Conscious Food Systems Alliance (CoFSA) Programme Coordinator (Home Based) [Open to external applicants]

UNDP•Panama City, FL

5h•Remote

About The Position

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDP’s Strategic Plan. Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages; represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, including public-private, government and civil society dialogues; and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. UNDP's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlighting our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP's Nature, Climate Change, Energy, Chemicals and Waste Hubs promote and scale up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas. BPPS’ Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy, Chemicals and Waste works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate natural capital, environment and climate concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies; support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements; and implement the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming on environment, climate change, and energy. This multi-billion-dollar portfolio encompasses: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests. Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including Food Systems. Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS. Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. Sustainable Energy. Extractive Industries. Chemicals and Waste Management. Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy and SCP approaches. This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning. UNDP has developed its new Strategy for Food Systems to focus its vision and enhance its support to transform food systems. Food Systems are fundamental to the sustainable development of the 170 countries UNDP supports. Food systems are often the largest contributor to their economies; food and nutrition is fundamental for citizen health; and food systems have a key role to play in achieving the SDGs. Yet, food systems are in crisis and need to be radically transformed to become sustainable. UNDP, building on its experience, has for the first time consolidated its food systems support and vision into this Strategy. The challenges and need for change related to food systems 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 food system towards sustainability. UNDP´s Vision for Food Systems 2030 is, through partnerships, to transform food and agricultural commodity systems into resilient; equitable; healthy, inclusive; environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable systems. Working on food systems will contribute to not only recovery from the COVID19 crisis, by creating sustainable and resilient livelihoods for many along the food and agriculture 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 Food Systems practice has been established within UNDP’s Nature Hub, which is tasked to support UNDP Country Offices with food systems related challenges in a way that is aligned with UNDP’s Food Systems strategy. As part of its work on systems change, the Food Systems 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. CoFSA champions the integration of consciousness-based approaches—such as mindfulness, compassion, Nature connection, non-violent communication, and self-reflection—into food systems work. These practices help build the mindsets, values and skills needed for lasting change: presence, empathy, resilience, creativity, and deep connection. COFSA was officially launched in late 2022 and have built a vibrant community of over six hundred members, advancing thought leadership and practical interventions on the ground. UNDP Food Systems seeks a CoFSA Programme Coordinator to lead the coordination of the CoFSA initiative, as well as to support the development of strategic partnerships and resource mobilization activities and the development of CoFSA operations and Strategic initiatives, as per the scope of work.

Requirements

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in International Development, Management or Business Administration, Food and Agriculture, or other related discipline is required, or
A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the any field mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the master’s degree.
Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in the field of international development, project management and/or business administration.
Experience coordinating projects/initiatives including support budgetary aspects of work planning process and management of team budgets.
Expertise in food and agriculture.
Experience in inner development and its role in sustainability and/or systems change.
Fluency in the English language is required.

Nice To Haves

Experience in Resource Mobilization.
Experience in partnerships with a wide range of public and private partners.
Experience in working with donor’s proposals and reporting.
Fluency in Spanish and/or French is an advantage.

Responsibilities

Ensure effective coordination of the CoFSA initiative and workplan focusing on quality assurance and risk management from formulation to implementation of activities.
Contribute to planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring of the assigned programme areas, and with the support of the operations team track use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations
Support management of team contractual arrangements and support procurement processes, including drafting TORs, participate in assessment processes, participate in interview panels etc., in collaboration with the operations team.
Oversee the preparation and aggregation of reports on activities, outputs and outcomes, including donor and corporate reports.
Participate in UNDP Food Systems Team activities, such as monthly team meetings, annual retreat, and specific workstreams, as needed.
Contribute to other project management tasks and support project team members, as and when needed.
Collaborate in the creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy.
Identify and support building and nurturing of partnerships with key partners for CoFSA, based on CoFSA strategic priorities, including civil society organisations (CSOs), UN agencies, international financial institutions (IFIs), government institutions, donors, and private sector.
Analyze and research information on donors, prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identify opportunities for initiation of new joint activities, develop proposals and substantively contribute to UNDP Food Systems Team resource mobilization efforts.
Support CoFSA Governance mechanisms, with strategic thinking, as well as preparing and reporting on ‘Inner Council’ meetings and other governance related activities.
Contribute with technical advisory to development of key CoFSA workstreams, tasks and products, and actively build and update the Service Offer and integration into UNDP Food Systems Service Offer.
Contribute to the development of strategic projects and products, through concepts design, presentations, and managing internal UNDP operational processes.
Contribute to the integration of CoFSA in UNDP Global, Regional, and Country activities, in coordination with UNDP Food Systems Team, with Pillar A – Innovation.
Identify capacity building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training, programme workshops and other relevant activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders.
Ensure programme reports capture results, lessons learned and good practices for possible wider application.
Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on development and programme related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the programme, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the programme, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization