Technical Officer

at  ZSL

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Philippine Rise Ocean Conservation Area (PROCA) project presents an opportunity for ZSL-Philippines to partner with the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), Fishery Management Area 1 Management Board (FMA1 MB) and Blue Nature Alliance (BNA) to catalyse the creation of approximately 150,000 km2 of new large scale MPA and measurably improve management of approximately 10,000 km2 of existing coastal MPAs by June 2027, through the following key interventions:

• EBSA to MPA Transition: Upgrade the Philippine Rise Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSA) to a LSMPA through a structured stakeholder engagement process, zoning, management planning, and legal designation by June 2027.
• MPA Governance: Stand up an FMA1 Management Office by June 2027 and develop institutional and technical capacity in governing FMA1, including management of the existing coastal MPAs and the proposed LSMPA.
• Monitoring and Surveillance: Develop monitoring, control, and surveillance capabilities for the FMA1 Management that will benefit existing coastal MPAs and new offshore LSMPA.
• Sustainable Financing: Assess sustainable finance options for the long-term management of the offshore LSMPA by June 2025. A potential Phase 2 engagement will be developed upon legal designation of the Philippine Rise LSMPA focusing on advancing the implementation of the selected sustainable finance model.

ABOUT US

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.
In 2010, the ZSL-Philippines Country Office was established as a duly accredited NGO registered under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a local branch of a foreign charitable institution registered in UK and holds its primary office in Iloilo City. Over the past 15 years ZSL-Philippines has gained ground in mangrove conservation ranging from in-situ rehabilitation projects, development of science-based planting protocols, reversion of abandoned, unproductive, and underutilized (AUU) fishponds, capacity building of local and national mangrove practitioners, and national policy advocacy on mangrove reversion and restoration of coastal greenbelts. Since 2013 ZSL-Philippines bolstered its work on seahorse conservation and locally managed marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Philippines especially in Danajon Bank, Bohol. MPA work expanded to other parts of the Visayas, and most recently in Siargao islands and Masinloc, Zambales. ZSL-Philippines implements freshwater conservation in northern Luzon particularly protecting the endangered Philippine eels from overexploitation. From 2018, ZSL-Philippines played an active role in the conservation of Palawan pangolins and its habitats, alongst side improvement of communities protecting them. The conservation of the endangered Mindoro tamaraw adds to its programme portfolio in 2023. To date, ZSL-Philippines has 36 staff based in its home and field offices and hubs: Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Tuguegarao, Siargao, and Masinloc with an annual budget of £200,000 per annum and supported with robust financial, human resources, and health and safety management systems.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The purpose of this role is to provide technical support for the setting up of FMA 1 Management Office, the implementation of the ZSL-PROCA Project particularly on I-FIT implementation, and other related administrative, training and logistical tasks.
The post holder will work closely with the DA-BFAR RO2/ FMA 1 Secretariat and the ZSL PROCA Manager to deliver the responsibilities and activities as noted within the Main Duties and Key Responsibilities section of this document. S/He will be based at the FMA 1 Management Board Office in Tuguegarao City with occasional travel to and from sites in the Philippines.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate with BFAR RO 2 and FMA 1 Secretariat and facilitate the setting up of the FMA 1 Management Office within BFAR RO 2 office;
• Help coordinate with FMA 1 Management Board, DA-BFAR and the Local Government Units (LGUs), other national government agencies (NGAs), industry, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders for the legal establishment of Large-Scale Marine Ocean Conservation Area/Large Scale Marine Protected Area in the Northeastern Philippines under the Blue Nature Alliance-supported and ZSL-implemented Philippine Rise Ocean Conservation Area project;
• Provide technical support to FMA 1 Secretariat and TWG for the crafting of sustainable policies and programs for the fisheries in FMA 1, including the development of the FMA Management Plan, the establishment of the Reference Points (RP) and the Harvest Control Rules (HCR) as well as other conservation and management measures;
• Provide technical support to the FMA 1 MB in the effective implementation of the FMA1 Management Plan as a framework to guide the actions of BFAR, LGU, and all stakeholders within FMA 1;
• Coordinate with FMA 1 Secretariat the submission of annual summary report highlighting the policies and measures, accomplishments and status of the PROCA and FMA 1;
• Facilitate the implementation of IUU Fishing Index and Threat Assessment (I-FIT) surveys in FMA1 target sites and draft the monitoring and enforcement recommendations based on its results;
• Help ZSL-PROCA and BFAR RO2-FMA 1 Secretariat develop and disseminate relevant communication, education, and public awareness (CEPA) materials related to the establishment of Large Scale Marine Ocean Conservation Area/Large Scale Marine Protected Area in the Northeastern Philippines and its positive implications on fisheries management;
• Coordinate with BFAR FMA1 offices to ensure that PROCA communication strategy as well as social marketing campaigns are streamlined to BFAR’s communication plan;
• Coordinate with ZSL PROCA Project and facilitate the implementation of the Capacity Building component for the BFAR RO2-FMA 1 Secretariat and Management Office under the approved workplan;
• Responsible for official safekeeping and documentation of all FMA-1 Management Office related records;
• Provide overall administrative and logistical needs of the FMA 1 Management Office and Secretariat according to approved workplan and budget.
  The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned from time to time that are in line with the level of the role by concerned authorities.