Consultant, Advocacy & Global Initiatives (CGIAR - Rome, Italy)

About CGIAR

CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to transforming food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. CGIAR science is dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services. Its research is carried out by 13 alliances/centers in close collaboration with thousands of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, development organizations and the private sector. www.cgiar.org

This consultancy will be supported by the Alliance Bioversity International & CIAT. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future. https://alliancebioversityciat.org/  

About the position

The Advocacy for Impact Unit (A4I) collaborates with Regional and Science Groups to work with, for, and through partners, to ensure research findings and evidence are used to inform decisions on national policies and regulatory systems, financial subsidies and incentives, knowledge management and dissemination systems, and international agreements and conventions. The Unit advances the creation of an enabling environment for scaling innovations, solutions, and technologies, and bringing evidence in support of the policy environment and investment decisions of private and public stakeholders at global, regional, and national scales. The Unit leads on identifying and coordinating action on global advocacy priorities, offering CGIAR's key assets, knowledge and evidence on key issues and effort in high-level policy dialogues.

Reporting to the lead of the A4I Unit within the Partnerships & Advocacy Global and the Climate Change Platform, the consultant will coordinate CGIAR engagement in support of the COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action to accelerate implementation at country level. The incumbent will lead the identification of pilot countries where CGIAR is best placed to align and enhance this support to that provided by key in country partners, and the establishment of light-touch reporting mechanisms to ensure common CGIAR reporting and learning learned, and coordinate development of robust, coherent, advocacy engagement plans with partners at key international events to drive political momentum for accelerated action.

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Responsibilities

• In collaboration with the CGIAR internal steering committee, develop a comprehensive action plan for implementing the terms of reference within the contract's duration.
  
• In collaboration with the Senior Strategic Advisor, develop criteria for selecting priority countries, identifying CGIAR country focal points, and assessing technical assistance that could be aligned with partners' responses to country demands.
  
• Act as the liaison for CGIAR country and regional focal points, offering guidance and resources (case studies, best practices, insights, learnings, recommendations, etc.) to enhance engagement in multistakeholder processes.
  
• Undertake periodic scanning of the donor environment to identify and share potential funding sources with country teams.
  
• Work with identified CGIAR regional and country focal points to support the development of country work plans and a reporting mechanism to monitor country-level progress, including goals, targets, and indicators of success.
  
• Lead the development of regular synthesis reports on progress, challenges, and lessons learned, as well as an end-of-year synthesis report.
  
• Support the design and implementation of a targeted engagement plan on key priority issues important to countries and partners at global fora.
  
• Monitor and share relevant national, regional, and global policy issues and debates with key internal stakeholders.
  
• Liaise effectively and build strong relationships and networks with organizations working on providing technical assistance in the climate, biodiversity, and food sectors.
  
• Work with country focal points to develop key messages and communications materials highlighting learning and achievements.
  

  Requirements
  Essential Requirements
  
  

  • Master's degree in social science, political science, international studies, or other related field.
    
  • Previous professional work experience (minimum 5 years) in :
    
    • Supporting policy and advocacy engagement in country and global decision-making processes.
      
    • Supporting partnership building, learning and collaboration and connecting people and groups to ecosystems of support.
      
    • Preparing high quality analytical reviews/ assessments.
      
    • Design/coordination of advocacy plans, preferably with countries, international organizations and large international NGOs.
      
    • Fluency in both written and oral English is essential, while fluency in another UN language would be an asset.
      
    • Excellent knowledge of the national and international climate, biodiversity and/or agrifood policy processes.
      
    • Excellent analytical and report writing skills.
      
    • Demonstrated success in undertaking stakeholder analysis and designing and delivering engagement plans in complex environments.
      
      
      Desirable Requirements
      
      

      • Experience working for international research organizations based in the global south.
        
      • Experience in evidence-based advocacy with partners based in the global south.
        
      • Experience working with government partners and international organizations.
        
      • Experience undertaking advocacy related to climate, biodiversity and/or agrifood systems transformation.
        

        Benefits
        Terms of employment
        
        This is a 6-month full-time consultancy opportunity from July to December 2024, renewable based on extended needs and requirements. All consultancy fees and conditions will be administered in line with the Alliance approved policy for consultants.
        The position is remote, preferably based in Rome, Italy with periodic meetings to review the status of delivery at the Alliance Headquarters.
        
        
        Applications
        
        Please apply online through the website ( https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers ) no later than 11 June 2024, attaching a curriculum vitae, motivation letter (outlining your interest and suitability for the consultancy, as well as your proposed consultancy fees for the period), both in English, and contact information of at least three references, we can contact (name, organization and position, relationship to you, telephone number, and email).
        
        
        Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
        
        
        Closing date for applications: 11 June 2024
        We invite you to learn more about us at: 
        http://alliancebioversityciat.org
        Please visit our careers page at:
        https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers
        VA - Consultant, Advocacy & Global Initiatives (CGIAR - Rome, Italy)