National Coordinator

at  United Nations

Result of Service
Expected Outputs and Timelines: Work plan designed and validated for Y1 project activities in Honduras. A validated register of key stakeholders and a mechanism for continuous dissemination of HREDD and accompanying measures identified and activated. A network of value chain actors and support institutions established for continuous assessment of the relevance of the HREDD and accompanying measures to the coffee value chain in Honduras. Readiness assessments conducted with at least ten (10) value chain actors in the coffee value chain in Honduras. Capacity building work plans developed with selected value chain operators based on RA results validated and by companies and partners. Workshops, trainings and technical assistance conducted in support services to value chain operators specifically smallholder producer organization, farmer cooperatives and SMEs. MOUs developed with selected support institutions. Guidance and inputs provided to project team, national counterparts and project partners through regular meetings. Written and/or oral reports delivered on the progress of project activities for Honduras including progress update on delivery of work plans and MOUs, including capacity building and market linkages support. Written monthly report delivered as per reporting template. A final summary report (max. 5 pages) on the assignment submitted, discussed and approved.
Work Location
Home-Based, Honduras
Expected duration
15 November 2024 - 31 October 2025
Duties and Responsibilities
BACKGROUND: The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations (UN). It is the only multilateral agency fully dedicated to supporting the internationalization of SMEs. ITC’s mission is to foster inclusive and sustainable growth and development through trade and international business development. ITC projects and programmes contribute to the global efforts to achieve UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development and the Aid for Trade agenda. Developing countries seeking to integrate into global value chains are increasingly being required to comply with and implement various sustainability requirements to access target markets and attract investments. These measures, however, can be challenging for developing countries, particularly MSMEs, seeking to engage in international trade. It is important to ensure that in the course of the rapid developments in linking trade to sustainability considerations, developing countries are not left behind, as otherwise, businesses from these countries would be constrained in their ability to engage in international trade and this, in turn, can have adverse impacts on their sustainable development. The Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (OLAC), as a geographical section of the Division of Country Programmes (DCP), is responsible for defining the ITC strategy and coordinating all interventions in the region, either for individual countries or at the sub-regional and regional levels. The Green and Inclusive Value Chains (GIVC) section is responsible for developing and disseminating sector-level expertise for sustainable market-driven solutions in ITC, including the Alliances for Action (A4A) methodology. A4A is a participatory partnership model that engages smallholder farmers and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to manage risk and facilitate networks that provide the required technical expertise and capacity building. With A4A, 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 on a global market. 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. ITC aims to provide support to farmer organizations and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the implementation of strategy options for increasing commercial value, sustainability, Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) alignment and incomes for smallholder farmers in the coffee supply chain and associated crops. The aim is not only to increase but also to diversify farmers and MSMEs income, through product and market diversification targeting value addition, coffee products and associated crops. This project will promote resilient and sustainable global value chains for all by providing strong accompanying support, especially for supply chain actors in producer countries where the most salient adverse impacts occur. Hence, training and technical guidance will be provided to advance market development aligned with HREDD and to de-risk investment, in the coffee and other supply chain for all relevant actors, including farmers’ organizations and MSMEs. Mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence: With the rapidly evolving landscape of global value chains and international trade, one important area for current and future awareness raising, stakeholders convening, and capacity building related to the concept of mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (mHREDD). For mHREDD to be effective, a system of shared responsibility must be adopted to identify, prevent, mitigate and remediate risks and harms. In addition, the focus should go beyond non-compliance to identify areas of improvement in sourcing, procurement and production practices that would prevent risk and harms. ITC requires a National Coordinator to oversee and coordinate in country activities related to the CLEAR Supply Chain project in Honduras. The project is currently in the inception phase and project implementation is scheduled to run until August 2026 DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES Under the overall supervision of the Head