Food Security and Value Chain Development Expert

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in some 170 countries and territories, supporting their own solutions to development challenges and developing national and local capacities that will help them achieve human development and the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated on three main focus areas: Sustainable development; Democratic governance and peacebuilding; Climate and disaster resilience. UNDP helps countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we promote gender equality and the protection of human rights. UNDP has enhanced its support to countries to work towards the eradication of extreme poverty, enabling us to build back better and work towards innovative solutions to the complex global challenges. We have refined our service offering through six signature solutions to provide a more integrated response to the development challenges that we are all facing in this complex global environment. This includes a mix of policy advice, technical assistance, catalytic financing and innovative programmes tailored to country specific needs to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals through six our signature solutions on – poverty, governance, resilience, environment, energy, gender equality.

Zambia’s policy landscape is shaped by two pivotal documents: Vision 2030 (2006-2030) and the 8th National Development Plan (8NDP, 2022-2026), serving as cornerstones for all sectoral policies. Vision 2030 highlights the importance of climate change mitigation, emphasizing diversification in agriculture, and expansion of irrigation while ensuring access to renewable energy and clean water. Meanwhile, the 8NDP has three key strategic areas (Economic Transformation and Job Creation; Human and Social Development; and Environmental Sustainability). The pivotal role of sustainable agriculture in enterprise development, environmental protection and food security is clear. Agriculture plays a pivotal role in fostering Zambia’s socio-economic development and accounts for 51% of the labour force. Over 50% of the Zambian population depends on local agricultural production for food, primarily through smallholder production, however, the sector remains vulnerable to climate change which is increasing in incidence. It is, therefore, essential that the inter-twined issues of climate change and food security are addressed in a holistic manner. Building on its corporate Climate Promise initiative that enhances achievement of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), UNDP is supporting government in pursuing green growth through more ambitious climate actions by effective domestication and integration of the 2030 Agenda, Paris Agreement, and the Sendai Framework into national and local development policies and strategies for accelerated sustainable development.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Environment and Energy Unit, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following duties:

• Carry out situational analysis and literature review to get familiar with the current Government policy thrust in environment, climate change, agricultural production, and value chain development.
• Contribute to, and support the activities related to identifying and costing the investments needed for the identified viable value chains in Zambia.
• Support Government institutions/counterparts and other relevant organizations on green policy work, as well as the mapping of climate risks, droughts, pests and floods with crop and livestock suitability.
• Assess impacts of the climate change induced hazards and risks on food security and nutrition including the economic cost at the national level for more integrated adaptation planning.
• Provide technical support to the ongoing and emerging work of the Environment and Energy Unit in the areas of food security, environment, climate smart agriculture, cli-mate security, and renewable energy.
• Support the Country Office in its resource mobilization efforts including through project formulation and development.
• Highlight major lessons and experiences regarding the strengths and weaknesses of key stakeholders in addressing climate resilience, food security and nutrition challenges.
• Participate in meetings of the UN Planet Results Group and contribute to mapping out strategy to support Government’s efforts on climate action.
• Represent UNDP in relevant fora when required.

Furthermore, UN Volunteer is expected to:

• Have proven experience in leading assessment exercises and technical report-writing.
• Have strong quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills.
• Have Knowledge of environmental and climate change issues and food security conceptual framework. Experience with Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) for acute food insecurity analysis is a plus.
• Have knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day) – Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country- Provide annual and end of assignment reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities using UNV’s Volunteer Reporting Application.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, and press releases.
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.