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 is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.
FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country -level.
The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.
Specifically, FAO Country Offices:
(i)    advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
(ii)    provide technical assistance and deliver core services;
(iii)     assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation;
(iv)    position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and
(v)    ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

FAO is implementing two projects in Ghana: FVC/GLO/225/MUL ‘Implementing the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines for gender-equitable and climate-resilient food systems and livelihoods – Phase 2’ and GCP/GLO/1301/SWE ‘Enhancing equitable, climate-resilient and sustainable small-scale fisheries through the SSF Guidelines implementation’. The first aims to improve post-harvest practices in small-scale fisheries and empower women’s organizations for better livelihoods. The second focuses on strengthening community resilience, promoting biodiversity conservation, and climate change adaptation with a human rights-based approach, emphasizing equity and gender equality. These projects align with FAO’s Programme Priority Areas BP2 ‘Blue Transformation’ and BP4 ‘Small-scale producer’s equitable access to resources’ and contribute to SDGs 2.3, 5.5, 14.2, 14.b, 13.b, and 15.9.

The position is located in the FAO Country Office of Ghana.

Reporting Lines

The Small-Scale Fisheries Coordinator will report to the FAO Representative in Ghana, as well as to the project management team in HQ, which is hosted in the NFIFL (Equitable Livelihoods Team) of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division of FAO.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will oversee the implementation of the Small-Scale Fisheries project in Ghana, ensuring that activities are executed in accordance with the agreed workplans. This includes implementing the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines and developing the National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF), contributing to communication materials, and closely monitoring and reporting progress to headquarters.

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the supervision of the FAO representative in Ghana and the technical supervision of the Lead Technical Officers of the projects GCP/GLO/1301/SWE (FAO HQ) and FVC/GLO/225/MUL (FAO HQ), the Small-Scale Fisheries Coordinator will have the following key responsibilities:
•    Coordinate the implementation of the projects GCP/GLO/1301/SWE and FVC/GLO/225/MUL in Ghana, serving as focal point for the required interactions between implementing partners and other key actors such as national and regional governmental organizations and small-scale fisheries organizations from Ghana, closely following the recommendations of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). As such, the incumbent will:
o    Develop/revise work plans in consultation with the LTOs of the projects and national partners, ensuring coherence and coordination with activities implemented under both projects and with related relevant initiatives;
o    Ensure timely implementation of activities under the agreed workplans;
o    Contribute to the development of communication materials as required;
o    Closely monitor implementation of activities and report back to HQ through the agreed channel (e.g. quarterly progress reports, monthly virtual meetings, etc.), while supporting the HQ team in its reporting to the donor as required;
o    Participate in global/regional activities that may be implemented by HQ;
•    More specifically, with the technical support from the HQ team and building on previous stakeholder mapping, support the establishment of a National Task Team for the development and implementation of a National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF):
o    Support the formal establishment of the National Task Team for the NPOA-SSF;
o    Support regular meetings of the NTT;
•    Coordinate with colleagues in FAOGH as required for the effective implementation of activities, for instance with communications and operations colleagues;
•    Represent FAO in relevant meetings, events and fora that can be of relevance to the project and its activities;
•    Any other task related to the implementation of the project as required.

FAO Standards and guidelines:

•    Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes.
•    All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en
FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia
Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en 
FAOSTYLE https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en 
FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm 
FAO Names of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff).
•    Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  

•    University degree in fisheries biology, coastal development and/or social development in the area of fisheries or equivalent
•    5 years of relevant experience in small-scale fisheries
•    Working knowledge of English
•    National of Ghana

FAO Core 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 within Ghana and/or elsewhere
•    Extent and relevance of experience in small-scale fisheries
•    Extent and relevance of experience in fisheries-related and fisheries-relevant policies and legal frameworks.
•    Good knowledge of institutions and actors relevant to the small-scale fisheries subsector in Ghana
•    Good knowledge of and experience in project management

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION