International Senior Consultant : ESG and Value Chain Due Diligence

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization for trade-related technical cooperation in developing countries. Green and Inclusive Value Chains Section (GIVC) is responsible for developing and disseminating sector level expertise for sustainable market driven solutions in ITC, including the Alliances for Action (A4A) methodology and Responsible Business Conduct approach.

The approaches engage smallholder farmers and MSMEs to manage risks and facilitate networks that provide the required technical expertise and capacity building to transform food systems and advance the Sustainable Development Goals through partnerships that cultivate ethical, climate smart, sustainable value chains.

ITC aims at achieving resilience and growth for farmers and MSMEs through more mindful and responsible trade, production and consumption systems and improved opportunities to compete in global markets. This includes building resilience and competitiveness of MSMEs and enabling sustainable market linkages and value addition.

Piloting Innovative alliances to address root causes of Child labour in supply chains

The "Ending child labour in supply chains: Addressing the root causes of child labour in supply chains through an area-based approach" (CLEAR Supply Chains) project, co-funded by the European Union, brings together the International Labour Organization (ILO) as the leading UN agency, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to address jointly the root causes of child labour, with a primarily focus on the coffee supply chain.

The African Caribbean Pacific Business Friendly Programme

The “Support to Business Friendly and Inclusive National and Regional Policies, and Strengthening Productive Capabilities and Value Chains” Programme aims to complement the European Union support for private sector development in ACP countries. With major focus on the development of agriculture and agri-business value chains, the Programme is designed to achieve two key outcomes: (1) adopting and implementing business-friendly, inclusive and responsible national policies and legal frameworks, and (2) strengthening productive, processing, promoting and marketing capabilities and value chains.

ASEAN SCOPE Trade Project

The overall objective (impact) of the 5-year project is to improve sustainable connectivity between the EU and ASEAN, and within ASEAN with a focus on trade, economic connectivity and sustainable value chains.

Responsible Business Conduct in Africa

The project Responsible Business Conduct in Africa aims to strengthen the capacity of value chain across 11 African countries by aligning national policies, business practices, and value chains with EU and international standards on due diligence, sustainability, labour rights, and corporate accountability.

Description of Duties/Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Inclusive Agribusiness Systems (DSIT/GIVC) and direct supervision Programme Officer (Alliances for Action) and in close collaboration with RBC project teams both in country and HQ; the Senior Consultant will be responsible for the following duties:

• As per agreed capacity building plans, provide expert inputs to coaching for approximately 15 cooperatives/ SMEs in Uganda (coffee), Honduras (coffee) and DRC (cobalt) in implementation of accompanying measures to due diligence systems, living incomes and environmental impact, among others, under the CLEAR Supply Chains project
• As per agreed capacity building plans, provide expert inputs to coaching for approximately 20 cooperatives/ SMEs in Uganda (cocoa), Ghana (cocoa) and Ethiopia(coffee), Mozambique (coffee), Cameroon ( coffee) in implementation of accompanying measures to due diligence systems, living incomes and environmental impact, among others, under the ACP Project
• Provide expert technical inputs to the development of a Concept note for Output 3.4 of the ASEAN SCOPE Trade Project
• Develop Due Diligence Framework concept notes for selected value chains under the ASEAN Scope Trade Project
• Provide expert technical inputs to Readiness assessments, individual action plans (15-20) and capacity building priorities for ASEAN Scope Trade cohort
• Develop cohort-level summary report based on results of due diligence assessments and Presentation of assessment results to ASEAN cohort
• Curate capacity building resources for ASEAN Scope Trade cohort in close collaboration with regional team and counterparts, including technical inputs to ToT manuals and supporting documents
• Provide expert inputs to the Due diligence readiness assessments, result reports and action plans per country with selected cooperatives and MSMEs in the context of the RBC Africa project, in coordination with National RBC consultants
• Develop cohort-level summary report based on results of due diligence assessments and Presentation of assessment results to RBC Africa cohorts
• Curate capacity building resources for RBC Africa project cohorts in close collaboration with Regional and National teams and counterparts, including technical inputs to ToT manuals and supporting documents
• Provide technical inputs and guidance on the preparation/updating of RBC capacity building material for each module: due diligence, living income and wages, child labour, emissions management and others depending on the results of the Readiness assessments (ToT manuals and supporting material), leveraging existing ITC RBC capacity building plans (CBPs) and resources.
• Technical inputs and support provided for the delivery of capacity building training in person, online, ToT, or direct training of practitioners, cooperatives and companies.
• Conduct ongoing progress reporting on capacity building and implementation and provide expert technical input to and quality assurance of the content of documents and communication material related to HREDD; expert technical insights and sharing of experience in relation to the implementation of ITC’s work on accompanying measures, addressing the root causes of child labour, and more broadly HREDD and Responsible Business Conduct; as well as expert technical advice in order to undertake participatory south-south dialogue and co- creation related to the HREDD framework with Partner Governments, Private Sector and Producer Organizations, MSMEs and National Institutions.
• Participate in regular coordination meetings and provide technical backstopping to the national technical personnel in ESG and DD and provide inputs for project reporting.

• Master’s in economics, social sciences, Social Policy and Planning in Developing Countries and or related areas
• Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree. A minimum of ten (10) years of relevant professional experience in sustainability, responsible business agricultural and rural development, including knowledge of agri-business and participatory approaches
• Experience of working with international/donor organizations or in national development agencies; experience in sustainability and inclusiveness agribusiness is desirable.
• Experience as trainer desirable
• Previous experience of work for ITC or other UN agencies, or trade promotion / investment attraction agencies is an asset

• Fluency in written and speaking of English and French required.
• Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage