FISH RIGHT PROGRAM
Terms of Reference
Position : Maritime Governance Adviser
Reporting to : Chief of Party, Fish Right Program
Station : Fish Right Program Office, Makati, Philippines
Level of Effort : 80%
Background:
The Fish Right Program is the flagship fisheries program of the United States Government in the Philippines, designed to promote sustainable fisheries management while promoting fisheries-based economic growth. The program supports national and local partners to improve governance, market systems, and private sector engagement across the country’s western exclusive economic zone
In 2026, the program is set to reach several significant milestones. A community-based IUU fishing reporting system will be established, and provincial fisherfolk networks will be mobilized to coordinate with government authorities in responding swiftly to illegal activities at sea. Marine scientific research will also be supported to bolster community reporting efforts with concrete, evidence-based findings on the economic toll of illegal fishing. The program will also pursue market and supply chain interventions that foster business partnerships, leverage emerging technologies, and attract new investment. To foster enhanced communication between government agencies and fishing communities, Fish Right will support policy forums, inter-agency planning sessions, and targeted awareness campaigns.
Scope of Work:
The Maritime Governance Adviser provides targeted technical support to strengthen the institutional and coordination frameworks needed for an effective, government-supported response to IUU fishing and aligning fisheries investments and market incentives to USG and GPH priorities. Working at both national and local levels, this Adviser focuses on building the governance architecture that connects fishing communities with government authorities, enhance maritime domain awareness (MDA) mechanisms, set in place resilient seafood supply chain, and sustain program outcomes beyond the implementation period.
Responsibilities:
Assess existing governance and coordination mechanisms across national and provincial levels, identifying critical gaps in inter-agency collaboration and community-government engagement on IUU fishing including the review of recommendations from the initial study on the Community-Based IUU Fishing Reporting System and develop an implementation plan to strengthen and operationalize the reporting system.
Support the IUU Fishing Team Leader in the establishment and strengthening of functional inter-agency planning bodies and coordination platforms through the development of coordination frameworks, standard operating procedures, joint work plans, information-sharing protocols and multi-agency engagement mechanisms that enable coherent and timely government responses to illegal fishing activities at the national and sub-national levels.
Support in identifying and establishing partnership arrangements with public and private institutions that will secure resilient seafood supply chains, providing economic incentives to IUU fishing reporting, and collaboration with other US funded programs.
Develop recommendations to strengthen the long-term sustainability of governance mechanisms, ensuring that coordination structures remain operational and effective beyond the program period.
Perform other tasks that the Chief of Party may assign, including but not limited to, attendance in project team meetings, thematic group meetings, participation in relevant conferences, workshops and other forums.
Deliverables:
Monthly progress reports with supporting documents to indicate progress in the technical assistance provided to the program in general and to the workstreams the Adviser is supporting.
Assessment report on existing governance and coordination mechanisms across national and provincial levels, identifying critical gaps in inter-agency collaboration and community-government engagement on IUU fishing, including recommendations to improve these collaboration and engagement.
Assessment report on the current government response mechanism to IUU fishing focusing on recommendations to help ensure a coherent and timely response mechanism at the national and sub-national levels.
Assessment report on the potential partnership arrangements with public and private institutions that will support the seafood market and supply chain interventions to foster business partnership and economic activities in the Luzon Economic Corridor.
Development of a work plan that will outline key actions to implement the recommendations put forward in the assessment reports (i.e., strengthening and operationalizing the community-government engagement on IUU fishing reporting system; partnership arrangements with public and private institutions to support seafood market and supply chain) and provide period report on implementation progress.
Submission of activity designs to support or initiate implementation of governance initiatives indicated in the work plan and submit activity reports accordingly after completion of these activities.
Report on recommendations to strengthen the long-term sustainability of governance mechanisms, ensuring that coordination structures remain operational and effective beyond the program period.
Quarterly and annual report of activities and results delivered by the Adviser including his/her collaboration with the IUU fishing Team Leader, Maritime Legal and Policy Adviser, Fisheries Investment and Market Incentive Team Leader, and Communication Development Team Leader.
Qualifications & Experience Required:
The Maritime Governance Adviser position requires the following qualifications:
- Exemplary professional experience in the field of maritime governance and international program implementation;
- At least 5 years of relevant work experience;
- Experience working in projects focusing on the following areas is preferred: IUUF, ocean policy, policy development, and governance capacity building;
- Minimum of a Master’s Degree in a relevant field;
- Proficiency in English and Tagalog (both spoken and written); and
- Direct experience and knowledge of Philippine coastal, ocean and marine resource legal and policy issues preferred.
How to Apply:
To apply, please email all the following:
- Cover letter
- Resume or CV
- Three professional references with contact details
To the attention of:
Rheyzelene T. Guimbungan
Finance & Admin Manager
Fish Right Program
rguimbungan@fishright.crcuri.org