Organizational Setting

International specialists represent an important source of expertise for FAO, making their specialist contributions across the globe towards the achievement of the Organization’s strategic framework to support the 2030 Agenda through the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. 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. The Fishing Operations and Technology stream, within the PSMA, Fisheries Operations and Compliance Team (NFIFP) of NFI assists FAO Members in building the technical and operational capacities of their fishing industry, through increasing access to better fishing vessel and gear technologies, financial and insurance services, responsible investments, safety measures and through innovative practices that promote sustainable fisheries and minimize pollution from fishing operations. The objectives of NFIFP include, among others: 1) Support the development of an efficient, innovative, safe and socio-economically sound fishing industry; 2) Support responsible practices for sustainable fisheries and reduction of impacts of fishing operations on ecosystems; 3) Reduce the pollution from fishing operations (gears and vessels) and fishing harbours; 4) Enhance the knowledge, skills and competencies of fishing vessel personnel to carry out their work in a professional and safe manner; and 5) Increase the access of the fisheries industry to financial and insurance services and investment opportunities. 
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.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of a Senior Fishery Officer of NFIFP and the direct supervision of a technical officer of NFIFP.

FAO's work is related to the implementation of Chapter 8 (Fishing Operations) of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, including the following main areas of NFIFP’s work: fishing operations and fishing vessel design and technology; fishing gear technology and selectivity; environmental impacts of fishing; pollution reduction in fisheries, infrastructure development, including harbours and landing sites for fishing vessels; fishing fleet economic performance; fisheries micro-finance and credit, fisheries insurance; fisheries investments; small-scale fishing technology; emergency response; safety at sea; and programmes/projects formulation and implementation.

Technical Focus

NFIFP's work also includes the implementation of the GloLitter Partnerships, RegLitter, PROSEAS, REBYC III and other projects. The team is currently seeking consultants to assist in the implementation of a range of fishing operations related activities at national and regional level with the following technical expertise:

•     Law of the Sea. Experts on fishing regulations and/or environmental law with a particular focus on prevention and reduction of pollution from ships.
•     Fishing gear technology to support fishing gear modifications (incl. fish aggregating devices - FADs) experts. 
•     Gear marking experts with experience in prevention and reduction of gear loss and ghost fishing. 
•     Waste management experts with a particular focus on plastic litter produced by the fishing sector, including abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gears (ALDFG).
•     Fisheries infrastructure engineers and architects.
•     Naval architects and boat builders with experience in fishing vessel design and construction.
•     Occupational safety and health (OSH) experts in fisheries, with experience in training development and implementation.
•     Remote sensing, geographical information systems (GIS) and artificial intelligence (AI) tools specialists.
•     Fisheries economists with experience in financial and economic analyses of fishing operations, or fisheries credit and insurance programme development.
•     Fisheries emergencies and disaster risk management specialists.
•     Data analysts.

Tasks and responsibilities

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:
Consultants (COF.REG) and Subscribers (PSAs)
•     Support project formulation in accordance with FAO’s Strategic Framework and the FAO project cycle.
•     Carry out coordination, implementation and administration of assigned activities in accordance with FAO rules, procedures and systems, and donor requirements.
•     Support implementation of the above-mentioned projects (GloLitter Partnerships, RegLitter, PROSEAS and REBYC III) and other projects.
•     Provide substantive technical inputs to relevant activities and projects, including studies, publications and analyses, knowledge products and dissemination materials related to NFIFP’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 NFIFP’s areas of work.
Consultants (COF.REG)
•     Carry out organization of and participate in external events (including field missions) in support of the delivery of NFIFP’s programme of work, including consultation, training, capacity building and technical assistance.
•     Collaborate with other FAO divisions, UN agencies (e.g. IMO, ILO, UN Environment, World Bank), intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and other external partners in the areas of NFIFPs programme of work, as well as areas of mutually beneficial interest to FAO Member countries.
•     Contribute to NFIFP’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 Voluntary Guidelines on the Marking of Fishing Gear, FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and complementary international instruments. 
•     Support implementation of the above-mentioned projects (GloLitter Partnerships, RegLitter, PROSEAS and REBYC III) and other projects.
•     Represent NFIFP at internal and external meetings, particularly those related to the development and implementation of NFIFP’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 NFIFP’s programme of work, helping the Organization specifically to implement its Programme Priority Area (PPA) on Blue Transformation, as well as FAO’s PPAs on Bioeconomy for sustainable food and agriculture, Scaling up Investment and Resilient agri-food systems.

FAO Standards and guidelines:

Liaison with the OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, appropriate review and clearance processes.

•     All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including: 
•     FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en    
•     FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia     
•     Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en   
•     FAOSTYLE: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en   
•     FAO terminology: http://www.fao.org/faoterm   
•     FAO Names Of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en  
•     Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff)

Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     University degree for:
    o    COF.REG: Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in in Fisheries / Biology/ Veterinary/ Environmental Studies, Marine engineering, Architecture, Development Studies, Economics, Occupational Health and Safety, Political Sciences, Law, Business Administration, International Relations, or any other discipline relevant to the work of the Organization. Consultants with bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience..
    o    PSAs: University degree in the above areas. A technical diploma plus demonstrated and relevant professional experience of at least 5 years can be accepted in lieu of a university degree.
    
•     Relevant experience in one or more areas in the field of fishing operations and vessel design and technology; fishing technology, gear selectivity and environmental impacts of fishing; pollution reduction in fisheries, waste management, fisheries infrastructure development, including harbours and landing sites for fishing vessels; fishing fleet economic performance; fisheries micro-finance and credit, fisheries insurance; fisheries investments; sustainable business model development, small-scale fishing technology; emergency response; safety at sea; and programmes/ projects formulation and implementation.

Years of relevant experience:

    o    For COF.REG level C: two to four years of relevant experience.
    o    For PSAs level C: one to four years of relevant experience.
    o    For COF.REG/PSAs level B: at least five years of relevant experience.
    o    For COF.REG/PSAs: level A: at least 10 years of relevant experience.
    
•     Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other languages of the Organization (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese or Russian). For PSA it can be required only one language level C.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•     Work experience in more than one location or above mentioned areas 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 above fields of expertise. Particularly knowledge of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and related guidelines is desirable.
•     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.