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, health.

The Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (PICTs) face a triple burden of malnutrition. Overweight and obesity rates are increasing across all population groups (children and adults), while undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies continue to persist.

Sub-optimal diets are conceptually the main key immediate driver for malnutrition in all its forms including overweight and obesity. In Cooks Island, obesity and associated non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a significant public health concern. The 2011 Stepwise Approach to Surveillance of Risk Factors for NCDs (STEPS) survey found that 87.1 and 65.7 per cent of the female adult population aged 25-64 were overweight and obese respectively. Furthermore, more than half of the children between 5-19 years are obese.

Similarly, in Niue, obesity and associated non-communicable diseases are a significant public health concern for the adult population. The 2011 STEPS survey found that 86.6 per cent of females aged 15-64 were overweight, of which 62.7 per cent were obese. Data on obesity prevalence in children are limited; however, existing evidence suggests Niue has the second highest obesity prevalence rate among school children in the PICTs group (UNICEF, 2017).

Both Cooks Island and Niue are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change on food and nutrition security, directly through its effects on agriculture and fisheries, and indirectly by contributing to underlying risk factors such as water insecurity, dependency on imported foods, urbanization and migration, and service disruption. However, there is lack of reliable data to show the full picture of the dietary patterns in these countries, including the specific deficiencies or excesses in the diet.

Studies and evaluation of nutrition programs across the globe consistently show that tailored nutrition counselling addressing the gaps or excesses in the prevailing dietary intake patterns as well as addressing interpersonal or community socio-cultural barriers, is more effective in improving dietary quality and long-term health markers than generalized counselling or nutrition education. Additionally dietary patterns are influenced by broader food access issues shaped by socio-cultural norms, market prices, regulations and climate.

UNICEF emphasizes the need for national dietary guidance to be tailored to local food contexts. Furthermore nutrition-related social behaviour change communication should specifically address deficiencies in prevailing dietary patterns as well as socio-cultural barriers. Ensuring that food-related policies and regulatory acts are up to date to address barriers to accessing and utilizing locally available nutritious foods is crucial.

In this context, UNICEF is seeking an individual consultant to conduct a comprehensive dietary intake assessment, including developing context-specific food-based recommendations in Cooks Island and Niue.

How can you make a difference? 

The objective of this consultancy is to conduct a comprehensive dietary intake assessment, including developing context-specific food-based recommendations in Cooks Island and Niue. The findings of the assessment are expected to contribute to revising dietary guidelines with meal plans, context-relevant nutrition education counselling content, Social Behavior Change (SBC) interventions as well as inform necessary policy revisions in the long run.  

The assignment includes: 

1.  Quantified dietary intake assessment 

2. Local recipe modifications

3. Review / Updating of existing social behavioral change communication (SBCC) materials and Nutrition-related Guidelines

Please refer to the ToR ( TOR_CooksNiue.Dietary Assessment Consultant.pdf) for further information on the deliverables and the timelines. 

GUIDANCE FOR APPLICANTS:  

Please submit a separate financial offer along with your application and technical proposal. The financial proposal should be a lump sum amount for all the deliverables but should show a break down for the following: 

• Daily fees– based on the deliverables in the Terms of Reference 
• Travel (economy air ticket where applicable to take up assignment if in country support is required, as well as any in country travel) 
• Living allowance for international consultant that will need to relocate to the countries (Cooks, Niue) for the duration of in-country assignment 
• Costs and purchases to be incurred to execute the assessment/data collection in the countries in question
• Miscellaneous- to cover visa, health insurance (including medical evacuation for international consultants), communications, and other costs. 

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

Education:

• An advanced University degree in Nutrition, Food Science, Dietetics, Public Health, or other relevant disciplines, a PhD will be an added advantage 

Experience & Skills:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in nutrition related work 
• Experience in conceptualizing, designing and implementing dietary intake assessments and linear programming-based analyses for developing food-based recommendations. 
• Work experience serving in a developing country is required. Work experience in the Pacific Islands region is an asset. 
• Experience working in UNICEF or a UN system agency is an asset. 

Skills:

• Able to work effectively with people internal and external parties 
• Communicates clearly and concisely 
• Excellent analytical and conceptual skills 
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality analytical reports 
• Proficiency in various analytical applications for Nutrition, OptiFood, or any Linear Programming software. 
• Proven ability to work independently under difficult conditions 

Language:

• Fluency in English is required, and knowledge of a local language would be 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.

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.