Job Details
Job Description
Background UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDP’s Strategic Plan.
Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages; represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, including public-private, government and civil society dialogues; and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.
UNDP's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlighting our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP's Nature, Climate, Energy, Chemicals and Waste Hubs promote and scale up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.
BPPS’ Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy, Chemicals and Waste work with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate natural capital, environment and climate concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies; support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements; and implement the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming on environment, climate change, and energy. This multi-billion-dollar portfolio encompasses:
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests; Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including Food Systems; Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS; Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; Sustainable Energy; Extractive Industries; Chemicals and Waste Management; Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy and SCP approaches.
This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning. UNDP has developed its new Strategy for Food Systems to focus its vision and enhance its support to transform food systems. Food Systems are fundamental to the sustainable development of the 170 countries UNDP supports. Food systems are often the largest contributor to their economies; food and nutrition is fundamental for citizen health; and food systems have a key role to play in achieving the SDGs. Yet, food systems are in crisis and need to be radically transformed to become sustainable. UNDP, building on its experience, has for the first time consolidated its food systems support and vision into this Strategy. The challenges and need for change related to food systems have been highlighted by a suite of reports by many research and international organizations and think tanks. The production practices and consumption patterns of food and agricultural commodities are taking these systems on an unsustainable trajectory with multiple impacts on human development, the environment, and economies; from ecosystem degradation, conflicts over land and natural resources, reduced capacity and resilience to climate and other shocks, persistent poverty, food insecurity and related people displacement and migration, to malnutrition including overweight and obesity. There is a clear need to work in a systemic and integrated manner to transform the food system towards sustainability.
UNDP´s Vision for Food Systems 2030 is, through partnerships, to transform food and agricultural commodity systems into resilient; equitable; healthy, inclusive; environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable systems. Working on food systems will contribute to not only recovery from the COVID19 crisis, by creating sustainable and resilient livelihoods for many along the food and agriculture supply chains, but also to preventing further zoonoses from emerging in the future. This will require a change in the current paradigm of agricultural production focusing on maximizing productivity to a new paradigm based on diversified agroecological systems which work simultaneously on achieving economic, environmental, social, and health outcomes, with smallholders as a key part of the solution in their role as the engine of economic development. A Food Systems practice has been established within UNDP’s Nature Hub, which is tasked to support UNDP Country Offices with food systems related challenges in a way that is aligned with UNDP’s Food Systems strategy.
As part of its work on systems change, the Food Systems practice has developed the “Conscious Food Systems Alliance” (CoFSA). The Conscious Food Systems Alliance is a global alliance that supports people from across food and agriculture systems to cultivate the inner capacities that activate systemic change and regeneration. CoFSA was publicly launched in late 2022 and have built a vibrant community of over 600 members, advancing thought leadership and practical interventions on the ground. CoFSA supports community-led initiatives and local actions that promote deep connection with Nature, respect for indigenous and local knowledge, and the development of inclusive, regenerative communities. As it moves into its implementation phase, CoFSA seeks to capture learnings and measure impact to build a more conscious food future.
UNDP Food Systems seeks the services of a Project Specialist, CoFSA Implementation and Partnerships to lead its program implementation activities. Duties and Responsibilities The Project Specialist, CoFSA Implementation and Partnerships, will lead CoFSA’s implementation work, including the conscious food incubator, and most of the COFSA workstreams, in particular those on farmer wellbeing and policymakers’ engagement. The Specialist will develop service offerings for CoFSA's diverse stakeholders and organize/facilitate CoFSA events. The incumbents will work closely with partner organizations and communities to ensure coherence, impact, and alignment with CoFSA’s mission.
- Lead and manage implementation of the conscious food incubator and core implementation programs
- Oversee the full lifecycle of the conscious food incubator (from proposal/call for proposals through prototyping, implementation, learning, and scaling) ensuring rigorous monitoring, learning, and reporting.
- Manage the farmer wellbeing and “inner dimension” agroecology work: developing participatory dialogues, supporting psychological resilience, and facilitating farmer feedback and co-creation.
- Manage policy and governance workstreams, ensuring policy engagements, governance initiatives, and stakeholder consultations are linked with program implementation and deliverables.
- Manage CoFSA service offers and partnership engagement
- Design, refine, and deliver CoFSA service offer to different stakeholder groups (farmers, governments, civil society, private sector) that match their needs and CoFSA’s capacities.
Forge and maintain partnerships that support implementation: identifying collaborators, managing expectations, coordinating roles, securing resources.
- Ensure that service delivery is responsive, equitable, and inclusive (e.g. of gender, geography, local.
- Contribute to CoFSA Strategy and Workplan
- Participate in strategic core team meetings to reflect, contribute insights, and planning in relation to the CoFSA strategy and workplan.
- Identify opportunities for strategic partnership and resource mobilisation for the implementation of CoFSA interventions, and support outreach and engagement context.
- Organize and facilitate events and knowledge sharing
- Plan, design and facilitate key CoFSA events, workshops, dialogues, and meetings, in particular onsite summit, festivals, retreats and workshops
In collaboration with CoFSA Research and Learning Specialist, facilitate learning exchanges, case studies, capacity building sessions, and peer-to-peer sharing among program participants. Capture lessons learnt, document outcomes, ensure feedback loops to improve ongoing implementation and inform future program design.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.
Institutional Arrangement:
The incumbent will work remotely from his/ her home-base. The incumbent will report to the CoFSA Technical Advisor. The incumbent will be given access to the relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment. The incumbent will be responsible for providing their own workstation (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to a reliable internet connection.
Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the incumbent is expected to be reasonably flexible with their availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones. Competencies
Core Competencies:
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:
Business Direction & Strategy - System Thinking Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system. Business Direction & Strategy - Negotiations and influence
Reach a common understanding/agreement, persuade others, resolve points of difference through a dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and create ‘win-win’ situations. Business Development – Knowledge facilitation Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.
Business Management – Project management Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals. Business Management – Partnership management
- Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
Partnership Management – CSO Engagement Knowledge and understanding of CSOs and the ability to engage with CSOs. General (across the functions) – Event Planning and Execution Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives as well as UNDP’s overall brand and mandate
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Management, International Development/Relations, Sociology, Agronomy, Agroecology, or another related field is required; OR A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with 2 years of additional relevant experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree
Experience:
Minimum of five (5) years (with master’s degree) or seven (7) years (with bachelor’s degree) of senior-level experience in implementing programs in the field of food systems, agroecology, preferably sustainability, or systems change.
Experience in the coordination of projects/initiatives with different partners/agencies/stakeholders involved.:
Experience developing service offers to different stakeholders.:
Experience in organizing large global events.:
Experience with inner development and its role for sustainability and/or systems change.:
Experience with UNDP and/or other UN organisations.:
Experience in facilitation of consensus-building or other related types of events.:
Experience working with regenerative systems, and/or indigenous knowledge systems.:
Language:
Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of French or Spanish is an asset. Equal opportunity As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all. Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
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