At ATNI we're looking for a Senior Consultant for Impact Investing for Nutrition to join our team. Introduction to the Access to Nutrition Initiative The Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI) is an independent, not-for-profit organization based in the Netherlands. Our vision is a world where markets contribute to providing access to nutritious and affordable diets for all, preventing deaths and illness from diet-related diseases. ATNI’s mission is to transform markets so that at least half of companies’ food & beverage sales are derived from healthy products by 2030 and contribute to healthy, sustainable diets for all. ATNI works closely with its stakeholders from companies and investors to policy makers and consumer groups to reshape the world’s food systems. Specifically, ATNI aims to encourage F&B companies to improve the nutritional quality of their products, to substantially increase sales of healthier products, and to change the ways in which they shape food environments (e.g., through marketing, product labelling or interaction with policymakers). Within this broad scope, infant and young child nutrition receives special attention. To date, ATNI has developed and published four Global Access to Nutrition Indexes (2013, 2016, 2018 and 2021, 2024 forthcoming) and Spotlight Indexes for India (2016, 2020, 2023), the US (2018) and the first retail sector Index – the UK Retailer Index 2022. Its most recent publications were the BMS and CF Indexes 2024. Our Indexes and tools are used by companies, investors, governments, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders to advance their work in improving population health through better diets. To preserve its independence, ATNI does not accept funding from companies it assesses nor from the wider F&B industry. Funders of ATNI include the Gates Foundation, UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, and Irish Aid. ATNI is overseen by an independent Board. More information about ATNI can be found at accesstonutrition.org.

Background and rationale The impact investing sector has driven huge amounts of capital into the agribusiness sector, covering US$1.164 trillion in impact investments as of 2021.

However, the capital needs of the sector are immense. In Africa alone, the financing shortfall is estimated at $65 billion per year according to the African Development Bank (AFDB). Despite this restriction, the sector is set to expand exponentially – with the AFDB predicting the sector will almost quadruple in size by 2030, to more than $1 trillion a year.

In spite of this, banks are reluctant to lend to the sector due to perception of volatility and opacity in the sector.

While there is an enthusiasm for nutrition-sensitive investing, as part of impact investment in Agri-SMEs, and several frameworks that consider nutrition, nutrition-sensitive impact investment has yet to be achieved at scale. We know this because in 2023, ATNI mapped over 100 agri-food funds and found that nutrition was the most neglected focus areas. ATNI is committed to helping pave a way forward to ensure impact investments – and finance in general – are directed towards positive nutrition outcomes in a concrete way.

Scope of the work The Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI) seeks to make its mark on the impact investing space by driving forward a change in the supply of nutrition finance for agri-food SMEs. The work is global however, ATNI has selected East Africa (specifically Uganda and Tanzania) as a region to test its tools and approach given its rapid economic growth, entrepreneurial sector, and dynamic impact investing sector. Overall objectives: The senior consultant will represent ATNI, establish ATNI’s global impact investing network and in East Africa, form partnerships, and communicate global and regional activities and outcomes. Functioning as the representative for ATNI, the senior consultant will cultivate collaborations with key stakeholders to develop a framework of metrics to rally the impact investment community around nutrition. The senior consultant will actively participate in the co-design of a nutrition-sensitive Impact Linked Fund. Additionally, the senior consultant will offer guidance on project feasibility and activities within specific national contexts, providing a country-specific perspective and lookout for new partnership and funding opportunities. This work will be composed of two projects that will be spearheaded by a senior consultant, in conjunction with the ATNI impact investing team and key partners. These projects are as follows: Impact Investing Framework for Nutrition: ATNI seeks to create an Impact Investing Framework for Nutrition (IIN). This framework should consist of a small set of broad outcomes, to be achieved over a 3 – 5-year timescale. These outcomes should align with the outcomes sought by leaders in the impact investing sector. By creating this alignment, the II4N can act as the rallying point around which a coalition of ambitious impact investors can drive for greater nutrition results in their investments. It can also act as an entry point for new entrants in the sector who do not necessarily have nutrition expertise. This framework will be created by convening a working group of relevant stakeholders, including impact investors and agri-SME specialists. A Delphi process or similar may be employed to determine which outcomes should be selected for the framework. Impact Linked Fund- Nutrition: ATNI is working in partnership with iGravity to establish a nutrition window within its Impact Linked Finance Fund or ILF Nutrition (Impact Link Fund Nutrition). The intent of the ILF Nutrition is to provide proof of concept. It’s being done in conjunction with the framework that ATNI is seeking to build with input from established actors in this space. Ultimately this effort should help bring in more funding for impact investors seeking to invest in nutrition outcomes. The creation of the ILFN should proceed as follows: • Feasibility Study (2024): A concise feasibility study is conducted to validate the potential and feasibility of impact linked finance for nutrition. This study provides crucial insights into both the supply and demand aspects of the nutritious market. It helps define the scope and strategy of the ILFN while confirming the interest of potential funders for the initiative. • Pilot Phase (2025 onwards): The initiative undertakes a pilot phase to test impact linked finance within the nutrition sector, in collaboration with interested donors. This phase aims to raise between USD 3-5 million to support 10-15 high-impact organizations. These organizations receive direct financing and dedicated advice, aimed at enhancing nutritional outcomes for low-income beneficiaries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Throughout the pilot phase, there is a strong emphasis on collecting data and evidence to build the case for ILFN. • Scale-Up Phase: Leveraging the evidence and work of the pilot phase, the initiative will enter a scale-up phase to amplify its impact. Insights and learnings gleaned from the pilot inform adjustments and refinements to the approach, with the current hypothesis being that a mixture of grants and investment capital will be raised and blended. With a robust evidence base, the initiative aims to secure additional funds from a broader range of donors and investors. ATNI expects this initial work to last a minimum of 6 months. There is a potential renewal as the larger workstream will last up to 18 months. The timelines given above are tentative and subject to change based on discussions between ATNI and the senior consultant. This job description is indicative, and specific responsibilities may be subject to adjustments based on project needs and organizational requirements. At each stage, the senior consultant will closely update ATNI on progress and record key actions taken as well as a list of stakeholders met. Over the course of six months (July – December 2024), the role and activities of the senior consultant, together with ATNI staff, are to: Key responsibilities of the local senior consultant are divided between two key workstreams, as well as ancillary responsibilities: 1. Nutrition-sensitive impact investment metrics: Convening and leading a working group of ATNI partners and, via a Delphi process, determining what the ideal outcome metrics should be to guide nutrition-sensitive impact investment metrics.

