The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of the Republic of Tanzania (GoT) have entered into a partnership agreement in order to improve the livelihoods of rural people through an intervention focused on smallholder aquaculture. Under this initiative, the Norwegian Development Agency (Norad) has made a commitment to pro­vide a financial contribution for the project, Advancing Resilient and Nutrition-sensitive Smallholder Aquaculture (ARNSA). The project goal is to reduce poverty and improve nutrition through increased aquaculture productivity and resilience of rural small­holder producers. The development objective is to increase incomes, build resilience and strengthen livelihoods of rural aquaculture producers.

The project aims to deliver on the following three interlinked development outcomes, backed with effective project manage­ment, monitoring and evaluation; (i) Smallholder aquaculture productivity and resilience increased through improved technol­ogies, inputs and farm-level innovations; (ii) Increased opportu­nities for youth and women through market Innovations, value creation, and food waste/loss reduction; (iii) Knowledge and poli­cy developed for sustainable and equitable aquaculture industry. The grant will support production and post-harvest innovations, generate knowledge and strengthen aquaculture extension, and enhance access to inputs, markets, technologies and re­duce post-harvest losses

The Norad grant-funded activities complement investments by IFAD and GoT to address the development constraints for smallholder aquaculture through the Agriculture and Fisheries Development Programme (AFDP). A total of 1,000 households, representing 5,000 people, will directly benefit from the grant, of which at least 50 percent of direct beneficiaries will be wom­en and 40 percent are youth. The targeted geographical area are the southern regions of Lindi and Ruvuma. The NORAD grant will be managed under the AFDP, with the Prime Min­ister’s Office (PMO) as the Lead Implementing Agency. AF- DP’s Programme Coordination Unit (PCU) will provide overall leadership and will be responsible for overseeing the planning, coordination and implementation of the grant’s activities, mon­itor progress and results and ensure linkages with government services and other service providers. The PCU is expected to report to IFAD on the implementation progress of the grant and achievements against the results framework at least biannually.

The Prime Minister’s Office wishes to recruit suitable candi­dates for the following positions in the project supported with the financial contribution from Norad.

Seaweed/Aquaculture Expert

The Seaweed/Aquaculture expert will be based at the Project Co­ordination Office in Lindi with expected frequent field travel to the project sites. Fle/she will provide technical expertise and support for implementation and management of seaweed/aquaculture in­terventions under the project, covering all stages from site selec­tion, inputs, production, product development and linkages to both local and international markets. The staff may also be assigned to support other aquaculture activities under the project. The Expert will be engaged on a one year contract with the possibility of exten­sion, based on satisfactory performance and continued availability of funds. The Expert will work under the technical guidance and re­porting to the Director of Aquaculture under the overall supervision of the Project Coordinator.

The main responsibilities of this position will be:

1. Work closely with MLF and LGAs to ensure the mainstreaming of Aquaculture, Seaweed and value addition interventions in the AFDP;
2. Develop and nurture a close working relationship with MLF and LGAs towards ensuring the Aquaculture, Seaweed and value addition related technical support is provided to AFDP;
3. Conduct capacity needs assessment and any other study to identify gaps for project interventions in seaweed;
4. Coordinate the production of technical training manuals and related capacity building materials,
5. Work closely with MLF and LGAs to develop annual work plans for AFDP interventions based on the project work plan and budget;
6. Support the establishment and strengthening of seaweed producer’s cooperatives and related organizations
7. Develop training modules on various aspects of best manage­ment practices for aquaculture, seaweed and value addition;
8. Facilitate training of trainers for extension officers on activities best management practices for aquaculture, seaweed farms and maintenance and value addition;
9. Together with experts from MLF, Regional Secretariat and LGAs to conduct capacity building on best management practices for hatchery operators, aquaculture, seaweed, value addition, feed producers and supply chain for various value chain actors in­cluding youth and women;
10. Establishment and capacity building/ training of seaweed farm­ers cooperatives;
11. Promote marketing of seaweed products by linking producers with reliable buyers;
12. Coordination and networking with other partners and stake­holders in the seaweed sector;

1. Facilitate establishment and operation of Fish Farming Field Schools and Aqua clusters;
2. Supervise interns (internship for youth aquaculture university graduates) engaged by the project to undertake research to address identified challenges in effort to increase aquaculture and seaweed productivity;
3. Facilitate identification of vulnerable fish farmers eligible for in­put package in collaboration with MLF and LGAs;
4. Promote diverse and underutilized species in aquaculture to provide nutrition and food options;
5.  Facilitate piloting of the concept of aquaculture 4 nutrition in schools;
6.  Timely prepare and submit accurate progress reports and other technical reports following project guidelines;
7.  Develop ToRs for the recruitment of consultants and other ser­vice providers that will support Aquaculture and seaweed as­pects of the project.
8. Work with multi-disciplinary team of Regional Secretariat, Dis­trict Facilitation Team and other experts to support aquaculture, seaweed, value addition and other fisheries activities which will bring the intended benefits to small scale producers, aquafarm- ers, artisanal fishers and seaweed smallholder farmers;
9.  Supervise the annual internal review process to assess the overall performance, outcomes, and impacts of the Program in respect of aquaculture, seaweed and value addition aspects;
10. Any other duty (related to the Programme’s activities) as may be assigned by the Programme Coordinator.

Academic qualifications, experience, skills, and attitudes:

• Master’s Degree in Fisheries, Aquaculture, Mariculture, Aquatic Science and related fields;
• Excellent understanding of seaweed value chain production and post-harvest activities, technologies and good industry practices;
• At least three years of experience of relevant and progressive experience at community, national or international level in man­aging seaweed, aquaculture projects, fish farm/hatchery/feed establishments;
• Willingness to live and travel to rural areas areas and interact with different stakeholders;
• Strong organizational skills, must have problem solving and decision making, negotiations, team management and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent communication skills, strong initiative and good judg­ment
• Good command of verbal and written in both Swahili and En­glish.

Other Requirements:

• Sound knowledge of policy and regulatory frameworks in Fisheries, Aquaculture, Seaweed and Value addition in the agricultural/Fisheries context of Tanzania.
• Demonstrated capacity to develop Aquaculture/Fisheries plans, execute and prescribe solutions to resource manage­ment problems, manage budgets and programs, as well as prepare reports;
• Must be familiar with Tanzania’s diverse agro-ecological zones including the different agricultural and fisheries systems and development needs;
• Experience in training, capacity building, knowledge of PRA techniques
• Excellent skills in written and spoken English and good com­puter skills, knowledge of local languages such as Swahili will be an added advantage;
• High level of computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Creative, innovative system thinker, with the ability to catalyze change.