Result of Service

An institutional, governance and operational strategy for the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership through to 2030 with the following deliverables:

Detailed documentation prepared to support the selection and establishment of the institutional hosting arrangement, including recommendation papers, draft collaboration frameworks and supporting documents for Steering Committee decisions and implementation.
Terms of Reference for leadership and key secretariat roles developed, alongside updated organizational charts and role matrices. Action plans outlining the transition of leadership functions and potential consolidation or relocation of secretariat operations prepared.
Updated governance documentation developed, including revised Terms of Reference for the Steering Committee, Co-Chairs, and any relevant sub-committees, clarifying roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes.
Strategic advisory support provided to the co-chairs and Global Coordination Unit during the transition process, including preparation of briefing materials, participation in key meetings, and facilitation of discussions required to implement the agreed institutional and governance arrangements.

Work Location

Armenia

Expected duration

4 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Organizational Setting and Reporting The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 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. This consultancy is situated within the Nature Frameworks and Strategies Unit of the Biodiversity and Land Branch. The assignment contributes to UNEP’s work under the Joint SDG Fund Joint Programme Unlocking Sustainable Finance for Nutrition-Sensitive, Climate-Smart Food Systems Transformation in Armenia. The Joint Programme seeks to catalyse systemic food systems transformation in Armenia through interconnected pathways including sustainable dairy value chains and consumer behaviour change toward biodiversity-positive and nutrition-sensitive diets. UNEP will support the development of integrated consumer-facing approaches focused on sustainable consumption, awareness raising, and nature-positive food systems, including strategic conceptual work related to nutrition campaigns and flagship food product positioning. These efforts will support national awareness objectives, sustainable consumption patterns, school feeding opportunities, and Armenia’s broader biodiversity and CBD COP17 agenda. This consultancy focuses on Phase I strategy and concept development. Future implementation support may be subject to separate consultancy arrangements. Purpose and Objective of the Assignment The purpose of this consultancy is to develop an integrated strategy framework for behaviour change and flagship biodiversity-positive dairy product development in Armenia. The consultant will provide technical expertise to assess consumer behaviour dynamics, identify market and product opportunities, development of partnerships, and develop strategic concepts and messaging approaches that support shifts toward sustainable, nutritious, and biodiversity-positive consumption patterns. The assignment will establish the strategic roadmap for future implementation of behaviour change campaigns, consumer engagement initiatives, and flagship product piloting under Phase II. Responsibilities Under the supervision of the designated Senior Programme Management Officer within the Nature Frameworks and Strategies Unit, and with support from technical UNEP colleagues and the broader Joint SDG Fund team, the consultant will provide technical implementation support to deliver on the following project activities: 1. Behaviour Change Campaign Strategy Technical delivery on biodiversity and nutrition awareness campaigns, behavior change campaigns, urban school nutrition programs (JSDGF Activity 1.2.3)

Development of Biodiversity and Nutrition awareness campaign concept, selection of the contractor and the development of awareness raising compain, including short video to share via public media and social media.
Development of behavioural change campaign concept, selection of the contractor and the development of awareness raising compain, including including short video to share via public media and social media.
Establishment of partnership with the WFP Transformative home grown school feeding programme and coordination with FAO Farmer Field Schools (FFS) to raise awareness on nature-positive agriculture and COP17.
Development of concept notes on school interventions on sustainable food systems transformation in schools, aligned with the objectives of the NBSAP on agricultural transformation.
Pilot school intervention(s) selected with WFP/municipal partners, including implementation modality, minimum monitoring indicators, and linkage to incubator-supported products/value chains where feasible.
School programme positioned as one COP17 showcase output with named ownership of narrative and evidence pack. 2. Flagship Dairy Product Technical delivery on supporting high-level political commitment for the flagship dairy product and its showcase at CBD COP17 (JSDGF Activity 1.1.6)
Coordination with CBD Secretariat, Policy Lab (especially the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and the UN COP17 Taskforce.
CBD COP17 flagship dairy narrative and evidence pack agreed (policy commitments, partners, pilots, and finance/DIB readiness)
Named government champions and spokespersons confirmed (MoE/MFA/other), with CBD COP17 milestones calendar and responsibilities agreed. Technical "whole-of-value-chain" development support for the flagship dairy product and the roll out of school feeding programs (JSDGF Activity 3.2.1)
Establishment of partnerships with schools for the WFP and FAO school feeding program.
Facilitate the formalization of partnerships and coordination mechanisms among value-chain stakeholders supported through project capacity-building activities.
Flagship dairy product communication strategy developed and approved.
Flagship dairy value-chain roadmap agreed (roles, timeline, and delivery priorities), linking school feeding demand, incubator-supported supply, and COP17 showcase narrative. Technical support for national branding initiatives for biodiversity positive food products, communication and marketing for the flagship dairy product (JSDGF Activity 3.2.2)
Consultation with the Policy Lab (especially with the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs) on the Sustainable Food Systems narrative at COP17 and possibility of flagship dairy product presented at the conference.
COP17-ready branding and communications package developed (key messages, product narrative, partners, and evidence from pilots) to show-case a nature positive dairy product linked where possible with the national school food programme.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree in behavioural science, communications, food systems, agribusiness, sustainable development, marketing, or related field is required. A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in one or more of the following areas is required: - Behaviour change strategy and strategic communications - Sustainable food systems and nutrition F - Food product innovation and market positioning - Consumer awareness and engagement initiatives - Sustainable consumption and biodiversity-positive food systems Experience working with UN agencies, government institutions, private sector actors, or multi-stakeholder international programmes is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in written and spoken Armenian is required. Working knowledge of English is required.

No Fee

THE 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.

Behaviour Change and Flagship Dairy Product Strategy Consultant