WorldFish Lead – Solomon Islands
Jan 25 2023
WorldFish seeks to create an inclusive world of healthy, well-nourished people and a sustainable blue planet, now and in the future. We provide research and innovation in aquatic food systems to support sustainable development and food system transformation toward healthy and resilient diets. Our2030 WorldFish Research and Innovation Strategy: Aquatic Foods for Healthy People and Planetoutlines our commitment to guiding the transition to more resilient aquatic food systems in three priority impact areas: Social and Economic Inclusion, Nutrition and Public Health, and Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability.
WorldFish Lead – Solomon Islands (WLS-I) will be responsible for the overall country operations. Supporting the Regional Director of South East Asia and the Pacific (SEAP), the post holder will ensure the smooth running of the country program. The country lead will work as part of an international team to coordinate and manage the Solomon Islands program functions within an international organization. WorldFish headquarters is in Penang, Malaysia. WorldFish in Solomon Islands operate offices in Honiara and Auki, as well as a research station at Nusatupe.
WorldFish supports the national priorities framed in the policies and strategies of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and co-design work to deliver research for development outcomes. The role of the country leader will be to manage and administrate the functions of the country program to enable impactful research that is integrated with our partner’s priorities. This includes being a champion for these partnerships. There will be interactions with other CGIAR entities and as appropriate with other One-CGIAR Regions e.g. Asia and possibly Americas (South Pacific).
The post holder will bring comprehensive 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. The incumbent will contribute to the implementation of the One-CGIAR Resilient Aquatic Food Systems program and assist with implementation a set of projects funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) in line with the One-CGIAR and WorldFish 2030 strategic priorities in the SEAP region.
Program Management:Overseeing the staffing and functions of the country program ensuring it’s integration with the organizational functions at WorldFish (HR, Finance, Procurement, Business development, Project management). The country lead will coordinate across several key functions of the international teams that service organizational functions, often liaising with headquarters in Penang, Malaysia, where these functions are located. In addition, the country lead advises on terms of references and facilitates the recruitment and management of staff and consultants relating to the country program activities.
Program Administration:Coordinating administrative processes in the country office together with the country team and WorldFish headquarters. The country lead will help clarify workflows and ensure national staff are able to carry out research efficiently, including timely reporting and administration of projects.
Country Strategy:Designing and leading the country strategy and operational plan together with the research team and in collaboration with key partners. The country lead will also oversee the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to follow up the strategy and liaise with WorldFish headquarters M&E team for reporting and learning activities. The country strategy is reflective of research initiatives and projects, so the country lead will also assist project leaders in the preparation of technical and financial progress reports to financers and WorldFish headquarters as needed.
Partnerships:Communicating and championing WorldFish’s work in Solomon Islands is an important role for the country leader, who will be expected to lead national partnerships through regular and committed communication and participation in planning meetings and events. In particular, the country lead will strengthen the collaboration and research integration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, the national host for WorldFish, as well as with Solomon Islands National University and Provincial Governments. In addition, the country lead will play a crucial role in supporting novel partnerships where aquatic foods can have a role to play in greater food system transformations. The country lead is therefore expected to actively promote cross institutional cooperation/collaboration and research with regional organizations, research centres, government and nongovernment agencies.
Research Impact:Collaborating in research and knowledge sharing activities such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information and learning materials. WorldFish’s overarching theory of change, “how we make our research count”, is through integration with partners that enable change. WorldFish is a research organization and the country lead will be supported by a team of national and international scientists that produce multi- and trans-disciplinary science and communications materials to be integrated with national planning for positive impact. The country leader contributes to training materials, scientific journal articles, technical manuals, and policy briefs as appropriate as well as acting as an advocate for WorldFish in local and international media.
Organizational Strategy:Participates in the international network of WorldFish country leads, which meets monthly to coordinate planning, share updates, and contribute to whole-of-organization strategy implementation. The country lead also supports the Regional Director SEAP on in-person functions for the Solomon Islands representing WorldFish, as well as in other processes associated to One CGIAR.
Resourcing:Participating in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the 2030 WorldFish strategy, drawing on established networks as well as identifying new research financing options.
