Regional Coordinator (FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific)

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the ADG/RR FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and the technical guidance of the Senior Fishery Officer (RAPI) and the functional guidance of Departments and Independent Offices at Headquarters, the Regional Coordinator will lead the RCU team in implementing the BOBLME Project as well as act as Secretary to the Project Steering Committee (PSC). Specifically he/she will:

• Serve as the FAO’s Lead Technical Unit (LTU) point of contact with the BOBLME Project with a scope that addresses a vast number of environmental and fisheries concerns and be responsible for overall programme functioning and performance in an administratively complex environment;
• Recruit, manage and supervise human resources allocated to the RCU and liaise and work closely with the BOBLME’s National Coordinators in participating countries
• Liaise with the current PSC chairperson and act as the Secretary for all PSC meetings and activities, including preparation of documents and the reports;
• Develop and maintain regular contacts and partnership with appropriate national and regional agencies and groups) in participating countries ( e.g.: National agencies responsible for fisheries and environment; Bay of Bengal Programme-IGO; NGO’s competent in coastal fisheries; other GEF/UN related projects dealing with coastal and maritime issues and regional coordination processes covering fisheries, marine environment and coastal livelihoods to ensure effective implementation of BOBLME supported activities under his/her responsibility at the national and regional level;
• Coordinate the design of a project system and exercise overall management responsibility of the regular monitoring and review of the execution of the components and subcomponents;
• Ensure preparation and submission of Annual Work Plans as well as the project’s financial and technical reports as required;
• Represent the project in relevant meetings and conferences and facilitate coordination and integration where appropriate beneficial to the achievement of the Project’s objectives;
• Maintain overall responsibility for proposals and bidding documents, terms of reference and performance contracts for consultants hired under the responsibility of the RCU.

Requirements and Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in environmental management or natural sciences;
• Extensive relevant professional experience in the marine sector;
• Demonstrated experience in the management of multi-country projects, preferably in the BOB region;
• Working knowledge of English.
• Extent and relevance of experience in planning, implementing and coordinating large complex projects related to natural resources management in developing countries;
• Proven capacity as a team leader and ability to supervise a team;
• Familiarity with UN agencies’ field programmes, procedures for project implementation;
• Experience in working with international donors including bilateral donors;
• Experience in managing multi-donor projects;
• Experience in preparing project technical and financial reports for international donors;
• Experience of working with inter-governmental arrangements, (in particular in the area of policy development);
• Proven capacity to work with and establish working relationships with medium to high-level government and non-government representatives;
• Experience in working in the BOB region and knowledge of its network of BOBLME relevant regional institutions;
• Knowledge and experience in broad aspects of natural resources management in developing countries and ability to analyze related technical information;
• Solid and demonstrated understanding of the technical aspects of the field of fisheries and/or the marine environment.

Closing date for application:

18 October 2008

For more information, visit http://www.fao.org/VA/PROF/Project/REGIONAL/RAP/RAPI_274_08_PRJ.htm