of Inclusive Agribusiness Systems (DSIT/GIVC) and under the overall guidance of the CLEAR Project Manager, the National Coordinator shall work closely with the Advisor on Responsible Business Conduct, and other implementing agencies’ national project teams. The National Coordinator shall be responsible for the following duties: • Map and maintain a register of stakeholders and partners in Honduras’s coffee sector with significant interest in assessing readiness for HREDD implementation. • Mobilize key value chain actors and support institutions to assess the relevance, efficacy and appropriateness of the HREDD accompanying measures for the coffee value chain in Honduras. • In collaboration with relevant stakeholders, plan and facilitate meetings using participatory multistakeholder approaches that enable inclusive action plans regarding HREDD and related due diligence activities with main stakeholders in the coffee value chain. • Together with interested coffee value chain actors and support institutions, determine the most appropriate mechanism to increase awareness of HREDD in the coffee value chain in Honduras. • In collaboration with relevant stakeholders, plan and facilitate meetings using participatory multistakeholder approaches that enable inclusive action plans regarding HREDD and related due diligence activities with main stakeholders in the coffee value chain. • Develop a country-level work plan for the Year 1 activities of the project implementation phase in Honduras, including proposed budget allocations, timelines and outputs, for validation by national level partners. • In collaboration with the ESG and DD experts, conduct readiness assessments with a selection of actors across the coffee value chain in Honduras and support the development of action plans for capacity building to close specific gaps identified. • Develop capacity building work plans for selected value chain operators, outlining areas of support and calendar of activities, co-investment from companies, for validation by companies and support institutions and with inputs from A4A service centers. • Formulate MOUs with supporting institutions, outlining key roles and responsibilities for the implementation of project activities, with inputs from A4A service centers. • Together with key partners, implement work plans for selected value chain operators, outlining areas of support and calendar of activities, including co-investment from companies, through regular follow-up. • Coordinate the implementation and monitoring of MOUs with supporting institutions, including regular meetings and follow-up on progress. • Support the preparation of value chain operators specifically smallholder producer organizations and cooperatives, SMEs, and support institutions in project activities (including capacity building trainings and coaching, advocacy foras, south-south exchange, trade shows etc.) • Facilitate bi-weekly meetings with the CLEAR Supply Chains project team to present progress updates on the agreed work plan and regular meetings with project partners, including value chain operators and support institutions. • Prepare written outputs, including reports and presentations on project objectives and activities in Honduras, to be regularly updated for presenting to government, donor and private sector partners. • Oversee and monitor the undertaking of monthly and quarterly reporting, including surveys at national and local levels level to measure results and impact achieved by the project. Copyright The Consultant has to ensure that s/he has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform his/her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the Consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC. S/he has further to ensure to obtain accreditation to event(s), if required. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.
Qualifications/special skills
Undergraduate degree in Trade, Agriculture, Law, Business Administration, Economics or related fields. Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree. A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in project management, business development, business planning, group dynamics, agricultural and rural development, agro processing and exports, including knowledge of agri-business and participatory approaches. Experience of working with international/donor organizations or in national development agencies. Experience in data collection, survey administration and agribusiness. Ability to produce documents for official circulation among institutions and international stakeholders (memos, reports, business proposals). Ability to design, develop, monitor and coordinate work plans and business plans. Good understanding and direct knowledge of the Honduran coffee sector. Good understanding of the agri-business sector. Understanding of international development project functioning and dynamics. Good understanding and experience of multi-stakeholder platform facilitation. Good knowledge of Microsoft Office. Project management/coordination skills are essential. Excellent communication and presentation skills. At ease in communication/engaging with high level stakeholders/officials with effective negotiation skills. Excellent time management skills with ability to prioritize amidst competing deadlines. Proactive and solid work ethic. Responsive, and responsible, with ability to take constructive feedback.
Languages
Excellent spoken and written skills in Spanish and advanced knowledge of the English language is mandatory.
Additional Information
Not available.
No Fee

Please refer the Job description for details