Nutrition Policy Consultant

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Position Title: Nutrition Policy Consultant
Location: Uzbekistan
Country: Uzbekistan
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency that works in over 190 countries and territories to promote the rights and well-being of every child. The organization focuses on reaching the most disadvantaged children in the world, providing them with essential services and support to help them fulfill their potential. UNICEF's mission is to save lives, defend rights, and help children thrive, ensuring that every child has access to quality food, education, and healthcare. With a workforce of thousands of employees globally, UNICEF operates in various sectors, including health, nutrition, education, and child protection, striving to create a better world for children everywhere.

Job Overview:
The Nutrition Policy Consultant position at UNICEF involves assessing school nutrition policies, interventions, and programs in Uzbekistan. The consultant will provide technical support to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education in drafting school food policy briefs and advocacy materials aimed at improving the school food environment. The role requires a comprehensive understanding of nutrition challenges faced by school-aged children in Uzbekistan, particularly in relation to malnutrition, overweight, and obesity. The consultant will utilize the Nutrition Environment Assessment Tool (NEAT-s) to evaluate existing policies and generate evidence to inform government policy and monitoring efforts. This position is crucial in supporting UNICEF's commitment to addressing malnutrition and promoting healthy dietary practices among children and adolescents in the country.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Adapt and translate the NEAT-s tool and supporting literature to fit the context of Uzbekistan.
• Obtain ethical approval for the school selection process.
• Coordinate and conduct capacity development and training sessions on the use of the NEAT-s tool for relevant stakeholders.
• Collect data from selected schools to assess the current nutrition environment.
• Analyze the collected data and develop a draft assessment report, including policy briefs and data visualizations.
• Conduct a stakeholder consultation workshop to discuss findings and gather feedback.
• Finalize and submit the comprehensive report detailing actionable recommendations for improving the school food environment.
• Collaborate with national stakeholders to ensure the recommendations are aligned with government policies and initiatives.

Required Qualifications:

• An advanced university degree in Health, Public Health, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of work experience at an advanced level in public health or nutrition policy, including research and policy development.
• Prior experience conducting school-based research or assessments.
• Extensive knowledge of school nutrition environments and the in-country nutrition challenges.
• Strong facilitation and coordination abilities to engage with various stakeholders effectively.
• Demonstrated commitment to UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in Health, Public Health, or a related field. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant has the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to assess and develop nutrition policies effectively.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience, particularly in public health and nutrition policy. Candidates should have a proven track record of conducting research and assessments related to school nutrition, as well as experience in policy development and implementation. Familiarity with the specific nutrition challenges faced by children in Uzbekistan is highly desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in Uzbek, Russian, and English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication with local stakeholders, conducting assessments, and preparing reports and policy briefs. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not required.

Additional Notes:
The assignment duration is from March 10, 2025, to December 15, 2025, totaling 135 working days. The consultant will be compensated based on an all-inclusive fee structure, which should cover all expenses related to the assignment, excluding travel fees that will be reimbursed as incurred. Payment will be made against approved deliverables and monthly work plans, with UNICEF reserving the right to withhold payment if deliverables do not meet the required standards. The selected candidate will need to ensure that they have valid visa and health insurance for the duration of the contract. Additionally, candidates must confirm their fully vaccinated status against COVID-19 prior to the assignment, unless they are working remotely.