Christopher Giordano

  • christopher.johnson.giordano@gmail.com
  • Spain
  • 23/07/2024
Field work, Office work Blue economy Climate change Conservation and ecology Coastal management Fisheries and aquaculture Management and consultancy Marine policy

Personal Summary

Implementer with 12 years of experience, focused on the management and commercialization of small-scale fisheries to achieve equitable value chains which promote food safety, quality, and food sovereignty within markets. Expertise includes value chain analysis for post-harvest loss and waste, income and socio-economic resilience assessments, and identification of livelihood upgrading opportunities. Christopher has researched and implemented interventions in seafood value chains in Latin America and the Caribbean (Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Belize); SE Asia (Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and the Philippines); and East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar). He has either led, designed strategies or implemented projects in 6 multi-stakeholder Fishery Improvement Projects seeking MSC certification or SFW green rating.

Work Experience

INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT
Mar 2023 - Present WholeFish Strategies
  • Utilized VC4D, PMSD, and IFLAM methods to research livelihood improvement opportunities for six (tuna, reef fish, small pelagic fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopod) fisheries in Tanzania, resulting in a reduction in post-harvest losses and improved economic stability for local communities.

  • Developed a strategic plan for an international NGO to enhance environmentally sustainable and socially responsible squid procurement by mid-chain and end market companies.

  • Led the development of project proposals with a 100k budget for a local NGO, to research carbon emission reduction in three Indonesia tuna small-scale fishery value chains, contributing to compliance with carbon credit best practice and positively impacting environmental sustainability.

Global Programs Fellow
Jan 2023 - Dec 2023 Monterey Bay Aquarium
  • Conducted a VCA4D of the Philippines Blue Swimming Crab domestic market focused on market mapping, prices and value-addition, retail consumption volumes, product form, and post-harvest losses reduction opportunities.

  • Assessed financial viability for a fisher-led B2B or B2C model which commercializes blue swimming crab and incidental catch (e.g. milkfish) as a livelihood diversification strategy into the domestic HORECA market.

  • Advised the development of a community development fund for Philippines blue swimming crab fishing communities.

TECHNICAL ADVISOR, VALUE CHAINS AND MARKETS
Jun 2021 - Mar 2023 Blue Ventures
  • Developed an organizational strategy and technical framework for post-harvest loss reduction and livelihood upgrading in SSF value chains using the PMSD and M4P approaches, resulting in enhanced market access for small-scale fishers.

  • Directed and empowered a multicultural global team of 20 members across 14 countries in implementing technical knowledge, resulting in the successful development of a tropical SSF value chain upgrading and post-harvest loss reduction strategy linked to temporary fishery closures and other community-based marine conservation measures.

  • Assessed capacity gaps within teams and partner organizations and identified 3 training courses for staff and partners, leading to the successful execution of value chain upgrading and post-harvest loss reduction interventions, positively impacting marine conservation efforts.

  • Developed skill profile and successfully recruited a Global Financial Technical Advisor and four local Fisheries Livelihood and Market specialists to increase internal capacity to deliver on the value chain strategy.

  • Developed and iterated an internal toolkit for value chain assessments of market opportunities, upgrading strategies, and post-harvest loss reduction technologies to improve organizational delivery of core strategy and meet annual KPIs.

  • Led the redesign and initial implementation of the SW Madagascar Octopus FIP, and the design and launch of the Indonesia Nusa Tenggara Timur Day octopus FIP, resulting in increased global market access for small-scale fishers and fishery stakeholders.

  • Represented the organization in global forums and online webinars to discuss post-harvest loss reduction, financial inclusion, and equitable market access within small-scale fisheries, increasing reach.

FISHERIES COMMUNITY COMANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
Sep 2019 - May 2021 Nature and Culture International
  • Managed the development and implementation of a pilot nearshore co-management project with four team members in three northern Peru fishing communities, prioritizing a community-led process with members determining protected areas, minimum species harvest size, and gear limitations.

  • Utilized international and national studies to design a methodology for developing a social, economic, and ecological baseline for the fisheries of cabrilla, and merluza in three northern Peru fishing communities, resulting in improved understanding and sustainable management of local fishery resources.

  • Empowered 30 regional government and local fisheries management officials through a series of workshops to prepare three communities for the implementation of comanagement practices and ensure long-term sustainability of their resources.

IMPLEMENTATION LEAD
Nov 2019 - Jun 2021 Future of Fish
  • Lead a team of five members to implement quality improvement projects for Humboldt squid, mahi mahi, and octopus value chains resulting in seven MOUs and contract negotiations, leading to improved small-scale fisher access to markets and an overall increase in product quality.

  • Identified funding sources and jointly negotiated required contribution with partners, with three applications submitted and over $100k secured for post-harvest quality improvement and socio-economic development projects.

  • Implemented the practices of human-centered design in the creation of four socio-economic interventions in the mahi mahi and Humboldt squid comprehensive FIPs.

