Consultant for Technical Support to ASEAN Secretariat

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development. UNICEF employs a large workforce dedicated to its mission and values, fostering a culture of inclusivity and growth.

Job Overview:
The consultant will provide high-level technical, policy, and coordination support to the ASEAN Secretariat, specifically focusing on large-scale food fortification (LSFF) initiatives across the East Asia and Pacific Region (EAPR). This role involves operationalizing the ASEAN Guidelines and Minimum Standards for LSFF, enhancing accountability and peer learning among Member States, and facilitating policy dialogue to sustain LSFF mandates. The consultant will also address challenges faced by priority countries, offering tailored technical assistance, advocacy support, and partner coordination to overcome implementation bottlenecks. The scope of work includes regional coordination, technical assistance, policy development, program management, partnerships, advocacy, and monitoring of LSFF initiatives across ASEAN Member States.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Strengthen ASEAN leadership and regional coordination for LSFF by supporting the ASEAN Health Cluster 1 in coordinating regional dialogue and leadership on LSFF.
• Institutionalize ASEAN LSFF partner coordination platforms and facilitate engagement among ASEAN Secretariat, Member States, UNICEF, development partners, and technical institutions.
• Follow up on decisions and commitments related to LSFF.
• Support Member States in reviewing alignment with ASEAN LSFF minimum standards and develop tools for country self-assessment.
• Provide technical support to strengthen the implementation of LSFF mandates in selected countries facing private sector pressure or rollback risks.
• Lead the development of the ASEAN Annual LSFF Scorecard and support annual benchmarking of Member States against ASEAN LSFF standards.
• Prepare scorecard findings for ASEAN Health Ministers’ review processes and support country roadmaps based on these findings.
• Develop policy briefs, country summaries, advocacy materials, and technical updates while documenting best practices and innovations.
• Generate evidence to support sustaining mandatory LSFF legislation and engage in strategic communications on LSFF.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: A Master's degree in Nutrition, Partnerships, Advocacy, Development, or Communications is required.
• Work Experience: 10-15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in public nutrition, food systems, public health, or related development programming, with substantial experience in LSFF, USI, or micronutrient deficiency prevention.
• Proven experience supporting regional or multi-country programs in Asia, preferably within EAPR, and a track record of working with inter-governmental bodies such as ASEAN, Asian Development Bank, and UN agencies.
• Strong experience in policy reform, standards development, regulatory frameworks, and program implementation in low- and middle-income countries.
• Experience in planning and facilitating high-level consultations and multi-stakeholder platforms.
• Strong communication, negotiation, diplomacy, and stakeholder management skills are essential.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree in a relevant field such as Nutrition, Partnerships, Advocacy, Development, or Communications is mandatory for this position. This educational background provides the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge required to effectively contribute to the role.

Experience:
Candidates should possess 10-15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in public nutrition, food systems, public health, or related development programming. This experience should include substantial involvement in large-scale food fortification initiatives and a proven ability to work with regional or multi-country programs, particularly in the East Asia and Pacific Region.

Languages:
Fluency in both French and English is required for this position. This bilingual proficiency is essential for effective communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders across the ASEAN region. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this consultancy position is 8.5 months. The role is expected to be full-time, and UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, promoting diversity and inclusion in its workforce. The organization offers reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy regarding conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives, including discrimination and abuse. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.