Title: Honey Traceability and EU Compliance Expert

​​Requisition ID: 6680
Grade: ISA-P4
Country: Home Based
Duty Station: Home Based
Category: International Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Non-staff WAE
Contract Duration: 30 working days over a period
Application Deadline: 26-Nov-2025, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
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 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 to a greater or lesser extent to all SDGs.

The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) is UNIDO’s core strategic document. As the Organization moves from the 2022–2025 cycle to the 2026–2029 MTPF, it sets a renewed vision to support Member States shape their industries for development. The new priorities include renewable and clean energy, sustainable access and climate action, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, and fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains. Cross-cutting priorities focus on industrial and economic policy advice, skills development, fostering digitalization and artificial intelligence, gender equality and the empowerment of women, supporting youth, promoting cleaner production and circular economy, and leveraging private sector investment and development finance.

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, Sub-regional Offices and Country Offices.

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 MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME) works towards increasing the competitiveness of industries in developing countries and countries in transition, especially emphasizing business development of MSMEs engaged in manufacturing and creating jobs therein. It aims at increasing competitiveness among MSMEs in two interconnected ways: first, by modernizing businesses through the transfer of advanced technologies adapted to local conditions, product innovation, productivity improvement and upgrading, developing market and value chain readiness as well as improved access to finance; and second, by improving the quality of MSME manufactured products and their compliance with market requirements through capacity building for the development of industrial production and trade-related quality infrastructure including for standardization, metrology, accreditation and of conformity assessment service institutions (testing, certification, inspection and calibration) and the strengthening of their capacities.

The position is located under the TCS/SME division and linked to the component on Quality Infrastructure (Output 1.3) .

PROJECT CONTEXT

The TIGARA project is funded by the European Union (“European Union support to trade, industry, growth and rapid market access (TIGARA)”, SAP ID 210122). It supports the Egyptian government's efforts to strengthen cooperation among SMEs and the private sector's capacity to comply with trade and domestic market regulations. The program aims to increase competitiveness and market transparency by developing an industrial policy framework that enhances the productivity and competitiveness of the manufacturing sector in Egypt, modernizing the National Quality Infrastructure, promoting cluster development and supporting digitalization to lead to sustained economic growth and job creation.

The overall objective is to contribute to the increased competitiveness and efficiency of the Egyptian private sector, which will lead to higher sustained economic growth and decent job creation.

It focuses on two main axes, targeting on the one hand the Egyptian ecosystem, through inclusive industrial and quality infrastructure policies development and capacity building of public institutions and business development services, and on the other hand providing support to targeted value chains and clusters to sustain the country’s economic growth and fully benefit of the available trade opportunities.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

In the framework of the TIGARA project in Egypt, under the overall supervision of the Project Manager, and the direct management of the National Project Coordinator, and the National Cluster Expert, the expert will carry out the following duties:

Main duties

Update NFSA decree/s for vet. Residues in food stuff to consider permitted antibiotics:

In coordination with Egypt National Food Safety Authority (NFSA), the consultant shall:

• Review current decrees related to veterinary residues in food stuff to consider permitted antibiotics with tolerance given Codex has no regulations / Maximum Residues Limits MRLs for certain antibiotics;
• Consult and exchange information with NFSA counterparts and relevant stakeholders;
• Conduct a mission (Cairo) to discuss findings and align on proposed amendments;
• Develop detailed recommendations for amending the NFSA decision(s) governing pesticide residues and veterinary drugs for bees, ensuring alignment with EU regulations. in that respect, and in a way that ensures that honey and beeswax producers and exporters are not burdened with standards that are not required by the European Union EU;
• Follow up with both NAFSA and TIGARA local expert/s that approved amendments are accurately implemented.

Set a roadmap for National Residues Monitoring Plan:

• Review NFSA’s proposed official Residues Monitoring Plan RMP and control system for honey and honey products, and all other relevant documentation developed to satisfy the EU’s regulatory requirements for exporting honey and honey products including written procedures/instructions that support the implementation of official controls, EU export certification and honey products traceability;
• Work with NFSA to draft the National RMP system and necessary documentation system to comply with the EU’s regulatory requirements and to satisfy the recommendations from the EU in relation with RMP and control system for honey and honey products and to draft the appropriate response to the EU;
• Assist the Egyptian Authority in developing a work plan for RMP preparation (sampling, laboratory analysis, consolidation and submission;
• Assist the competent authority to set a roadmap, along with project interventions needed to make sure that the RMP and control system are fully fulfilled by all parties involved in the value-added chain, starting from the agriculture stage until the final product is ready for export.

Assist NFSA on how to fill forms and templates of the EU regarding the RMP plan:

• Conduct a training workshop for the Egyptian Authority officials on how to fill the latest EU templates and forms related to the RMP and control system for honey and honey products;
• Develop of a guide book on how to fill each form and template in relation with the RMP system and control system;
• End of assignment report summarizing the assessments, findings and recommendations.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree in Agriculture, Economics, Engineering or Business Administration or other relevant discipline is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• A minimum of seven years of professional experience in preparation and implementation of RMP, is required; relevant experience in African countries & in the apiculture sector, is preferable.Top of Form
• Experience in developing traceability system for honey exports to EU as per EU requirements, is required
• Proficiency in facilitating collaboration with diverse governmental entities within the agricultural sector is preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in assessing requirements, and challenges within food safety processes in developing nations is required.
• Experience and proficiency in using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), internet, and online video communication platforms (such as Zoom, Microsoft teams etc) is required.

Languages: Proficiency in both written and speaking English is 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.

Core 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