National Expert on Seaweed Processing and Marketing

Organizational Context

Indonesia is the world's largest producer of tropical seaweed, contributing approximately 30 percent of global production in 2023. However, the sector faces challenges including declining production since 2015 due to poor seed stock quality, climate change impacts, outdated processing technologies, and price volatility. The FAO, in collaboration with the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs, is implementing project TCP/INS/4003 to revitalize the Indonesian seaweed sector by addressing critical gaps in production and value chain development.

Job Purpose

The National Expert on Seaweed Processing and Marketing will play a crucial role in advancing the small-scale seaweed sector within Indonesia. This position focuses on facilitating improvements in seaweed processing techniques, fostering product innovation for newly introduced seaweed species under the TCP/INS/4003 project, and developing robust market access strategies. The expert will contribute to enhancing the value chain and ensuring the economic viability of seaweed farming communities through targeted interventions and capacity building, ultimately supporting the project's objectives for sector revitalization.

Responsibilities

The expert will be responsible for assisting in the development of small-scale seaweed products using raw materials from pilot farms, in collaboration with relevant institutions. This includes delivering training to processing and marketing groups to enhance their capacity in value addition, product development, and promotion. The role also involves supporting entrepreneurship training and business matching initiatives, documenting these activities, and contributing to the review of market trends and positioning strategies for new seaweed products. Furthermore, the expert will prepare essential reports, such as training reports and back-to-office reports, and undertake any other tasks as assigned by FAO-Indonesia to ensure project success.

Work Experience

A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience is required, specifically in small-scale seaweed processing, product innovation, and market development. This experience should align with the educational background in processing and marketing for aquaculture/fisheries products or a related field. The candidate should demonstrate practical application of knowledge in these areas within the seaweed sector.

Skills

Key skills include proven experience in developing seaweed-based products (food, cosmetics, packaging, fertilizer, feed ingredients) and delivering training to producer groups. Proficiency in marketing strategies, entrepreneurship promotion, and linking processors to value chains is highly valued. Strong analytical skills for market trend assessment and opportunity identification are essential. Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills are required for collaboration with diverse stakeholders. Adaptability to new approaches, a commitment to participatory methods, and strong attention to detail are also important.

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