Consultancy Title: Food Fortification Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: PG-Climate Environment Energy & Disaster, Programme Division, NYHQ

Duration: April 1 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ / Remote

 

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For over 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

 

BACKGROUND

 

Large-scale food fortification (LSFF) of staples and condiments is one of the most cost-effective and scalable interventions to improve the quality of diets of populations at large when it is well designed, implemented, and monitored. LSFF can contribute to the nutritional and health status of the whole family, and benefit children, adolescents, and women, who bear the highest burden of micronutrient deficiencies and their associated adverse consequences and with large public health implications.

 

Salt iodization has been one of the most successful global public health interventions, yielding tremendous health benefits worldwide. However, mild iodine deficiency persists in some countries and within specific population sub-groups. Additionally, there is evidence of backsliding in iodine status in certain regions. Sustaining universal salt iodization (USI) requires its integration into the broader food fortification agenda, which itself requires greater focus to unlock its full potential.

 

UNICEF has been very committed to support the prevention of iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) mostly through USI over the last over two decades and is currently supporting 16 countries and four regions to strengthen their IDD/USI efforts. UNICEF is currently leading the renewed agenda for the prevention of IDDs and its integration within the larger food fortification and the food systems agendas. Additionally, UNICEF is spearheading regional level coordination and harmonization for food fortification in select regions globally.

 

The consultant will work closely with the UNICEF Food Systems for Childrens team and external stakeholders to support the achievement of key objectives and deliverables in line with agreed timelines and outputs.

 

The consultant will support with effective planning and implementation of the food fortification programme, focusing on the following tasks:

 

The consultant will be responsible for the following:

1. Technical and analytical support:

- Provide technical input to food fortification and food systems strategies and workplans.

- Support with the development and maintenance of project timelines, tracking milestones and deliverables to ensure adherence to agreed schedules.

- Support activities among the internal Food Systems team and stakeholders to align priorities and actions.

- Support with the development and implementation of supportive social marketing strategies and the Fix My Food youth advocacy programme.

- Assist with regular review of the relevant projects’ progress and agreed next steps/recommendations.

2. Reporting and documentation support:

- Review projects’ progress reports submitted by the country and regional offices and support development of consolidated reports, aligned with the donors and organizational requirements.

- Assist with the development and compliance of LSFF contracts and agreements with agreed terms and quality standards.

- 3. Communication and dissemination support:

- Assist with documentation of best practices, lessons learned, and innovative approaches to support programme scaling and knowledge sharing.

- Support organizing meetings, workshops, and/or consultations to drive forward the goals of the Food System programme team, and documenting and disseminating key highlights and next steps from these events.

 

Travel, if applicable: (include estimated duration and potential locations). 

The consultant is expected to make 3-4 travels during the consultancy period.

 

 

Review the LSFF/USI programme and develop a detailed workplan and timeline

• Detailed workplan and timeline

• List of ongoing contracts, consultancies and deliverables along with due dates

15 April 2025

Review the 2024-25 LSFF/USI project plans and compile regional and country biannual progress reports

• Consolidated biannual LSFF/USI report

30 April 2025

Assist with documenting and compiling LSFF coordination and harmonization lessons from four regions

• Two out of the total of four regional LSFF reports

25 May 2025

Review the ongoing social marketing food systems work

• Consolidated feedback on at least 3 social marketing reports/documents

31 May 2025

Review the food systems narrative and food fortification scoping assessment

• Food systems narrative and scoping assessment report

27 June 2025

Support the ongoing evidence generation in seven countries and assist in the organization of the 2025 Fix My Food workshop in Panama

• 5 knowledge documents/ reports from five countries

• Agenda, relevant materials, and refined content suited to local context for the Fix My Food workshop

30 July 2025

Assist in coordinating  with the countries and regional offices to receive LSFF plans for 2025-26 and support with their review and revision

• Compiled LSFF plan based on review of at least 10 ROs/COs reports

28 August 2025

Assist with documenting and compiling LSFF coordination and harmonization lessons from four regions

• Final two out of the total of four regional LSFF reports and 1 compiled report

25 September 2025

Support the ongoing social marketing food systems work

• Consolidated feedback on at least 2 social marketing reports/documents

• 1 Case example from phase 1 of the initiative, highlighting how social marketing has been used and the results to date

30 September 2025

Review the COs progress against the planned 2024-25 LSFF/USI plans and compile regional and country biannual progress reports

• Consolidated biannual LSFF report

• CO and RO wise report on LSFF/USI progress and next steps from at least 15 offices 20 October 2025

Verify outputs against project agreements/ contracts and deliverables plans and assist in the organization of the 2025 Fix My Food workshops in Jordan and TBC workshops in two European countries

• Updated list of at least 7 projects/contracts and next steps

• Agenda, relevant materials, and refined content suited to local context for the Fix My Food workshops

31 October 2025

Assist in coordinating with UNICEF country and regional office teams, and partners, consultants, and vendors to understand the progress of the USI surveys and projects/ contracts

• 7 notes, including key highlights and next steps, from at least 7 CO/ vendor calls and meetings shared within 3 working days of each call or meeting

20 November 2025

Support coordination with partners and contribute to the review and finalization of the WHO-led food fortification 2025 joint report and support in the reporting of Fix My Food activities

• Detailed feedback on the FF 2025 report

• Fix My Food donor report/update

30 November 2025

Assist in coordinating with ROs and COs to support completion of their ongoing LSFF/USI plans and plan for the next phase of the project, and assist with organizing webinars and other events to disseminate the Fix My Food youth advocacy work

• Feedback on at least 10 LSFF/USI plans for countries

24 December 2025

Assist with organizing webinars and other events to disseminate food systems narrative and resources/toolkit

• 3 key discussions and next steps summaries from at least 3 webinars and events shared

28 January 2026

Support ongoing projects and LSFF/ USI activities and deliverables

• Feedback on at least 10 LSFF survey and reports

15 February 2026

Support development and dissemination of knowledge management products for LSFF

• 2 LSFF knowledge briefs/ reports

28 February 2026

Support development and finalization of donor LSFF and USI reports for the multi-year projects 

• Final LSFF/ USI donor reports

25 March 2026

 

Education:

An advanced university degree (Master’s) in nutrition, food science, food systems, public health, or a related field.

 

Work experience: 

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

o 2-4 years of experience in large-scale food fortification programmes.

o Proven experience in providing technical and management assistance for LSFF programmes/projects.

o Strong reporting and communication skills.

o Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multi-cultural environment.

o Experience in food systems work and social and behaviour change will be an asset.

 

Requirements: (DO NOT EDIT)

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and 

- Upload copy of academic credentials 

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

o the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.

o travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR. 

o Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.

o Indicate your availability 

- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant. 

U.S. Visa information:

 

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

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

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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.

  

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.