Consultant to draft a white paper

Result of ServiceDelivery of a high-quality, analytically robust, and strategically aligned flagship white paper and related knowledge products and an agenda blog post for the Global Future Council on Soils, developed in close collaboration with the UNCCD Secretariat. Work LocationHome-based Expected durationJanuary to August 2026 (part-time) Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground note: Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention seeks to support countries to address Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD) (www.unccd.int). Healthy soils and regenerative landscapes underpin the stability of our food, water, climate, and economies. However, 40% of global land is degraded (https://www.unccd.int/resources /global-land-outlook/global-land-outlook-2nd-edition) costing an estimated $878 billion (https://www.unccd.int/resources/publications/investing-lands-future-financial-needs-assessment-unccd) annually and driving systemic risk across industries. Each year, over 100 million hectares (https://www.unccd.int/resources/publications/investing-lands-future-financial-needs-assessment-unccd) – an area the size of Egypt – are lost to degradation. For sectors such as food, fibre, forestry, mining, construction, and finance, dependencies on land and freshwater are both direct and systemic. Degraded soils reduce productivity, raise volatility, and erode asset value – while healthy soils increase yields, build resilience, and unlock significant economic opportunity. Every $1 invested in land restoration yields $7-30 in economic returns (https://www.globallandscapesforum.org/publication/roots-of-prosperity/) through improved productivity, carbon storage, and water resilience. Momentum for this agenda is accelerating. UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh saw private-sector participation triple from COP15, signalling a shift from awareness to action. At AMGFC25 in Dubai, the Global Future Council on Healthy Soils and land (https://initiatives.weforum.org/global-future-council-on-soils/home) emphasized innovation, finance, and data as key enablers for a systems approach to soil and land health. It also endorsed the Raiz model – “more crop per drop” – as an example of how technology and integrated land-water management can deliver measurable impact. To support this collaboration, UNCCD aims to develop – together with the Global Future Council on Soils – flagship white paper designed to elevate soils on the global agenda and strengthen alignment with UNCCD processes leading up to COP17 in Mongolia. This white paper will be anchored in the Council’s key thematic priorities—highlighting the economic imperative of soil restoration, mechanisms for de-risking investments in soil and land systems, advances in soil metrics and monitoring frameworks, and actionable pathways that connect public policy, private-sector commitments, and national implementation efforts. Its development will draw on outcomes from the Annual Meeting of the Global Future Council and will contribute to shaping a coherent narrative that bridges science, policy, and business. In this context, the UNCCD is looking for a consultant to develop a white paper that articulates the business case for investing in healthy soils and land, bridging science, economics, innovation, and corporate strategy. Duties & Responsibilities: The consultant will support the UNCCD Secretariat in its collaboration with the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Soils by leading the development of high-quality knowledge products, with a primary focus on a flagship white paper. The consultant will help shape the analytical framework, coordinate inputs from experts and partners, and ensure that the final products clearly articulate the economic, policy, and technical pathways needed to elevate soil health within global decision-making processes and in the lead-up to UNCCD COP17. Under the direct supervision of the responsible UNCCD officer, the Consultant will support the collaboration between the UNCCD Secretariat and the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Soils, and will contribute to the development of the Council’s knowledge products for the period January-August 2026. The consultant will undertake the following tasks: 1. Literature Review (5days) • Review 20-25 key documents from the Forum, UNCCD, academia, and industry. • Extract business-relevant data on soil productivity, land value, and risk exposure. • Identify innovation trends – data, finance, technology – that enable soil-positive business models. 2 Expert Interviews (10 days) • Conduct 15-25 interviews with: o Members of the Global Future Council on Healthy Soils and Land o WEF and UNCCD thematic leads o Private-sector executives, innovators, and investors • Prepare anonymized interview summaries (for internal use). 3 Drafting the White Paper (5 days) Sections should include (Draft / TBC ): a. Executive Summary (450 words max) b. Why healthy soils and land matter now (Climate, water, food systems, nature, economic losses) c. The economic and strategic case for investing in healthy soils ($878 Bn loss annually, $10tn business opportunities; 395m jobs, business dependencies, opportunities and risks) d. What works; integrated models, pathways and case studies (RAIZ, policy-finance-data integration, innovation, soil restoration solutions, Business4Land) e. What action is needed next (Metrics, finance models, incentives, governance, corporate action) f. Conclusion and Next Steps (450-900 words) Total: ~9,000 words including references (in line with Forum writing standards). Use formal business English and footnotes. 4 Revision and Validation (6 days) • Round 1 (3 days): Integrate comments from WEF and UNCCD. • Round 2 (3 days): Incorporate editorial feedback and final validation. 5 Meetings and Alignment (3 days) • Kick-off and alignment meetings. • Periodic check-ins during drafting and revision phases. • Pre-final validation with WEF editorial and UNCCD technical teams. 6 Agenda blog page (1 day) • Drafting the agenda blog page • Validation and publication of the blog page Qualifications/special skills- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent or higher) in sustainable development, biometry, economics, environmental studies, public policy, natural resources management, law or related are is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. - Demonstrated expertise in soils, regenerative landscapes, ESG, or natural capital. - Strong analytical and writing skills for business/policy audiences. - Experience conducting and synthesizing expert interviews. - Understanding of innovation, finance, and data solutions for sustainability. - Familiarity with frameworks such as TNFD, SBTN, SBTi FLAG, and ISSB is an advantage. Languages- Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Working knowledge of any additional official UN language is an advantage. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.