Background
Background
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 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 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 has developed the “Conscious Food Systems Alliance" (CoFSA), a movement of food, agriculture, and consciousness practitioners, convened by UNDP, and united around a common goal: to support people from across food and agriculture systems to cultivate the inner capacities that activate systemic change and regeneration.
The conceptual design of the Alliance began in September 2020, including the development of a Concept
Note. Partner outreach to key stakeholders, including development agencies, companies, governments, NGOs, donors, academia, grassroots and indigenous networks, and consciousness experts commenced throughout 2020-21. In October 2021, the CoFSA launched the ‘The Breathing Room’; an intentional and transformative space where core partners connect deeply with themselves and one another to co-create and co-implement the Conscious Food Systems Alliance – vision, strategy, portfolio of activities, partnerships, resourcing, global reporting and advocacy.
The next phase of the Alliance will commence in September 2022, with the formalization of membership and the launch of the CoFSA Community, supported by a collaborative digital platform. The next phase will also focus on development of CoFSA interventions and trainings.
Duties and Responsibilities
Tasks / Expected Outcomes
Main tasks:
Support to the CoFSA Team in:
- Support on stakeholders mapping including donors, strategic partners, grassroots networks with data collection, analysis, interpretation and including presentation in flowcharts, tables or slides;
- Preparation and organization of calls, webinars, virtual workshops to support donor and partner outreach;
- Maintain knowledge management tools / virtual collaborative tools for CoFSA action groups (e.g.
google docs, Microsoft teams, slack, mural, mentimeter, trello, etc.);
- Drafting, designing, and updating communications content;
- Preparation of presentations, briefing notes, meeting minutes and reports;
- Assist in research, including possible donors and fundraising opportunities and on any other key CoFSA issues.
- Maintaining internal filing system up to date; - Other related tasks.
Competencies
Competencies and Skills
Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
- Strong IT skills including MS Office;
- Excellent writing and editing skills;
- Experience with virtual collaboration tools is a plus;
- Interest in sustainability and consciousness/mindfulness - Interest in knowledge management;
- Interest in data collection, analysis and presentation.
Personal Skills:
- Creative, proactive and supportive;
- Able to take initiative and work independently;
- Ability to work in team; creating a positive environment;
- Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
- Excellent organizational, inter-personal, communication and administrative skill.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
(a) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent) such as environment, agriculture, sustainable development, economics, journalism, communications, international development, social/political sciences or related fields;
or
(b) Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) such as environment, agriculture, sustainable development, economics, journalism, communications, international development, social/political sciences or related fields;
or
(c) Have graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above, such as environment, agriculture, sustainable development, economics, journalism, communications, international development, social/political sciences or related fields or related field and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation.
Experience:
Experience in data collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation .
Experience in communications, writing and editing
Experience in sustainability.
Language Requirements:
Fluent English and Spanish
Internship Conditions:
All internships should be on a full teleworking/ telecommuting basis until further notice. (Remote Internship / Home Based).
As of January 1 2020, Interns may be given a stipend according to the UNDP Internship Policies, if is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government, foundation or scholarship programme.
•UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
•Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of the internship;
•Interns must provide proof of enrolment in Health Insurance Plan valid for the location, and the duration of the internship.
•Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity;
•Interns are expected to work full time, but flexibility is allowed for education programmes;
•UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months;
•Interns are responsible for obtaining necessary visas, arranging travel, accommodation.