Manager, Urban-Rural Alliances (Food Systems)

C40 Cities; Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 736 000 - 847 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global climate initiative seeks a Manager for Urban-Rural Alliances (Food Systems) to drive the development of sustainable governance frameworks in Africa. This role will lead partnerships between cities, enhancing food security and resilience through collaborative efforts. A proven background in regional food systems and business support programs is essential, alongside strong relationship management skills. The position is based in South Africa and aims to increase the availability of sustainably produced food across urban and rural areas, enhancing local economies.

Qualifications

• Strong experience designing regional food systems interventions.
• Proven experience in advising on business support programs.
• Experience working internationally, especially in Africa.

Responsibilities

• Establish and manage a working group of African cities for project delivery.
• Oversee the development of governance framework models.
• Support cities in co-creating governance mechanisms with neighboring municipalities.

Skills

Experience in regional food systems interventions

Business support program development

Cross-municipal relationship management

Fluency in English

Job description

Background

C40 is a network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities, who are working to deliver the urgent action needed right now to confront the climate crisis, and create a future where everyone, everywhere can thrive. Mayors of C40 cities are committed to using a science-based and people-focused approach to help the world limit global heating to 1.5°C and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities. Through a Global Green New Deal, mayors are working alongside a broad coalition of representatives from labour, business, the youth climate movement and civil society to go further and faster than ever before.

C40’s team of 400+ staff is based in offices in London, in New York, Johannesburg, Singapore, Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, Copenhagen, Beijing and Paris, and individual staff based across 25+ different locations.

The strategic direction of the organisation is determined by an elected Steering Committee of C40 mayors, which is chaired by Mayor Sadiq Khan of London and Mayor Yvonne Aki‑Sawyerr of Freetown. Three‑term Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg serves as President of the C40 Board of Directors, responsible for operational oversight. A regionally diverse management team, led by Executive Director Mark Watts, leads the day‑to‑day management of C40. C40’s two core strategic funders are Bloomberg Philanthropies and Realdania.

Our international staff work with the C40 network under the leadership of city governments to deliver this mission. Using a data‑driven approach, our team identifies and promotes the exchange of proven programmes and policies developed by cities; provides world‑class research, technical expertise and access to key partners to deliver new programmes and policies with cities; and communicates cities’ individual achievements and collective leadership.

Diversity Statement

C40 is committed to supporting and promoting equity and diversity and creating an inclusive working environment for everyone. We believe that when people with different life experiences are involved in decision‑making, we deliver better.

We believe having a diverse workforce ensures we connect better with all the different communities and people affected by the climate crisis. This enables us to make better decisions which lead to better outcomes in the work we do through increased creativity, productivity, greater global impact alongside a broader perspective and approach to our work.

We welcome applicants that are diverse in terms of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity and perspective. Our goal is for C40 to be an environment where everyone, from any background, can flourish and can be themselves whilst contributing to our mission. If you identify as a person with a disability, we work to provide reasonable appropriate measures and any additional support needed to provide an equitable working experience. If you are living with a disability, chronic illness or neurodiversity please inform us, to provide you with the proper assistance in the application process.

C40 promotes a work culture where staff can input to improve equity, diversity and inclusion through staff‑led groups and formal forums. We know that creating our ideal working environment is a learning process and we are committed to the ongoing effort.

Department Description

C40 Climate Solutions and Networks (CSN) team oversees six program areas focused on priority climate action sectors and interventions: Energy and Buildings; Transportation; Urban Planning; Food and Waste; Air Quality; and Climate Resilience. Under these program areas, CSN operates 16 different networks that facilitate city‑to‑city best practice sharing on specific climate action areas, such as clean energy or zero‑emission vehicles. The networks help cities replicate, improve and accelerate climate action to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. These city‑only working groups provide for honest knowledge and experience exchange, enabling cities to tap into the global expertise of their peers as well as connect with technical partners. Through networks, cities find opportunities to undertake joint projects in areas of mutual interest and benefit. C40 networks also amplify individual city solutions by providing a global platform for showcasing city success. The result is that cities’ climate actions to reduce GHGs, air pollutants and climate risks are bolder, fairer, and more impactful than if they were to go it alone.

A number of these programs and networks also offer direct support to cities through technical assistance projects, training, tools, and resources, often in conjunction with other C40 teams and programs. The CSN team also supports cities to deliver on the mayoral commitments made through C40’s accelerators including, but not limited to, the Green & Healthy Streets Accelerator, the Good Food Cities Accelerator, the Thriving Food Systems Accelerator, the Sustainable Waste Systems Accelerator, and Towards Zero Waste Accelerator. The C40 accelerators are statements of political action giving cities an opportunity to show leadership globally and locally.

The Food Programme supports C40 cities to transition towards regenerative resource management and reduce emissions through more sustainable consumption. The programme works with cities to make it easier to eat sustainably and waste less food, minimising carbon emissions and increasing resiliency throughout the urban food system.

Food is among the largest drivers of global environmental climate change. C40 research shows that emissions associated with food consumption in C40 cities account for 13%-20% of cities’ total (GHG) emissions. Today, most of the world’s food is consumed in cities, with 80% of all food expected to be consumed in cities by 2050. Bringing a new focus to how the world approaches food systems through a demand‑side approach, since launching the food activities in 2016 this has become an increasingly crucial area of work for C40.

