Project: Mindoro Strait Sustainable and Equitable Tuna for Bankability Project (EU Switch Asia)

Location: WWF Field Office in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro (with travels to Manila and other locations as needed) 

Supervision: Project Manager 

Duration: Until January 31, 2025 (with a possible extension of four to six months)

Accountable to: WWF-Philippines 

Works with: 

• Internal: Project Team; WWF Austria; Sustainable Tuna Partnership 2 (STP2) Overall Program Manager and Site Manager
• External: Government agencies (i.e., local government units, DA-BFAR, N/MFARMC), tuna associations and federations; other private sector and civil society partners and organizations

Since 2011, WWF-Philippines has been active in advancing and implementing Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPS) in the tuna fisheries in Lagonoy and Mindoro  Strait, Philippines to ensure sustainable fisheries production while improving the welfare of small-scale handline fisherfolk. The Fishery Improvement Projects WWF- Philippines supported in Lagonoy Gulf and Mindoro were awarded the Marine Stewardship Council Certification (MSCC), the first in the country to achieve such distinction. The MSCC is a highly-coveted global ecolabel and fishery certification program that awards sustainable fishing practices. The MSCC encourages consumers to choose sustainable seafood and provides small-scale tuna fishers in Occidental Mindoro with the opportunity to expand their market reach in the European Union (EU).

However, MSC Certification requires awardees to continuously adhere to sustainable fisheries principles; failure to do so risks revoking the community's certification. To maintain sustainable fishery practices, the communities need to enhance their post-harvest facilities and services, improve sanitary procedures to reduce tuna waste, and increase the quality of fish for export. WWF-Philippines, through extensive consultations with the communities, identified the absence of these facilities and services as the main barrier to sustaining the export market. Additionally, the lack of diverse alternative livelihoods, including sustainable aquaculture products, limits Occidental Mindoro's competitiveness and threatens food and economic security.

Mindoro Strait, a major tuna fishery area in the Philippines, is part of the wider Sulu Sulawesi Seascape, a mega-diverse marine ecoregion that stretches towards Palawan. Strengthening the fishery operations in this area to economies of scale increases the potential for sound investment and returns in a bankable project. 

For instance, processing may generate better returns if the communities offer high-quality tuna and diversified sustainably sourced seafood and other livelihood products. 

Funded by the European Union (EU) Switch Asia Program, the Mindoro Strait Sustainable and  Equitable Tuna for Bankability (MS-SETB) Project aims to strengthen the capacities of fishing households in Occidental Mindoro to develop sustainable performance-based bankable projects that reduce post-harvest losses of seafood and to build the resilience of coastal communities through the diversification of new or improved existing livelihoods.

The direct target groups and beneficiaries are the following:

• 25 MSME trade and exporting companies in identified industry associations (Philippine Association for Tuna Processors, Inc., and Fresh Frozen Seafood Association of the Philippines Inc.)
• 1,238 tuna fishing households (as members of the Tuna Fishers’ Associations in Mindoro Strait)
• Occidental Mindoro Women’s Committees to expand to at least 300 women community members

Based in Occidental Mindoro, the Environmental Management Specialist will analyze, evaluate, and guide the management of potential environmental and social impacts associated with the project's activities and deliverables. The Environmental Management Specialist will collaborate primarily with communities and relevant government agencies (such as local government units, DA-BFAR, FARMCs, etc.) to ensure that project activities are environmentally sound and deliver maximum positive socio-economic benefits.

The primary responsibilities of the Environmental Management Specialist, based in Occidental Mindoro, are to: 

• Perform and coordinate with relevant partners and authorities to assess and profile current environmental conditions in the community fish landing centres, evaluate community livelihood  interventions, and analyze potential impacts of the activities, in accordance with the WWF Environmental and Social  Safeguards Framework and national laws and policies.
• Review and coordinate the operation of facilities to ensure compliance with environmental laws, standards, regulations, and other requirements.
• Work with the Community Coordinators to support and facilitate training sessions on food safety protocols, and coordinate with designated partners for the execution of these sessions.
• Closely coordinate with the Sustainable Tuna Partnership 2 Site Manager in Mindoro to align field activities, especially in the safeguard process.
• Ensure that environmental and social impacts are integrated into business planning alongside financial returns, adopting a triple bottom-line approach to interventions, in coordination with sustainable finance leads and community coordinators/partners.

1. Conduct assessments on quality post-harvest losses using available catch data across the supply chain.
2. Develop, maintain, and transfer information to local government units and FARMCs’ databases or any management information systems (which includes information on environment and social management plans, compliance regulations, and others).
3. Work with the Community Enterprise Specialist to monitor alternative livelihoods that reduce pressure on will capture and help build climate resilience.
4. Finalize the Case Study on the Community Fish Landing Center (CFLC) of the Municipality of Sablayan.
5. Revisit, review, and co-develop the Manual of Operations with a blueprint for the CFLC in the Municipality of Sablayan.
6. Lead the initial monitoring of fishers and casas trained in food safety, and oversee their activities and practices post-training to ensure continued training adaptation and compliance.
7. Assist the FARMCs in drafting policy recommendations to integrate Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) requirements into local regulations.
8. Finalize the Food Safety Training modules for dissemination to key stakeholders as part of the exit strategy, and develop strategies for sustaining the project’s capacity-building component.

• Holds a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in fisheries/fisheries technology, marine biology, environmental science/management, community development, or a related field.
• At least one to three years of relevant or related experience in fisheries, environmental policy and research related to fisheries, coastal management, or rural/community development.
• Knowledge and understanding of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, post-harvest loss reduction, resource use efficiency, community development, and/or sustainable livelihoods is an asset.
• Good communication skills to enable dialogue with a diversity of stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal technical communication with the ability to produce clear and concise reports and articles.
• Experience working with community-based stakeholders (e.g. fishers). Previous experience of working in community development interventions is an advantage.
• Experience in community development work is an advantage.
• Works extremely well under pressure and can multitask on concurrent activities.
• Willingness to work flexible hours if needed.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, WWF does not discriminate based on an applicant’s race, religion, sex, gender, or disability status. To reduce paper use, submissions by mail will not be accepted. Due to the high volume of applications, inquiries via phone cannot be accepted.

Please email your CV and cover letter to apply@wwf.org.ph.