L’UNEP recrute un Chercheur en chaîne du froid agricole, Paris, France
Result of Service
High-quality reports and primary in-field research to support the development of:
- ACES and its capacity building programmes
- The Rwanda SPOKE
- Sustainable business models for Community Cooling Hubs (CCHs)
- Policy and financing strategies for sustainable cold-chain
Work Location
Rwanda or Kenya
Expected duration
12 months
Part-time
Duties and Responsibilities
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is accelerating the global transition to energy efficiency and climate-friendly cooling. Getting the right solutions in place for refrigeration and space conditioning (cooling) is essential for improving the quality of life and health of people without undue impacts on the planet. United for Efficiency (U4E) is a global initiative launched in 2015 to help developing and emerging markets quickly and comprehensively transition to energy-efficient and climate-friendly lighting, room air conditioners, household refrigerators, electric motors and transformers (see http://united4efficiency.org).
The Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES) was established in 2020 by the Governments of Rwanda (GoR) and the United Kingdom (UK), U4E, the University of Birmingham – Centre for Sustainable Cooling, and a range of academic institutions. ACES (see https://coolingafrica.org) is a first-of-kind Centre dedicated to accelerating the uptake of sustainable cooling and cold-chain solutions in the agriculture and health sectors in Africa, improving livelihoods, health, food and nutritional security of rural communities, thereby bringing environmental, social and economic development. The University of Rwanda (UR) is the host of the Centre headquarters and has designated team and facilities, infrastructure, and land at its Rubirizi Campus in Kigali. An Agricultural Cold-Chain Researcher is needed to support the implementation of ACES. The expert will also support the ongoing activities to establish a Specialised Outreach and Knowledge Establishment (SPOKE) under ACES. SPOKEs will be deployed in strategic locations across Africa to demonstrate solutions, provide technical assistance and cascade knowledge on sustainable and resilient cooling and cold-chain solutions to the local markets.
Built on robust technical cold-chain knowledge, the Agricultural Cold-Chain Researcher will lead research on cold-chain needs for food products out to 2050, and the associated social, economic and environmental impacts, including on the cold-chain technologies and solutions, policies and strategies, and barriers for uptake in the market; understanding and preparing for future shocks and disruptions, and auditing cold-chain resilience; support the development of fit-for-market business models and finance mechanisms; and increasing awareness among policy makers about the importance of a sustainable, equitable and resilient cold-chain system globally among other related topics.
Core details
1.1 Explain the requirement for a consultant/individual contractor including the reference to the work programme
A. Research, training, and knowledge transfer
With research briefs developed with the ACES international research partners, including University of Birmingham, London South Bank University, Cranfield University and Heriot Watt University:
- Collect research data, both quantitative and qualitative; this may be through a variety of primary and secondary research methods, such as literature reviews, research interviews and workshops¿following ethical guidelines for data collection and analysis.
- Conduct high-quality and robust data analysis.
- Develop high quality research outputs, and write-up of reports and academic publications.
- Organise and deliver impact and dissemination activities with a wide range of stakeholders including policy-makers, inter-Governmental Development Agencies and NGOs¿and at high-quality conferences, workshops and meetings.
- Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement activities.
- From analysis, assist into the development of new curricula including teaching and learning materials, based on the new knowledge created in the area of sustainable and resilient cold-chain for food and pharma products.¿
- Support the delivery of train the trainer sessions.
B. Project Support
- Contribute to writing grants and generating funding.
- Contribute to monitoring and tracking project impacts to inform stakeholders.
- Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.
Qualifications/special skills
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant academic discipline (agriculture, economics, management, environment, engineering) and deep understanding of sustainable temperature-controlled supply chain (food and/or vaccines) and their economics. A Postgraduate degree is an advantage.
- At least 5 years of proven experience in research (e.g., doctoral level qualifications, research work or in-field activities).
- High-level analytical capability, experienced in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
- Publication record in high quality scientific journals, at conferences and in industry accessible journals/magazines.
- Proven ability to work both under guidance as part of a team, but also independently.
- Ability to communicate complex information clearly.
- An understanding of a range of influences from business drivers to cultural context and appreciation of whole systems models, techniques or methods.
- Experience in public engagement and workshop organisation with high level policymakers and stakeholders.
- Interdisciplinary research experience linked to understanding complex social, economic and technical challenges.¿
- Experience in design and implementation of cold-chain solutions.
Skills and knowledge:
- Excellent networking, engagement with stakeholders and communication skills (oral, written and presentation).
- Excellent project and time management skills
- A ‘can do’ attitude with ability to take on new tasks and drive them to a successful conclusion.
- Ability and desire to travel both national and international.
- Proven commitment to deliver his/her duties accurately against deadlines.
- Ability to work with an international research team and interact with industry to provide high quality, relevant and timely outputs.
- Appropriate software skills
Languages
Fluency in written and spoken English is required, proficiency in a local language in Rwanda or Kenya is an asset.
Additional Information
Notes to Consultants and Individual Contractors:
As per UN policy, Consultants and Individual Contractors may not apply for or be appointed to any position in the Professional or above categories and for positions at the FS-6 and FS-7 levels in the Field Service category within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. This restriction does not apply to associate experts (Junior Professional Officers) appointed under the Staff Rules.
ST/AI/20134 – 5.8 In order to limit the repeated use of the same consultant, either to perform different tasks within the workplan or a series of tasks within the same project, no consultant shall provide services for more than 24 months in a 36-month period, whether continuous or not, and irrespective of the cumulative months of actual work.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
