Mozambique: National Fisheries Social Specialist

Dec 13, 2021 | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security.

The FAO sub-regional office for Southern Africa (SFS) has been supporting a number of interventions linked to the Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC). The SWIOFC Nairobi Convention partnership project (SWIOFC-NC PP) also entitled ''A Partnership for Marine and Coastal Governance and Fisheries Management for Sustainable Blue Growth'', will support through the SWIOFC and Nairobi Convention (NC) and its countries, collaboration between fisheries and environment sectors. The project has three components/outcomes: i) Resilience of livelihoods based on WIO marine and coastal ecosystem and habitats enhanced; ii) Coastal fisheries are sustainably managed using the ecosystem approach to fisheries; and iii) Coordination between fisheries and environmental management institutions enhanced at national and regional levels.

Mozambique has been selected as one of the three countries to implement pilot projects, on which lessons learnt will be shared with the wider region. In order to achieve the project objectives, two sites have been selected – Maputo Bay and Limpopo River Mouth to implement demonstration activities involving coastal and fisheries communities. As part of the project inception phase, a baseline study was carried out in Maputo Bay (Machangulo, Inhaca, Ka-Tembe, Macaneta and Muntanhane) and Limpopo River Mouth (Zongoene and Mahilene), in a view to, among others, collect preliminary socio-economic and gender-related data.

As part of Component 2, Output 2.1. on Livelihood support (activities 2.1.1 up to 2.1.5) in liaison with Component 1, Output 1.4. on Climate Change adaptation for coastal communities, the project seeks to identify necessary interventions for livelihood support of youth, women and men as part of the strategy for climate change adaptation and trade-off in the implementation fisheries management plans compliant with the EAF, as well as reinforcing critical habitats protection, restoration and management interventions in the area.

Technical Focus

The main purpose of the consultancy is:

  • To analyse social context and identify target groups and arrangements for successful livelihood interventions for women, youth and men in coastal fishing communities to address trade-offs in the implementation EAF fisheries management plans and critical habitats protection, restoration and management interventions, and to adapt potential climate change impacts;
  • To design and coordinate an effective participatory process for the development of selected livelihood interventions in the target communities, incorporating implementation of gender strategy approach.

Tasks and responsibilities

The consultant will deliver a participatory study and practically support the planning and initiation of interventions for improved alternative livelihoods in targeted communities in support of the implementation EAF fisheries management plans, critical habitats protection, restoration and management interventions, and climate change adaptation. Collaboration with other SDAE, IDEPA, MIMAIP, MTA and Nairobi Convention partners and different projects to be reflected in the discussion with the communities. The Fisheries Social Expert will undertake the following duties:

  • Collect primary and secondary data relevant for the study;
  • Describe and analyze the socio-economic context of the use and management of marine and coastal resources in the project sites (Maputo Bay and Limpopo River Mouth), including social groups, local practices, power relations and structures, specifically highlighting gender and youth;
  • Design and undertake consultations with target communities, groups, local authorities and relevant stakeholders, that access key target groups;
  • Facilitate a workshop / training to discuss results of the activities and options for future work with communities in the implementation of the pilot operations for new/improved products and services;
  • Conduct a stakeholder analysis, gender and youth needs assessment along the fisheries/coastal resources value chain and external to it in the selected communities in the project sites;
  • Develop and apply criteria and process to select target beneficiaries of livelihood interventions to fulfill project aims while ensuring sustainable results and longevity of interventions in the local social contextIdentify and design interventions for livelihood support of youth, women and men, on the basis of the social analyses, considering as a strategy for climate change adaptation and trade-off in the implementation fisheries management plans compliant with the EAF, as well as reinforcing critical habitats protection, restoration and management interventions in the area;
  • Identify possible new/improved products or services that can provide benefits to youth, women and men in small-scale fishing communities, and marketing strategies;
  • Design and organize participatory workshops to discuss recommendations for livelihoods interventions work with communities, target groups and other relevant stakeholders;
  • Contribute with social indicators and approaches to a monitoring and evaluation framework for assessment of the success of pilot operations (baseline, indicators, etc.);
  • Contribute to a participatory design of training programs for the target focus groups in the communities involved in the project implementation, including training materials and support to business plan implementation in pilots;
  • Contribute to the preparation and submission of a report on the recommended livelihood interventions for review by the project team and endorsement of the proposed livelihood options by the local authorities and communities;
  • Contribute to a policy brief highlighting key results from the livelihoods analysis and pilot initiation.

Candidates will be assessed against the following:

Minimum Requirements

  • Education in social sciences or related field, preferably with an emphasis on rural development, natural resources management, fisheries management, and/or related fields;
  • At least five (5) years of working experience in coastal management, fisheries, community-based management or related field in Mozambique (or in other countries of the Western Indian Ocean);
  • Verbal fluency and proven experience in research and report writing in English and Portuguese;
  • Fluency in local languages spoken at the project sites are an advantage.
  • National of Mozambique or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

Technical/Functional Skills

  • Knowledge of Mozambique fisheries legislation and governance;
  • Experience working on gender and youth related studies;
  • Proven experience in designing and coordinating participatory community consultations/co-design processes;
  • Knowledge of social analysis tools and approaches for community interventions, preferably in the context of and coastal livelihoods;
  • Proven experience in designing and coordinating participatory community consultations/co-design processes.

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/

How to Apply


To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. Only applications received through the recruitment portal will be considered.


Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile.

If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org