[Hiring] NAVAC Programme Specialist @Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Role Description

The NAVAC Programme Specialist reports to the relevant NFI officers and collaborates with relevant NFI staff.

Technical Focus: Development, implementation, training, strategic contribution, monitoring and coordination of fisheries and aquaculture projects.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Coordinate cooperation, training and implementation of development projects, including NAVAC, in one or more countries, in liaison with national teams, specialists and other team members.
• Support value chain development and project implementation, facilitating linkages among stakeholders, including the establishment of Multi-stakeholder Partnerships, the organisation of workshops and the oversight of deliverables by service providers. Prepare associated training materials and workshop reports.
• Collaborate closely with national and international consultants responsible for value chain development and relevant technical specialists to promote a sustainable, systems-based value chain approach and ensure that scientific knowledge and technical expertise inform inland and marine fisheries management practices.
• Contribute to programme monitoring and evaluation at project level in collaboration with M&E specialists, documenting progress and results achieved through training and scientific mentoring activities in quarterly activity reports.
• Support global learning across the project by exchanging information with related value chains, sharing lessons learned and best practices, and contributing to the improvement of value chain analysis and development methodologies and their application in future fisheries and aquaculture projects.
• Develop strategic reflections on the results, challenges and opportunities emerging from the implementation of activities, identifying priorities for consolidating achievements, sustaining capacity-development outcomes and informing future project phases, including public/private investment opportunities.
• Conduct research and analysis of fisheries and aquaculture value chains, under the NAVAC Knowledge Facility among others, with specific emphasis on public/private investment appraisal.
• Contribute to the knowledge base on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture value chain development by documenting and disseminating relevant technical knowledge, training materials and lessons learned.
• Collaborate with project managers and country focal points to design and maintain databases for the effective storage and management of project-related data, and to develop budgets and expenditure-monitoring systems. Undertake planned field missions and prepare the corresponding Back-to-Office Reports (BTORs).
• Perform other related duties home-based or in FAO Headquarters, as required.

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in economic development, agribusiness, evaluation, fisheries and aquaculture, food science/technology, food industries, international development studies or a related field. Consultants with bachelor’s degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
• At least 1 year for category C, 5 years for category B or 10 years for category A of relevant experience in funding applications and project development, international management, capacity building, value chain development, programme development, database development and management, economic, social and/or fisheries/aquaculture development.
• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish.

Requirements

• 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 essential.
• Extent and relevance of experience in technical areas such as EU project formulation and development, value chain development, post-harvest improvements, marketing and market access of fisheries and aquaculture products, access to finance and finance literacy, alternative livelihoods, fisheries and aquaculture technology and equipment, alternative aquaculture feed development.
• Proven experience in database management is a plus.
• An advanced degree in the technical areas specified is a valued attribute.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the Africa and South America regions is a plus.
• Ability to plan and organize own work, deliver results and meet deadlines.
• Ability to write clear and concise technical documents in English and/or French/Spanish.
• Ability to effectively lead multi-disciplinary teams.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.