Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to lead international efforts to defeat hunger and poverty around the globe. In line with the above mandate, and in response to needs of the country, FAO Gambia and The Gambia Government, the Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters Ministry received funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) through a project entitled “Climate Resilient Fishery Initiative for Livelihood Improvement in the Gambia” (PROREFISH Gambia).

The project is designed to strengthen the resilience of Gambian fisherfolk to climate change and enhance their livelihoods through the restoration of mangrove ecosystems to maintain fish and shellfish habitats, the development of climate-resilient fisheries infrastructure to reduce vulnerability and post-harvest losses, the introduction of improved processing technologies, and the promotion of sustainable aquaculture to offset the decline in capture fisheries.
Under component 3: Improved climate change adaptive capacities, Activity 3.1.1 focuses on strengthening sectoral institutions and policies and building capacity to respond effectively to climate risks. The project will strengthen collaboration and enhance the capacity of key institutions, including Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters (MoFWRNAM) and Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources (MoECCNR), to generate, analyse, and utilize climate-related data for informed decision-making.

To support these processes, FAO seeks the services of a qualified national specialist to support the design, coordination, and facilitation of training workshops, and policy dialogue platforms at national and subnational levels

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in The Gambia, the technical supervision of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO), ESM unit at HQ, with the direct supervision of the National Project Coordinator and close collaboration with the MoFWRNAM (Departments of Fisheries and Water Resources), the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources MoECCNR (Departments of Forestry and Parks and Wildlife), the incumbent (Facilitator) will design, coordinate, and facilitate training workshops, and climate policy dialogue platforms at national and subnational levels.

Technical Focus

The main objective of this assignment is to strengthen institutional collaboration, coordination, and decision-making among stakeholders in fisheries and aquaculture sector through climate policy dialogue, knowledge sharing, and improved capacities to integrate climate risks and resilience measures into sector planning and implementation.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Undertake review and familiarization of the PROREFISH project documents, GCF funding proposal, and relevant national policies, strategies, and regulatory frameworks to ensure a clear understanding of the project scope, objectives, and implementation framework.
•    Design, develop, and deliver training modules on climate risk assessment, vulnerability analysis, and the integration of climate resilience measures into sectoral policies, strategies, and planning frameworks.
•    Plan and facilitate national and sub-national workshops and capacity-building trainings, ensuring participation of stakeholders from the fisheries sector and related institutions.
•    Strengthen the technical and institutional capacities of staff from the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters (MoFWRNAM), the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources (MoECCNR), and other relevant agencies on climate risk management and adaptation planning.
•    Organize and coordinate capacity building sessions, and knowledge-sharing forums at national and district levels to promote awareness, collaboration, and policy dialogue on climate resilience.
•    Design and deliver capacity-building training on collaborative governance and institutional coordination for government and institutional representatives, focusing on inter-agency coordination, partnership building, collaborative decision-making, and effective stakeholder engagement.
•    Conduct knowledge management and evidence-based decision-making workshops to strengthen participants’ capacities in knowledge management, data analysis and interpretation, policy analysis, and the application of evidence, lessons learned, and best practices to support strategic planning and policy decisions.
•    Facilitate inclusive multi-stakeholder engagement processes involving public institutions, private sector actors, civil society organizations, and artisanal fisherfolk to enhance participatory decision-making and sector coordination.
•    Liaise closely with Food and Agriculture Organization, government counterparts, development partners, and key stakeholders to ensure effective planning, coordination, and implementation of events and capacity-building activities.
•    Prepare concept notes, training modules, workshop programmes, facilitation plans, and related technical documentation for all events and engagements.
•    Collaborate with the Project M&E to design and implement pre- and post-training assessments to measure participants’ knowledge and learning outcomes across the training modules.
•    Document proceedings, key discussions, lessons learned, action points, and recommendations arising from trainings, workshops, seminars, and stakeholder dialogues, and submit consolidated reports.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Climate Change, Environmental Management, Natural Resource Management, Fisheries Management, Water Resources Management, Public Policy, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or a closely related field.
•    At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in climate change, environmental governance, institutional capacity development, policy support, or related fields.
•    Working knowledge of English, and limited knowledge of one of any of the other UN Official languages
•    Fluent in any one of the local languages
•    National of Gambia

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Proven experience working with government institutions, particularly ministries and technical departments related to fisheries, water resources, environment, forestry, and fisheries communities on climate change in The Gambia.
•    Experience in institutional strengthening, organizational development, and capacity-building initiatives for public sector institutions and fisheries communities.
•    Demonstrated knowledge of climate risk assessment, adaptation planning, and mainstreaming climate resilience into sectoral policies and strategies.
•    Good knowledge of at least one local language spoken in The Gambia.
•    Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and virtual meeting platforms.
•    Familiarity with the United Nations System and/or other international organizations is desirable.

Selection criteria

• Demonstrated experience in designing and facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations, workshops, trainings, conferences, and policy dialogue platforms.

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.

Institutional Collaboration and Knowledge-sharing Specialist