International Consultant to support the development of Joint Programme on Food Systems Transformation

Four weeks contract

The UN Food Systems Summit (hereinafter UNFSS), held during the 2021 UN General Assembly, set the stage for global food systems transformation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The Summit offered a platform to mobilize commitments by Heads of State and Government and other constituency leaders. It catalyzed actions to transform food systems and leveraging these shifts to deliver progress across all the SDGs. To achieve the commitments made, and in partnership with the Food Systems Coordination Hub, the Joint SDG Fund is launching a High-Impact funding round on Food Systems Transformation, to provide funding to UNCTs, for initiatives that clearly demonstrate readiness to drive accelerated and catalytic results towards transformation at scale. The Funding round is expected to support the following overarching objectives: 1. Promote the transition to sustainable, equitable, healthy and resilient food systems as a catalytic investment for SDGs acceleration in countries and as a powerful response to current and future shocks. 2. Advance integrated national action for food systems transformation, that is grounded in National Pathways, driven by whole-of-government approach, and is multi-stakeholder and rights-based. 3. Reshape the national food finance architecture to become sustainable, equitable, healthy, and resilient, and catalyze more SDG value for money. 4. Build national, regional, and global knowledge, capacities and learning, as well as monitor and communicate progress and impact to inform, influence and drive accelerated action for food systems as a key transition. Timor-Leste has been identified as one of the countries to benefit from this High-Impact Track (HIT) funding round, recognizing the pivotal role of sustainable food systems in achieving the SDGs in the country, the national ownership and commitments made by government at the Food Summit and aligned to 5 national pathways identified by the country - Production, Transport and Warehousing, Processing, Distribution, and Consumption. These priority areas offer opportunities to address challenges effectively and sustainably transform food systems across all demographic groups. The consultancy is to support the UN Country team and government counterparts, under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, to develop the Joint Programme on Food Systems Transformation that will support government of Timor-Leste’s stated food sufficiency and security priority on increasing productivity of fortified rice to 200,000 tons in 5 years and productivity of other crops, looking at innovative and high-ambition solutions (financing, research, green technology/digitalization) to ensure a minimum of 1 to 4 financial leverage in Timor-Leste. Duties, Responsibilities, and Output Expectations: - Undertake literature review and consolidating existing national priorities, assessments, analyses, ‘Return on Investment cases’ on food systems in Timor-Leste, and provide analysis for consultations and engagement, priority setting for UN country team and government counterparts. - Consult a wide-range and diverse array of stakeholders including farmer cooperatives, private sector entities, women and youth groups and civil society to align priority setting for the Joint Programme. - Additionally map out the financing landscapes, highlighting opportunities for enhanced investments in scaling up food systems in Timor-Leste looking at government budgets, development partners’ funding, private sector, including opportunities in the ASEAN region.

Qualifications: Advanced degree in business, sustainable development, agricultural sciences, economics, international relations, or related fields, with a focus on food systems and strategic financing. Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in partnerships, proposal development, resource mobilization, and strategic financing within the context of development cooperation, preferably with a focus on agriculture and food systems.