Vacancy at Global Fishing Watch : Program Consultant, Central Africa

Global Fishing Watch is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing ocean governance through increased transparency of human activity at sea. By creating and publicly sharing map visualizations, data and analysis tools, we aim to enable scientific research and transform the way our ocean is managed. We believe human activity at sea should be public knowledge in order to safeguard the global ocean for the common good of all. Our ambition is to provide an unprecedented global picture of fishing activity by capturing the large industrial vessels responsible for around 75 percent of the global catch and developing our platform to track smaller vessels.

Global Fishing Watch is engaging a consultant for a program of work to improve transparency in fishing vessel operations and build a sustainable future for our oceans. Our team primarily works remotely, with representation in more than 10 countries.

Developments in Central Africa

Africa is central to Global Fishing Watch’s goal of increasing sustainability through greater transparency in fishing around the world. We are seeking to build on successful cooperation with governments by establishing partnerships at the national and regional level in key fishing regions. Central Africa is regularly estimated to be severely affected by illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. However, there are promising regional networks and initiatives focused on combating IUU fishing.

Global Fishing Watch seeks to engage key leaders and nations through these regional networks to promote the adoption of satellite tracking and data analysis through our platform, as a tool to support efforts that reduce IUU fishing. We are seeking to engage a consultant to play a key part in building on this momentum to establish and enhance relationships with government partners in Central Africa.

The Engagement

The consultant will be supervised by Global Fishing Watch’s West Africa Lead based in Dakar, Senegal.  The consultant will initiate, develop and oversee the effective cultivation of partners including key contacts in the region’s governments and fishery management organizations. The consultant will be the primary point of contact for Global Fishing Watch with governments across Central Africa.  The consultant will advance our goals for increased data sharing and application of our data to improve fisheries management and maritime security across the region.

The successful consultant will be able to articulate convincing narratives to improve transparency in fisheries across varied cultural and political contexts. An appreciation for governance challenges in African countries will be essential. The consultant will be comfortable cultivating relationships with high-level government officials, regional fisheries organizations and bodies, key non-governmental organizations and private sector partners.

The consultant must be fluent in French and English; additional languages spoken in the region are also helpful. The consultant will earn trust with peers and navigate the hierarchy within government agencies with care.

As a member of the global team, the consultant will contribute to the strategic direction as we grow our program in Africa. They must communicate openly with fellow members of the Global Fishing Watch team in a highly efficient, action-oriented, collegial work environment. The consultant will educate Global Fishing Watch staff, contractors and sub-grantees with their knowledge of fishing in the region, of IUU fishing and the fight against it. The consultant may be asked to assist with the development of local solutions to track small-scale fishing vessels.

Flexible working hours to accommodate calls across time zones are required.

The engagement will require frequent travel within the region, sometimes on short notice.

Principal Activities

Regional Representation

• Recommend national-level political strategy for Global Fishing Watch, identifying key decision-makers and stakeholders and finding the right messages and messengers to connect with them effectively;
• Engage specific partners and critics within government and intergovernmental agencies to advance the organization’s goals;
• Maintain an external network of advisors to seek input and feedback;
• Map policy landscapes, conduct scoping interviews and research new opportunities for Global Fishing Watch in Central Africa;
• Help to adapt Global Fishing Watch tools to the needs of potential partner governments;
• Help partner countries make the best use of the tools offered by Global Fishing Watch, for fisheries management and the fight against IUU fishing.

Coordination across Global Fishing Watch

• Identify and oversee contractors as needed;
• Coordinate with international staff engaged in regional events;
• Draft progress reports to the director and assist in measuring impact.

Global Policy and Communications

• Work with high-level representatives from the region to amplify their voice on the global stage, such as at the Our Ocean conference, events hosted by the United Nations, African Union or European Union and at regional fisheries management organizations and bodies;
• Support the global communications team in drafting and refining narratives, documenting success stories, and participating in media interviews in French and English;
• Advocate for transparency in fisheries and the Global Fishing Watch platform in conferences and international fora.

Consultant Background/Experience

Required

• Bachelor’s degree;
• Extensive relevant professional experience. This may include work with government or civil society in international policy, fisheries management or global development in Africa;
• Advanced interpersonal skills in relationship cultivation, including persistent follow up, flexibility and attention to detail;
• Experience managing contracts, budgets, and funding proposals with a high level of accountability;
• Experience collaborating with remotely located team;
• Excellent written and oral communication in English and French;
• Demonstrated ability to develop and move projects forward with a high degree of autonomy.

Learn more about the position : https://globalfishingwatch.org/work-for-us/?gh_jid=4314596003