Senior Fishery and Aquaculture Officer

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 Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC) is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with Divisions, Offices and Centres at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities. RLC also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. RLC develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs). The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region. The post is located in the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC) in Santiago, Chile.

Reporting Lines The Senior Fishery and Aquaculture Officer reports to the Regional Programme Leader (RPL), with functional guidance of the Director, Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) at headquarters.

Technical Focus Provides integrated advice on fisheries policy, management and governance, and sustainable aquaculture development in the Latin America and the Caribbean region, and, in the context of Blue Transformation, a vision for FAO’s work on aquatic food systems.

Key Results Leadership and technical policy expertise for the planning, development and implementation of regional programmes of work, projects, products, services in accordance with regional objectives and the FAO Strategic Framework and in alignment with the Organization's Gender Policy.

Key Functions • Plans, manages, or leads highly specialized or multi-disciplinary teams; leads, coordinates and/or participates in regional committees, project teams and working groups, and/or provides technical leadership/secretariat services in technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies; • Analyses global and country specific requirements and relevant technical issues to provide critical inputs into the FAO Strategic Framework, Programme of Work, 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 ongoing programme development, as well as the provision of technical and/or policy advisory services; • Provides technical and policy advice to Member countries 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 Member countries, such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning and online 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 Corporate Strategy.

Specific Functions • Provides policy advice and technical support to FAO Regional, Subregional and Country Offices in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) on fisheries and aquaculture policy, sustainable management and governance, development, including aquatic food value chains, in support to the Regional Initiative 3 and its linkages with sustainable development, natural resources management, landscape management and environmental management and biodiversity related activities and services; • Coordinates the planning and implementation of activities and technical backstopping of programmes and projects that respond to the Blue Transformation Programme Priority Area (PPA), Blue Transformation roadmap, and its linkages with other PPAs and the 4 Betters of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031; • Provides advice to regional fishery bodies and assists coastal communities, countries and partners on the evaluation and monitoring of fishing and aquatic resources management, including co-management and participatory assessments, for their conservation and sustainable use; • Contributes to FAO analyses of global, regional and national trends, and provides prospective analysis to identify, test and pilot suitable methodologies, technologies and tools relevant to the fisheries and aquaculture sectors; • Supports countries to promote the adaptation of their fishery sector to climate change with climate actions on the ground, with a focus on Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) in order to strengthen countries’ resilience and adaptive capacity through climate risk management and adaptation, especially in areas most vulnerable to climate change, reducing risks and enhancing sustainability of agrifood systems, ecosystems and related livelihoods; • Supports artisanal fishing communities and their associativity for increasing livelihoods and natural resources management; • Provides technical assistance to strengthen national fisheries data collection systems and to support fisheries registries and statistics in the LAC region; • Supports countries in implementing, and reporting on, binding international agreements such as the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) and associated instruments, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Post 2020 Framework and UN Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) among others, as well as non-binding agreements such as the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and associated guidelines, FAO Catch Documentation Schemes, FAO Marking of Fishing Gears, and FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements • Advanced university degree in fisheries biology, economics or administration, or marine affairs with a specialization in fisheries management and/or governance or other related field. • Ten years of relevant experience in the fisheries or aquaculture sectors, in either policy development, statistics and data collection and management, fisheries stock assessment and resource management, aquaculture development, trade, value chain development, food safety and quality of aquatic products. • Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and 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. • Extent and relevance of experience and/or knowledge of policy issues of national and international trade in fishery products and the role of international organizations’ in connection with them. • Extent and relevance of experience in planning and implementation of programmes related to fisheries products and industries in development organizations. • Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge of methods for assessing sectoral vulnerability to climate change. • Extent and relevance of experience in participatory fisheries policy and governance. • Ability to mobilize resources. • Extent and relevance of experience in organizing international meetings, seminars and training courses. • Relevance of experience in policy development and analysis and sustainable fisheries management and aquaculture development in developing countries, preferably in the public sector. • Relevance of academic background and research and publication records in fisheries or aquaculture policy development, sustainable management, economics and trade. • Familiarity with FAO’s policies, programmes and activities related to fisheries and aquaculture especially of Blue Transformation, cross-sectoral issues and international agreements. • Depth of experience of social, economic and political issues related to the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture and programmes in the Latin America and the Caribbean region. • Proven capacity to prepare for, participate in or lead, missions relating to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture and associated issues. • Extent of organizational and supervisory skills.