Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) Expert

Result of Service The Consultant will support the efforts to disseminate best practices on Voluntary Sustainability Standards and to develop UNFSS media and website, the UNFSS events and meetings. The consultant will provide specific services on VSS and BioTrade which is mainly to formalize and publish the VSS and BioTrade report, as well as to launch and disseminate it. The consultant will also assist in the project on “Investigating the potential of sustainability standards in enhancing sustainable trade and sustainable development within the African continent and beyond: The case of agri-food sector” and to produce a chapter in the project report as the final output.

Work Location Geneva

Expected duration Contract duration: 5 August to 31 December 2022 Effective working time: 5 months Place of work: Geneva

Duties and Responsibilities Background:

In recent years, VSS have had an increasing influence over our economic, social and environmental model. VSS are considered a market-based tool to transform production, and consumption patterns into more sustainable ones.

UNFSS: The United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS) is an initiative of five UN agencies: UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), International Trade Centre (ITC), UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), and UN Environment (UNEP).

EcoMark Africa Project: Agriculture is seen as a cause and victim of various environmental problems. On one hand, it contributes substantially to climate change via emissions of methane and nitrous oxides. Given the significance of the agri-food to the economies of African countries, along with it is adverse impacts on environmental sustainability, there is a need to ensure that while the environmental impacts are mitigated, the socioeconomic impacts on smallholders’ farmers are as well monitored and improved.

BioTrade: In 1996 UNCTAD launched the BioTrade Initiative to support the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Since then, the Initiative has developed a unique portfolio of global, regional and country programmes as well as a network of partners and practitioners working in over 80 countries.

Under the supervision of the Project Officer, Economist of the Trade Analysis Branch the consultant will provide the necessary support to for the following duties.

UNFSS: 1. Support the work of UNFSS coordinator in advancing the understanding of Voluntary Standards for sustainable development. Carry-out analysis on this topic when required. 2. Develop UNFSS media and website content. Responsible for updating and improving the UNFSS website. Prepare dissemination material, when required. 3. Support on the UNFSS National Platform and Initiative Cooperative (NPIC) work and projects. 4. Advancing the team’s research agenda through conducting a study on the complementarities between ECOMARK Africa label requirements and other selected agri-food international standards.

BioTrade: 1. Prepare and submit the VSS report for publication in accordance with UNCTAD’s procedures and guidelines including: - Finalization and format the VSS report in accordance with the UNCTAD’s brand/style guidelines using the final text received, including required images, logos - Typeset and layout text pages of the final text including photographs, diagrams, charts and images. - Design (or submit request to the design team) the cover graphic - Submission of forms and approval for the clearance process - Incorporating key parts of the report to the ASEAN (BioTrade) Report

2. Organization of a communication campaign and launch event for the VSS study a. Conceptualization and design of the event, including selection of speakers, and content of event b. Provide ideas and inputs for the communication campaign and promotion of the event. c. Assist and preparing the agenda, invitations, draft of talking points for speakers d. Assist on the draft of news items and any communication material. 3. Daily management of the BioTrade social media platforms (1 month in October): Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook

Qualifications/special skills Skills: Excellent drafting and communication skills. Academic Qualifications: Master's degree in Environmental Sciences, Economics or Policy and Management Experience: At least 1 year work experience in trade issues. Experience with private voluntary sustainability standards is an asset. Language: Fluency in English both oral and written 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.