Result of Service1. Improved quality and relevance of outputs, facilitating greater utilization of evidence to inform policy priorities of the Indian government. 2. Strengthened multi-stakeholder collaboration, fostering active engagement of private sector actors and key partners, aligning with the project’s goals and outcomes. 3. Timely consolidation of project results and learnings, leading to clear, well-structured progress reports and evidence-based knowledge products that support decision-making and accountability. Work LocationHome-based Expected duration12 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesOrganization 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 “True Value Accounting: Making the Economic Case for Food Systems Transformation in India and Kenya” funded by the IKEA Foundation. 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 Steering Committee for TEEBAgriFood India, co-chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoAFW) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), has identified the project’s policy focus area as the assessment of organic and natural farming, as well as agroforestry systems at the landscape or farm-cluster level in the Indian states of Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The assessment shall seek to maximize the scope of a multi-capitals evaluation across a representative range of agroclimatic zones in the three states. The project encompasses public and private sector workstreams that collectively aim to contribute to the food systems transformation agenda in India. This includes supporting governments through evidence-based policy recommendations for sustainable food systems; engaging with agribusinesses to assess and manage their impacts and dependencies using the TEEBAgriFood Framework; and strengthening the capacities of local communities in sustainable agricultural practices, thereby contributing to coordinated and resilient food systems transformation. The public sector application of the TEEBAgriFood Framework in each state will generate policy recommendations through the identification and assessment of differences between a Business-as-Usual (BAU) scenario and at least two counterfactual policy scenarios, analyzed across all stages of the agri-food value chain based on modeled future projections. The study will quantify, or where necessary qualitatively evaluate, changes in social, human, natural, and produced (manufactured) capital stocks and their associated flows under each scenario. The private sector workstream will engage with agribusinesses operating in project states, focusing on the thematic areas of organic farming and agroforestry, enabling an analysis of the impacts of scaling these practices and the incentives and measures required to do so across the entire value chain, from farm to fork. The application will include a unique focus on understanding key constraints and opportunities for sustainable enhancement of the value chains, contributing to the development of a strategy for sustainably strengthening the biodiversity economy. UNEP requires the support of a consultant for the implementation of public and private sector TEEBAgriFood applications in India. 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, with particular emphasis on engagement with private sector actors in India. 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: 1. Contribute to the organization of national and state-level project workshops and meetings in India. Participation will include broad representation of change agents, such as government (national and regional, the latter determined by the geographical scope of the intervention), line ministries, TEEBAgriFood implementing partners, agri-businesses, farmers groups, and civil society groups. This will include: a. Preparation of background documents, agenda and a list of invitees. b. Coordination and arrangement of adequate logistical requirements for the workshop. c. Drafting summaries of workshop and meeting outcomes 2. Technical guidance and coordination with implementing partners in the development of tailored training modules for agribusinesses, farmer groups and public sector decision-makers in project states. 3. Provide technical and coordination support in reviewing and finalizing technical and knowledge reports developed under TEEBAgriFood in India, ensuring analytical quality and alignment with project objectives. 4. Contribute to enhancing the visibility and knowledge communication of TEEBAgriFood outcomes in India by working closely with the TEEBAgriFood country team and implementing partners to develop communication products, and outreach content that are context-specific and aligned with national and regional priorities. 5. Contribute towards the facilitation of cross-sectoral collaboration among government agencies, private sector actors, research institutions, and civil society organizations to enhance coordination and foster convergence towards sustainable food systems transformation. 6. Periodic consolidation of project results and learnings to support the preparation of progress summaries, knowledge products, and evidence-based insights that inform policy dialogues, reporting to key government stakeholders, and internal reporting processes. Qualifications/special skillsA first level degree preferably with a specialization in environmental geoinformatics, environmental management, law, social anthropology, environment and development, sustainable development, economics, applied economics, agriculture, or related fields is required. An advanced 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 with a focus on the application of biophysical and economic modelling to measure and value the social and environmental impacts and externalities of food systems is required. Experience in working on food systems in both the public and private sectors is required. Experience in the Indian agriculture sector is desirable. Experience working with the United Nations is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in spoken and written English is required. Fluency in spoken Hindi is desirable. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.