Interim WorldFish Lead – Cambodia

Position: Interim WorldFish Lead – Cambodia

Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Application Deadline: 13 March 2022

Type of contract: 01-year fixed-term contract (option to renew based on performance and budget)

Language(s) required: English (native/fluent writing and oral skills)

About WorldFish

WorldFish is an international, non-profit research and innovation organization reducing hunger, malnutrition and poverty across Africa, Asia and the Pacific. For over 45 years, our work on sustainable aquaculture and fisheries has improved the lives of millions of women, men and youth.

Fish and other aquatic foods grown in and harvested from oceans, lakes, rivers and ponds provide income for more than 800 million people and provide 3.3 billion with 20% of their animal protein intake. Our focus on sustainability makes sure that the way we produce and use these foods today means a plentiful future of generations to come.

Our evidence-based solutions range in scale from households to global policies and spans across six interlinked themes: nutrition, gender, climate, sustainability, economy and COVID-19.

We champion aquatic foods for healthy people and planet and believe that a sustainable blue planet of well-nourished children, women and men is within our reach.

About the Position

The Interim WorldFish Lead – Cambodia (WLC) will be responsible for the overall country operations. Supporting the Regional Director of South East Asia & the Pacific (SEAP), the post holder will ensure the smooth running of the country office and engage with the Cambodian Government, donors funding work in Cambodia and other key stakeholders. There will be interactions with other CGIAR entities and as appropriate with other One-CGIAR Regions e.g. Asia.

The post holder will bring comprehensive technical, policy and program management expertise to coordinate the planning, development and implementation of programs, projects, products and services in accordance with regional, country and research program objectives. Furthermore, the incumbent will be co-responsible for WorldFish Cambodia inputs on a number of One-CGIAR Initiative Design Teams (IDT) to design and assist with implementation of work packages. The latter will be implemented from Q2 2022 in line with the One-CG and WorldFish 2030 strategic priorities in the SEAP region.

The successful candidate will:

• Plan and lead Cambodia multidisciplinary research team inputs, leads and/or participates in organization-wide, cross-impact area/research program committees, project teams, and working groups and provides specialized expertise on technical networks and international/transboundary technical policy related to environmental flows within the Mekong River Commission Region.
• Develop technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks, and related methodologies, tools, systems and databases to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programs of work, projects, products and/or services.
• Design and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, innovative approaches and strategies, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications, and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical/policy/ specialist/advice and expertise.
• Collaborate in, provide technical backstopping to and ensure the quality/effective research and knowledge sharing activities such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information and learning materials.
• Promote cross-institutional cooperation/collaboration and research e.g., with IWMI, IRRI and other CGIAR centres, Charles Sturt University (fish passages work), FAO and others.
• Liaise with the ADB in Cambodia and other financial and development partners, government institutions, civil society organizations and community groups.
• Participate in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the 2030 WorldFish strategy.

Specific Functions

• Leads/coordinates and supports research on freshwater/marine fisheries and aquaculture at the Cambodia national and subnational levels; as well as the oversight of corporate functions.
• Scientific inputs on the Cambodia country program, not limited to, but with special focus in the areas of:

a) Participatory, action-oriented and collaborative research e.g., in Co-Managed fisheries;

b) Cross-scale governance approaches and institutional strengthening of community, state and civil society organizations;

c) Science, society and policy engagement and advice;

d) Capacity building of research staff.

• Co-leads WorldFish integrated approaches across the following priority areas:

a) Test and refine ecosystem-based water management and integrated production models;

b) Management of trade-offs between small-scale fisheries, infrastructure and land use;

c) Cross-scale governance mechanisms tested and refined to account for impacts of external drivers.

• Supports/technical backstopping of project managers to prepare work plans that align with;

a) The overall work plan of specific projects; and

b) Quality control regarding the implementation, evaluation and reporting on the same projects.

• Prepares annual or bi-annual progress reports against the work plan milestones and objectives, including gender-specific ones.
• Advises and trains as appropriate Government staff in fisheries management principles, tools and activities.
• Advises on TOR design and facilitates the recruitment and management of staff and consultants relating to the country program activities; supports the Regional Director on in-person functions for Cambodia as WorldFish Lead Cambodia.
• Supports the enhanced participation of cross-sectoral decision-making (e.g., risk assessment and suitability mapping processes, nationally, regionally and globally), identifying/developing technical advisory inputs as necessary.
• Produces training materials, scientific journal articles, technical manuals and policy briefs as appropriate.
• Participate in the WorldFish policy working group at regional level to;

a) Identify relevant policy contributions;

b) Critically review and collate relevant policies (including reporting into MEL); and

c) Prepare a synthesis of policy contributions.

• Contribute to WorldFish research quality enhancement through;

a) Participation in Animal and Human Research Ethics review board;

b) Participation in Research Quality group on MS Teams.

Key Requirements

• Master Degree with more than 20 years’ experience in senior technical and management work in aquatic systems, natural science, social or economic science.
• Proven ability to integrate, inspire and develop multidisciplinary teams and manage talent, with the strong commitment to promote diversity, knowledge sharing and staff development.
• Strong analytical skills and foundation in system research, with experience in economics, resilience and or environmental sustainability.
• Demonstrated program development experience.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills and ability to work collaboratively with people at all levels in a decentralized, respectful, multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary organization.
• Interdisciplinary technologist with excellent social and natural science skills and experience in capture fisheries, aquaculture and integrated aquaculture-agriculture systems.
• Excellent computer skills with working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word. Excel, Outlook & PowerPoint) and data analysis software.
• Ability to effectively communicate a common vision to diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Self-motivated and enthusiastic, with an ability to work independently.
• Minimum of 15 years’ experience in Asia and/or Southeast Asia.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as an agent of change, in order to build a unified CGIAR culture and dynamic, integrated and agile organization.
• Uphold the highest ethical standards by inspiring trust and treat all people with respect and personal integrity.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Fish stock assessment methodologies.
• Local language skills.

Salary & Benefits

This is an Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS) position and WorldFish offers a competitive remuneration package including comprehensive benefits including (but not limited to) housing allowance*, relocation and repatriation assistance*, dependent education allowance*, home leave entitlement*, comprehensive insurance coverage for staff and eligible dependents, and pension/provident fund contribution.

Note: Items marked are not applicable to staff recruited as Home Country Internationals (nationals of the country of posting). All benefits are subject to terms and conditions.***

Recruitment Process

The position will be based at the WorldFish Country Office in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Interviews are expected to be held in March 2022 and only shortlisted candidates will be notified and expected to attend the interview. The successful candidate should be available to commence as soon as possible for an initial one (01) year fixed-term contract, with a high probability of contract renewal depending on performance and funding situation. Due to the high volume of applicants for WorldFish positions, we appreciate all interest, but only shortlisted candidates will be notified.