Seafood Value Chain Specialist – CARIBBEAN REGIONAL FISHERIES MECHANISM (CRFM) SECRETARIAT
CAF/FAO/CRFM/GEF – BE-CLME+ Project: Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus
TERMS OF REFERENCE
INTRODUCTION
According to the United Nations and the World Bank, the Blue Economy is seen as “both a concept and a practice that aims to promote economic development, social inclusion and equity, development of science and technology, and a continuous improvement of livelihoods. Moreover, the Blue Economy seeks to take into consideration the environmental protection of the ocean, seas and coastal areas, the health of the ocean and its ecosystems, and the sustainability of open ocean resources.” The growing interest of blue economy potential in the Caribbean provides a long-term and cooperative approach for addressing threats to the marine ecosystem and reversing losses of marine ecosystems services that underpin local and national economies.
CARICOM recognizes that blue economy opportunities is in line with the stated goal of ensuring food security having developed a regional food and nutrition security policy and that climate change impacts are a key issue to address for future development for all Caribbean SIDS. Among the key CARICOM priorities involving blue economy planning include: i) improve marine and coastal biodiversity and conserve ecosystem health; ii) scaling up SIDS Marine Protected Areas and Marine Management Areas Initiatives; iii) ecosystem restoration projects especially as it relates to mangroves, sea grass beds and coral reefs; and iv) building economic resilience in fishing communities and building capacity of communities to benefit from broader economic activities e.g. recreational activities, tourism-based activities.
One of the implementing agencies for this project is the Corporacion Andina de Fomento (CAF), also known as the Development Bank of Latin American. CAF is a development bank created in 1970, owned by 19 countries – 17 of Latin America and the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal- as well as 13 private banks in the region. CAF promotes a sustainable development model through credit, non-refundable resources, and support in the technical and financial structuring of projects in the public and private sectors in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Closely aligned with the broader CARICOM commitments is the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), one of the fisheries specialized institutions of CARICOM. CRFM was established in 2002 to coordinate and promote regional cooperation for sustainable use, management, and conservation of living marine resources and marine ecosystems and is the key regional fisheries body for the Caribbean. CRFM is an inter-governmental organization with its mission being to promote and facilitate the responsible utilization of the region’s fisheries and other aquatic resources for the economic and social benefits of the current and future population of the region. The CRFM has 17 Members States and three bodies – the Ministerial Council, the Caribbean Fisheries Forum, and the CRFM Secretariat. The CRFM has an extensive record of fisheries and marine conservation and management project implementation in the region and will be the Executing Agency of this project.
Another important regional player in fisheries is the Central American Fisheries and Aquaculture Organization (OSPESCA), the aim of which is to encourage the development and the coordinated management of regional fisheries and aquaculture activities, while helping to strengthen the Central American integration process, as well as strengthening global governance and the managerial and technical capacities of members, and leading consensus- building towards improved conservation and utilization of aquatic resources. The area of competence of OSPESCA extends to the national waters, inland waters and EEZs of its Member States, which are: Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. Two of the countries participating in this project are members of
OSPESCA: Belize and Panama. The CRFM and OSPESCA work together under a Memorandum of Understanding and a joint action plan to guide cooperation and collaboration between the CRFM countries in the Caribbean and OSPESCA countries in Central America over the period 2020 to 2025.
Another integral regional partner to the successful implementation of this Project is the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC). The general objective of the Commission is to promote the effective conservation, management and development of the living marine resources of the area of competence of the Commission, in accordance with the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, and address common problems of fisheries management and development faced by members of the Commission. All of the above project countries are also members of the WECAFC. Consequently, in the course of implementation of this project, there may be some synergy activities with some projects that are being implemented under WECAFC intersessional work. The WECAFC also has MOUs with CRFM and OSPESCA.
The Project “BE-CLME+: Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus” was conceived to strengthen blue economy opportunities through sustainable healthy coastal and marine ecosystems, address drivers to protect habitats and species, and sustainable biodiversity and fisheries management. The project will be implemented in Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Panama, and Saint Lucia for a period of 4 years from 2023-2027. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and is executed by the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) and the governments of the participating countries. The project’s objective is to promote blue economy development in the CLME+ through marine spatial planning and marine protected areas (MPAs), ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF), and sustainable seafood value chains. The three components are:
• Component 1: Implementing cross-sectoral Marine Spatial Planning (GEF: $3,844,119; Cofinancing: $26,461,550),
• Component 2. Inclusive Sustainable Fisheries Value Chains (GEF: $995,581; Co-financing: 7,746,046), and
• Component 3. Regional Coordination, Project Management & Knowledge Management (GEF: 1,168,300; Co-financing: 5,488,818)
A Seafood Value Chain Specialist (SVCS) is needed to work under the supervision of the BE-CLME+ Project Regional Project Coordinator. He/she will have direct responsibility for the planning, execution, coordination, and oversight of all activities necessary for the delivery of the following project outcome: New and strengthened national and regional seafood value chains supporting realization of blue economy opportunities and sustainable development goals. The Project Management Unit will consist of a Regional Project Coordinator, a Marine Spatial Planning Specialist, a Seafood Value Chain Specialist, and senior managerial and technical staff from the CRFM Secretariat. The Seafood Value Chain Specialist will be engaged as a CRFM Project staff and will be based at the CRFM Headquarters in Belize City, Belize.
