Digital marketing of ultra processed products regional consultant (home-based)

Job no: 578144
Position type: Consultant
Location: Panama
Division/Equivalent: Latin America and Caribbean Regional Off
School/Unit: Panama
Department/Office: Panama City, Panama
Categories: Health, Nutrition, Health and Nutrition

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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, love and care.

Latin America and the Caribbean faces the double burden of malnutrition, characterized by the coexistence of chronic malnutrition and the alarming increase in overweight and obesity rates among children and adolescents. Over the past two decades the prevalence of overweight among children under five has risen from 6.7 per cent in 2000 to 8.6 percent in 2022. In 2016, 49 million children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 were reported to be overweight, representing 30.6% of this age group. At the same time, some countries continue to experience chronic undernutrition rates exceeding 20%.
 
This situation presents a serious public health and nutritional crisis for children in the region, and its being exacerbated by obesogenic environments that aggressively promote the consumption of ultra processed products, including breastmilk substitutes, displacing adequate dietary and breastfeeding practices from an early age.
 
In the last decade, digital platforms and social media have intensified the advertising of ultra processed products, displacing more nutritious options such as breastmilk, local foods and safe drinking water. The marketing of unhealthy food and beverages directly influences the purchasing decisions and consumption practices of children, adolescents, parents and caregivers. The digital environment, where they are active users, has become a space where they interact with mostly unhealthy brands and products.
 
The Convention on the Rights of the Child states that governments must ensure the right of children to adequate nutrition and protection from any form of malnutrition. However, the constant exposure of children, adolescents and caregivers to aggressive marketing of ultra processed products undermines this right. To contribute to promoting healthier environments for children and in line with UNICEF’s Nutrition Strategy 2020-2023, UNICEF encourages comprehensive approaches to address malnutrition in all its forms, including evidence generation to strengthen policies and regulatory frameworks of marketing ultra processed products and policies aligned with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.
 
Based on studies conducted by UNICEF in Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico, UNICEF Latin America and the Caribbean commissioned a comparative summary of children and adolescents' exposure to digital marketing marketing of ultra processed products, highlighting its persuasive power (Reporte-marketing-digital-esp.pdf). The methodology employed in these studies is based on the CLICK monitoring framework developed by WHO, following a five-step process designed to collect data on children's exposure to digital marketing.
 
Building on insights from previous UNICEF studies, several challenges have emerged at the regional level. Countries have adapted the CLICK monitoring framework in varied ways, often independently rediscovering the process, resulting in duplicated efforts. Additionally, different use of reference indicators and criteria across countries has hindered the ability to conduct structured comparative analyses. To overcome these challenges and ensure UNICEF continues to produce high-quality, comparable evidence, this consultancy seeks to develop a comprehensive methodological guidance document adapted to the LAC context and provide support to CO. This guidance will leverage the best available tools, frameworks, and practices, providing countries with the necessary resources to generate consistent evidence on the digital marketing of ultra-processed products targeted at children.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the overall guidance of the Food Systems Specialist and the Regional Nutrition Specialist the consultant will develop comprehensive guidance for monitoring digital marketing of ultra-processed products targeted at children.

Key Activities/s
 
• Review the methodologies and latest evidence used in global and regional studies on digital marketing of ultra processed products, to identify the best tools, frameworks and practices.
• Conduct an overview of current actions by UNICEF Country Offices in the LAC region related to digital marketing of ultra processed products. Prioritize countries in LAC region based on their specific needs and identify specific areas where COs require additional support or resources.
• Develop a structured, step-by-step guide for monitoring children's exposure to digital marketing of unhealthy, ultra-processed foods, considering the existing tools, frameworks, UNICEF’s reports, and up to date evidence. This guide should incorporate best practices and be tailored to the specific needs and context of the LAC region.
• Coordinate and facilitate expert consultations to ensure the guidance aligns with international standards, incorporate best practices, and addresses regional challenges specific to the LAC context.•Develop a manuscript based on the updated report and policy brief of digital marketing of ultra processed products targeting children and adolescents based on the most relevant evidence and considering regional studies.
• Support the translation and publication process of the methodological guidelines, regional report and policy briefs.•Support dissemination of the guidance, report and policy brief to CO, and other key stakeholders.

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

  • At least 7 years of experience in research, a good understanding of quantitative data analysis and qualitative analysis of nutrition and public health information.
  • At least 5 years of specific experience in research linked to digital marketing of unhealthy foods directed to children in LAC region.
  • At least 3 years of experience in accessible writing, including for advocacy purposes.
  • Experience with nutrition evidence generation in the Latin American context
  • Familiarity with the nutrition programming and policy context in LAC region is required
  • Experience working with UN agencies is an asset.
  • Fluency in Spanish and English is required.
  • Ability to work independently.
  • Sets high levels of quality and productivity for self.

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.

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
Application close: Eastern Standard Time

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