The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.  The Forum engages the foremost political, business, and other leaders of society to build coalitions, projects and initiatives – digitally and physically – to address industry, regional and systemic issues.

The Centre for Climate & Nature (CNC) seeks to bring innovation and frontier approaches to help the international system be more agile and equipped to respond to today's challenges. The Centre does this by helping the international community leverage public-private cooperation, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, systems thinking and a platform approach for improved management of the global commons and building sustainable markets for the 2030 development goals.

The CNC is seeking a Programme Specialist for Protein Innovation, Food and Water to strategize and deliver meaningful dialogue, action, insights and partnerships on leveraging fit-for-purpose innovation to drive protein sector transitions towards sustainable, resilient and inclusive future food systems.  

Why we are recruiting:

Food and Water team at the Forum has worked on both agendas for a decade and a half, building up a strong track record of galvanizing multi-sectoral leadership to support collective regional and country-led action, and advancing global insight and policy, to accelerate food systems transformation and, water security and equity, to meet the needs of people and the planet. More here: https://initiatives.weforum.org/food-and-water/impact

The food and water agenda has three strategic tracks:

Finance and Incentives for Regenerative and Adaptive; Innovation and Technology Ecosystems: Public Private Partnerships to support country pathways.

The Food and Water Team is hiring a Programme Specialist to support and develop the work on protein diversification under the innovation and technology strategic track. A key component of the track is the Food Innovation Hubs Global Initiative that aims at strengthening innovation ecosystems for food systems transformation.

The initiative aims to drive relevant high-end and low-cost inclusive innovation that can have a scalable impact and meet the needs of food systems stakeholders. Initially, the focus has been on developing pace-setter Innovation Hubs that can drive multistakeholder action in Colombia, Europe, India, Kenya, Viet Nam and UAE, connected by a global Food Innovators Network.

The Food Innovators Network disseminate best practices, enable knowledge exchange, curate a global community of practice and action across global frontier innovations that have the potential to drive resilient food systems. Protein diversification is a key global frontier priority within the global initiative that can support food systems in being net-zero, nature positive and nourish all. More here: https://www.foodinnovationhubs.org/home

The specialist will support the development and delivery of the protein innovation portfolio building on the work underway with the Food Innovation Hubs global initiative.  

Reporting Lines & Interactions

The role will be based in Geneva or New York within the Centre for Nature and Climate (CNC), reporting to the Food Initiatives and Partnerships Manager, who is also based in Geneva. Internally, this person will work with colleagues in the broader Center for Nature and Climate as well as a wide range of other teams and colleagues in the Forum.

Externally, this person will engage Forum partner companies, innovators, philanthropy, governments, farmer organizations, civil society, multilaterals and other stakeholders including governments, in the areas of protein sector, innovation, food and water.

Responsibilities will include:

• Programme and Community Management: Build and maintain the protein innovation community under the Food Innovators Network, including key vanguard countries, innovators, philanthropies, farmers, and other stakeholders. With the community, develop the portfolio of work on protein innovation globally and regionally especially through innovation hubs in the UAE, Europe, and other geographies.  

• Knowledge and Communications: Through the community of practice organize regular exchanges, learning sprints, knowledge development and management. Develop and deliver a communications and events plan to amplify the protein agenda in coordination with the Food Innovators Network and the wider food and water team.

• Global Events Delivery: Coordinate and support delivery of key global events focused on advancing food systems innovation, especially in the protein sector. 

The successful candidate will be assessed on

• Project and community management.

• Knowledge and interest in the protein sector, including internal and external partner engagement to advance the work on protein diversification.

• Community design, development and management including organizing regular exchanges, knowledge development and delivery.

• Manage event planning and logistics for select key global milestones.

• Ensure external and internal communications plans are well delivered and amplify the work of the initiative, including exploring creative avenues to bring awareness to the topic and work of the community. 

Preferred Requirements and Experience

• Master’s degree preferred, with knowledge and curiosity on the topic

• 3-5 years’ relevant work experience

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English

• Strong organizational skills

• Interest in food systems, protein diversification, sustainability and environmental issues, technology and innovation

Why work at the Forum

We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and co-operation, shaping mind-sets and agendas and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!

Why work at the Forum:

The Forum believes that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas, and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!