SCOPE OF WORK
Technical Functions & Tasks (100% on Technical Components)
• Coordinate and oversee the successful implementation of all regional and national seafood value chain related workshops, including those addressing the incorporation of seafood value chains in MSP and BE Strategies and in National Policy, and in the protection of critical fish habitats (Outcome 1.1, Outcome 1.2, Outcome 2.1)
• Lead and oversee all processes and trainings in support of seafood value chains at the regional level and in participating countries for national and regional fisheries authorities, other regulatory agencies, private sector, and fisherfolk organizations (Outcome 2.1)
• Lead and oversee the identification of seafood value chain added-value opportunities, including market and economic feasibility (Outcome 2.1)
• Responsible for the overall delivery of project results, outcomes, and indicators relevant to seafood value chains (Outcome 2.1, Outcome 3.2)
• Provide direct and tangible inputs to the Knowledge Management processes of the project (Output
3.3)
• Contribute to preparation of the project’s progress reports and Project Implementation Reports (PIRs) by providing technical inputs. (Outcome 3.2)
• Participate in the project’s Mid-Term Evaluation and Terminal Evaluation as required by the external evaluators (Outcome 3.2)
• Assist with preparation of the Terminal Report.
Relationships
The Seafood Value Chain Specialist will:
• Be accountable to the Regional Project Coordinator for the achievement of project objectives, results, and all fundamental aspects of project execution related to the functions described above.
• Present technical report to the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) when required by the Regional Project Coordinator.
• Maintain an excellent working relationship with the TAC.
• Maintain regular communication with regional and national project partners interested in furthering the project outcomes under the responsibility of the Seafood Value Chain Specialist.
• Maintain a productive and coordinated relationship with the Marine Spatial Planning Specialist and other consultants hired by the project to ensure collective inputs across project components to optimize conditions for the delivery of planned results.
• Supervise the work of consultants and project partners relevant to seafood value chains.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Outputs of the Technical Functions & Tasks
• Timely and effective inputs to the elaboration of annual operational plans including procurement plan and annual budget of activities related to the functions described above
• Timely and effective inputs to the elaboration of Quarterly and bi-annual technical reports (Progress Reports, Project Implementation Reports)
• Regional, National, local and site level workshops and other monitoring meetings convened as needed and directly necessary to deliver the functions described above
• Terms of Reference for all consulting services to be outsourced in support of the seafood value chains objectives of the project, and in particular those linked to the incorporation of seafood value chains into MSPs and BE Strategies
• Supervision of experts/contract institutions as required to undertake tasks under the project associated with seafood value chains
• Trainings in support of seafood value chains assessment, development and incorporation in regional and national plans, strategies and policy
• Decision-support systems in support of seafood value chains
• Assist, as required, the CRFM Secretariat, Regional Project Coordinator and the independent evaluator (to be appointed by CAF) with the Mid-Term Evaluation and the Final Evaluation of the project
QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE
Qualifications
• Doctorate or Master’s Degree in fisheries economics, natural resources economics, value chains management marine management, fisheries science, fisheries development and management, or other relevant and related field
• Specialised training in Value Chains, and/or Blue Economy will be a distinctive asset
• A good understanding of fisheries, fisheries and seafood product development, marketing and trade, operation of fish processing and marketing enterprises /companies, public-private partnerships, biodiversity, marine protected areas, climate change, marine spatial planning, fisheries management, ecosystems-approach to fisheries management, monitoring, and evaluation
General Professional Experience
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience as a senior technical expert in a marine field in regional/transboundary projects and value chain analysis and development.
• Experience in the elaboration of value chains, market analysis and feasibility, fisheries development and management plans, and public private partnerships will be extremely valuable
• Experience in facilitating regional stakeholder meetings or discussions
• Experience working with regional or international partners
• Experience working in multi-lateral projects in Latin America and the Caribbean
• Ability to work with senior government officials, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and local communities
• Fluency in written and spoken English and strong communication skills.
• Fluency in spoken Spanish will be an asset
• Experience working with resource users across multiple sectors, especially in the fisheries and protected areas sectors, etc.
• A good understanding of environmental and social safeguards and gender issues
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The successful candidate will be employed on a contractual basis and stationed at the CRFM Secretariat, Belize City, Belize. Employment will be over a four-year or 48 months period. The initial contractual period shall be for one year, with option for renewal for three years, based upon satisfactory job performance in accordance with the contractual and human resource policies of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) as Project Executing Agency.
APPLICATIONS
Applications should be submitted in English Language with full curriculum details, including nationality, date of birth, work experience, educational qualifications, summary of professional skills and/or expertise, language proficiency, list of professional publications, contact information (including email addresses) of three referees (at least two of whom must be familiar with the applicant’s work), and other relevant information, should be addressed to:
Executive Director, CRFM Secretariat
Belize City, P.O. Box 642, Belize and send by email to: secretariat@crfm.int
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