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Small-scale fisheries account for 90% of global fishers and 40% of the global catch. Effectively managed small-scale fisheries are, therefore, crucial to food-security, poverty eradication and biodiversity conservation. In 2014, with the growing recognition of the importance of small-scale fisheries, FAO member states adopted the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF-Guidelines). These go beyond responsible fisheries to ensure the rights of fishers and fish workers are respected, adopting a human rights-based approach.
Fauna & Flora’s marine approach is designed to safeguard species, habitats and livelihoods through effective protection and management of marine ecosystems, placing a particular emphasis on empowering local communities as custodians of the marine resources on which they depend. This approach aligns with the SSF Guidelines but the extent to which the SSF Guidelines are being actively implemented, or implemented via alternative mechanisms, in Fauna & Flora focal countries is unclear. Furthermore, the impact on biodiversity of SSF guidelines implementation, or analogous human-rights based approaches, is unclear.
The role
This internship offers a valuable learning opportunity for someone interested in the application of international marine policy to national contexts, and the interplay between small-scale fisheries and marine biodiversity conservation. You will gather experiences and learning from across Fauna & Flora project teams, developing your analytical skills with support from cross-cutting experts in fisheries and global policy. This internship will inform and influence Fauna & Flora’s future engagement in marine policy at national and international level, providing an evidence base and recommendations for future intervention.
This internship will aim to determine the status of implementation of the SSF Guidelines across Fauna & Flora countries, identifying key barriers to implementation at national level. By interviewing marine programme managers from across the organisation and conducting a desk-based literature and national policy review, you will research and identify evidence of any potential linkages to biodiversity conservation where the guidelines have been implemented. You will research the impact of the guidelines, or analogous human-rights based approaches, on biodiversity, and explore opportunities to support improved implementation across Fauna & Flora’s marine portfolio. You will have the opportunity to work with marine project teams of Fauna & Flora and our partners to produce and present recommendations for application to Fauna & Flora projects.
About us
In return, you will gain valuable insight into how cross-cutting teams work within an international conservation organisation through supervision by fisheries specialists and dedicated time shadowing the Global Policy team. You will have tailored training and support in skills relevant to the internship and you will develop connections with conservation practitioners in varied roles, from international policy experts to on-the-ground implementers across Fauna & Flora and partner organisations. Alongside technical knowledge of small-scale fisheries projects and the context in which this work sits, you will also enhance your skills and experience in policy review and analysis, qualitative interview, and literature review. You will also have access to Fauna & Flora’s internal training portal – Mangrove – to advance your professional development in the areas you are most interested in. You will have the opportunity to attend and present in international marine team meetings, develop dissemination and communication skills for different audiences, and gain an insight into projects across the globe.
