Fisheries Officer - Tetra Tech

The purpose of the Ghana Fisheries Recovery Activity (GFRA) is to prevent the collapse of the small pelagic fishery sector in Ghana while improving supplemental livelihoods, resilience, and food security.

This activity seeks to improve supplemental livelihoods and resilience measures for fishing communities, particularly for women and youth; facilitate private sector engagement and market linkages in the fishing sector; strengthen government capacity in policymaking, regulation, and enforcement; strengthen improved science and research, including data for policy and management decisions; and empower key stakeholders to effect change. 

GFRA works in all four coastal regions with particular emphasis on ten sites:  Half Assini, Axim, Sekondi, Shama, Elmina, Mumford, Azizanya, Tema, Denu, and Keta.

JOB SUMMARY

The Ghana Fisheries Recovery Activity (GFRA) aims to prevent the collapse of the small pelagic fishery sector in Ghana while improving supplemental livelihoods, resilience, and food security. This Activity seeks to improve supplemental livelihoods and resilience measures for fishing communities, particularly for women and youth; facilitate private sector engagement and market linkages in the fishing sector; strengthen government capacity in policy-making, regulation, and enforcement; strengthen improved science and research, including data for policy and management decisions; and empower key stakeholders to effect change. 

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The Fisheries Officer will support the implementation of GFRA and GFRA partner activities related to fisheries, in particular, fisheries management interventions, co-management, and building capacity to apply scientific information in support of fisheries management.  The Fisheries Officer will mobilize key fisheries stakeholder participation in GFRA fisheries management activities.  
 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

The Fisheries Officer plays a major role to ensure the quality and timeliness of GFRA’s fisheries interventions. Specifically, he/she will:

• Support the implementation of national-level fisheries co-management processes including facilitating and supporting preparatory processes and meetings of the Science and Technical Committee (STC) and the Fisheries Management Operational  Committee (FMOC). 
• Support and facilitate GFRA efforts to establish subnational co-management committees including active participation and ownership by regional directors of the Fisheries Commission. Monitor GFRA grantee and subcontract support to sub-national co-management committees. 
• Support GFRA activities that support the implementation of the Marine Fisheries Management Plan including but not limited to a moratorium on new entrants, closed fishing season, and other access regulation efforts.
• Support fisher outreach and engagement efforts such as the Fisher-to-Fisher dialogues, community durbars, behavior change communications activities.  Ensure strong stakeholder participation in these activities.
• Support the organization of an annual Fisheries Science Symposium starting in 2023.
• Support GFRA efforts to establish marine protected areas.
• Maintain strong relationships with fisher stakeholders at GFRA sites.
• Ensure GFRA fisheries activities are closely integrated with other GFRA objectives such as livelihoods, gender, child labor and trafficking, and post-harvest improvements. 
• Support monitoring, evaluation, and learning of GFRA project performance and progress relating to fisheries management.  Provide inputs to quarterly and annual reports to USAID.
• Support the development of quarterly and annual work plans and budgets and ensure timely implementation of activities accordingly to approved budget levels.
• Other tasks as requested by the Fisheries Management Specialist or the Chief of Party.

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Required Skills or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in fisheries management or other coastal/marine resource management, law and policy, or another relevant field (Master’s degree preferred)
• 3 years experience in fisheries management or 8 years experience in relevant work.
• Demonstrated relative experience with USAID and/or other donor-funded projects of similar size and complexity.
• Demonstrated experience in community engagement and building relationships with fisheries stakeholders in GFRA sites.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, stressful environment
• Professional written and spoken proficiency in English required