The C40 Food Systems Network supports cities to create and implement integrated food policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase resilience, and deliver health outcomes. There are currently over 50 cities involved in the Network. The Good Food Cities Accelerator (2019) has been signed by 16 leading mayors, who have committed to work with citizens to achieve a ‘Planetary Health Diet’ for all by 2030. Signatories are doing this by aligning their procurement, transforming the urban food environment, halving food loss and waste and working with local stakeholders to develop a joint strategy for implementing these actions inclusively and equitably, while streamlining food in their CAPs. Most recently, a new commitment has been launched to help cities transform food systems to tackle hunger, create thriving local economies, and build resilience within planetary boundaries. The Thriving Food Systems Accelerator (2025) has been signed so far by 13 mayors from Africa and Latin America.

Position Description

The Manager, Urban‑Rural Alliances (Food Systems) is a critical role responsible for spearheading a two‑year, funded project focused on transforming regional food systems in Africa. This project involves collaborating with a select number of African cities to forge strong, formal alliances with their neighbouring municipalities. The core goal is to co‑create context‑specific sustainable governance frameworks for regional food system coordination. Through this framework, the Manager will drive the development of new or repurposed business support programmes aimed at small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and smallholder farmers. The ultimate impact of this work is to increase the availability of healthy, sustainably produced, and affordable food in cities, and improve the food economy in the surrounding productive communities, contributing to greater food security and resilience across the urban and rural areas.

This position directly supports C40’s broader Food Programme, which works to transition cities towards regenerative resource management, making it easier to eat healthy and sustainably within planetary boundaries, whilst wasting less food.

Responsibilities

• Project and working group management: Establish and manage a working group of African signatory cities of the C40 Thriving Food Systems Accelerator to facilitate project delivery.
• Governance framework development: Oversee the assessment of appropriate governance mechanism models for urban‑rural alliances, including primary research, managing planning, scheduling, procurement (RfP, contracting), and monitoring.
• Direct city support: Directly support a number of selected C40 cities in Africa to pilot the co‑creation of a governance mechanism with neighbouring municipalities for regional food systems coordination.
• Business programme development: Support participating cities in coordinating with neighbouring municipalities to assess existing support programmes, conduct a gap analysis, and facilitate city action to develop the framework for new or repurposed business support programmes for smallholder farmers and SMEs.
• Knowledge sharing & replication: Capture and disseminate learnings to support wider city replication of successful urban‑rural engagements, aiming to increase the availability and affordability of healthy food that is sustainably produced.

Person Specification

The Manager, Urban‑Rural Alliances (Food Systems) will be an experienced and proactive individual, able to manage their work independently and make the most of a complex portfolio in a high‑profile area of C40’s work. They will join a dynamic C40 team and leading cities around Africa. They will be passionate about food systems, and working with a diverse range of cities to find practical solutions to successful collaboration linking productive landscapes with centres of consumption.

• Strong experience designing and advising on regional food systems interventions, with a specific focus on urban‑rural coordination.
• Proven experience in developing and advising on business support programmes for smallholder farmers and SMEs, and a deep understanding of the interests, drivers, and constraints of formal and informal private sector partners in a regional food systems context.
• Experience working internationally, particularly in Africa, across time zones, in multiple languages, with diverse cultures and stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge and experience in cross‑municipal and urban‑rural engagement, with excellent relationship management skills, including a proven understanding of the political dynamics between city and neighbouring local governments.
• Experience of successfully managing multi‑stakeholder programmes or partnerships from initial challenges to the co‑design and delivery of successful solutions.
• Proven ability in managing service providers, including developing and executing contracts, monitoring deliveries and programmatic performances and ensuring compliance.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills essential, including proven ability to develop reports, deliver compelling messages and facilitate virtual meetings or webinars.
• Proven ability in developing, delivering and reporting on programme plans, including contract and budget management.
• Strong problem‑solving, interpersonal and strategic thinking capabilities coupled with an outcome, delivery‑oriented approach required.
• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in locally spoken languages would be beneficial.

Other Requirements

Applicants must already have the right to work in the country where they apply. Moderate travel will be required as part of the role.

We seek to recruit individuals who not only have appropriate skills and experience for the role, but are committed to carrying out their roles in line with our organisational values.

Reporting To

Senior Manager, Just Food Transitions

Term

Fixed Term Contract – until December 2027 (The appointment and the duration of the role are subject to the final approval of funding).

Location

Cape Town, Johannesburg, Nairobi & Tshwane – Please note that if your right to work in one of the listed locations is not confirmed at the time of applying, C40 will be unable to proceed with your application.

Salary

Grade 4: South Africa ZAR 736,496, Kenya KSH 4,317,054 gross per annum – Due to its commitment to maintain equity and fairness, C40 operates on a spot salary model. This means that our employees are paid the same salary according to their grade and location.

Application Process

Interested applicants should submit a curriculum vitae and cover letter. Closing date for receipt of applications is Tuesday, 23rd December 2025 at 9am GMT.

To learn more about the work of C40 and our cities, please visit www.c40.org, follow us on Twitter @c40cities and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/C40Cities.

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