UNDP Jobs - 103397- Conscious Food Systems Alliance (CoFSA ) Program C

Conscious Food Systems Alliance (CoFSA ) Program Coordination and Support Officer

Location :

Home-based

Type of Contract :

IPSA (Regular)

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

06-Dec-21 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

IPSA-8

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

12 months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the "Apply now" button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

Office/Unit/Project Description

UNDP has developed its new Strategy for Food and Agricultural Commodity Systems (FACS) to focus its vision and enhance its support to transform FACS. FACS are fundamental to the sustainable development of the 170 countries UNDP supports. FACS are often the largest contributor to their economies; food and nutrition is fundamental for citizen health; and FACS have a key role to play in achieving the SDGs. Yet, FACS are in crisis and need to be radically transformed to become sustainable. UNDP, building on its experience, has for the first time consolidated its FACS support and vision into this Strategy.

The challenges and need for change related to FACS 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 FACS towards sustainability.

UNDP´s Vision for FACS 2030 is, through partnerships, to transform food and agricultural commodity systems into resilient; equitable; healthy, inclusive; environmentally, socially and economically sustainable systems. Working on FACS will contribute to not only recovery from the COVID19 crisis, by creating sustainable and resilient livelihoods for many along the FAC 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 focussing 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 FACS practice has been established within UNDP´s Nature, Climate and Energy team, which is tasked to support UNDP Country Offices with FACS related challenges in a way that is aligned with UNDP´s FACS strategy.

As part of its work on systems change, the FACS practice is developing the “Conscious Food Systems Alliance" (CoFSA) which aims to leverage the power of inner transformation to support systemic change in food systems. CoFSA is exploring the role of leading approaches such as mindfulness, somatic transformation, systems leadership, indigenous and feminine wisdom to help us reconnect with ourselves, each other and nature, in order to build the inner foundations – mindsets, values and skills – needed for systemic change.

The Government of Sweden, through SIDA, has funded a four-year, USD$40m global Strategic Collaboration Programme designed to strengthen UNDP capacities to achieve its overall SD vision for poverty eradication through a more integrated, coherent approach to the environmental and climate dimensions of the UNDP Strategic Plan. Sida funds will be used to hire new staff and consultants in support of this vision.

Institutional Arrangement

The Conscious Food Systems Alliance (CoFSA ) Program Coordination and Support Officer will be supervised by the UNDP FACS Team Leader.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The FACS Practice is looking to engage a COFSA Programme Coordination and Support Officer to perform the following tasks:

1.Coordination among UNDP teams and other internal and external stakeholders :

Organize meeting including scheduling, agenda drafting, delivery, minute taking and report drafting; this will include CoFSA secretariat meetings and regular coordination calls, one on one meetings, and any other related calls.
Organize events and virtual workshops from planning to implementation.
Partner relationship building and management
Managing partnership formalisation through SOIs and MoUs
Support partner outreach activities

2.Research and resource mobilization:

Conduct research on possible donors and fundraising opportunities.
Prepare and review draft research reports, and donor oriented presentations and materials.
Provide support in concept notes and proposals writing as and when needed.
Support on Results Management activities as needed
Support to the Future of Food Systems Collaboration Initiative

3.Internal and External Communications:

Ensure the COFSA site is kept up to date and active, posting relevant news and information on it.
Maintain well-designed filing system on SharePoint and/or Teams Site.
Ensure flow of information and dissemination of materials amongst UN partners agencies and donors, as relevant.

4.Reporting UNDP and Donors in relation to activities carried out in relation to FACS:

Prepare monitoring and donors drafts reports to ensure that they are timely produced and conform to quality requirements.

5.GCP Programme Management support:

Assist in other project management tasks and support project team members, as and when needed.
Assist in other administrative tasks, as needs be.

Competencies

Competencies and values:

Achieve Results
Think Innovatively
Learn Continously
Adapt with Agility
Act with Determination
Emgage and Partner
Enable Diversity and Inclusion

Cross-Functional Competencies:

Working with Evidence and Data
Knowledge Generation
Communication
Digital Awareness and Literacy
Project Management

Technical Competencies:

Documents and records management

Overall document (hard or electronic) management, registry and retention policy including storing and archiving

Research and Development:

Following new technologies and technical trends, research the technologies that are applicable and beneficial to the organization and develop the system

Resource Mobilization:

Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities; and establish a plan to meet funding requirements

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum Academic Education:

Master´s degree in Economics, International Studies, Agriculture, Development studies, Environment Science or other related fields;
Bachelor’s degree in Economics, International Studies, Agriculture, Development studies, Environment Science or other related fields may also be considered.

Minimum years of relevant Work experience:

Master´s degree with no experience or Bachelor’s degree with two years of professional work experience in sustainable development project management support related functions (Planning, reporting, research).

Required skills and competencies:

Experience in coordination of projects/initiatives with different partners/agencies/stakeholders involved.

Desired additional skills and competencies:

Experience in supporting projects and initiatives related to food systems and/or agricultural commodities will be an advantage.
Experience with UNDP and/or other UN organizations will be an advantage.

Required Language(s) (at working level):

Excellent written and oral communication skills in English;
Fluency in Spanish/French is an advantage.