  • Executed five trainings and technological interventions for three fishing organizations of over 200 members on quality improvements and socially responsible labor practices in the mahi mahi and Humboldt squid Peruvian fisheries.

  • Successfully completed the development, implementation, and analysis of a market study on the Lima Metropolitan seafood consumer preferences, overseeing a team of three researchers and over 300 individuals surveyed.

  • Developed and implemented three digital community seafood market platforms to promote the local B2C sale of seafood in response to COVID-19 market disruptions, leading to fisher livelihood resilience and over 350kg of weekly volume sold.

  • Strengthened and supported the government, private sector, and NGO partnerships of Future of Fish- Peru and developed the entities’ in-country network through active business and partnership development.

  • Supported the administrative articulation between FoF- Peru with FoF-USA by liaising between local legal representation and the Global Director of Operations.

GLOBAL IMPLEMENTATION ASSOCIATE
Nov 2018 - Nov 2019 Future of Fish
  • Established relationships with multisectoral value chain stakeholders (fishermen, middlemen, processors, restaurants, NGOs, government) for the launch of a transdisciplinary seafood systems investigation and value-addition project.

  • Collected and organized data from in-field interviews to complete aquatic food system profile and initial fishery development plan.

  • Supported the development and execution of three local co-design workshops with fishing communities, restaurants, and other stakeholders (40 each workshop) within the aquatic food system.

  • Advised and provided local contextual knowledge in the development of employer’s 10-year value chain intervention strategy.

  • Assisted in mapping the governance landscape of the Peruvian seafood system for mahi mahi, Humboldt squid, octopus, and nearshore demersal species, identifying gaps and key areas of improvement.

  • Highlighted potential partnerships and projects that aligned with the mission & vision of FoF-Peru, leading to four project partnerships for the organization.

  • Reviewed national funding opportunities, successfully applying to two funds to support FoF-Peru strategy.

PEACE CORPS RESPONSE VOLUNTEER
Nov 2017 - Nov 2018 Nature and Culture International
  • Reviewed and prepared previous NGO partner’s studies and reports for publication in scientific journals, presenting three articles for publication.

  • Analyzed policy and reviewed current projects to identify gaps and project potential for trout aquaculture in the Sierra of Piura, Peru.

  • Conducted a needs assessment for 33 artisanal fishing communities in northern Peru, using a mixed methods approach and the sustainable livelihoods framework, resulting in concrete recommendations for the development of a comanagement and socioeconomic development project.

  • Jointly designed and wrote a project proposal for the development of comanagement in three northern Peru fishing communities that respect local practices and needs.

  • Coordinated with local stakeholders and relevant government agencies to complete project objectives within the projected time frame.

PEACE CORPS RESPONSE VOLUNTEER
Nov 2016 - Nov 2017 Inka Terra Asociación
  • Designed, implemented, and analyzed a rapid evaluation of livelihoods and practices, based on SNAP methods, in an artisanal fishing community in northern Peru.

  • Recorded the history of fishing practices, working with local fishers and government officials to successfully recognize their fishing arts as immaterial and permanent cultural heritage of Peru.

  • Supported the development of a forty-member fishing cooperative in coordination with the government program A COMER PESCADO; secured trainings in soft skills, administration, and financial record keeping, organized workshops, and identified funding opportunities. By project end, 200kg were commercialized to Lima every week.

  • Educated NGO counterparts in marine science and conservation tools. Taught use of public-private partnerships and resilience approaches to SSF project development.

Education

Master’s in Marine Affairs
Sep 2014 - Jun 2016 University of Washington
B. Sc. Marine Sciences
Aug 2009 - Jun 2013 Eckerd College
B. A. Spanish Culture Studies
Aug 2009 - Jun 2013 Eckerd College

Name and surname

Christopher Giordano

Nationality

United States

Years of experience

10-15 years

Are you looking for a job in:

In my country of residence, I am willing to move abroad, Only remotely

Additional training

Key Skills

Relationship development and management with community, public, and private sector

Ecological, social, and ethnographic study design and execution

Multi-cultural global team recruitment, program management, and coordination

Development of organizational strategies to achieve sustainability and social responsibility goals

Project proposal development; identification of funding opportunities

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Marine Stewardship Council 2.01 and 3.0 Team Leader Training

Seafood Watch Standard

Social Responsibility Assessment Tool

Visual Ethnography and Oral History methodologies

Participatory Market Systems Development

Human-Centered design of livelihood and value-addition interventions

Fishery Improvement Project design and implementation

Adaptive and moral leadership (Acumen); Program and line management

Participatory workshop design and moderation

HACCP trainer of trainers

Post-Harvest Loss and Waste Assessments

Language (indicate level)

English- Native Speaker

Spanish- Professional Proficiency

Digital competences (indicate level)

Google Suite, Microsoft Suite, Zoom, Airtable, R

Personal website / LinkedIN

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-giordano-0a2b6572/