International Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal Areas Expert
Duty Station: Kampot, Cambodia, with travels to Phnom Penh and other project sites as required
Duration: 14-person months covering up to May 2026
OBJECTIVE AND JUSTIFICATION OF THE PROJECT
The FAO-LDCF project entitled “Climate Adaptation and Resilience in Cambodia’s Coastal Fishery Dependent Communities”, (“CamAdapt”), with the objective “Coastal fishery-dependent communities adapt to climate change through strengthening coastal ecosystem and adapting their livelihoods” will help Cambodia’s coastal communities become more resilient to climate variability and change.
REPORTING LINES
The International Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal Areas Expert reports directly to the GDANCP of MoE, under the overall supervision of Mr. Suy Thea – Director of Marine Conservation Area of MoE and the National Project Director of FIA, and the International Technical Advisor (ITA) of the CamAdapt. He/she will work in coordination with the CamAdapt Project Management Unit (PMU), CamAdapt Consultants, MoE, and Technical Experts of FAORAP.
TECHNICAL FOCUS
Under the overall supervision of Project Executing Agency, CTA, and PMU in coordination with the international and national consultants/experts of CamAdapt will work in close cooperation with FiA/PMU and MoE, FAO representation in Cambodia, and FAORAP. The International Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal Areas Expert will play key role in climate vulnerability assessment and building capacities of national project staff through on-the-job mentoring. The International Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal Areas Expert is expected to play a lead role in all components of the project. The consultant will contribute to reviewing fisheries and coastal policies, lead country teams for the development of the vulnerability assessment for coastal community protected areas and community fisheries, and the development of a CFI and CPA monitory system, as well as guide the development of climate-resilient management plans of coastal protected areas and community fisheries.
- TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- The International Coastal Adaptation Expert will have a strong technical background in marine science, marine fisheries, climate science, coastal adaptation, or a related field, along with climate vulnerability analysis and mainstreaming in the fisheries and natural resources sector, particularly coastal fisheries and protected areas.
- Specifically, he/she will:
- Together with ITA, Climate Change Adaptation- Fisheries Livelihoods/Gender Specialist, national experts, and Senior National Specialist (SNS), leads overall technical review on fisheries and coastal policies to enhance climate-resilient fisheries and aquaculture investments (activity 1.1.1).
- Support to carry out a targeted and gender-differentiated Impact and Vulnerability Assessment for coastal fisheries and habitats (activity 1.1.3) with the community organizer and partnership expert.
- Together with international and national experts, leads the technical design and develops a Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan for coastal fisheries-dependent communities through multi-stakeholder consultations (activity 1.1.6).
- Facilitate the implementation of the participatory CPA monitoring system with key indicators when conducting the Rapid Vulnerability Assessment (stocktaking and monitoring changes, achievements, perceptions, priorities) together with the national climate change expert (activity 2.1.3).
- Works closely with the national GIS expert, national community organizer, and partnership expert to provide backing support in implementing the climate change adaptation and gender priorities of the CPAMPs and other protected area management plans (activity 2.2.1).
- Works with Fisheries Livelihoods/Gender Specialist and Ecosystem Restoration and GIS experts, national climate change expert and national livelihood and gender expert of CamAdapt, designs, and backstopping supports in participatory Rapid Vulnerability Assessments of coastal Community Fisheries, building on previous assessments and ensuring they are gender-differentiated along the coastal provinces of Cambodia (activity 3.1.1., linked to output 1.1. and 2.1).
- Works with international and national experts to lead the facilitation process of integrating community-based climate change adaptation and DRM initiatives into CFAMPs, following Ecosystem-based Adaptation considerations and also targeting CIP and CDP (activity 3.1.2).
- Support the development of community-based environmental monitoring systems (activity 3.3.3).
- Ensure the coastal DRM plans include fisheries-specific needs and enhance the current EWS/weather forecast system to address the needs of coastal fisheries together with a community-based disaster management committee (e.g., the Mobile Programme implemented by People in Need and Save the Children) (activity 3.4.2).
- Together with the climate change experts, support the implementation of the CamAdapt MEAL plan/framework for the project, including gender-specific indicators and targets, and ensure a link to ongoing government M&E systems (activity 4.1.1).
- Together with international and national consultants, support to implement the CamAdapt project communications strategy (activity 4.2.1) and the engagement strategy (activity 4.3.1).
- Carry out any other relevant duties as required in order to achieve the above tasks.
- Minimum Technical Requirements
- Academic Qualifications: A postgraduate degree in fisheries, marine sciences, or marine fisheries, with a clear focus on coastal adaptation issues, is essential.
- Professional Experience: A minimum of 15 years of demonstrable experience in designing, managing, and implementing fisheries and coastal adaptation projects, particularly those integrating climate change resilience, aquaculture, and coastal ecosystem management. Experience should reflect a strong track record of practical implementation rather than purely academic or policy-level work.
- Regional Expertise: Proven experience working within Cambodia’s institutional framework, particularly with the Fisheries Administration (FiA) and the Ministry of Environment (MoE), is highly preferred. Familiarity with regional fisheries and climate change policies across Asia is a strong asset.
- Technical Skills: Extensive experience with data analysis, policy development, and applied research in fisheries, aquaculture, and climate adaptation. Practical proficiency in modeling tools and impact assessment methodologies is highly desirable.
- Digital Competency: Proficiency in publishing software, data visualization, and other relevant digital tools is a strong advantage, particularly for producing high-quality reports, policy briefs, and research outputs.
- MoE Core Competencies
- Results Focus Teamwork
- Communication
- Building Effective Relationships
- Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
