National Project Specialist

Organizational Setting

The FAO sub-regional office for Southern Africa (SFS) has been supporting a number of interventions linked to the Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC). Since December 2018 to 2023, Sweden is funding a project to support the operationalization of the SWIOFC Nairobi convention partnership, the SWIOFC NC PP, also referred to as “A Partnership for Marine and Coastal Governance and Fisheries Management for Sustainable Blue Growth” (FAO ref code GCP/SFS/005/SWE). The project is implemented jointly by the FAO/SWIOFC and UNEP/Nairobi Convention together with the governments of members countries of the SWIOFC and the Nairobi Convention. The selected countries for implementation of national activities for this project are Madagascar, Mozambique and United Republic of Tanzania.
In order to upscale interventions under this programme for other areas and countries, a second phase of this project project entitled “SWIOFC Nairobi Convention Partnership for Resilient Marine and Coastal Ecosystems and Livelihoods (SWIOFC NC PP 2, GCP/SFS/006/SWE)” has been developed in 2022 by SWIOFC/FAO and Nairobi Convention/UNEP in partnership with the governments of Kenya, Mozambique and the United Republic of Tanzania.
The project will build capacity for and contribute to strengthening the implementation of the ecosystem approach in national and local management of coastal environment and fisheries, where measures for sustainable use, protection and restoration of coastal and marine habitats and resources, combined with livelihood interventions, will be developed together with local communities to improve resilience of coastal ecosystems, food security and livelihoods, protect biodiversity and reinforce participation in the management of natural resources, for youth, women and men in coastal fishing communities.
The project has four coupled components and outcomes:
1. Coastal and marine ecosystems are sustainably managed using the Ecosystem Approach: Focussing on coastal environment protection, restoration, and inter-sectoral spatial planning; implemented through an agreement with UNEP – Nairobi Convention Secretariat.
2. Coastal fisheries are sustainably managed using the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries and livelihoods options are enhanced: Focussing on coastal inclusive livelihoods and sustainable fisheries management; implemented through FAOSFS and relevant country offices.
3. Cooperation and coordination between fisheries and environmental policy frameworks and managers, and community involvement strengthened: Focussing on fisheries-environment policy dialogue and management coordination, knowledge sharing and generation, and community stewardship; implemented jointly by FAO and UNEP.
4. Effective Project Management and Coordination: Focussing on effective project delivery; implemented jointly by FAO and UNEP.
In the United Republic of Tanzania, the project is well aligned with government ambitions and would be highly relevant for tackling the prevalent gaps in the implementation of national policies and strategies in support of sustainable blue economy and in addressing marine/coastal environmental challenges. The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania will select 2 project sites for the project implementation in Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar. The workplans will be contextualised for the two project sites in concertation with the implementing agencies and the Government agencies responsible for Fisheries and Environment in Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar. The baseline studies including the Gender component and environmental and social assessment and the activities implementation will start in 2024.
The post is in the FAO Representation in Tanzania, with the incumbent also working with other units in an integrated and cross-sectoral approach.

Reporting Lines

The National Project Specialist will work in close collaboration with the SWIOFC NC PP 2 Regional Project Management Unit and United Republic of Tanzania government counterparts (National Project Focal Points in Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar), and will be reporting to the SWIOFC NC PP 2 Chief Technical Adviser based with the SWIOFC Secretariat in Mozambique, the Lead Technical Officer for the project based at FAO SFS, the assistant FAOR (Programme) FAO Tanzania, under the overall responsibility of the FAO Representative in Tanzania.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will:
•    Supervise the finalization of the inception phase for SWIOFC NC PP2 including the baseline studies and contextualized workplans.
•    Organize and participate in field missions, meetings, and committees according to the coordination structure agreed for the project and the contextualized workplans.
•    Provide and update the data for the project monitoring, mid-year, and annual reports.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Organize and coordinate all project activities in United Republic of Tanzania through the supervision, assistance, and monitoring of collaboration with the relevant institutions and partners.
• Day-to-day management and assistance for the implementation of project activities.
• Identify and develop relations with existing and potential project partners and technical experts to maximise project delivery and impact.
• Develop, follow up and adapt project work plans, proactively identifying and addressing risks, opportunities, and synergies with related initiatives.
• Coordinate and follow up on the activities of project personnel and delivery partners. Participate when relevant in field missions, workshop/meetings, and committees according to the coordination structure agreed for the project and the contextualized workplans.
• In close collaboration with the FAO project units (country representations and Sub regional Office for Southern Africa), facilitate trainings/workshops and field activities for the project.
• Contribute to the development of ToRs, recruitment, and management of project consultants.
• Establish and manage contracts with national delivery partners and contractors for the implementation and visibility of project.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the project communications and gender strategies.
• Stay updated with latest developments in the technical field and develop relations, related initiatives for knowledge exchange and identification of synergies and funding opportunities.
• Collect and make available to project personnel relevant documents and information concerning artisanal fisheries and other topics relevant to the delivery of the project.
• Technically review and quality assure outputs and reports from national delivery partners.
• Implement the project M&E framework for Tanzania, keep project management tools and repositories updated.
• Prepare reports of project activities and other relevant areas.
• Perform other related duties as required

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•    University degree in Environmental, Fisheries or other area relevant to the technical focus of the project
•    At least 5 years of working experience relevant to the technical focus of the project (coastal fisheries and environment, sustainable development, rural livelihoods), preferably both on policy and operational levels.
•    Working knowledge of English
•    Working knowledge of Swahili is an asset.
•    National of the country

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Ability to gather, organize and analyse information.
•    Capacity to interact professionally with a wide variety of stakeholders.
•    Willingness to work and respond to reporting outlines.
•    Ability to work with multi-disciplinary teams.
•    Good communication and computer literacy.

Selection Criteria

•    Experience of project management, development and coordination, preferably within UN system
•    Knowledge of government structures and protocol in key and experience of working in collaboration with government counterparts across agencies and ministers
•    Knowledge of community-based managed structures and experience of working with communities

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION