National Project Specialist at FAO – 2024

January 31, 2024
Apply Now

Job Description

Job Posting: 30/Jan/2024
Closure Date: 14/Feb/2024, 1:59:00 AM
Organizational Unit: FRURT – FAO Representation in Tanzania
Job Type: Non-staff opportunities
Type of Requisition: NPP (National Project Personnel)
Grade Level: N/A
Primary Location: Tanzania, United Republic of-Dodoma
Duration: 1 year renewable
Post Number: N/A
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

  • FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
  • Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
  • Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO’s values
  • FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination  
  • All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
  • All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

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

  • FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
  • Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
  • Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/  
  • For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/ 
  •  Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. 

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions. 

How to apply

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
•  We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT