Nature for Health Systems Approach Facilitator and Project Development Specialist

Result of Service

This assignment is expected to lead the systemic approach facilitation of the scoping phase of the Nature for Health Fund to establish a sustainable, locally relevant project. The process facilitated by the consultant will establish a common understanding, vision and commitment to collaborate among the various stakeholders within the N4H scene in Kenya and will result in an Implementation Project Document supported by the core team and stakeholders.

Work Location

Nairobi, Kenya

Expected duration

9 Months: Part Time

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP’s Ecosystems Division engages with governments and other partners to develop and promote ecosystem-based solutions for sustainable development. This position is in Biodiversity and Land Branch.

This assignment is intended to conduct the scoping phase of the Nature for Health Multi Partner Trust Fund (the Fund) in Kenya. N4H is a global initiative, working nationally to reduce health risks through environmental determinants. Initial work will focus on strengthening the environmental and preventive aspects of One Health. N4H aims to contribute to an improved understanding of the links between the health of people, animals and ecosystems, to mainstream them into public health approaches and to support decision makers and relevant actors to make use of relevant evidence to help prevent future pandemics and enhance planetary health.

In its first eight years, N4H is working in three overlapping phases in 18 low- and middle-income countries or regions. For its first phase of work, N4H employed an open call to government agencies for Expressions of Interest. Selection criteria centered on reducing the risk of zoonotic disease spillover, political commitment to collaboration and One Health, and potential as an N4H partner. In Phase I, N4H is working in Ecuador, Ghana, Mongolia, Rwanda, and Vietnam and operational work started in 2023.

The operational work in each country will be structured in two stages.

1) The scoping stage is designed as a systemic inquiry and will conclude when a co-developed Implementation Project Document is produced that details the activity plan and budget. The scoping stage is a limited exercise estimated to last approximately 9 months and to be completed in 2026.

2) The implementation stage is expected to last 2 to 3 years and be based on country interests and priorities, as agreed in the scoping stage, which support the outputs of the Theory of change for the overall N4H initiative targeting the overall objective of implementing upstream prevention approaches to reduce zoonotic spillover risk :

♦ Assess: enhancing evidence on links between biodiversity, climate change, and health for better decision-making ♦ Build: supporting governments to develop effective policies, structures and frameworks for preventative One Health ♦ Enable: building capacity, knowledge management, and advocacy to implement such policies and frameworks ♦ Sustain: establishing sustainable partnerships and governance This assignment is intended to support UNEP’s Biodiversity and Land Branch in their role as Partners of the Nature for Health initiative during its scoping phase.

Duties and Responsibilities Under the overall supervision of the Head of the Biodiversity, People and Landscapes Unit, with direct oversight by the Programme Management Officer, Ms. Monica Lopez, the consultant will:

1. Develop a shared understanding and knowledge of N4H objectives and processes:

• Develop a shared understanding and knowledge among stakeholders of the scope of One Health arena in Kenya, Nature for Health (N4H) and its objectives, through a review of core materials and discussions with UNEP Partners and other relevant stakeholders as necessary.
• In addition to the workshops described below, carry out and facilitate multiple bilateral and focus group discussions with the agreed upon stakeholders in Kenya to discuss the objectives of N4H. The results of these bilateral and focus group discussions should also be considered and integrated into the co-creation process of the Implementation Project Document
• Develop a deep understanding of the N4H system thinking methodology
• Help One Health stakeholders to support and strengthen their existing systemic practice, the upstream prevention and their environmental dimension of One Health. 2. Design and facilitate workshops:
• Based on the N4H scoping guide, co-design and facilitate at least 3 workshops with Kenyan stakeholders and other experts as necessary to assess the situation pertaining to One Health and the interrelationships between sectors and stakeholders and to co-design the Implementation Phase project document.
• Manage dynamics in the workshops
• Co-develop agendas and list of stakeholders to be shared with the core team prior to each workshop
• Define scope (extent, boundaries) of the process (as per N4H Scoping guide)
• Support critical reflection on boundaries and power as well as ideation of creative solutions
• Create a safe space for discussions
• Apply the practical tools (in the N4H Scoping Guide) in workshops with local stakeholders
• After the workshops, gather feedback from the stakeholders and revise materials (i.e. minutes, reports, etc) as needed
• Prepare workshop reports with support from the project manager, reflecting discussions to inform the development of the Implementation Project Document for the Implementation Phase.
• Facilitate the BPLU Strategic Workshop to strengthen the integration of N4H in the unit. 3. Facilitate One Health and N4H partnership in Kenya
• Facilitate and guide the process of collaboratively building the N4H partnership in Kenya, supported by the project manager
• Arrange with support of the project manager OH stakeholders side meetings to consensually embrace a system thinking approach
• Provide support to stakeholders to facilitate the systems process
• Co-develop space for learning and reflection throughout the scoping process
• Co-create with stakeholders a common set of objectives to which stakeholders adhere and contribute
• Co-facilitate and guide the process of collaboratively building the N4H partnership in Kenya and its programmatic structure for the implementation phase supported by UNEP and the project manager
• Co-facilitate Partner’s meetings to consensually establish partnership roles and develop implementation activities supported by UNEP and the project manager. 4. Develop content towards the Implementation Phase (in conjunction with Core Team, UNEP and project manager)
• Based on the inputs received from the co-creation workshops, contribute to the elaboration of the Implementation Project Document, led by the project manager, integrating results of the co-creation workshops
• Contribute to the development of relevant Terms of Reference and key components for the Implementation phase as required and supporting the project manager in the IPD creation.
• Ensure the system thinking approach is included across the design of the implementation phase (Implementation Project Document) and associated documents

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree (MSc level or higher) in the social, ecological, behavioural or management sciences is required.

Professional qualifications in coaching or facilitation and systems thinking is desired.

A first level degree with additional two years of qualifying experience maybe accepted in lieu of advanced degree. A minimum of 7 years of postgraduate work experience in knowledge management, organizational learning and facilitating partnership building in diverse multi-stakeholder environments is required. Demonstrated experience in facilitation; ability to use system thinking tools and approaches in multi stakeholders environment is required. Demonstrated experience in program management and developing project documents and actionable plans for sustainable development informed by facilitated systemic inquiries is required. Communication and presentation skills, familiarity with rich picturing, influence diagrams and other systems tools is desirable Experience in working and facilitating workshops in Africa is desirable

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.