Organization Setting:

UN Environment 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. UN Environment Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The consultant will work for the Economics of Nature Unit in the Ecosystems Division to perform the execution of different work packages of The Economics of Ecosystem and Biodiversity (TEEB) projects, and specifically on the project “Enhancing agrobiodiversity through the implementation of the TEEBAgriFood Framework” funded by DG INTPA. The UN Environment TEEB initiative supports the implementation of TEEB studies of agro-ecological value chains in accordance with the TEEBAgriFood Evaluation Framework, which is broad in scope and requires considerable technical capacity related to quantification and valuation of natural capital and ecosystem services. The DG INTPA project is being implemented in Brazil, Ghana, India and Indonesia. The overarching problem that this project seeks to address is that the adoption of agroecological approaches that promote agrobiodiversity (c.f. GBF Target 10) is being hampered by decision-makers failing to measure and then value (c.f. GBF Goal B) the full range of positive and negative externalities and impacts of current versus alternative (agroecological) approaches, which are not measured. The FAO's 2019 State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture report1 highlights the significance and decline of agrobiodiversity, emphasizing the need for enhanced monitoring to transition towards more sustainable and resilient food systems. TEEB (‘The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity’) is a UNEP initiative that was launched at the G8+5 Potsdam Meeting of Environment Ministers in 2007, and TEEB for Agriculture and Food (‘TEEBAgriFood’) in 2018. UNEP developed the TEEBAgriFood Evaluation Framework that provides a comprehensive and universal approach to capture all the impacts and dependencies on nature across the entire value chain, thereby making the economic case for pro-agrobiodiversity farming approaches by both public and private sector decision makers. UNEP requires the support of a consultant to assist with preparations ahead of the project Inception Workshop, planned for Q1 2026 in Accra, Ghana. The consultant will provide technical assistance through analytical research and preparation of background materials to support project consultations and decision-making. The consultant will also support communications, coordination, and stakeholder engagement. The consultant will report to the Head of the Economics of Nature Unit (TEN) in the Ecosystems Division.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Duties and responsibilities of the consultant will include:

• Stakeholder sensitization and mapping. The consultant will have meetings with key stakeholders including government (national and regional, the latter determined by the geographical scope of the intervention), line ministries, agri-businesses, farmers groups, and civil society groups to apprise them of the project and seek their inputs, ahead of the Inception workshop.
• Preparation of a national project workshop - background documents. This will include the preparation of a main background document which will provide (i) a project summary, (ii) a review of recently completed and extant relevant projects and initiatives, (iii) the policy environment vis-à-vis food systems and agrobiodiversity in Ghana,, (iv) a stakeholder mapping, and (v) zero draft proposals for policy scenarios to be discussed at the Inception Workshop. Other documents include the Agenda and list of invitees.
• Provision of expert input and coordination for workshop logistics. This will include advising on and coordinating the identification of a suitable workshop venue, associated catering and audio-visual facilities, and supporting the strategic coordination of participant invitations, in close collaboration with the TEN team.
• Post-workshop summary reporting, background documentation for the Project Steering Committee (PSC), and drafting of PSC Meeting Minutes. The consultant will draft a post-workshop report and relevant documents for a Project Steering Committee meeting to include proposals for research consortia to take the work forward and provide a PSC meeting summary after the PSC convenes.

Qualifications/special skills

A first level degree with a specialization in environmental studies, environment and development, sustainable development, economics, applied economics, agriculture, or related fields is required. An advanced level degree in related fields would be an added advantage. A minimum of two (2) years working with governments, non-governmental organizations, International Organizations or research institutions on food systems is required. Experience in the Ghanaian agriculture sector is desirable. Experience working with the United Nations is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in oral and written English is required.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.

• Stakeholder sensitization and mapping. The consultant will have meetings with key stakeholders including government (national and regional, the latter determined by the geographical scope of the intervention), line ministries, agri-businesses, farmers groups, and civil society groups to apprise them of the project and seek their inputs, ahead of the Inception workshop.
• Preparation of a national project workshop - background documents. This will include the preparation of a main background document which will provide (i) a project summary, (ii) a review of recently completed and extant relevant projects and initiatives, (iii) the policy environment vis-à-vis food systems and agrobiodiversity in Ghana,, (iv) a stakeholder mapping, and (v) zero draft proposals for policy scenarios to be discussed at the Inception Workshop. Other documents include the Agenda and list of invitees.
• Provision of expert input and coordination for workshop logistics. This will include advising on and coordinating the identification of a suitable workshop venue, associated catering and audio-visual facilities, and supporting the strategic coordination of participant invitations, in close collaboration with the TEN team.
• Post-workshop summary reporting, background documentation for the Project Steering Committee (PSC), and drafting of PSC Meeting Minutes. The consultant will draft a post-workshop report and relevant documents for a Project Steering Committee meeting to include proposals for research consortia to take the work forward and provide a PSC meeting summary after the PSC convenes.

• Analytical research
• Preparation of background materials
• Project consultations
• Decision-making support
• Communications
• Coordination
• Stakeholder engagement
• Stakeholder sensitization
• Stakeholder mapping
• Workshop logistics coordination
• Expert input
• Report drafting
• Meeting minute drafting

• A first level degree with a specialization in environmental studies, environment and development, sustainable development, economics, applied economics, agriculture, or related fields is required.
• An advanced level degree in related fields would be an added advantage.
• A minimum of two (2) years working with governments, non-governmental organizations, International Organizations or research institutions on food systems is required.
• Experience in the Ghanaian agriculture sector is desirable.
• Experience working with the United Nations is desirable.