National Aquaculture Specialists

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) advances the 2030 Agenda through its Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation toward more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems. This effort promotes better production, improved nutrition, a healthier environment, and enhanced livelihoods, ensuring no one is left behind.

The Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP) is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing, and implementing strategies and projects that drive the transformation of food, agriculture, and rural development. It also fosters and maintains relationships with subregional institutions. The SAP Office is a subsidiary of the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP).

Through SAP, FAO is providing technical support to the Government of Tuvalu through the Ministry of Fisheries and Trade, the Government of Kiribati through the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MFOR) and the Government of Cook Islands through the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) for two two-year FAO Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) projects: (1) Enhancing the contribution of aquaculture to economic development and food security: bridging key knowledge and technology with local comparative advantages in Kiribati and Tuvalu (TCP/SAP/4006) and (2) Promoting Climate-Smart Aquaculture Strategies in Cook Islands (TCP/CKI/4001). The project TCP/SAP/4006 aims to assess the production potential and marketability of milkfish and bivalves as priority aquaculture species, with a focus on improving food security, creating jobs, supporting local economies, and providing sustainable alternatives to declining fisheries. The project TCP/CKI/4001 aims to assess and validate climate-smart aquaculture activities in Cook Islands towards climate change action and resilience enhancement.

One National Aquaculture Specialist is sought for each of the project countries Tuvalu, Kiribati and Cook Islands.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall guidance of the FAO Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific and the direct supervision of the SAP Fisheries and Aquaculture Officer, the National Aquaculture Specialists in Tuvalu, Kiribati (under the TCP/SAP/4006) and Cook Islands (under the TCP/CKI/4001) will work closely with the responsible government agencies and the TCP Project Manager /International Aquaculture Specialist for the project towards efficient and timely delivering of TCP outputs.

Technical Focus

The National Aquaculture Specialist will support activities related to the establishment and strengthening of sustainable and climate-smart mariculture activities in Kiribati, Tuvalu and Cook Islands through development of strategic national action plans for targeted commodities, assessment and validation of climate-smart farming strategies, stakeholder capacity building and training, and provision of essential inputs for farming, processing and marketing.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Specialists will be responsible for:

•     Provide technical and logistical assistance for collection and compilation of aquaculture sector data towards refining current baseline data.
•     Provide technical assistance for the development of National action plans for targeted commodities (TCP/SAP/4006) and climate-smart aquaculture strategies (TCP/CKI/4001)
•     Provide technical assistance in the design, implementation and monitoring of pilot climate-smart mariculture activities (TCP/CKI/4006).
•     Provide technical assistance to Government counterparts on project activities.
•     Support procurement of aquaculture materials through FAO-SAP.
•     Provide technical and logistical support to training and capacity building activities. This task includes conducting a gap analysis, developing and implementing a training programme for Ministry staff and communities.
•     Provide technical and logistical assistance to national workshops and exchange visits.  This task includes identifying participants and supporting all travel arrangements and approvals through FAO-SAP
•     Support record keeping, monitoring and reporting of National Letters of Agreement

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     University degree on fisheries, environment, agriculture, aquaculture, mariculture or related fields required.
•     At least two years' experience working in a field related to fisheries, environment, agriculture, aquaculture, mariculture or related fields.
•     Working knowledge of English.
•     National of Tuvalu, Kiribati or Cook Islands, or resident of the relevant country with a valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Efficiency, competence and integrity as well as negotiating skills, tact and diplomacy are essential.
•     Able to work with multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural project partners at regional and international level.
•     Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.
•     Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, with experience liaising between diverse project stakeholders.

Selection Criteria

•     Demonstrated practical experience in aquaculture or mariculture development or related fields (agriculture, fisheries, environment, etc)
•     Experience of managing logistical arrangements.
•     Experience of writing quality reports.
•     Experience in conducting training for community members.
•     Demonstrated ability to coordinate training, workshops, or capacity-building activities for community stakeholders.
•     Knowledge of FAO procedures or other international donor-funded project implementation would be an advantage.