Job Posting: 14 April 2026
Closure Date: 29 April 2026, 12:59 AM
Organizational Unit: FRMOZ – FAO Representation in Mozambique
Job Type: Non-staff opportunities
Type of Requisition: NPP (National Project Personnel)
Grade Level: N/A
Primary Location: Maputo, Mozambique
Duration: 12 months
Post Number: N/A
Important notice: the closure date and time displayed are based on the date and time settings of the applicant’s personal device.
FAO states that it is committed to workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background, and culture. Qualified women, nationals of under-represented members, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The organization also emphasizes high standards of integrity and professional conduct, strict confidentiality, rigorous background checks for selected candidates, and zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. FAO further notes that environmental sustainability is integral to its strategic objectives and operations.
Organizational Setting
Mozambique’s marine and coastal ecosystems are under growing pressure from coastal development, overfishing, sand mining, dredging, pollution from land-based sources, climate change, rapid coastal population growth, poverty, inequality, and weak resource management systems. According to the announcement, the situation is particularly severe in large coastal urban areas and their surroundings. In the Greater Maputo Area (GMA), critical ecosystems such as mangroves, rivers, wetlands, seagrass beds, and floodplains will continue to deteriorate unless urgent and well-targeted conservation and adaptation measures are taken.
The post is linked to the project “Building resilience in the coastal zone through ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation (EbA) in the Greater Maputo Area.” The project aims to strengthen the capacity of vulnerable communities in the wider Maputo area to implement ecosystem-based adaptation approaches. It is being implemented by the National Directorate for Environment and Climate Change of the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries (MAAP), with the National Fund for Sustainable Development (FNDS) responsible for financial management and with support from the UNEP Climate Change Adaptation Unit (UNEP/CCAU). The project focuses mainly on mangroves, riparian and wetland areas, and floodplains. Its three components are: institutional and technical capacity strengthening for district, municipal, and national authorities; community-level capacity-building for sustained EbA interventions; and public awareness and knowledge to increase climate resilience through EbA actions.
To accelerate implementation, the Project Steering Committee recommended selecting a technically competent implementing partner to lead the community activities under Component 2. These activities include ecological restoration and protection of forests and mangroves, management of critical coastal habitats, alternative livelihoods, sustainable agriculture, aquaculture, rainwater harvesting systems, and community development in the municipalities of Boane, Matola, and Maputo, and in the districts of Marracuene and Matutuíne. Following a competitive process led by MAAP, FAO was selected as the implementing partner. A two-year work plan was then developed to implement agricultural livelihood activities in Greater Maputo and improve the food and nutrition security of vulnerable households affected by climate change, while laying the foundation for more resilient livelihoods in the future. In this context, FAO is recruiting a National Aquaculture Expert to coordinate all aquaculture and fisheries-related activities under the EbA project.
Reporting Lines
Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative, the consultant will report to the National Project Coordinator of the EbA project within the FAO Representation. The selected expert will also work closely with other FAO Mozambique fisheries projects, partner staff, and consultants, as required.
Technical Focus
The role covers environment conservation, fisheries management, aquaculture, technical analysis, and project-related services supporting the delivery of the Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA) project and its outputs.
Tasks and responsibilities
The selected expert will carry out the following duties.
a) Support to the EbA Project on sustainable aquaculture, fish sanctuaries, and livelihoods
The incumbent will serve as the main focal point for issues related to aquaculture, fish sanctuaries, and livelihood alternatives under Component 2 of the EbA project in Mozambique. The role includes supporting the preparation, management, processing, monitoring, and closure of Letters of Agreement (LoAs) and other required contracts and FBAs for project implementation.
The expert will also be expected to assess and propose environmentally low-impact aquaculture technologies, promote best management practices that reduce mortality and improve productivity, and establish protocols for measuring physicochemical parameters such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and nutrients to ensure suitable aquaculture conditions. In addition, the incumbent will develop technical protocols to monitor resource recovery, including biological indicators and community participation, in alignment with national fisheries policies and sustainable resource management principles.
Other responsibilities include identifying service providers and resource persons, helping identify target beneficiaries and government officials for training and support, with particular attention to women and vulnerable groups, facilitating community entry and stakeholder consultations, liaising with service providers at national, provincial, and local levels, preparing communication materials, drafting regular implementation reports, participating in virtual and in-person project meetings, and supporting dissemination of project results at national and local levels.
b) Support to the FAO Mozambique office in fisheries and the Blue Economy sector
Beyond the EbA project, the incumbent will support FAO Mozambique on fisheries and Blue Economy initiatives, especially in aquaculture. This includes helping design concept notes for project proposals, providing technical support for fisheries projects and initiatives, and supporting communication with partners, including government institutions and NGOs.
c) Communication support in close collaboration with the FAO Country Office Communication focal point
A notable feature of this role is its strong communication component. The selected expert will contribute to the project’s communication plan, including visual identity elements, messages, audiences, channels, visibility materials, innovation, media planning, field mission coverage, indicators, and budget where relevant. The incumbent will also be expected to provide regular, at least monthly, quality content in both text and images, and to produce at least one key communication product per month such as a video, podcast interview, article, or publication highlighting technical expertise, responsibilities, and project achievements while acknowledging donors and partners.
FAO Standards and guidelines
The announcement states that liaison with OCC will be maintained directly or through an agreed focal point to ensure compliance with FAO communication standards, message alignment, and appropriate review and clearance procedures. All communication materials must follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards and guidelines, including institutional branding, social media, terminology, country naming conventions, story guidelines, map standards, and logo policies.
Candidates will be assessed against the following
Minimum Requirements
Candidates must hold an advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in natural resources management or related fields such as fisheries, aquaculture, or biology. They must have at least five years of relevant experience in the environment, fisheries sectors, and/or climate change adaptation, demonstrate working knowledge of English at level C, and be a national of Mozambique.
FAO Core Competencies
The required FAO core competencies are:
- Results Focus
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Building Effective Relationships
- Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Selection criteria
Working knowledge of Portuguese will be considered an asset.
Additional Information
FAO notes that it does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. Only higher education qualifications obtained from institutions recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED) will be considered. Any appointment will be subject to medical fitness certification, accreditation, residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. FAO also reiterates its commitment to gender, geographical, and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through the official FAO recruitment portal. Candidates are expected to complete their online profile accurately and fully, including employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills. They are also requested to attach a letter of motivation to their profile before submitting the application. FAO specifies that only applications received through its recruitment portal will be considered, incomplete applications will not be reviewed, and applicants are strongly encouraged to apply well before the deadline.
Candidates may also be asked to provide performance assessments and authorization for verification of past and present work, character, education, military, and police records where relevant to employment qualifications. If technical support is needed, FAO directs applicants to its client support team through a one-time registration process. The organization also states that FAO is a non-smoking environment.
