Fishery Officer (Aquatic Food Value Chains)

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.

FAO's commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) is responsible for the economic, social, institutional, governance and policy aspects of FAO's activities related to fisheries and aquaculture and their development, with particular emphasis on human well-being, food well-being of fishing communities; collection, compilation, validation, trend analysis and dissemination of the best available and up-to-date fishery statistics and for the syndication of the FAO information on all aspects of world fisheries and aquaculture. The security and poverty reduction; post-harvest utilization, marketing and trade with due regard to the protection of the environment, food security and the Division is also responsible for FAO's activities related to the management and conservation of the living aquatic resources used by fisheries and aquaculture, including the biodiversity and ecosystem maintenance, with particular emphasis on most vulnerable and threatened species and habitats; management of responsible fisheries and aquaculture in accordance with modern management standards and best practices; development of fisheries technology, with due regard to the protection of the environment, food security and the well-being of fishing communities, including the safety of fishers and fishing vessels.

The position is located in the Value Chain Development Team (NFIMV) within the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Fishery Officer (Aquatic Food Value Chains) reports to the Senior Fisheries Officer, Value Chain Development Team (NFIMV).

Technical Focus

Aquatic food value chain development, aquatic food loss and waste reduction, value added products production, processing technologies, promotion of sustainable aquatic food production and consumption, project management and advisory services to Member Nations on aquatic food value chain improvement in support to delivering mainly better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life outcomes and outputs.

Key Results

Research, technical analysis and project related services to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services.

Key Functions

•          Researches, analyses and provides access to fisheries and aquaculture technical, social, economic, environmental, institutional and technology related data, and information and/or related policy issues to support the delivery of fisheries and aquaculture programmes, projects, products, publications and services.

•          Produces a variety of technical data, statistics, information and reports, as well as input for technical documents and web pages.

•          Provides technical, statistical, and/or analytical services on various studies, projects and initiatives, and/or assessments; provides technical backstopping to field projects.

•          Participates in the development of improved/updated technical, statistical and/or analytical tools, methodologies, systems, databases and/or key social/economic/environmental/ nutritional and/or early warning indicators, etc.

•          Participates in multidisciplinary teams and/or leads working groups/teams; collaborates with other Divisions/Offices/Centres on work groups and committees and promotes best practices.

•          Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development activities within Members, such as organizational development and individual learning events, including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools.

•          Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and influences partners in stakeholder consultations.

•          Supports resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Specific Functions

•          Supports the formulation, interpretation and implementation of policy guidelines and best practices for efficient national, regional and international implementation of Blue Transformation, with specific focus on aquatic food value chain development.

•          Plans, formulates, and manages aquatic food value chain efficiency and sustainability improvement projects and programmes as well as in other related pro-poor projects, guides their implementation.

•          Develops, provides advice and guidance to Members , international organizations and industry organizations on aquatic food processing, value added products, food loss and waste reduction.

•          Supports the development, revision and implementation of the appropriate methodological guide for aquatic resource utilization, including the planning, implementation/delivery, reporting and monitoring of the economic, social and environmental analysis.

•          Contributes to the design, implementation and evaluation of capacity building related to aquatic food resource utilization.

•          Identifies studies and interventions for aquatic food value chain development in ways that contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction, improved utilization and address gender inequalities within a pro-poor framework.

•          Supports the Committee on Fisheries (COFI), the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade (COFI-FT) and the Sub-Committee on Aquaculture of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI-SCA) on aquatic food value chain issues, particularly those linked to aquatic resource utilization.

•          Collaborates with other FAO units, international organizations, Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) in the field of aquatic food value chains.

•          Performs other related duties.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•          Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in agricultural/fishery economics, food science/technology or other fields relevant to food value chains.

•          Five years of relevant experience in food value chain development and related fields.

•          Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

•          Results Focus

•          Teamwork

•          Communication

•          Building effective relationships

•          Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•          Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.

•          Experiences in aquatic food value chains with background on aquatic resource utilization is highly desirable.

•          Extent and relevance of experience in developing countries and countries in transition.

•          Extent and relevance of experience in organizing international meetings, seminars and training/ courses.

•          Extent and relevance of experience in policy and technical guidance in aquatic food value chain development.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.