Consultant, Programme Specialist, ACF

Job Description

Consultant, Programme Specialist, ACF

The Organization

The Alliance of Champions for Food Systems\
Transformation (ACF) is a
strategic coalition of ambitious countries determined to act urgently,
together. Launched at COP28 in Dubai, signatories to the Alliance are
committing to driving bold, coordinated action, taking a ‘whole of government’
approach to transforming their food systems such that they deliver better
outcomes across 5 key areas: Food nutrition and security; adaptation and
resilience; equity and livelihoods; nature and biodiversity; and climate
mitigation. ACF countries are working to improve their national food systems in
ways that become attractive blueprints for others to follow, showcasing
national leadership, facilitating learning, disseminating knowledge and
accelerating innovation. ACF members include Brazil and Sierra Leone
(co-chairs) plus Cambodia, Colombia, Italy, Norway, Rwanda and Vietnam.

About the position

​

On behalf of ACF, the
Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical
Agriculture (CIAT) is seeking a qualified consultant to provide
technical and advisory support to the ACF Secretariat, contributing to the
delivery of key outputs related to member engagement, coordination mechanisms,
and implementation of the ACF workplan.

Responsibilities

1. Partnerships and
Engagement (45%)

• Support the planning and delivery of monthly
  virtual member meetings and two to four in-person meetings during the
  contract period, including the preparation of agendas, briefing materials,
  pre-meeting notes, and post-meeting summaries.

• Provide coordination and communications
  support to the Head of Secretariat and Country Engagement Lead in
  maintaining regular engagement with country focal points, including
  scheduling and participating in bilateral meetings with existing and
  prospective ACF members.

• Develop engagement plans and supporting
  materials for new ACF members, including Italy, Vietnam, and Colombia, and
  prepare outreach materials for potential member countries.

• Prepare briefing notes, ministerial
  statements, press releases, and other communications materials in support
  of ACF advocacy activities and in coordination with communications
  consultants.

• Map and engage relevant civil society,
  academic, and NGO stakeholders and prepare a concept note outlining
  options for a “Friends of ACF” support structure.

2. Thought Leadership and
Strategy (10%)

• Prepare background materials, presentations,
  and organizational inputs for one Secretariat planning session and support
  the development and implementation of the ACF engagement plan for
  international and regional events.

• Develop and maintain an overview of
  international initiatives related to food systems transformation and
  prepare periodic updates to inform ACF positioning and collaboration
  opportunities.

3. Delivery and Project
Management (30%)

• Contribute to the preparation and
  organization of Secretariat meetings and maintain an updated workplan
  tracking timelines, responsibilities, and deliverables across workstreams.

• Prepare monthly budget monitoring updates
  and identify any variances or issues requiring attention by the Head of
  Secretariat.

• Prepare quarterly progress reports
  summarizing activities undertaken, outputs delivered, and recommendations.

4. Fundraising and
Development (15%)

• Develop and maintain a pipeline of fundraising opportunities for 2027–2030 and provide technical inputs to funding proposals and bid submissions.

Deliverables

Partnerships and Engagement (45%)

1.Deliver
monthly member convenings and in-person meetings, including:

• At least six,
  monthly virtual member meetings coordinated and delivered

• Between 2
  and 4 in-person member meetings supported during the contract period

• Agendas,
  pre-briefings, information notes, and meeting summaries prepared and circulated
  for 100% of meetings

Due by 31st May 2027

2. Deliver
member engagement and coordination support, including:

• Periodic stakeholder
  engagement summaries documenting interactions with ACF member focal points (3-4
  reports over the 11-month period)

• Briefing notes and summary
  reports for at least twelve bilateral meetings with existing or prospective ACF
  members.

• A member engagement and
  communications log updated monthly throughout the contract period

Due by 31st May 2027

3. Develop engagement support packages for new and
prospective members,
including:

• Engagement plans developed
  for at least 3 incoming members, including Italy, Vietnam, and Colombia

• Outreach materials and briefing packages prepared for prospective member
  engagement activities

• Recommendations prepared to
  support future member expansion efforts.

Due by 31st May 2027

4. Deliver advocacy and communications materials in
support of key ACF moments,
including:

• At least twenty advocacy
  and communications products prepared, such as briefing notes, ministerial
  statements, talking points, press releases, and key messages

• Materials delivered in
  advance of major advocacy opportunities, including COP31 and other
  international events.

Due by 30th November 2026

5.Develop
and support a civil society and stakeholder engagement network, including:

• A stakeholder mapping
  covering at least fifteen relevant academic, NGO, and civil society
  organizations

• One concept note developed
  outlining options for a “Friends of ACF” support structure

Due by 30th September 2026

Thought Leadership and Strategy (10%)

1. Deliver
planning and strategic engagement support,
including:

• Materials, agendas, and
  organizational inputs prepared for Secretariat planning session in January 2027

• Contribute to maintaining
  and updating the ACF engagement plan for international and regional events

• Strategic briefing inputs prepared for priority
  advocacy and engagement opportunities

Due by
31st January 2027 (for the away day) and 31st May 2027
for other elements of this deliverable

2. Develop
and maintain an overview of international food systems initiatives, including:

• One ecosystem mapping
  document developed covering relevant international initiatives and partnerships

• Quarterly updates submitted
  throughout the contract period (minimum three updates)

• Recommendations prepared to
  support ACF positioning and collaboration opportunities

Due by
30th September 2026 (for the ecosystem mapping) and 31st May 2027 for the other elements of this deliverable.

Delivery and Project Management (30%)

1. Coordinate
Secretariat planning and workplan tracking,
including:

• Meeting documentation
  packages (agendas, briefs, minutes) prepared for Secretariat coordination
  meetings

• Consolidated Secretariat
  workplan maintained and updated monthly

• Deliverables tracking
  updates prepared and shared on a regular basis

Due by
31st May 2027

2. Deliver
budget monitoring and reporting support,
including:

• Monthly budget tracking
  updates prepared, highlighting expenditure status, variances and
  recommendations and submitted to the Head of Secretariat (minimum ten updates)

• Financial tracking inputs
  consolidated to support Secretariat planning

Due by
31st May 2027

3. Deliver
quarterly progress reporting,
including:

• Four quarterly progress
  reports submitted during the contract period

• Reports summarizing
  activities undertaken, outputs delivered, implementation progress, risks, and
  recommendations

Due by
31st August 2026; 30th November 2026; 28th February 2027; 31st May 2027 for each of the quarterly progress
reports.

Fundraising and Development (15%)

1. Develop fundraising and partnership development
inputs, including:

• Mapped
  fundraising pipeline covering opportunities for 2027–2030

• At least five
  prospective funding opportunities identified and documented

• Technical
  inputs provided to at least two funding proposals, concept notes, or bid
  submissions during the contract period

Due by 30th March 2027