Regional SUN Business Network Advisor- Asia and the Pacific (International Consultant- Level II)

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

JOB TITLE: Regional SUN (Scaling Up Nutrition) Business Network Advisor TYPE OF CONTRACT: When-Actually-Employed Consultancy Contract (International Consultant, Level II) UNIT/DIVISION: Regional Bureau for Asia-Pacific (RBB) / Programme Unit (Nutrition Team) DUTY STATION: Bangkok, Thailand (The consultant will work remotely from home station and travel may be required) DURATION: 5 Months (January- May 2021), With 65 Working Days

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance. Are you interested in growing the engagement of the Private Sectors in nutrition? Are you ready to change and save the lives of the world's most vulnerable people? If yes, this opportunity is for you!

We are currently looking for a self- motivated team player to contribute to the expansion of SUN (Scaling Up Nutrition) Business Network in the region!

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to WFP is recognition that ending hunger is a critical first step towards global peace. WFP recognizes that one of the greatest contributions it can make to humanity is to provide a voice to the 690 million hungry people in the world. The Nobel Peace Prize gives us a platform to make their needs heard and to mobilize support for the assistance they need.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Despite rapid economic growth, Asia and the Pacific is facing a serious nutrition problem - referred to as the triple burden – where people are simultaneously facing hunger and undernutrition, suffering from micronutrient deficiencies and dealing with the consequences of obesity and diet-related non communicable disease. These different forms of malnutrition overlap in individuals, families, communities and countries in the region both in urban and remote areas. The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has brought the fragility of food systems even more sharply into focus, affecting the whole food systems – production, distribution, consumption – and all actors and livelihoods along the food value chain, at global, regional and local economies, resulting in job losses, reduced incomes and increased food insecurity and malnutrition for vulnerable people.

The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to roll back many years of modest progress. An urgent, coordinated response and scaled-up investments from governments, donors, the private sector, the United Nations agencies and civil society are now crucial. Among the multi-stakeholder efforts is the Scaling up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, a renewed effort to eliminate malnutrition, based on the principle that everyone has a right to food and good nutrition. The Movement’s vision is to, by 2030, ensure a world free from malnutrition in all its forms. Led by governments and supported by organizations and individuals – collective action ensures every child, adolescent, mother and family can realize their right to food and nutrition, reach their full potential and shape sustainable and prosperous societies.

The SUN Business Network (SBN) is one of four global networks within the SUN Movement which supports countries to develop multi-stakeholder strategies to scale up nutrition at national level. SBN was established to engage and support businesses to act, invest and innovate in responsible and sustainable actions and operations to improve nutrition while also achieve sustainable business objectives. The SBN provides a neutral platform to broker partnerships and collaborations between business and all actors on nutrition at the national, regional and global level in support of SUN Countries. The SBN is co-convened by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

In Asia, SUN Business Networks have been officially established in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines and initiated in several additional countries.

JOB PURPOSE

The main purpose of this consultancy is to facilitate the advancement of SUN Business Network in Asia and the Pacific region, with the aim of increasing engagement of the Private Sector in nutrition in line with the upcoming SUN 3.0 strategy.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The Regional SUN Business Network Advisor will strengthen national SUN Business Networks in Asia and the Pacific Region and develop a regional strategic roadmap.

Under the overall guidance of the Regional Nutrition Advisor, the incumbent will carry out the following tasks:

1. Support emerging and established SBNs in mobilizing businesses and other private sector partners and advance their strategies.
   • Support national SBNs to define strategic opportunities for engagement of businesses in nutrition, identify gaps & challenges in private sector engagement and develop strategies to recruit and retain SBN members.
   • Support resource identification and mobilization for SBNs in the region, as required.
2. Knowledge sharing and learning
   • Identify knowledge and capacity gaps and capacity strengthening opportunities for SBN coordinators and WFP country networks.
   • Identify, compile and disseminate lessons learned on establishment and operation of SBN, using various media channels.
   • Compile key lessons and best practices of the private sector to improve nutrition and food security in the Asia Pacific Region.
   • Coordinate with the Global SBN team to harmonize the strategy and actions at the national, regional and global level.
3. Identify and leverage strategic partnerships with key regional business associations and investors
   • Develop a framework and engagement criteria to screen the regional private sector landscape to assess relevance, potential, interest in engaging in nutrition.
   • Develop a regional guidance on engagement / non engagement of private sector in nutrition considering perceived and actual conflict of interest.
   • Carry out consultations with identified strategic partners to explore interest and potential for SBN engagement.
   • Explore relevance and feasibility of establishing a regional SBN for Asia and The Pacific in line with the SUN 3.0 strategy
4. Develop a road map for SBN in the Asia Pacific Region.
   • Based on activity blocks 1, 2 and 3 above, develop a strategic roadmap to move the SBN agenda forward in Asia and the Pacific.
5. Carry out other tasks as required.

Deliverables:

1. Country focus:
   • Overview/brief prepared of SBN country activities in the region: Status , strategies , challenges and opportunities.
   • Best practices and lessons learnt from country level SBN identified and disseminated through a webinar.
2. Strategic partnerships at regional level
   • Framework and engagement criteria developed to screen the regional private sector landscape to assess relevance, potential, interest in engaging in nutrition
   • A shortlist of relevant private sector associations at regional level established with rationale for engagement
3. Short guidance note developed for engagement / non engagement of private sector in nutrition in Asia considering perceived and actual conflict of interest
4. A strategic roadmap for SBN and private sector engagement in Asia is developed.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education:

• Bachelor or master's degree in business, management, marketing, international development or related field.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of work experience with the private sector or private scetor engagement engagement, partnership management, policy advocacy with nutrition/public health programs, or relevant field.
• Work experience in Asia is considered as an asset.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated experience of actively engaging private sector in development programs.
• Knowledge in nutrition and the global nutrition architecture.
• Knowledge of the private sector landscape in Asia and Pacific with a focus on nutrition/food sector/ food systems.
• Experienced partnership broker with strong relationship management skills and familiarity with managing a wide platform of stakeholders.
• Experience in communications and advocacy, in particular with the private sector.
• Good understanding of food systems.
• Strong stakeholder management, networking and communication skills, including an ability to be flexible and adapt to the needs of stakeholders.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and achieve milestones within tight timelines.
• Strong written communication and information synthesizing skills, including proven ability to communicate diverse and disparate information and messaging in simple and concise formats.

Language:

• Fluency (Level C) in English language.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

30 November 2020, Midnight, Bangkok Time.

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Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply.

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status. No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.