National Agronomy Expert

​Requisition ID: 4861 
Grade: SB5 - Local Professional (Mid-Level & Senior) 
Country: Brazil 
Duty Station: Brasilia 
Category: National Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: 9 months
Application deadline: 09-Dec-2024, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
 

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS) under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, ensures the Organization's application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization's normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

The Directorate is responsible for the Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development (TCS/IPC), and technical Divisions of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG), Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA), Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP); MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI). Leveraging the diverse skill sets of UNIDO personnel and the services provided by the two TC directorates, TCS collaborates closely with IET to develop and implement programmes and projects, aiming at enhancing synergy and complementarity and maximizing UNIDO corporate performance and impacts on the ground. The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in all Directorates across the Organization.

The Division of Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA) under the supervision of the Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA) assists Member States in the transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient economies through the promotion of renewable energy, energy efficiency solutions and breakthrough technologies in industry and other key sectors, diversifying supply chains for renewable energy manufacturing and stimulating innovation to address critical climate and energy-related challenges.

The Division assists governments in fulfilling national commitments under the Paris Agreement and progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, thereby facilitating a just transition towards sustainable industrialization. In transitioning to low-carbon and climate-resilient economies, the challenges of addressing energy poverty and climate change are an integral part of the Division's activities, as is the dissemination of policies, knowledge and technologies and pathways to plan, manage and finance the energy transitions and climate action for industrial transformation. It collaborates closely on converging issues with IET/CTP and TCS/CMP.

The position is located under the Energy Systems and Industrial Decarbonization Unit (TCS/ECA/ESD) promotes the emergence, deployment and large-scale adoption of sustainable energy technologies to drive the decarbonization of energy systems and industrial processes. It supports Member States to charter pathways for net zero industrial development through the development of conducive policies. It also promotes the deployment of crosscutting energy efficiency solutions, electrification and carbon management of industrial processes in large and small-scale industries. It charters norms and standards for reporting embodied carbon in products and supports member states in developing the reporting and verification structures to support compliance with global standards

PROJECT CONTEXT

UNIDO, in collaboration with its partners, is implementing the project ‘Accelerating key net zero Technologies by leveraging industrial decarbonisation investment’ (ID 230343) called “ACTION” short in Brazil funded by the Mitigation Action Facility (MAF).

The Project “ACTION” aims to revolutionize Brazilian Agriculture with sustainable farming practices and carbon-negative Organo-Mineral Fertilizers (CNOMF) produced from waste streams while unlocking the full potential of Brazilian biogas.

The Project will tackle emissions in Brazil via industrial decarbonization, waste management, and sustainable agriculture, fully aligned with national policies, such as the Brazil National Fertilizer Plan (PNF).

The Project systematically targets the following sectors:

• Fertilizers production and value chain: supporting Brazil's target of 50% in-country production. The Project plans 3 small, 8 medium and 7 large-scale units during the 66 months of the project, aiming for the avoidance of about 45 million tons of CO2e emissions over 15 years.
• Sustainable agriculture: introducing climate-adapted products and practices, reducing carbon footprints, boosting productivity and lowering import dependence.
• Renewable energy: unlocking Brazil's biogas potential through byproducts of CNOMF production.
• Waste management: diverting waste from landfill disposal or being directly burnt on fields, reducing GHG emissions and atmosphere pollution.
• Sustainable resources: using nature-based solutions and reducing dependence on non-renewable nutrients.
• Water conservation: improving water retention in soil and accelerating adoption of biodigestion, reducing pollution of water resources.
• Regional replication: creating a blueprint for other countries to replicate. Using a systems approach - from policy to technology, behaviour to finance - the Project addresses systemic barriers to decarbonizing the fertilizer value chain, unleashing catalytic change

The ACTION project's value chain development approach includes diverse groups and ensures a minimum of 40% female participation.

The activities foreseen in these Terms of Reference aim to execute the project's Detailed Preparation Phase (DPP), which will result in a Detailed Project Proposal for the Mitigation Action Facility.

The DPP is structured in four components:

1. Baseline Assessments

• Institutional Context Analysis
• Policy and regulatory framework
• Market Analysis
• Business Model Evaluation - CNOMF Production
• Two Feasibility Studies
• Scale-up Plan

1. Financial Component

• Financial Projections and Funding Requirements
• Funding Instrument

1. Technical Component

• Capacity Building
• Value chain and Project Governance

1. Project Management

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager (PM) and close cooperation with the project team in the Head Quarter (HQ) and Field Office, the expert will be responsible for the performance of the following main duties:

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (master's degree) in agricultural sciences, agricultural engineering, agronomy, chemistry, biology or related fields is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• At least five (5) years of professional experience in the related fields of the post, including fertilizer production and its value chain, is required.
• Thorough understanding of office procedures and practices, preferably in a multicultural environment, is required.
• Experience in quality standards, planning of experiments and laboratory tests is desirable.

• Experience in working with government and development agencies including the United Nations agencies in the country or similar country in the region, is desirable.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English and Portuguese are required.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core values:
WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key competencies:
WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org