Internship Sustainable Food Systems Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Job Opening

Job Opening ID: 282143

Job Network : -

Job Family : Environmental Affairs

Category and Level : Affiliate Personnel – Consultants/Individual Contractors , CON

Recruitment Type : Consultant

Job Opening Job Opening ID: 282143 Job Network : - Job Family : Environmental Affairs Category and Level : Affiliate Personnel – Consultants/Individual Contractors , CON
Recruitment Type : Consultant Duty Station : PANAMA CITY
Department/Office : United Nations Environment Programme Date Posted : Aug 5, 2026
Deadline : Aug 20, 2026

As a result of this consultancy, it is expected that:

• Institutional and policy capacities for integrated and systemic food systems approaches in the Yaque del Sur basin are strengthened.
• National and subnational stakeholders are better equipped to align food systems priorities with biodiversity, climate, and development frameworks, and to strengthen coordination across sectors and institutions.
• High-quality analytical assessments, policy recommendations, governance tools, and capacity-building materials are produced to support evidence-based decision-making and policy coherence.
• National decision-makers are better equipped to implement integrated policy, governance and financing approaches that support sustainable, resilient and inclusive food systems.
• Foundations are established for sustained cross-sectoral coordination and future programmatic phases.

The consultancy will deliver strategic and technical outputs required to implement Outcome 4: Strengthened institutional and policy capacities to promote integrated and systemic approaches for sustainable food systems transformation in the Yaque del Sur basin of the SDG Fund Joint Programme.

Output 1: Strengthened policy coherence and governance linkages across food systems, climate and biodiversity agendas through the assessment of policy integration, identification of gaps and opportunities, and the development of recommendations to support integrated implementation.

• Conduct a comprehensive diagnostic assessment of the integration between food systems policies and environmental policies, particularly climate change and biodiversity.
• Map and analyze the current policy landscape to determine the degree of integration between food systems policies and key environmental frameworks, including National Adaptation Plans (NAP), the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan (NBSAP).
• Design a roadmap to strengthen policy coherence through the co-creation of interministerial coordination and governance mechanisms.

Product 1a: Diagnostic assessment on the integration between environmental and food systems policies. Comprehensive diagnostic assessment report on how environmental policies, particularly those related to climate change and biodiversity, are integrated with food systems policies, including agricultural legislation, food security and nutrition public policies, the agrifood sector and food systems pathways. The assessment shall identify gaps, overlaps and inconsistencies across policy areas, as well as institutional and governance barriers that limit policy coherence. The assessment shall also provide practical recommendations to strengthen alignment, improve cross-sectoral coordination and support more sustainable and resilient food systems, informed by engagement with key stakeholders.

Product 1b: Assessment of the integration between food systems policies, NAP, NDC and NBSAP. Assessment report mapping and analyzing the current policy landscape to determine the degree of integration between food systems policies and key environmental frameworks, including National Adaptation Plans (NAP), Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). The assessment shall evaluate the alignment of objectives, targets and implementation mechanisms, identify policy gaps, redundancies and opportunities for synergies, and analyze institutional roles and coordination mechanisms to support improved policy coherence and ensure that food systems effectively contribute to national climate and biodiversity objectives.

Product 1c: Roadmap for interministerial coordination and governance Document containing an analysis with a roadmap outlining actions, timelines, responsibilities and recommendations to strengthen policy coherence across food systems, climate and biodiversity agendas, based on the diagnostic assessments and a participative process. The roadmap shall include stakeholders mapping, proposals for interministerial coordination and governance mechanisms, institutional arrangements, communication channels and accountability frameworks to support integrated decision-making, facilitate long-term collaboration, reduce policy fragmentation and align national strategies with sustainable, resilient and inclusive food systems.

Output 2: Strengthened capacities of national decision-makers for the implementation of integrated policies, systemic coherence and governance approaches across food systems, climate and biodiversity agendas, including sustainable food systems financing.

• Collaborate with the establishment and operationalization of the Food Systems Policy Lab, including governance structures, nomination of focal points, joint workplans, Terms of Reference and operational guidance.
• Coordinate and convene three Food Systems Policy Lab meetings and related workshops to strengthen capacities for integrated policy implementation, systemic coherence and governance approaches across food systems, climate and biodiversity agendas.
• Provide targeted capacity-building and technical support to national decision-makers to strengthen governance, cross-sectoral coordination and evidence-based policymaking, and to improve the integration of biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and gender-responsive approaches into food systems policies and actions. Capacity-building activities shall place particular emphasis on alignment with the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), including issues related to soil health, sustainable land management, food loss and waste reduction, circular economy approaches and biodiversity finance.
• Participate in the design and delivery of one workshop on financing for sustainable, resilient and inclusive food systems, and facilitate dialogue among key stakeholders to explore financing opportunities and innovative financial instruments.

Product 2a: Food Systems Policy Lab outcomes and recommendations report. Report capturing the key discussions, technical inputs, stakeholder perspectives, outcomes and recommendations generated through the Food Systems Policy Lab process, including the three Policy Lab meetings and related capacity-building activities. The report shall document recommendations to strengthen policy coherence, governance and cross-sectoral coordination across food systems, climate and biodiversity agendas, including biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, gender-responsive approaches, alignment with the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), and issues related to soil health, sustainable land management, food loss and waste reduction, circular economy approaches and biodiversity finance. The report shall also include actionable recommendations to enhance coordination across sectors and support more integrated, nature-positive, resilient and inclusive food systems policies, commitments, standards and governance arrangements.

Product 2b: Sustainable food systems financing workshop outcomes report. Report capturing the key discussions, technical inputs, stakeholder perspectives, financing opportunities and innovative financial instruments explored during the sustainable food systems financing workshop. The report shall summarize the main findings and recommendations generated through the workshop to inform future actions and collaboration on sustainable food systems financing.