Result of Service
This consultancy will deliver on coordinating Working Group 1’s activities, supporting the development of policy guidance and recommendations for SDG localization, organizing expert meetings, assisting with the review of reports, and contributing to advocacy, awareness, and capacity development efforts to promote localized SDG transitions.
Duties and Responsibilities
Background The Local2030 Coalition is a key United Nations inter-agency platform, formed in 2022, driving localized action towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including pushing key transitions and achieving the SDGs by 2030 through SDG localization. To achieve its objectives, the coalition is guided by the targets of the high impact initiatives (HIIs – see below for more details), particularly focusing on launching thematic working groups (WGs), increasing government commitments to local action, building a portfolio of innovative practices, and raising awareness among the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) members about localization as a key accelerator for SDG achievement. The coalition is co-chaired by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat, as the permanent co-chair) and one other United Nations entity, which rotates every two years (currently the Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO]). UN-Habitat also leads the Secretariat of the Local2030 Coalition. During the SDG Summit in September 2023, a set of 12 HIIs were identified towards transformative progress to achieve the SDGs by 2030, despite challenging global circumstances, and to mobilize further leadership and investment to bring progress to scale between now and 2030. The Local2030 Coalition was selected as one of these HIIs to advance the six transitions identified by the UNSDG. The six transitions are six entry points that can have catalytic and multiplier effects across the SDGs and an outsized determinant impact for achieving the goals. These include: (1) food systems; (2) energy access and affordability; (3) digital connectivity; (4) education; (5) jobs and social protection; and (6) climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. In 2024, the Local2030 Coalition set up a working group, Working Group 1, with a focus on supporting the six transitions by gathering evidence, building knowledge, and providing actionable recommendations to national, subnational and local governments, as well as United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs) and other relevant stakeholders, to scale impact. The agencies co-leading the Working Group 1 are UN-Habitat, FAO, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA). Working Group 1 is looking to recruit a Coordination Consultant to support its work. Duties and responsibilities The consultant will provide coordination support to Working Group 1 in driving the Local2030 Coalition’s thought leadership around the localization of the six SDG transitions. The consultant’s work will eventually contribute to the Local2030 Coalition’s ability to offer evidence-based guidance and recommendations for multilevel governance actions, and to foster collaboration with UNCTs and other stakeholders. Key objectives of the consultancy include: 1) general coordination of the Working Group 1’s tasks, responsibilities and meetings; 2) support in the production of a policy guidance and recommendations report related to the localization of the six SDG transitions in a framework of multilevel governance, including through collecting data and coordinating the organization of an expert group meeting (EGM) that will inform the report production; and 3) communications, advocacy and capacity development support to promote the uptake of localization approaches as a pathway to achieving the SDGs. More specifically, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: 1. General coordination of the Working Group 1’s work • Support the Working Group 1 co-leads with the coordination of meetings, including scheduling, note-taking, follow-up, etc. • Monitor the Working Group 1’s workplan and budget implementation and forecast and support the Working Group 1 co-leads in managing the budget. • Provide other types of ad hoc coordination and support to help the Working Group 1 co-leads with the implementation of the Working Group’s workplan, including with coordinating the peer review, design and publishing of various reports. 2. Coordination support for the Working Group 1’s policy guidance and recommendations work • Support during methodology definition/adoption: Support the Working Group 1 co-leads in the process of defining and agreeing on the scope, methodology and approach for producing a policy guidance and recommendations report (see below). • Collect and analyse information: Collect and analyse relevant data that can inform the production of the policy guidance and recommendations report (see below). This can include further analysis of the mapping that the Working Group 1 aims to conduct about local interventions, initiatives and practices by United Nations entities, focusing on the localization of the six SDG transitions, demonstrating the impact of localized actions. It could also include conducting interviews with relevant stakeholders to collect additional feedback. • Coordinate a global EGM: The EGM will include experts who work on localization, system thinking and SDG accelerators from Member States, local governments, good governance experts, and the United Nations System. The EGM will aim to comment on how to best scale up best practices for accelerating SDG implementation and provide recommendations to effectively support SDG localization through a systems approach, including by leveraging the six transitions. • Provide support on the review and revision of the draft policy guidance and recommendations report: The Working Group 1 co-leads will draft a policy guidance and recommendations report, with clear, practical action points to address common bottlenecks and barriers, and build on best practices, related to local actions on the six SDG transitions in a framework of multilevel governance. The report should include concise recommendations for (i) United Nations System/UNCTs; (ii) national governments; (iii) local and regional governments; and (iv) other stakeholders. The draft report needs to synthesize analysis from all relevant information as well as the outcomes of the EGM. Once drafted, it will need to be reviewed by the members of Working Groups 1 and 2 (the latter focused on Financing the Six SDG Transitions), as well as the Local2030 Coalition members. The consultant will support the Working Group 1 co-leads with coordinating the peer review process of the draft report and with incorporating some of the feedback received by peer reviewers as needed. 3. Communications, advocacy and capacity development • Contribute to/Develop advocacy/awareness-raising materials and engage in the organization of high-level events, as appropriate, to promote the uptake – among UNCTs and other key stakeholders – of approaches to localize the six transitions as a pathway to achieving the SDGs, with a focus on the dissemination of the key messages of the policy guidance and recommendations report. • Support in the creation of relevant capacity development tools for UNCTs and other relevant stakeholders. • Support the Local2030 Coalition’s Working Group 2 in liaising and coordinating with potential pilot countries to advance SDG implementation through local actions in one or multiple transitions. Reporting The consultant will report to the Coordinator, SDG Localization and Local Governments and the SDG Cities Flagship and the co-leading agencies of Working Group 1 of the Local2030 Coalition, providing regular updates on progress and deliverables.
Qualifications/special skills
Advanced degree in international development, public policy, or a related field is required. At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in policy support, coordination and policy analysis for development planning and implementation is required. Proven expertise in SDG localization, multilevel governance, and knowledge of United Nations mechanisms. Experience working with UNCTs and knowledge of SDG-related initiatives. Strong analytical skills and experience in producing policy analyses and synthesizing complex information.