The objective of the consultancy is to:
• Assess the workings of the Arab food system with a view to identify likely strengths and weaknesses to improve its resilience while making it more inclusive and sustainable;
• Develop an innovative and encompassing framework to assess national and regional food systems with a special focus on the new food security dimensions of agency and sustainability that could complement the existing Arab Food Security Monitoring framework;
• Contribute substantively to consultations with key stakeholders and build capacity in relation to the functioning of food systems to better highlight the intricacies related to their transformations;
• Provide input and revision to the development of a related e-course on the use of the food security monitoring framework that integrates the food system assessment.
Remotely
Expected duration5 Months
Duties and Responsibilities
In 2019, ESCWA along with global and regional partners and experts developed the Arab Food Security Monitoring Framework. It allows the analysis and visualization of the food security situation of a nation or region building on a set of 24 indicators along its four main dimensions.
Through this consultancy, ESCWA intends to build on this major achievement to support countries in better identifying and understanding regional food systems notably key strengths and weaknesses so they could be built or acted upon to ensure their sustainable and inclusive transformation to better support food and nutrition objectives in all countries and for all people.
The Senior Expert on Food Security will:
1. Prepare an extended outline on the proposed work to assess regional food systems and their impact on food security taking into consideration the two new food security dimensions;
2. Prepare an outline on a framework to conduct food system assessment that complements the Arab Food Security Monitoring framework;
3. Conduct a macro-level assessment of Arab food systems with the aim to enhance their resilience as well as their impact on food security outcome with special focus on vulnerable countries (LDCs and Countries in Conflict). The assessment should underscore the agency and sustainability dimensions and their impact on food security including key drivers and institutional setup;
4. Identify key agency and sustainability indicators and highlight other key information that could facilitate the understanding of Arab food systems functioning and evaluation of their impact on food security outcomes;
5. Prepare report detailing the food systems assessment methodology and its methodology as well as set a preliminary benchmark. The assessment could build on existing frameworks including importantly the SDGs and the Arab Food Security Monitoring framework to ensure their complementarity and facilitate their adoption and integration into national policies and plans;
6. Contribute substantively to the discussions with experts and stakeholders through a series of webinar/in person consultations (2-3) to exchange views on the assessment of the Arab food systems, representatively and strength of suggested agency and sustainability indicators as well as on the newly or expanded food systems assessment methodology;
7. Contribute substantively to discussions during a final in-person consultation with government officials, food systems experts and stakeholder to present the new food systems assessment methodology to assess how results could better be integrated into food systems policy making and development-planning notably as related to vulnerable countries (LDCs, in conflicts and going through other disruptions);
8. Prepare a report of a framework to conduct food systems assessment integrating agency and sustainability indicators and proposing ways to integrate it into the existing food security monitoring framework;
9. Provide revisions and input on the preparation of an e-course for the Arab Monitoring framework including on the preparation of a comprehensive storyline, selection of materials and case studies to be included, and peer-reviewing the final e-course.
Master’s or higher degree in food security, agriculture, food supply chains, organizational development or any other relevant field related to sustainable development is required.
A minimum of 15 years of work experience in the field of food security, agriculture, food supply chains, food systems, organizational development or any other relevant field related to sustainable development in the Arab region is required.
Good analytical, appraisal and planning skills and computer literacy is desirable.
Excellent command of English and Arabic spoken and written.
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.