Job description

Position: Coordinator of the Regional Monitoring Control and Surveillance Centre (RMCSC) of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC)
Duration: Initial 36 months with a probationary period of six months. Longer term role based on success of role and funding.
Working hours: Full time
Contract: Full time
Funding: Norad
Responsible to: Secretary-General of the FCWC

Application deadline: 31-03-2024

Background

The Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) established a Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Centre (RMCSC) in 2020 to support regional efforts by the FCWC Member States (Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria) to target illegal fishing operations and contribute to greater overall compliance with national and regional fisheries management requirements. Key priorities of the RMCSC are i) to monitor vessels active and fisheries operations in the region, ii) support surveillance operations, iii) serve as a capacity building centre to national Fisheries Monitoring Centres (FMCs), iv) to host the Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels (RRAFV) as well as the FCWC regional observer programme.

Article 01 of the FCWC Protocol for the establishment and operations of a Regional Fisheries Monitoring, Control and Surveillance adopted in 2019 describes the centre’s role while Article 3 provides an insight on the need for the centre to be led by a Regional Coordinator (RC).

The RC reports to the Secretary General of the FCWC and works in close collaboration with the FCWC’s technical Partners supporting the MCSCC. In particular this includes TMT the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), and others who are providing extensive support to the human, infrastructure, and institutional capacity building of the RMCSC.

Role

The FCWC is recruiting an experienced MCS practitioner in MCS with strong leadership and communication skills to lead the next stage of development of the RMCSC into a world class regional MCS centre. The successful candidate will head a dynamic team of staff from across the FCWC Member States. The Regional Coordinator will guide and oversee the staff of the RMCSC in the development of analytical outputs and delivery of technical support to countries across a variety of technical areas, including training of Fisheries Monitoring Centres personnel, development of intelligence and delivery of analysis on demand, and coordination of regional surveillance operations. This includes enabling collaboration between relevant partners, promoting cooperation with relevant regional and national authorities and institutions, pooling and analysing information, and building capacity. The Regional Coordinator will report directly to the Secretary General of the FCWC and will work closely with key external technical partners.

Primary responsibilities and activities

Under the supervision of the FCWC Secretariat, the RC will be responsible for directing the general activities of the RMCSC, including :

  • Make the MCS center operational,

  • Motivate center staff to work towards achieving the RMCSC goals,

  •  Promote collaboration between CRSCS, partners and local authorities,

  • Ensure the operations and effectiveness of the RMCSC in line with its mandate.

  • Oversee the quality and delivery of technical outputs from the RMCSC, including but not limited to intelligence reports, capacity training (internal and external), and support provided to Member State MCS operations.

  • Ensure that the RMCSC has access to and is operationalising all relevant tools, systems, data sources and equipment relevant to its operations.

  • Ensure the establishment and effective implementation of the Regional Record of Authorised Vessels

  • Represent the RMCSC with the FCWC region and internationally at a technical level, including liaising with specific identified parties.

  • Maintain active engagement with the FCWC member State national FMCs

  • Develop and oversee the implementation of annual workplans and budgeting.

  • Contribute to the drafting of reports on projects supporting the centre

  • Contribute to any other task that could lead to the smooth running of the RMCSC

Key requirements

  • Be a national of an FCWC Member State

  • University degree in natural resource management, environmental sciences, maritime law, fisheries resource management or equivalent degree

  • Proven experience (minimum 5 years) in monitoring, control and surveillance, maritime activities, maritime security, use of vessel monitoring platforms

  • Good experience in leadership, mentoring, capacity building and mobilization of partners and donors

  • Mastery of fisheries sector processes at national, regional and international levels

  •  Mastery of sub-regional, regional, and international legal instruments in the fisheries sector, particularly those relating to the fight against IUU fishing.

  •  Ability to be able to communicate in English and French

  • Strong oral and writing skills in French and English

How to apply

To apply to this position, kindly send a CV and an application letter to the following address:

jobs@fcwc-fish.org and secretariat@fcwc-fish.org

Application deadline: 31-03-2024