Stakeholder Mapping and Stocktake for the Nature for Food Initiative

Result of Service• A comprehensive stakeholder mapping and stocktake report analyzing the landscape of actors, activities, and opportunities relevant to the Nature for Food initiative; • Strategic recommendations for partnership development and network coordination mechanisms. Work LocationHome-based Expected duration40 days between 01 November 25 to 28 February 2026. Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground: The convergence of climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation threatens global food security while over 3 billion people depend on degraded lands losing their capacity to feed the world. The three Rio Conventions (UNCCD, CBD, UNFCCC) have identified the need for an integrated approach to transform food systems that can deliver food and nutritional security for all while regenerating land-based natural capital, stabilizing the planet's climate, and restoring biodiversity. The initiative is approaching these interconnected challenges through coordinated action across four pillars: (1) healthy and resilient working landscapes, (2) more efficient food production through regenerative management practices, (3) stronger agricultural and land-based commodity value chains, and (4) shifted consumption patterns towards sustainable and healthy diets. The Global Mechanism seeks the services of a consultant to conduct a comprehensive stakeholder mapping and stocktake exercise to identify existing activities, assess institutional capacity, and establish the foundation for strategic partnerships across all four pillars of the initiative. Duties and Responsibilities: Under the overall guidance of the Managing Director of the Global Mechanism, the consultant's duties will include but are not limited to: • Conducting systematic mapping of stakeholders across governments, civil society, private sector, research institutions, and development organizations relevant to the Rio Conventions and the four initiative pillars. • Performing comprehensive stocktake of existing activities, programs, and initiatives that align with the proposed Nature for Food initiative. • Analyzing current collaboration mechanisms, partnerships, and coordination gaps across the food-environment nexus. • Identifying strategic partnership opportunities and potential resource contributions from mapped stakeholders – this should include a section on private sector and available funding mechanisms for food systems. • Engaging with key stakeholders (virtually) to validate findings and assess partnership interest. • Proposing a framework for collaboration and developing strategic recommendations. The consultant's outputs should provide actionable insights for initiative implementation, ensuring that recommendations are practical, evidence-based, and accessible to both technical and policy audiences. Qualifications/special skills• Advanced university degree in environmental science, international development, public policy, sustainability, or related field is required. - Experience with food systems, land restoration, climate adaptation, or biodiversity conservation is required. - 8 to10 years in stakeholder engagement, partnership development, or multi-stakeholder initiative management is desirable. - Proven track record in conducting institutional assessments or stakeholder mapping exercises is desirable. - Experience with multi-stakeholder platforms is preferred. - Familiarity with international environmental governance and Rio Conventions is an asset. Languages- Excellent command of English (written and spoken) is required. Knowledge of other UN languages is an asset. Additional InformationOnly individuals who can act as independent, individual economical operators are qualified to apply. Individuals who can provide their services only on account of an institution or enterprise are not eligible under this procedure. Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered \"staff members\" under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations Secretariat and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultant and individual contractor is responsible for determining tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. For remote consultancies, the selected candidate will be required to have a laptop or desktop PC (with Windows 10 or newer) or Mac (with the latest MacOS update), as well as a reliable, high-speed internet connection. An Office 365 license will be provided by the UNCCD to enable the candidate to access official emails, SharePoint, OneDrive and other office applications, such as Word and Excel. Further computer requirements: An antivirus application which receives regular updates; Browsers must be a newer version with regular updates enabled; Regular Windows 10 updates should be enabled with Windows laptop or PC. In addition, a mobile phone will be required to enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) through SMS or the Authenticator App. 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.