Consultancy Geneva Dialogues At Biovision

Summary

The Biovision Foundation is launching a call for expression of interest for a consultant based in Switzerland (ideally) or Europe to support the Biovision-FAO initiative “FAO Geneva Dialogues for Agroecology”. This initiative aims to document, map and discuss multiple pathways for food system transformation through agroecology. This is done under the leadership of a guiding group and through an open dialogue with international actors (with a focus, albeit not exclusive, on the Geneva international community). The consultant will support the initiative, through the coordination and drafting of two policy briefs on the topic of “The interface between agroecology and territorial approaches for food system transformation”.

Territorial approaches are hereby defined as approaches that put geographically bounded territories at the centre of development efforts, using a landscape or jurisdictional lens to governance and management of natural resources. For information on the concepts and terms used please see the concept note attached to this call.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities:

The proposed work consists of the following activities:

1) Participation in the inception process of the guiding group for this dialogue, which will define the focus and structure of the international dialogue. Tasks include:

a. Participation in the inception workshop of the guiding group (4^th May 2022 – attendance negotiable in case of schedule conflicts)

b. Participate in an initial brainstorm on the structure of the policy briefs and process to develop them. One brief will target the agroecology community (focusing on reflections that can strengthen the mission of the coalition), whereas the second brief will target the territorial approach community (focusing on highlighting the interface between both approaches and potential of agroecology for territorial approaches).

c. Bilateral meetings with guiding group members to follow leads and discuss content relevant to the policy briefs after the inception workshop

d. Initial scope of literature on the topic through the consultant’s own research and through the suggestions done by guiding group

Scope of tasks c) and d) will depend on outcomes from inception workshop (task a).

Deliverable: A short concept note for the policy briefs (e.g. including guiding questions, outline of the document, methodology to integrate inputs from the dialogue, etc).

2) Supporting and participating in the FAO Geneva Dialogue on the topic of territorial approaches to be held around the 23 of June of 2022 (Date TBC). Tasks include:

a. Supporting the coordination of agenda and format of the event by providing inputs on content, speakers and messages

b. Contributes to background documentation to be shared ahead of the dialogue

c. Coordinate the gathering of inputs from the dialogues to be integrated in the policy briefs

d. Documentation and organization of outputs coming out from dialogue, which will be the main inputs to the policy briefs. This will be done in collaboration with organizers.

The dialogue will be organized by the Food Policy Forum for Change (https://www.agroecology-pool.org/policy-forum/).

Deliverable: Documentation of outputs coming out from the dialogue.

3) Coordinate further inputs for the policy briefs. Tasks include:

a. Producing a first draft of the briefs to be presented and consulted with the guiding group.

b. Incorporating feedback from guiding group after consultation and group meeting.

c. Conduct any other rounds of feedback (e.g. bilaterally) with members of the guiding group when necessary.

d. Presentation of final draft of review to the guiding group. Incorporation of final messages as identified with this group.

The briefs should provide evidence, showcases and reflections that can help identify 1) knowledge and technical gaps on the interface between agroecology and territorial approaches, 2) factors (e.g. policy instruments, investment mechanisms, international processes) that can support or hinder the upscaling of agroecology through territorial approaches, and 3) factors that can support or hinder the uptake of agroecology by existing territorial approaches initiatives.

Deliverable: Draft of two policy briefs. Depending on length, it should contain an executive summary/abstract that provides a good overview of the topic for the audience.

4) Supporting final drafting and dissemination of policy briefs.

a. Assistance with the design of the policy briefs that presents reflections discussed in the dialogue event.

b. Provide support to dissemination activities of final policy briefs, including presentation to the Agroecology Coalition (https://agroecology-coalition.org/).

Deliverable: Final draft of two policy briefs

Nature of Relationship:

The Consultant will be hired as an independent contractor and not as an employee of Biovision.

Required skills and qualifications

Necessary Qualifications

· Postgraduate degree in political science, land systems science, governance, sustainability or other relevant fields (Proven writing and communication skills to non-scientific audiences required)

· OR scientific or policy journalist with proven knowledge and experience in the fields of development, cooperation, and agricultural development, or agricultural/natural resource policy processes

· Knowledge of territorial approaches for agriculture (e.g. landscape approaches, jurisdictional approaches, nexus approaches, etc). Knowledge and experience on agroecology are desirable.

· Good understanding of food system transformation.

· Fluency in English

Further necessary Skills

· Ability to transfer recommendations from a multi-stakeholder process into a policy brief (coordination of multiple inputs and ideas)

· Ability to work with limited standardized procedures and need for own initiative and independent work

· Experience in multistakeholder dialogue

· Skilful writing and experience in writing policy briefs.

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ANNEX

“Agroecology Dialogue Series”

Concept note for first dialogue: The interface between agroecology and territorial approaches for food systems transformation (working title)

Although they are presented as a valuable model for the localisation across the various dimensions of sustainability. A better understanding of concrete implementation steps and pathways, in the areas of policy reform, knowledge creation and investment is needed for the upscale of agroecology through territorial approaches.

Background

Agroecology is recognized as a key approach to advance the Agenda 2030, as it aims for a holistic food system transformation that covers all aspects of the food value chain. Approaches that respect the principles of agroecology defined by the High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE), are powerful levers for providing sustainable solutions to the issues of food security and nutrition, the fight against poverty and social inequalities, the adaptation to climate change, the preservation of biodiversity and natural resources, and the fight against zoonotic diseases.

At the same time, approaches that put territories at the centre of development have also gained attention for the implementation of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. These include different conceptions of territorial approaches (e.g. landscape approaches, jurisdictional approaches, foodscapes, etc.), which can also address multiple objectives and different aspects of sustainability in a given territory.

In this dialogue, we will explore the interface between territorial approaches and agroecology, and how this interface contributes to the sustainable transformation of food systems. It will analyse the relation between both approaches and the pathways needed for public policies, research initiatives, investment mechanisms, and advocacy to support agroecological transitions at territorial scales.

Why exploring the interface between territorial approaches and agroecology for food system transformation?

Territorial development approaches are championed as being more effectively and sustainably tailored to local socio-economic and ecological conditions. These have been proposed as ways to increase the sustainability of agricultural landscapes that look at the landscape as an integrated system of resources, actors, processes, and flows. Agroecological principles can guide territorial approaches frameworks:

· Agroecology has an inherent systems lens that manifest at multiple scales: the field of agroecology has evolved from an early focus on farm ecology toward a more integrative study of the ecology of food systems using a systems-based approach.

· Agroecology has the potential to address multiple challenges simultaneously with contextualized solutions by mobilizing knowledge on the potential of agroecosystems and the assets of a territory. For instance, combined agroecology approaches for addressing soil fertility, food security and nutrition or the food-energy-water nexus have been documented (GAFF 2021).

· Agroecology puts at the center indigenous peoples, farmers, and communities. Agroecological movements have a long experience in participatory and transdisciplinary approaches, such as farmer-led innovation networks or participatory action research.

Agroecology embraces territorial mechanisms which can contribute to the agroecological transition in different ways:

· Working at the farm-scale alone cannot achieve a sustainable agricultural system. The management of many ecological processes on which rely agroecological practices requires a landscape consideration. This includes, for instance, pollination services, control of pesticide pollution, nutrient recycling and management of water resources under a changing climate.

· The landscape or territorial scales are relevant scales to integrate farming and non-farming activities throughout a larger area, in particular, it presents the minimal scale for coordinated collective and institutional actions (e.g. innovation networks, functioning of markets, urban integration, consumer-producer interactions).

What would be the key messages of the dialogues/policy briefs?

· Highlight the added value of agroecological food system transformation for territorial development (and local SDGs)

· Highlight why territorial approaches are relevant pathways for agroecological food system transformation / the upscale of agroecology

· Identify factors that can enable policy and investment environment for catalysing territorial approaches based on agroecological food systems (framework + case studies)

The added value of this dialogue

Territorial approaches have gained attention for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development => Different conceptions, list of principles have emerged but very few experiences put agroecology at the centre. The reflections/policy briefs will advance:

· Exploration of evidence and case studies on the linkages between Agroecology and Territorial Approaches (a topic not highly covered by practitioners or literature yet)

· Identifying elements that can advance framework for policies and investment for the upscale of agroecology through territorial approaches (the policy/investment options might not be new, but the briefs will aim to present a new framework with agroecology at the centre of it)

Key guiding questions

Initial ideas => to be refined in an inception workshop and with a core guiding group

1. Exploring the interface (e.g. common elements, synergies, touch points, trade-offs, complementarities, etc.) between agroecology and territorial development approaches for food system transformation:

a) Why (and how) can agroecology enrich territorial approaches? => Why agroecology?*

b) How can territorial approaches contribute to the agroecological transition? => From theoretical and empirical perspectives*

2. Challenges and mechanisms required to build an agroecological territorial transformation: policy, governance and investment implications

a) What are the policy options to trigger, enable and upscale agroecological territorial approaches? => With a strong focus on international and national policies given the target groups

b) What are the investment options to trigger, enable and upscale agroecological territorial approaches? => Including private and public investment*

3. How to mainstream agroecology among existing territorial approaches? (Advocacy and bringing new partners)

o Earmarked messages for different audiences

Core guiding group for the theme

The core guiding group will be composed of partner organizations (including the Agroecology Coalition). The members will bring expertise to the topic as well as connections to broader networks.

Steps of the process

Initial ideas => to be refined in inception workshop

· Core guiding group meeting:

• agree on the general scope and boundaries of the dialogue
• refine guiding questions
• agree inputs for first dialogue

· Preparation/finalization of the inputs before dialogue (by consultant and volunteer members from guiding group)

· Dialogue:

• selected short key notes from relevant actors
• bring case studies (focus on pathways, entry points and policy/investments enabling environment)
• potentially break-out groups to further enrich the framework

· Drafting policy briefs:

• drafting first version of policy briefs based on outputs from dialogue
• Validation and further comments on the draft version of the policy brief (inclusion of the case studies and inputs from the dialogue) by guiding group and volunteers from dialogue participants

Main Audience of the dialogue

The primary audience for the dialogue will be specific communities of policy actors, decision-makers, international and national organizations interested or working on agroecology and/or territorial approaches. In particular those active in issues of decentralisation, local SDGs, environmental governance, etc. These include, for instance, the Agroecology Coalition (and its working groups), organizations focusing on governance and landscape management for commodities, forest/conservation, water, or in the rural-urban interface. The focus will open to an international audience, but with a focus on Geneva based organizations.