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Small - Scale Fisheries Officer WWF Cape Town, South Africa

Small-scale Fisheries Officer, WWF-SA, Cape Town

The unsustainable harvest of the world’s oceans has led to the depletion, and in some cases collapse, of many of the world’s major fish stocks. While the outlook for these threatened marine ecosystems remains bleak in the face of unsustainable fishing practices, those involved in the seafood industry are realising that by changing the way they conduct business now, the long-term viability of their industry can be ensured. In South Africa, many of the inshore fisheries resources are severely over-exploited as a result of historical overfishing and the increasing demands being placed on these resources by growing coastal populations. The recovery of these resources is threatened by a number of challenges including limited management capacity, high levels of poverty and unemployment and a lack of market opportunities for coastal fishing communities to maximise the value of their catches. Given the precarious state of South Africa’s inshore marine resources and the importance of these resources in providing for coastal communities food security and on-going livelihoods, it is critical to address the challenges facing this sector. In order to address these challenges, WWF-SA is seeking to appoint a Small-scale Fisheries Officer. The successful candidate will join WWF’s Seafood Market Transformation programme and will be responsible for the development and implementation of small-scale Fisheries Improvement Projects (FIP) focused on developing market incentives for small-scale fisheries in South Africa.

JobTitle
Small-scale Fisheries Officer
Company
WWF-SA, Cape Town, South Africa
Company Profile
WWF South Africa is a solution-driven organisation that constructively engages with government, companies and individuals to meet our goal of a sustainable future in which people live in harmony with nature. In over 40 years of conservation work in South Africa, WWF has increasingly played a leading role in facilitating the attitudes of people, business and government towards the environment which has resulted in tangible and lasting conservation outcomes.
Location
Cape Town
Category
NGO management | services to NGO | environment | nature conservation | science | marine | oceanography | rivers | fisheries | science | research | conservation | fundraising | marketing | public relations | proposals
Region
Southern Africa | South Africa
Contract
full-time
Duration
permanent
Extra Benefits
Salary Based on Experience
Job Description
Key Responsibilities
The Small-scale Fisheries Officer will be responsible for the following actions:

1. Coordinate the development of market-based fisheries improvement projects for small-scale fisheries in South Africa, under the strategic and technical oversight of the Seafood Market Transformation team:
o Contribute to the development of a sustainable business model to link small-scale fisheries under improvement to commercial seafood partners

2. Establish small-scale fisheries improvement projects, initially in at least 2 pilot sites nationally:
o In collaboration with relevant partners, identify at least 2 pilot sites in appropriate small-scale fishing communities for small-scale fisheries improvement projects.
o Initiate and hold stakeholder workshops with identified small-scale fishing communities and other relevant partner organizations.
o Develop and facilitate relationships between WWF-SA, small-scale fishing communities and other relevant partner organizations (eg. Retailers, suppliers, conservation agencies).
3. Coordinate and manage the implementation of small-scale fisheries improvement projects at pilot sites:
o In collaboration with consultants, benchmark identified small-scale fisheries against environmental and social accountability eco-labelling standards.
o Coordinate stakeholder workshops to develop agreed-upon improvement workplans to address relevant environmental and social issues.
o Ensure the on-going implementation of ‘improvement workplans’ with identified small-scale fishing communities and other relevant partner organizations.
o Maintain an effective monitoring and reporting system for small-scale fishery improvement projects.
4. Contribute to a strong partner-based approach to addressing conservation and development issues in the small-scale fisheries:
o Stay up-to-date with emerging knowledge, issues and policies relating to small-scale fisheries and market-related conservation initiatives.
o Ensure effective linkages with other WWF Programmes and other relevant organisations working in the field.
5. Perform further duties as specified by the Manager: Seafood Market Transformation including inter alia:
o Facilitate the implementation of other WWF projects within the small-scale fisheries sector.
o When appropriate, act as a representative spokesperson for WWF South Africa’s small-scale fisheries work.
o Contribute to fund-raising efforts to develop WWF’s small-scale fisheries work.

Skills/Requirements
• A tertiary qualification in an appropriate field, preferably in the natural or social sciences with particular emphasis on social development and environmental education (knowledge around marine conservation and small-scale fisheries will be advantageous);
• The successful candidate must be skilled in communications (written and verbal) with strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills
• Experience in dealing with rural communities and enterprise development
• Self-motivated, with strong administrative and project management skills
• At least 2 to 3 years’ experience in multi-disciplinary project management and multi-stakeholder initiatives in the natural resource management field
• Experience with environmental/social standard principles and auditing processes would be advantageous;
• Passion for the conservation of nature and the involvement of people and businesses in the implementation of practical solutions to the challenges facing the marine environment;
• Collaborative spirit and ability to work in team settings across cultures and internally within a diverse institution;
• Strong negotiation abilities are required to develop and nurture effective partnerships with relevant communities, retail businesses, NGOs and provincial/government departments.
• Computer literacy in MS Office (MS Word), spread sheets (Excel), email and presentations (MS PowerPoint);
• Excellent communication skills in English and at least one other language, Afrikaans or Xhosa
• Valid driver’s license and own transportation essential

Further Information:
To apply for this position, please provide a detailed CV and covering letter fully motivating why you should be appointed, together with the names, current e-mail addresses and telephone numbers of three relevant references. Applications close on 24 August 2012.

WWF seeks to promote diversity among its staff. Candidates who have not received a response within three weeks of the closing date are kindly requested to assume that their application has not been successful in this instance. WWF-SA reserves the right not to fill this position.
Education (min)
Professional/Trade Certificate
Experience
At least 2 to 3 years’ experience in multi-disciplinary project management and multi-stakeholder initiatives in the natural resource management field
Language (min)
English
Advert Date
started on 16 Aug 2012 | ending on 15 Sep 2012

To Apply:
http://www.ngojobsonline.com/Job_116_Small-scale+Fisheries+Officer.html?FromHub=devnetjobs.org