These metrics should be formed by the consensus of all members of the working group.

Actively communicating with working group members throughout the Delphi process. 2. Impact Linked Fund (in partnership with iGravity): Co-designing the feasibility study with iGravity, making use of existing ATNI research and mappings, to underpin a proposal for donors that will fund the ILF.

Co-designing an impact framework for the ILF, which aligns with the framework outcomes.

Determining what kind of technical input, the ILF investees might require from ATNI and iGravity. 3. Getting to know ATNI and ATNI work in East Africa and align on requirements of the assignment. This will include parallel workstreams that ATNI is running in the region, including the premix index, East Africa Market Assessment and nutrition business monitor tool. 4. Managing relationships with global and East African stakeholders on behalf of ATNI, including: Peer NGOs and impact investors participating in the working group

Potentially investible Agri-SMEs

Relevant iGravity staff based in East Africa 5. Participating in meetings with ATNI, iGravity and (potentially) donor staff to determine workstream courses of action. Liaise with the ATNI team to ensure alignment and clarity on project goals, including through bi-weekly catch-up meetings.

Participate in internal meetings and brainstorming sessions. 6. Summary report writing: Participate in the write-up and review of findings in a comprehensive summary report. 7. Help transition the project from its inception phase in 2024, to its pilot phase in 2025. Expected deliverables :

Nutrition-sensitive impact investing framework This must be achieved through the consensus of the working group, via a Delphi process.

Nutrition-sensitive ILF impact framework, to be co-designed with ATNI and iGravity staff. Feasibility study, to be co-designed with ATNI and iGravity staff.

Summary report detailing progress made in 2024. Governance and Accountability: The senior consultant will work closely with ATNI to ensure optimal processes in all the stages as they are described in the scope, and in the quality of data collected. The company’s contact point will work with ATNI’s Program Manager and, if and as needed, with other members of the ATNI staff, who will guide them and ensure smooth and effective communication throughout the process.

Guiding principles and values The research provider(s) will adhere to the Code of Conduct and Ethics Policy of ATNI where the following guiding principles are outlined: Not-for-profit: The Access to Nutrition Foundation (ATNF) acts for the public good and all funds are employed in the pursuit of its mission.

Independence: independence of governance, funding and perspective are essential to the integrity and credibility of the ATNF and enables the realization of impartiality towards all stakeholders.

Transparency: transparency of management, activities, methodology and findings supports public trust and accountability.

Respect: respect for the mission of the ATNF aligns with respect for the process of fairly representing the collective view of society’s expectations of F&B companies and respect for the views of all stakeholders.

Collaboration: the ATNF collaborates with other organizations to avoid overlap and duplication of effort, where there are shared values, common aims, and activities are for the good of society.

Affirmation: through the ATNI, the ATNF acknowledges the positive progress and efforts of companies towards access to F&B practices.

Inclusivity: the ATNF works from an inclusive perspective towards all belief, culture, gender, race, ethnicity, and national and regional considerations.

Human rights: the ATNF respects universal human rights.

Professional qualifications ATNI is looking for a senior consultant with a solid understanding of financing Agri-SMEs in low- and lower-middle income countries, as well as the impact investing space and, ideally, of the ways in which impact investment can be leveraged to achieve outcomes for food security and public health.

Specific experience and knowledge of SMEs, impact investments, and the nutrition context in Sub-Saharan Africa is considered an advantage for this assessment. The applicants should demonstrate the following sets of skills: Technical competence: experience in working with Agri-SMEs in low- and lower-middle income countries, in linking SMEs to finance opportunities.

Demonstrated success in cultivating and sustaining relationships and networks across diverse constituencies and cultures, preferably with experience in supporting or administering multi-stakeholder consultative processes.

A good understanding of the project’s objectives and context.

Language proficiency: the working language for the collaboration is English.

Excellent writing and communication skills, including the ability to lead working group sessions.

Reporting: Excellent oral, writing and data mapping & visualization skills.

Familiarity with the Delphi process would be considered a major asset.

Apply for the job Interested candidates are asked to reach out to ATNI as soon as possible, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The starting date of this assignment is July 22nd, 2024. ATNI will expect all applicants to provide an up-to-date CV, a letter/email of motivation and some examples of similar projects the senior consultant has worked on. Applicants should also indicate their daily rate and availability. While preparing their submission, applicants can send their requests for clarifications to Christopher Board, Program Manager, at christopher.board@accesstonutrition.org

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