Consultant Needed for Development of Advocacy Paper on Urban Food Systems

Purpose

Recognizing the momentous opportunity presented by the 2021 Food System Summit that will be convened as part of the UN Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, the urgent need to address the progress eroded by the COVID-19 pandemic, Concern Kenya seeks to develop an urban advocacy position paper that can be used by herself and her allies to advocate for transformed and sustainable food systems for the urban informal settlements in Kenya. The objective of this undertaking is to consolidate existing evidence/research on urban food systems to ensure that it is presented in a coherent manner that provides in-depth understanding of the issues/problems in the urban context and build support and acceptance of proposed solutions. Concern seeks to use the advocacy position paper to raise awareness and elevate public discussion about reforming urban food systems, and propose solutions that governments and other stakeholders looking to support food systems and the attainment of the SDGs. This advocacy position paper will form the basis of advocacy engagement in the following events in 2021; Food Systems Summit in September, Global Hunger Index Launch in October, Climate Conference in November and the Nutrition for Growth Summit in December. Additionally, the paper will contribute to the process of moving from dialogue to delivery beyond 2021 by ensuring national and international processes deliver on two of the most critical promises of the SDGs; the promise to reach ZERO Hunger and ‘Leave No one Behind’.**

Justification

Given the time-intensive nature of the task and the limited time available to the Concern Kenya team to prepare these advocacy position papers by August 2021 for use in the Food Systems Summit, the team is seeking the services of an external consultant to undertake this assignment.

Methodology and Technical Approach

Proposed methodology for undertaking the assignment include but not limited to the following

• Desk/Literature review focusing on existing research on urban food systems including evidence from Concern Kenya’s program experience in Nairobi informal settlements such as Indicator Development for the Surveillance of Urban Emergencies, Urban Early Warning Early Action projects and Alliance 2015 research, notes from UNFSS advocacy preparation meetings, Scaling Up Nutrition Movement among others
• In-depth engagement with key national and subnational stakeholders from Government, UN System, Non-State Actors, Academia, Private Sector, NEMA and other executing agencies for Global Environment Facility (GEF), sector experts on climate smart, nutrition sensitive and shock responsive food systems
• Leverage on likeminded partners- FCDC, UN-SDG/IFAD, UNFSS National Secretariat, UNICEF, Nairobi City County Food, Agriculture and Forestry, Oxfam, Welt Hunger Hilfe, Acted, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
• Take into account recommendations emerging from the Independent UNFSS Subnational Dialogues for Nairobi held in May 2021, Pre-Summit scheduled for July 2021.

Timeframe

The team desires to have the task to commence in July and be completed by 31 August 2021, prior to the Food Systems Summit in September 2021

Management

The consultant will be managed by the Concern Kenya team: Senior Manager Governance and Advocacy (main contact person) and representatives from Livelihoods, Health and Nutrition programs. Dublin Advocacy Team will also provide support in this engagement.

Proposed outline for the advocacy position papers

i. Abstract: one paragraph containing the purpose of the paper giving a very high-level overview of the content of the paper and a clear case for action.

ii. Background: half page description of the issues ,reflecting on the UNFSS process, the critical voices it convened, the space it opened up to delve into some critical issues and engagement beyond the Summit

iii. Position: two or three pages describing the challenge, the opportunity, the evidence we (Concern) can contribute, the ‘asks’/key advocacy messages

Qualifications

• University Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural economics, or related social science with some urban food security expertise will be an added advantage
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in urban food security-related analysis and programming work
• Excellent synthesis skills and writing skills

Annexes for reference by the consultant

List of research and publications on Urban Food Systems by Concern, Alliance 2015, Global Hunger Index and other studies by like-minded organizations, notes from Concern Kenya UNFSS advocacy preparation meetings.

Financial quotation

Kindly provide your quotation based on Consultant’s rate per day

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