Consultant on TEEB National Implementation

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), through its Ecosystems Division and The Economics of Nature (TEN) Unit, is seeking a highly experienced consultant to support the national implementation of the TEEBAgriFood initiative. This role sits at the intersection of environmental economics, agroecology, and public policy, and plays a critical part in advancing urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) governance in Brazil and beyond.

The consultant will work closely with municipalities participating in the Alimenta Cidades +1000 programme, providing expert technical guidance to embed UPA principles into formal public policy frameworks. Over a six-month part-time engagement, the consultant will help strengthen multilevel governance, formalize state and municipal roles in the National UPA Policy, and distil lessons learned from TEEBAgriFood capacity-building activities replicated across 48 cities into actionable policy recommendations.

• Provide targeted technical advisory services to municipalities within Alimenta Cidades +1000 to facilitate the upscaling of UPA inclusion in public policy, including specific legislation, regulatory frameworks, and government programmes.
• Identify and document successful UPA policies and initiatives at both state and municipal levels, assessing their replicability and scalability.
• Develop concrete, evidence-based policy recommendations to strengthen and formalize the role of state governments within the National UPA Policy and Programme.
• Formulate actionable guidance to improve multilevel governance arrangements and institutional implementation capacity at city and state levels.
• Draw on pilot project outcomes and lessons learned from the TEEBAgriFood capacity-building strategy implemented across 48 cities to inform recommendations.
• Engage with key stakeholders including government officials, NGO partners, and international organisations to validate findings and recommendations.
• Produce high-quality technical reports, policy briefs, and knowledge products aligned with UNEP standards and the TEEBAgriFood framework.
• Support the broader DG-INPTA project objective of enhancing agrobiodiversity governance and agroecological transitions.

• Demonstrate advanced expertise in environmental economics, agroecology, or agricultural policy by having directly contributed to comparable national or international policy processes.
• Show the ability to analyse complex multilevel governance systems and produce clear, implementable policy recommendations supported by evidence.
• Prove experience working with or within UN agencies, INGOs, or government institutions on food systems, biodiversity, or sustainable agriculture programmes.
• Apply the TEEBAgriFood or similar ecosystem services valuation frameworks to assess trade-offs in agricultural value chains.
• Communicate technical findings effectively to diverse audiences including policymakers, technical staff, and community stakeholders, both in writing and verbally.
• Work independently in a remote, home-based setting while maintaining consistent deliverable quality and meeting deadlines.
• Demonstrate proficiency in Portuguese and English, given the programme's geographic focus on Brazilian municipalities.
• Exhibit familiarity with urban and peri-urban agriculture systems, food sovereignty frameworks, and national agricultural programme design.

This is a part-time, home-based consultancy engagement with an expected duration of six months. Remuneration is in line with UNEP Level A consultant rates, which are competitive and commensurate with the consultant's qualifications and relevant experience. Specific fee details will be communicated during the selection process. As a UN consultancy, this engagement does not attract standard employee benefits; however, consultants benefit from association with a globally recognised institution and access to UNEP's international networks and knowledge resources.

This opportunity is ideal for seasoned policy consultants, environmental economists, or agroecology specialists with a strong track record in public policy advisory roles, particularly within international development or UN-affiliated programmes. You should be comfortable working autonomously, managing your own schedule, and producing publication-ready deliverables without close supervision. Candidates with direct experience in Brazilian municipal or state-level policy processes, or those who have previously worked within the TEEBAgriFood ecosystem, are strongly encouraged to apply.

This role is NOT suitable for: Recent graduates without demonstrated policy advisory experience, candidates seeking full-time employment or standard employment benefits, or those unfamiliar with ecosystem services economics and food systems governance.

• Prepare a cover letter clearly articulating your relevant experience with TEEBAgriFood, UPA policy, or multilevel governance advisory work.
• Update your CV or UN P11 form to highlight directly relevant assignments and outcomes.
• Include a brief technical proposal or methodology note (if required by UNEP's application portal) outlining your approach to the stated deliverables.
• Submit your application through the official UNEP/UN Careers portal before the deadline of 25 June 2026.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessment or interview.