Agri-Food Specialist

Result of ServiceFARM Global Child Project and technical assistance are strengthened in line with programmatic needs on thematic work areas. Work LocationRemote Expected duration12 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP) is a global community of policy, business, and finance professionals and organisations committed to collaboratively generating, managing, and sharing knowledge on the transition to an inclusive green economy. The GGKP is led by UNEP, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the World Bank). The mission of GGKP is to empower government decision makers, companies and financial institutions with evidence-based knowledge that can best support them to contribute effectively to the green economy transition. The GGKP provides its best practice knowledge management services through its three core platforms, the Green Policy Platform, the Green Industry Platform, and the Green Finance Platform. Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management (FARM) is a five-year, $37 million initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), led by UNEP, and implemented by ADB, UNDP and UNIDO. FARM aims to phase out harmful pesticides and agricultural plastics by aligning policies and finance with sustainable, nature-positive farming practices. To achieve this, FARM supports technical assistance and financial tools that reduce health and environmental risks. It promotes knowledge exchange and connects global and regional expert networks to accelerate the shift to safer alternatives across agrifood value chains. FARM is implemented through projects in seven countries – Ecuador, India, Kenya, Lao PDR, the Philippines, Uruguay and Viet Nam – alongside a global coordination platform hosted by the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP). Against this backdrop, UNEP seeks to hire a consultant to support the delivery of technical assistance services t to enable GGKP/UNEP to deliver on this ambition. In consultation with the GGKP coordinator, and under direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer responsible for the FARM global Child Project, the consultant will undertake the following assignments: 1. Provide technical inputs to FARM thematic areas. To this end, the consultant will: a. Facilitate consultations, trainings, and capacity-building workshopswith child project countries on thematic areas of the FARM project,particulary concerning HHPs, agricultural plastics and agrifood value chains ensuring a gender responsive approach b. Provide technical assistance to child projects on FARM thematic areas by revising relevant documents and providing inputs to project management calls. c. Provide technical reviews of implementing partners’ agreement deliverables such as the development of scoping studies and capacity-building assessments - Applied activity - Organize/conduct a capacity building /need assessment survey to understand the existing gaps in child projects - Revise the training curriculum/modules provided by the training provider based on the needs assessment and outline a tailor-made training. -Coordinate Online Masterclass Sessions with thematic experts, focusing on policy integration, gender mainstreaming, and cross-sectoral strategies in FARM themes at a regional or cross-regional level in coordination with relevant regional partners. -Scope the development of a Gender Training Programme for building capacity in the field of gender responsive actions, including in-person and virtual modules on inclusive policymaking, gender data analysis, and mainstreaming strategies within agrifood initiatives, in collaboration with regional and specialized partners. 2.Provide Technical inputs to the monitoring and evaluation and alignment GEF, and agrifood value chains indicators a. Review indicators methodological and calculations and provide comments to enhance alignment with gender responsive approaches b. Facilitate trainings in consultation with Implementing partners c. Based on the above elements, lessons learned, and gaps identified in FARM implementation, prepare a 4-page concept note for FARM+ to continue providing technical assistance and maintenance to the FARM knowledge platform and M&E systems. Applied activity: Launch a Webinar Series involving country focal points, partners, experts covering M&E methodologies, gender-responsive indicators, and data storytelling for advocacy, in partnership with regional or national partner initiatives. - Review the agrifood value chain monitoring and evaluation indicators, and assess the extent to which gender-responsive indicators are integrated. 3.Support the establishment of partnerships with the agrifood value chains stakeholders a.Revise the stakeholder engagement strategy and prepare a Plan of Work (POW) for engagement of institutions in 2026, including aligning gender responsiveness across activities. b.Prepare an action plan to engage in-kind contributions FARM partners c.Support the development of the FARM/GGKP agrifood hub through identifying its scope and user interface d.Develop in coordination with FARM team members, the agenda for the FARM FORUM to take place in Q1 2026. Applied activity: Scope out a Video and Social Media Campaign in collaboration with the communication team featuring farmer/policy/agricultural extension champions, showcasing inclusive innovations, approaches, activities and communication models across partners in agrifood value chains aligned with FARM objectives. - Mapping key institutions and identifying their level of influence, interest, and involvement in different thematic areas under the stakeholder engagement strategy in the project Organize a \"Youth and Gender in Agrifood or “Inclusive Innovation in Agrifood” (to be defined) digital showcase at the FARM FORUM, co-designed with partners on community-led innovations. 4.Facilitate Project Advisory Group Meetings a.Support implementing partners’ technical reports and consultations with the FARM Project Advisory technical working groups on finance, agricultural plastics, and pesticides b.Revise and validate with implementing partners the technical inputs provided by countries to PAG meetings Applied activity: Host pre-PAG preparatory sessions with country partners and stakeholders to strengthen engagement and technical preparedness. - Prepare a consolidated report from the technical inputs provided by countries for PAG review, feedback, and endorsement Qualifications/special skillsAn advanced university degree in environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, ecology, project management, natural resource management or economics, or a related subject is required. A first degree together with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. -A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in agriculture and agrifood systems, pesticides management, sustainable development, project management or related areas of work is required. -Knowledge of agrochemicals, integrated pest management, gender related issues in relation to agrochemicals management, pesticides, plastics, and stakeholder engagement is required i.Skills in project management and technical assistance to developing countries ii.Good knowledge of different international agrifood initiatives. iii.Excellent networking and communication skills, and experience engaging with multiple parties and stakeholders using participatory techniques. iv.Good knowledge of monitoring and evaluation of projects. LanguagesLanguage: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of another UN language is an advantage. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.