The World Centre for Sustainable Development (RIO+ Centre) was established on June 24th, 2013 and its work seeks to reaffirm the inextricable link between social, economic and environmental policies for the achievement of sustainable development and human well-being. Within this very broad realization, the urgent need for reducing various forms of inequalities, promoting equitable economic growth and creating opportunities for all came out as a clear imperative as did the renewed commitment to poverty eradication and protecting/managing the natural resource base of economic and social development.

As part of the legacy of the Rio+20 Conference, the RIO+ Centre was also set up to keep the commitment to sustainable development alive by providing a hub for dialogue and action on alternative development pathways that lead to social justice, environmental protection and economic growth. As such, RIO+ works with people and institutions to inform policies and practices that lead to concrete improvements in human well-being.

It does this by working towards the following objectives:

- Produce and disseminate evidence on policies and practices that are successfully addressing the social, economic and environmental dimensions of equitable development

- Trigger broad-based dialogue around action around the development, implementation and monitoring of sustainable human development

- Strengthen coalition building and networking for the increased participation and voice of underrepresented institutions, countries and communities in the adoption of equitable development at the national and global level

Given the imminent expiry of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the post 2015 discussion this brought about, the Rio+20 Conference also called for the creation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - that move beyond the poverty eradication mission of the MDGs – as a priority for the international development agenda. Additionally, in the UN Secretary Generals recent report to the 68th session of the General Assembly dedicated to the MDGs and post 2015 Sustainable Development – in its integrated and inclusive form – was underlined as the global guiding principle and operational standard to be adhered to in order to ensure social justice and dignity for all.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

- Provision of substantial input for the design of the RIO+ Centre programming on the SDGs;

- Continuously scan the current thinking, analysis, discourse and positioning on SDGs internationally with a strong emphasis on obtaining perspectives stemming from the South and emerging economies;

- Scan and regularly provide updates on the current thinking, analysis, discourse and positioning on Sustainable Development Goals in Brazil;

- Monitor and regularly update the RIO+ Centre team and key partners in Brazil regarding the UN inter-governmental process on the SDGs on critical timelines as well as intersections with the debate/negotiations emerging from related policy platforms. In this context the consultant is also expected to keep a watching brief on the MDGs leading up to 2015 and the evolving post-2015 Agenda debate;

- Prepare an analytical paper with typologies of who (in terms of governments, NGOs, think tanks, networks etc.) is saying what and discern the motivations and political analysis behind the positions;

- Present scenarios and options that can inform the Brazilian position on the SDGs and advise on the mobilization of a set of key international partners around this;

- Identify clusters of key actors that could be mobilized nationally and sub-nationally in Brazil around specific scenarios and propose strategies for influence and advocacy;

- Advise and inform the Centre’s support to the Brazilian consultation processes including the organization of workshops, seminars and technical meetings, and dissemination strategies related to SDG and other corporate or national studies. This will include providing substantive guidance and input to the preparation of a CSO Shadow Report on the MDGS and lessons for the SDGs and post-2015 Agenda as well as close collaboration with the Secretaria Geral of the Presidencia;

- Provide substantive coordination and logistical support to consultation activities;

- Participation in dissemination activities related to results from the above activities including the launch of publications;

- Advise and support on the related Dialogue process on the SDGs to be facilitated through the Rio Dialogue Platform;

- Facilitate knowledge building, focusing on the policy dialogue on SDG issues with the governments, donors, civil society, private sector; and

- Contributions to development of internal policy frameworks e.g. a long-term approach to monitoring of the SDGs.

Products

1. Rapid scan of existing trends, positions and political context for the international and national debate and negotiations around the SDGs. Finding should be presented in two separate reports.

2. Monthly Briefing Note on the Status of the Open Working Group Status on the SDGs to be shared with national partners.

3. Consultation Reports in English and Portuguese, particularly related to the CSO Meeting on the MDGs.

4. CSO Shadow Report on the Brazilian experience on the MDGs and lessons for the global SDG and post-2015 processes.

5. Short and medium-term strategy – with corresponding logical frameworks and one overall Rio+ approach – for monitoring and contributing to the SDG process and its implementation.

6. SDG Partners database based on national and international engagement (in Excel format and including names, telephone numbers, email contacts, issue interests).

7. Brazilian SDG Positioning Inputs based on outcomes from the multi-layer consultation process.

8. Report on the findings of the Rio Dialogue debates.

9. Policy document for RIO+ Centre on its programming related to the SDGs.

- Experience in the production of technical and conceptual papers;

- Demonstrated experience conducting political analysis and scenario-building to inform public policy agendas;

- Expert knowledge of the political environment affecting the development sector nationally and internationally;

- Familiarity with the Brazilian government positions and dynamics in relation to intergovernmental fora;

- Experience in outreach to NGOs, think-tanks and government representatives;

- Sound knowledge of statistics and familiarity with indicators and indexes in the areas of social, economic, environmental and human development;

- Expert knowledge of sustainable development issues as well as the global equity agenda;

- Builds strong relationships with stakeholders and responds positively to feedback;

- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;

- Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities; and

- Excellent multi-tasking skills.

- Master’s Degree in Development, Economics, Public Management, Social Sciences, Environment or a related field;

- Minimum 10 year of experience with the international goal setting agenda, their dynamics and intergovernmental processes;

- Professional or Academic experience in development issues, particularly those related to poverty reduction, the MDGs and sustainable development;

- Sound knowledge of the Brazilian development agenda and public policy framework;

- Experience on local development and local government issues in Brazil and Latin America is an asset.

- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Fluent command of Portuguese.

Language Requirements

- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Fluent command of Portuguese.

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