Individual Consultant for Review of Social Protection Programs and Impact Analysis

Job Posting Organization:
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) is a renowned research organization that focuses on food policy and its implications on global nutrition and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security. Established in 1975, IFPRI aims to provide evidence-based solutions to reduce poverty and end hunger. With a diverse team of over 300 employees, IFPRI operates in multiple countries around the world, conducting research and providing policy advice to improve food systems and nutrition outcomes.

Job Overview:
The position of Individual Consultant for Review of Social Protection Programs and Impact Analysis involves supporting IFPRI in updating a literature review and manuscript related to the impact of social protection programs on dietary intake and nutritional status. The consultant will play a crucial role in rerunning literature searches, updating summary tables, and revising manuscripts based on recent findings. This role is pivotal in ensuring that the research reflects the latest evidence and contributes to the understanding of how social protection programs can influence dietary habits and nutritional outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The consultant will also be responsible for drafting sections of the manuscript, particularly the methods section, and providing additional written inputs as necessary to finalize the documents.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be tasked with several key responsibilities, including:

• Rerunning the literature search to identify relevant papers published in the last three years that can be included in the updated review.
• Screening articles for inclusion based on predefined criteria.
• Updating summary tables with descriptive statistics related to the identified papers.
• Revising the manuscript to incorporate changes necessitated by the updated literature review.
• Collaborating with lead authors and other team members to update the impact analysis and tables in the draft manuscript.
• Drafting the methods section of the impact paper and providing other necessary written inputs to finalize the manuscripts.
• Ensuring that all deliverables, including updated tables and summaries of the literature review process, are completed within the specified timeframe.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a PhD degree in nutrition, public health, or a closely related field. Additionally, they should have demonstrated experience with quantitative dietary data analysis, particularly in assessing macro- and micro-nutrient intake. Experience conducting literature reviews is essential, as is familiarity with working in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The consultant should exhibit a high level of attention to detail and accuracy in their work, ensuring that all analyses and written outputs meet professional standards.

Educational Background:
A PhD in nutrition, public health, or a related field is required for this position. This advanced degree should provide the candidate with a strong foundation in research methodologies, dietary assessment techniques, and public health principles, particularly as they relate to nutrition and food policy.

Experience:
The consultant should have substantial experience in quantitative dietary data analysis, with a proven track record of assessing dietary intake and nutritional status. Experience in conducting literature reviews and familiarity with the context of social protection programs in LMICs will be highly beneficial. The ideal candidate will also have experience in academic writing and manuscript preparation, particularly in the fields of nutrition and public health.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential for effective communication and manuscript preparation. Additional language skills relevant to the regions of focus may be considered advantageous but are not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy position is fully remote, allowing for flexibility in work location. The level of effort required for this role is estimated at 40 days, which indicates a significant commitment over a defined period. The consultant will be expected to deliver high-quality outputs that contribute to the ongoing research efforts of IFPRI, particularly in relation to social protection programs and their impact on nutrition.