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NiE advocacy consultant - Consultant to provide technical support to the implementation of LACRO’s Nutrition in Emergencies (NiE) Advocacy Strategy 2025-2026, LACRO (home-based)

Apply now Job no: 579730
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Panama City
Level: Consultancy
Location: Panama
Categories: Health, Nutrition, Health and Nutrition

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, hope, care and love

Despite its critical importance and organizational mandate, Nutrition in Emergencies (NiE) is often under-prioritized area in emergency preparedness and response, particularly in middle- and high-income countries. Limited awareness of the nutrition risks faced by vulnerable populations during emergencies exacerbates the challenges in preventing malnutrition in such contexts. This gap often results in missed opportunities for timely interventions, reduced fundraising, and increased malnutrition, with life-threatening consequences for at-risk groups, especially children under five and pregnant and lactating women.
 
In recognition of these challenges, UNICEF’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (LACRO) has developed a comprehensive NiE advocacy strategy for 2025-2026. This strategy aligns closely with UNICEF’s Nutrition Strategy 2020–2030, which emphasizes the need for multisectoral action to improve maternal and child nutrition in all contexts, including emergencies. The strategy underscores the importance of advocating for integrated nutrition considerations within emergency response frameworks to mitigate risks and protect children’s health and development. The NiE advocacy strategy focuses on three main objectives:
• Enhanced understanding of the importance of NiE as a priority area and the urgency of its inclusion in emergency preparedness and response.
• Strengthening Partnerships: Engaging governments, civil society, and other stakeholders to enhance capacities integrate nutrition into emergency response plans and activities.
• Resource Mobilization: Securing commitments and funding to strengthen capacities and address gaps in NiE implementation.
 
This consultancy will play a pivotal role in implementing the NiE advocacy strategy by developing targeted advocacy materials, organizing high-impact events, and providing strategic support to ensure alignment with global frameworks and regional priorities. By supporting UNICEF’s global and regional commitments to improving nutrition outcomes in emergencies, this role contributes to achieving the goals outlined in the Nutrition Strategy 2020–2030 and advancing the broader agenda for child survival and well-being.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the overall guidance of the Nutrition Specialist and in collaboration with the Communications Section and relevant Country Offices (COs) in the LAC region, the consultant will provide technical support to advance LACRO’s advocacy strategy for Nutrition in Emergencies (NiE). The role focuses on increasing awareness, fostering stakeholder commitments, and integrating nutrition considerations into emergency preparedness and response frameworks in alignment with UNICEF’s global strategies.

Key Activities/s
 
1. Draft a work plan outlining consultancy timelines, deliverables, and milestones, ensuring alignment with consultancy objectives and LACRO's NiE advocacy priorities.
2. Provide technical inputs to the finalization of a short brief to describe the need for increased NiE capacity and how to mobilize NiE expertise (e.g. through the Global Nutrition Cluster) targeting nutrition sector partners management.
3. Support the planning, organization, and execution of a high-level regional advocacy event to present the NiE advocacy strategy to UNICEF CO management and its implementation at the country level. Provide coordination support to event preparation, logistics, stakeholder participation, and post-event documentation to ensure actionable outcomes.
4. Provide technical inputs and contribute to the finalization of the R4V Nutrition Sector advocacy strategy 2025-2026. Contribute to its dissemination among key stakeholders. Participate in R4V meetings related to the topic.
5. Develop an evidence-based narrative to advocate for NiE in the form of a set/matrix of key messages/arguments to be used by LACRO and COs in advocacy and communication material related to NiE.
6. Develop at least 3 human interest stories in coordination with COs and LACRO Comms. The structure should include situation, nutrition risks and needs, access to services, nutrition intervention received, outcome, and other identified key aspects.
7. Develop a mapping of potential Goodwill Ambassadors for NiE, including their interests and strategic recommendations to approach them in coordination with LACRO Comms.
8. Provide technical inputs and contribute to the finalization of a strategic document summarizing key NiE experiences across countries (NiE thematic report). Include evidence on the importance and urgency to implement nutrition interventions in emergencies, the impact of not doing so in vulnerable groups (children, adolescents, and pregnant and lactating women). Collect information on experiences and human-interest stories in coordination with COs. Highlight UNICEF's contributions and regional impact in the updated document.
9. Support the planning, organization, and execution of a high-level regional advocacy in favor of increased support to NiE targeting government, donors, and humanitarian partners. Draft the concept note of the event and coordinate event preparation, logistics, stakeholder participation, and post-event documentation to ensure actionable outcomes.
10. Provide technical inputs to develop an investment case on NiE for private sector advocacy, including opportunities, challenges, UNICEF response (e.g. human-interest study or case study) and how private donors can contribute.
11. Map potential private donors and draft a report summarizing interests and actionable recommendations for engagement in collaboration with PFP section.
12. Support the coordination of a meeting with COs to introduce and promote the uptake of the above-mentioned deliverables at the country level.
13. Summarize lessons learned and key aspects of technical support provided on NiE advocacy.
14. Document achievements, challenges, and recommendations to guide future advocacy and technical efforts.
15. Participate coordination meetings and other activities and discussions with LACRO sections, country offices and partners as needed (including R4V Nutrition Sector Coordination) and prepare inputs for these.
 

Deliverables / Outputs

 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

  • Postgraduate degree (Master’s or PhD) in public health nutrition, health sciences, communications, emergencies or other relevant field.
  • A minimum of 4 years of professional experience in public health nutrition and/or health advocacy and/or health communication.
  •  
    Strong advocacy, communication and strategic planning capabilities and experience.
  • Desirable nutrition in emergencies expertise of at least 1 year
  • Demonstrated expertise in developing advocacy materials and supporting the organization of high-level events.
  • Experience engaging with diverse stakeholders, including governments and private sector donors, is a strong asset.
  • Fluency in Spanish and English; knowledge of other regional languages is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

 To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Administrative details

Workplace: The consultancy is home-based.

Duration: Estimated start date is February 25, 2025, until November 15, 2025 

How to Apply: Application should be submitted online and should include: TMS application from duly completed, Cover Letter, Study certificates and financial proposal (Daily fee or deliverable fee).

Qualified candidates are requested to indicate an all-inclusive (lump sum) fees for the services to be including all associated administrative and travel costs. 

Consultants must have their own equipment, tools and materials needed to perform their services. They will use their own laptops/computers, any application or system needed to complete the assignment. They need to provide the full service without using UNICEF resources. The access to UNICEF email and system is restricted to UNICEF staff therefore consultants should not be granted access unless it is imperative to complete the assignment.

Travel

Travel is not foreseen for this consultancy. Should travel is requested, it will be covered by UNICEF as per policy. 

 

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. 

Advertised: Eastern Standard Time
Deadline: Eastern Standard Time

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