Consultant, reinforced with advice and guidance from the Lead Technical Officer and the FAO SSF Team at FAO Headquarters, and the MFMR in Namibia. Within the above-mentioned reporting lines, the Senior Policy Expert will report to the National Consultant.

Technical Focus

To develop a National Plan of Action in support of the implementation of the SSF Guidelines in Namibia, where this assignment will support the process by identifying relevant documents, conducting a stock-taking and analysis of the SSF sector, profiling the SSF Sector, facilitating a stakeholder engagement process and drafting a report to support the alignment process between key, relevant national plans, programmes and strategies, including social and community development and gender mainstreaming initiatives against the SSF Guidelines, to inform the NPOA-SSF.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Consultant will perform the following tasks: -

1. Support the preparation of inputs to the NPOA-SSF in collaboration with the National Task Force, Consultants and FAO
2. Develop a methodology to support the assessment and review process for the SSF Sector against the SSF Guidelines, indicating how the objectives will be met and indicating timelines for accomplishment of the various tasks under the assignment (including application and adaptation of available tools from FAO)
3. Undertake a desk review (stock-taking and analysis) of the SSF sector in Namibia by analysing relevant past and ongoing projects, plans, programmes and strategies at the local, national and regional level
4. Design consultation instruments (including qualitative data collection tools; analysis of primary and secondary data sources) and consult with various stakeholders to inform a review of the review of the status of SSF Sector in Namibia against the SSF Guidelines. Where community consultations are required, to agree on key focus areas and sites with the national project team.
5. On the basis of the desk reviews, consultation process and information collected through the developed methodology, draft a preliminary report on the current status of the SSF status highlighting the social, economic, environmental and governance conditions, identified gaps, proposed mitigating responses and recommended alignment actions to the SSF Guidelines
6. Facilitate a Stakeholder’s workshop (to be organised by the project support team) to support stakeholder input into the SSF review process and document the inputs from the workshop engagements to inform the review process
7. Based on the above interactions, draft the final report on the current status of the SSF Sector, with recommendations on action to strengthen and support the alignment process with the SSF Guidelines in support of the NPOA-SSF formulation process at the local, national and regional levels
8. Based on the findings, draft an alignment Policy Brief to support decision making processes related to the SSF status and the SSF Guidelines, applicable at the local, regional and national levels

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree/ University degree in Fisheries / Social Sciences / Development or related field
• Ten (10) or more years of evidence-based experience in and strong knowledge of Namibia’s fisheries sector
• Working knowledge of English, knowledge of other languages used in Namibia desirable
• National of Namibia or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience of natural sciences and economics.
• Familiarity with Namibia’s policy landscape in Agriculture, Environment, Health and Energy, and Science Technology and Innovation.