Fishery Specialist

Position details

• Vacancy number: 2601897
• Opportunity type: Non-staff opportunities
• Grade / contract type: PSA (Personal Services Agreement)
• Organizational unit: FNTUN - FAO Representation in Tunisia
• Duration: 35 days
• Application deadline: 29/Sep/2026, 10%5C:59%5C:00 PM

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

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

• 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
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO's 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's commitment to the sustainable management of aquatic resources and resilient fisheries is integral to its strategic objectives and operations.

Within the framework of the Advancing Sustainable Blue Crab Fisheries in Tunisia through “Expansion of social protection coverage and adequacy for the fisheries sector” (BLUE STEP) project, implemented by FAO in partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the Fisheries and Ecosystem-Based Management for the Blue Economy of the Mediterranean (FishEBM MED) project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by FAO and executed by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), FAO is supporting the collection of harmonized socioeconomic information on the blue crab fishery in Tunisia to strengthen fisheries management and value chain analysis.

The position will contribute to the implementation of socioeconomic surveys on the blue crab fishery in Tunisia (GSA14), covering both the blue swimming crab (Portunus segnis) and the Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), under the technical guidance of FAO and the GFCM.

Reporting Lines

The National Fishery Specialist reports to the FAO Representative in Tunisia and the relevant FAO HQ and GFCM technical officers.

Technical Focus

Provides technical assistance for the planning, coordination and implementation of socioeconomic surveys and data collection activities through comprehensive database to support blue crab value chain analysis in Tunisia.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Prepare the local language translation of the questionnaire to be used during the fieldwork;
•    Assist in the development of a sampling strategy with the support of the GFCM Secretariat and operational plan for field implementation;
•    Perform at least 70 interviews with blue crab fishers for selected fishing vessels in the main ports landing blue crab in GSA 14, using the adapted GFCM/FAO standards survey (provided by the GFCM Secretariat);
•    Compile data in electronic format according to given template and provide the raw data to the supervisors;
•    Support the GFCM Secretariat in carrying out socio-economic data quality control and analysis, as necessary;
•    Assist in the coordination with the Seafood Value Chain Analysis Specialist through providing technical support to integrate fishing-sector socioeconomics information into the comprehensive value chain flow diagram and analysis; Where feasible, the questionnaire exercise will also collect relevant information on supporting actors (e.g. gear makers and other service providers) to identify their roles and linkages within the fishery.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  
 

•    Advanced university degree in fisheries sciences or a related field
•    At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in fisheries management assessments, socioeconomic surveys implementation, fisheries research, or related fields, including demonstrated experience in conducting field data collection and data analysis in the fisheries sector
•    Working knowledge of English and French
•    National of Tunisia or resident of the country with a valid work permit

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Proficiency in statistical and data analysis software
•    Experience with statistical packages such as R, Stata, SPSS, or other equivalent data analysis software
•    Excellent understanding of current national food security and fishery policies and practices in Tunisia
•    Be familiar with the socioeconomic questionnaire, its structure, sections and sampling strategy
•    Proficiency in database management
•    Strong analytical and conceptual skills and ability to work on group
•    Excellent writing skills and ability to synthesize
•    Experience working with UN agencies is an advantage
•    PhD is an asset

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications.
• For other issues, 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. 

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

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