Fisheries Technical Specialist – Mogadishu, Somalia

Project Background:

The USAID/Somalia Inclusive Resilience in Somalia (IRiS) Program will build social, economic and climate resilience in Somalia, including by promoting and facilitating drought-resistant agriculture, livelihood diversification for rural and urban households, and robust private sector engagement that helps expand inclusive economic opportunities for marginalized groups. IRiS will provide targeted support to fisheries sector in Somalia to strengthen resilience to climatic shocks and integrate and supply opportunity for populations that have long been neglected or underserved as essential participants in local markets and economies.

Position Summary:

The Fisheries Technical Specialist (FTS) will play a key role in advancing the productivity and competitiveness of Somalia’s fisheries sector through the application of innovative and catalytic programming approaches that will bolster the long-term resilience of marginalized communities dependent on the sector for livelihood. The Fisheries Technical Specialist will be responsible for fostering collaboration and partnerships with multiple actors in the fisheries sector and will design and lead on activities that leverage private sector investment to enhance employment and livelihood opportunities for marginalized fisherfolks. Leveraging private sector investment will include facilitating direct linkages between fisheries enterprises and financial services providers.

The FTS will also work with the private sector and relevant government institutions to improve the quality and standards in the Somalia fisheries sector to promote both local trade and exports to high-end markets. S/he will work in concert with all IRiS technical leaders to identify opportunities for cross-sectoral coordination on an ongoing basis and throughout the lifetime of the Program.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the guidance of the Economic Agency and Inclusion Lead, identify fisheries priority areas and develop programmatic strategies relevant to marginalized fishing communities across the GFZ

Support design, implementation, and reporting of workplan activities related to fisheries, with particular focus on strengthening economic agency of marginalized groups and inclusive economic opportunities.

In close consultation with senior managers across IRiS, support the fisheries sector initiatives, including those related to mobilizing private investment that supports economic opportunity for marginalized groups

Identify priority areas for strategic fisheries related research in key target areas and themes and provide management advice and disseminate results to inform decision and policy making process in the fisheries sector.

Help develop and implement a policy engagement and outreach strategy to advance policies across IRiS core geographies that encourage innovation and help to catalyze the uptake of new technologies that support the growth of the fisheries enterprises among marginalized groups and de-risking Somalia’s environment for domestic and international investments

Participate in technical and sectoral meetings and working groups to develop and maintain relationships with government agencies and fishing sector groups – including national and regional economic development agencies, economic thought-leaders, chambers of commerce, sector associations, women’s’ business groups, training and academic institutions, and others – which themselves have an interest in promoting broad-based fishing sector development that supports marginalized communities.

Provide management and technical leadership with respect to developing private-sector fisheries partnerships that can (a) tangibly help marginalized citizens overcome entrenched barriers to economic participation and success; and (b) strengthen access to finance (including value-chain finance) and other capital among marginalized groups

Work across technical divisions (including those dedicated to climate-resilient agriculture, economic agency and inclusion, and economic empowerment of IDPs) and grant-management teams to ensure achievement of program and workplan targets in a holistic way

Lead stakeholder capacity-building initiatives on fisheries sector engagement in sectors of particular interest to marginalized communities (ie energy, climate-resilient crops, etc.), value-chain finance, and other relevant topics

Coordinate and oversee the preparation of contractual reports and communication pieces

Provide programmatic and substantive expertise on issues and hold substantive discussions with the representatives of other institutions

Other tasks as assigned by the Team Leader’s supervisor.