The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the world’s 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 environment.

Summary

This position is located in the Environmental Policy Unit of the Law Division, UNEP based in Nairobi, Kenya.  The consultant will work under the guidance of Balakrishna Pisupati, Head of Environmental Policy Unit in close consultation with the relevant experts in the Environmental Conventions and Policy Branch as well as the other relevant UNEP Divisions and the MEA Secretariats.

Specifically, the consultant is expected to:

• Provide a brief analysis on how the mandates and objectives of the MEAs in the section 2 above are linked to sustainable agriculture and food systems.
• Develop a simple conceptual framework for food systems issues, responding to climate change and biodiversity loss.
• Develop 2-3 approaches for science-policy-law interfaces that can help countries achieve food self-reliance and resilience.
• Assess the common solutions identified by scientific bodies Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), International Plant Protection Convention (IPCC), the International Resource Panel and other relates scientific bodies) that can be considered as entry points for enhancing synergies and cooperation amongst MEAs to promote sustainable agriculture and transforming food systems that will upscale solutions to tackle the triple planetary crisis.
• Identify and provide policy recommendations for effective and coherent MEAs implementation that have high potential impact for sustainable agriculture and food systems.

Requirements

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent in environmental sciences, law or closely related area of study is required.
• Ten years experience required in technical knowledge of synergies between the climate, food systems and biodiversity clusters in the context of sustainable development.
• Working knowledge of the UN system and specifically the work of UNEP and MEAs secretariats is desirable.
• Experience conducting research and advising governments and international organizations on issues related to environmental governance is required.

Special knowledge and skills

• Excellent writing and communications skills.
• Excellent research and analytical skills
• Results focused.
• Clear and concise communication.
• Demonstrated capacity to work in a consultative manner, good networking, and good inter-personal skills.

Languages

• Fluency in oral and written English is required