Organizational Setting

FAO Gambia and its partners are running the Climate Fishery Initiative for Livelihood Improvement in the Gambia (PROREFISH Gambia). This project is designed to boost resilience and improve livelihoods, health, wellbeing, and food and water security for the most vulnerable groups and regions. The expected outcomes include stronger ecosystems and infrastructure that can withstand climate change, as well as reduced carbon emissions through sustainable land use, reforestation, forest conservation, and better forest management. By expanding adaptation strategies used successfully in other West African countries, the project will focus on making fisheries infrastructure more climate-resilient and supporting parts of the fish value chain where women are heavily involved, such as fish handling and processing. Additionally, it will encourage the use of aquaculture technologies and work to create a supportive environment for Gambian fisheries, with greater participation from the private sector.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in The Gambia, the AFAOR-Programme and the direct supervision of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO), the National Project Coordinator will act as the leader in the project implementation and will be responsible for leading, supervising and coordinating all activities aimed at the successful implementation of the project.  

Technical Focus

The National Project Coordinator (NPO) will work in consultation with the Project Steering Committee, the Technical Advisory Committee, the FAO Evaluation Office, the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and FAO-OCB, the Coordinator to coordinate project activities and deliver transformational changes sought by the PROREFISH Project. The NPO will be responsible for coordinating actions at the institutional level with public and private sector partner entities, key actors, as well as providing technical leadership for the performance of the tasks foreseen in the preparation and overseeing of Work-plans and Budgets, contracts and agreements. The NPO will ensure advocacy, capacity building and participation of implementing partners and consultants in the technical supervision of works under the project, and ensure the overall daily management of the project.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Coordinate the timely and quality implementation of the project components and the execution of activities providing technical support and ensuring appropriate linkages among components, contracts and concerned partners and actors.
•     Coordinate the preparation and adjustment of the annual workplans, budget revisions, procurement and recruiting plans.
•     Oversee implementation of project activities, support project personnel in order to make sure timelines, workplans, as well as environmental, socioeconomic and gender safeguards are followed and complied with.
•     Ensure technical compliance with project objectives, outcomes and outputs, and follow the monitoring and Evaluation Plan.
•     Liaise with project stakeholders, Government Authorities, national institutions, civil society and the private sector.
•     Establish and foster an effective line of communication with project implementation partners to enhance project implementation.
•     Organize and lead project meetings, workshops, and other technical activities in alignment with the Project Document and Work Plans.
•     Prepare and carry out project field missions, supervision visits, and technical support to field missions and training sessions.  
•     Effective contract management, ensuring that deliverables are completed on time in line with standards, specifications and value for money.
•     Monitor risks according to the risk matrix (as stipulated in the project document) and ensure the implementation of mitigation measures.
•     Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual reports as required for project progress reporting as well as project terminal report

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•     Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Fisheries, Natural Resources, Biological Sciences or related areas.
•     Minimum experience of 10 years in the field of Fisheries, Natural Resources or related areas of which minimum 3 years’ experience in management, coordination of development projects or components financed by international funding partners related to fisheries.
•     Working knowledge of English (Level C)
•     National of Gambia

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/functional skills

•     Good writing and research skills, computer literacy and familiarity with the Gambian context
•     Experience with the promotion of fisheries value chains and knowledge or experience in the implementation of good aquaculture production practices.
•     Knowledge of FAO’s administrative and project management systems  
•     Proven capacity to work and establish working relationships with government and non-government representatives
•     Fluency in written and spoken English and any of the major local languages spoken in the Gambia

Selection Criteria

•     Experience in the coordination of multidisciplinary teams.
•     Knowledge and experience in results-based management, development and implementation of budgets, preparation of technical and financial reports, and monitoring and evaluation.
•     Ability to prepare concise reports according to internationally acceptable standards.
•     Knowledge and use of participatory planning tools.
•     Extensive knowledge of the natural resources and socioeconomic reality of The Gambia
•     Proven ability to lead a team and capacity for teamwork.
•     Excellent oral and written communication skills.
•     Availability to travel frequently to the project sites

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION