Result of Service
The purpose of this consultancy is to supplement UNEP ROA’s capacity through: • Supporting the design, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the environmental dimension of the Joint Food Systems Project, in the UNSDCF and the UNCT results in Cameroon. • Enhanced UNEP’s engagement with the RC Office and UNCT in Cameroon. The consultancy is justified by the increasing demand for coordinated regional and country-level environmental support, the need to strengthen UNEP’s engagement with UNCTs in Africa.
Duties and Responsibilities
The United Nations Environment Programme is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. 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. As Cameroon advances the implementation of the CONVERGEFOOD initiative, there is increasing recognition that sustainable food systems transformation requires integrated approaches that address climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, sustainable resource management and environmental sustainability across agricultural value chains. Strengthening these dimensions is essential to improving productivity, reducing environmental risks, enhancing the resilience of vulnerable populations and supporting sustainable development outcomes. To support this agenda, UNEP’s Regional Office for Africa (UNEP-ROA) seeks to engage a consultant to provide technical, analytical, and coordination support to the implementation of the environmental dimension of the joint Food Systems Project and in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) in Cameroon. This position will be based in the RC Office (RCO) in Cameroon. The position will have dual reporting line to UNEP-ROA and Head of the RCO in Cameroon for day-to-day work. 1. UNEP Regional Development Coordination Officer, ROA. 2. Resident Coordinator's Office (RCO): Head of RCO for day-to-day work. The Consultant will support policy coherence, institutional strengthening and multi-sectoral coordination for climate-smart, nature-positive and nutrition-sensitive food systems and will perform the following key functions: 1. Conduct a comprehensive analysis of gaps/enabling conditions and policy levers, examining coherence between Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), National Adaptation Plan (NAP), National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and other relevant food systems/nutrition policies for synergies/trade-offs, including an inter-sectional lens to strengthen women’s roles that will inform and contribute to the development and implementation of the second phase of the Joint SDG Fund project on Food Systems in Cameroon (CONVERGEFOOD). 2. Organise in close collaboration with WFP and FAO and participate in the devolution workshop(s) to share the key environmental issues and aspects necessary for supporting and ensuring a whole-of-UN and whole-of-government that contributes to the sustainable implementation and long-term results of CONVERGEFOOD project. 3. Organise, plan and actively engage in the establishment of an inter-ministerial and multi-stakeholder engagements and policy lab establishment (academia, CSOs, UNCT, private sector and development partners) to generate evidence, build consensus and consolidate policy recommendations on food systems, trade, climate and nature-positive production in Cameroon. 4. Participate and contribute to the review of the Cameroon national food, agriculture, forestry, and environment policies (including documents) and legal framework(s) for coherence that address food production, climate change adaptation and mitigation, nutrition enhancement and biodiversity conservation. 5. Contribute to the planning of and participate in validation workshop to review updated action plan with sectoral ministries and support the Government to finalize the strategic policy documents related to the Climate-Smart Agriculture, Climate Smart Livestock, and Sustainable Plan for Aquaculture development in Cameroon. 6. Contribute to and engage to ensure that environmental sustainability and resilience aspects are taken into consideration in the development of the Cameroon food safety regulatory framework on basic laboratory sampling protocols; hazard identification in rice/milk/cassava/eggs, including monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. 7. Participate in the meetings and workshops to draft the Cameroon food safety regulatory framework to ensure that environmental sustainability and resilience aspects are taken into consideration. 8. Building on the plan and ToRs for running an inter-ministerial Policy Lab, establish and run an inter-ministerial Policy Lab with academia, CSOs, UN agencies, food companies and donors to generate evidence and options for policymakers on food systems, trade, climate, nature-positive production and nutrition. Development. 9. Develop policy briefs on integrating environment sustainability, resilience and climate smart technologies into food systems. 10. Provide technical input to SOPs & inspection protocols in the context of the One Health approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of humans, animals, plants and ecosystems for school-feeding–relevant food items (rice, cassava, milk, eggs). 11. Co-develop approved supplier guidelines for MSMEs that harmonize One-Health risk pathways from production, transport, school delivery for inspectors and school feeding program. 12. Assess environmental and climate footprint of priority value chains (rice, cassava, eggs and milk) of expanding (into new areas) and improving (with new quality standards, new climate-friendly procedures, nutrient-rich processed food) and provide recommendations for more sustainable and nature-positive production systems. 13. Identify opportunities to integrate biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration and sustainable natural resource management into priority food system value chains and policy processes under CONVERGEFOOD 14. Co-design modules with MINEPDED/MINADER/MINEPIA on climate-smart agriculture, resilient supply chain management, climate risk screening for MSMEs, early warning systems, including practical examples on drought adaptation measures. 15. Contribute to the designing of the technical training and mentorship modules for value chain actors to integrate climate-smart indicators. o Assess capacity and awareness on food loss and waste in cold chains (within the EoS actors) o Collaborate with the Cold Chain Coalition to map temperature-sensitive nodes in the 4 value chains o Design pilot low-cost cold-chain solutions (solar-powered fridges, milk collection coolers) 16. Promote circular economy approaches to reduce food waste and post-harvest losses that encourage the use of agro-industrial by-products and food waste for composting, animal feed, or bioenergy production, contributing to environmental sustainability and resource efficiency. 17. Document lessons learned and promote replication and scale-up of successful models e.g. scaling up the whole-of-UN, and whole-of-government and whole-of-stakeholders approach to sustainable food systems, environmental sustainability, resilience and one-health approach. 18. Represent UNEP in the UNCT Programme Management Team and relevant technical working groups. 19. Provide environmental sustainability and climate resilience inputs to UNCT processes. 20. Support the RC Office and UNCT in strengthening the One UN approach to food systems and environmental priorities. 21. Contribute to the UNEP inputs to the development and implementation of the Cameroon Cooperation Framework 2027–2031. 22. Contribute to the UNEP inputs to the UNCT Annual Joint Work Plans, UN INFO reporting and UNCT Results reports. 23. Support integration of environmental sustainability, climate action, biodiversity, pollution prevention, circular economy and resilience into relevant Cooperation Framework outcomes and indicators. 24. Support coordination between UNEP, the RC Office, Government and UNCT members. 25. Provide technical support to Government engagement on environmental sustainability
Qualifications/special skills
An advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in environmental studies, climate change, sustainable development, international relations, economics, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree, combined with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in environmental programmes, sustainable development preferably in Africa is required. Strong knowledge of the Sustainable Development and the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda is desirable. Proven experience in country-level programme development and partnership building required. Excellent analytical, drafting, and communication skills is desirable
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in English is required, knowledge of other UN language is an advantage.
Additional Information
Strong knowledge of the Sustainable Development and the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda. Proven experience in country-level programme development and partnership building. Excellent analytical, drafting, and communication skills.
No Fee
THE 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.
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