Legal, Institutional And Policy Officer At African Union – InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources

The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), a specialized technical office of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE) of the African Union Commission, is mandated to support and coordinate the utilization of livestock, fisheries, aquaculture and wildlife as resources for both human wellbeing and economic development in the Member States of the African Union. The Vision of the AU-IBAR Strategic Plan 2018-2023 is an Africa in which animal resources contribute significantly to integration, prosperity and peace. Within the framework of the African Union 2063, the Africa Blue Economy Strategy environed an inclusive and sustainable blue economy that significantly contributes to Africa’s transformation and growth.

The first continent-wide intervention in the African fisheries and aquaculture was framed to address the following challenges: poor coordination among actors, lack of coherence in governance instruments and approaches, increasing incidences of IUU fishing due to weak capacity in the AU member states, weak evidence to foster reform, generally weak capacity and poor infrastructure, and lack of inclusive governance.

Towards the implementation of the Policy framework and reform strategy for fisheries and aquaculture in Africa (PFRS), the African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) implemented the EU funded Project ‘Strengthening institutional capacity to enhance governance of the fisheries sector in Africa, commonly called Fisheries Governance Project (FishGov 1)’ between 2014 to 2018. The FishGOV 1 facilitated development of synergies and coherence in fisheries management and aquaculture practices by aligning national and regional polices with PFRS; enhanced the profile of the sector as well as fostered coordination in the governance of the sector, among other achievements.

As a follow up of First phase of Fisheries Governance project (FISHGOV1), the second phase, also with EU support, “Enhancing sustainable fisheries management and aquaculture development in Africa: A programme for accelerated reform of the sector (FISHGOV2)’ is aimed at enhancing the contribution of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture to the achievement of the AU Agenda 2063’s objectives, notably in terms of food security, livelihoods and wealth creation.

The specific objectives are as follows: i. African Union decisions on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture policies are evidence based; ii. Fisheries and aquaculture policies in Africa are coherent with the PFRS and other AU priorities and coordinated at continental, regional and national levels and iii. Africa is adequately represented and effectively participates in international fisheries and aquaculture fora and ably domesticates relevant global instruments. For the implementation of this second phase, AU-IBAR seeks the services of a legal, institutional and policy officer (consultant) to assist in the implementation of the activities of the project.

Post

Job Title: Legal, Institutional and Policy Officer (Consultant)
Grade: P3 step 5
Duty Station: Nairobi, KENYA

* This position is subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

Job Description Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Fisheries Officer at AU-IBAR the incumbent will undertake the following targeted areas of work so as to achieve the objectives of FISHGOV2:

1. Support AU Member States to advance the African Voice within (a) international fisheries fora including Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction; (b) fisheries and aquaculture related fora of key standard setting organizations (c) participation in continent and global initiatives (including AIMS, Lome Charter, SDGs, VG-SSF, Africa Blue Economy Strategy)
2. In collaboration with the African Union Centres of Excellence for fisheries and aquaculture, strengthen the capacity of AU member states for informed adoption, implementation or ratification of fisheries and aquaculture related continental and global instruments
3. Strengthen capacity of AU Member States and RECs with definition and development of integrated approaches to the law, policy and governance of Africa Blue Economy resources and sectors.
4. In line with (a) the PFRS; (b) Africa’s Blue Economy Strategy; support AU Member States and RECs, on joint management of shared marine and inland fisheries and aquaculture resources, underpinning the legal and policy aspects of regional cooperation on shared resources management
5. In collaboration with the Centres of Excellence, assist the review of AU Member States’ fisheries and aquaculture laws and policies so as to domesticate continental and international fisheries law and internalize international best practices in fisheries and aquaculture (including support to mainstreaming fisheries and aquaculture in NAIPs (National Agriculture Investments Plans) and RAIPs (Regional Agriculture Investment Plans)
6. In line with the requirements of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement and in collaboration with the Centres of Excellence, enhance capacity of AU Member States and RECs, in legal aspects, for strategic value chain analyses, updating and harmonizing their trade policies, regulations, traceability and certification mechanisms
7. Work with the Centres of Excellence to rationalize and operationalizing stakeholder’s platforms and networks and develop or strengthen institutional anchorage to RECs or other regional and continental institutions.
8. In collaboration with the Centres of Excellence support development of mechanism to establish or strengthen collaboration among regional institutions in fisheries, aquaculture and related disciplines
9. In collaboration with the AU Centres of excellences, develop evidence-based governance sector knowledge products that inform African Union decision-making and practice in the targeted areas and with respect to EU-Africa fisheries relations
10. Support capacity building of AU member states and RECs on Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) issues, Minimum Conditions of Access to fisheries, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements etc
11. Perform all other duties as requested by the Senior Fisheries Officer and the Director of AU-IBAR

Qualifications and skills for a P3 position

The incumbent should have a Minimum of a Master’s degree in public international law, marine affairs, fisheries and aquaculture law and policy, environmental law and policy.

General Experience

1. Familiarization of fisheries and aquaculture sector in Africa
2. Record of familiarization of global instruments, processes and regimes relevant to inland water and ocean governance
3. Demonstrated evidence of familiarization and in-depth understanding of provisions of regional and continental instruments relevant to coastal and marine resources development (and blue economy as a whole)
4. Evidence of working with, institutional strengthening and supporting organizational capacity development of stakeholders’ platforms and networks in African food production systems
5. Demonstrated record of supporting implementation of projects and programmes and capacity building on policies, enhancing governance and institutions, partnership agreements in support of equitable investments in fisheries and aquaculture sector (or in African blue economy sector as a whole)

Specific Experience:

1. At least 5 years record of experience in formulating or supporting formulation or drafting relevant laws, regulations and MOUs in Africa fisheries and aquaculture sector
2. Experience in developing or supporting strategies, mechanisms and policies to enhance regional or intra-regional fish trade and investment promotion in Africa
3. Proven evidence of strengthening capacity of AU member states and regional institutions on implementation of global and continental instruments relevant to fisheries and aquaculture development
4. Demonstrated evidence of strengthening African common positions in fisheries and aquaculture related global fora
5. Evidence of developing appropriate mechanisms for institutional anchorage between regional institutions with mandates in fisheries and aquaculture sector in Africa

Skills and competencies

1. Good networking skills and ability to maintain positive and constructive dialogue and relationships with continental, regional, national and other stakeholders in Africa
2. Self-starter with the ability to strategically initiate, plan and complete their own work as well as lead, co-ordinate, engage in and complete team work.
3. Very strong writing, analytical and communication skills
4. Proficiency in at least two AU official languages

Deliverables:

1. African common positions supported in least 10 continental or global fora
2. Policies and legislations reviewed in at least 10 AU member states and 4 RECs for domestication of continental and global instruments
3. Mechanisms for institutional linkages developed or strengthened among regional institutions in fisheries and aquaculture or related institutions
4. The rationalization of stakeholders’ platforms and networks supported for effective role in policy related functions of the project
5. The capacity of at least 10 AU member states and 4 RECs enhanced for strategic value chain analysis, harmonized fish trade laws
6. Mainstreaming of fisheries and aquaculture in NAIPs and RAIPs supported
7. The capacity of AU member states strengthened for management of shared fish resources with particular references to policy, legal and institutional considerations
8. Knowledge products developed elaborating essential elements on Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements, Minimum Conditions of Access or Accord for regional cooperation on highly migratory and straddling stocks, the external dimension of the EU Common Fisheries Policy, etc.

Criteria for scoring

Criteria Scores (%)
Qualifications 20
General Experience 25
Specific Experience 40
Other skills 10
Language 5

Gender Mainstreaming:

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Duty stations:

The consultants will be stationed in Nairobi with travel on specific assignments agreed with the AU-IBAR Management.

Duration:

The effective duration of this assignment is 6 months. The contract would be renewable depending on availability of funds and satisfactory performance.
The selected candidate should be available to undertake this assignment on the 1st January 2022.

Remuneration:

The remuneration for this Consultancy is a fixed at P3Step 5 of the African Union Salary Scale, Monthly Payment after submission of satisfactory report.
Expenses for missions will be covered separately in accordance with the applicable African Union Commission rules and regulations.

Supervision and reporting

The candidate will be under the direct supervision of the project team leader (Senior Fisheries Officer) with oversight supervision by the Director of AU-IBAR. The team leader will have the responsibility of approval of reports

Evaluation Criteria:

The applications will be evaluated on the basis of the relevant technical qualifications, experience and competence of the candidates.