Consultant to undertake Comprehensive Dietary Intake Assessment in Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)- 103 days over 6 months

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 

We operate in the Pacific, specifically in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. These 14 Pacific islands countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth. They inhabit more than 660 islands and atolls that stretch across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean. This area is comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria. 

All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, only a third are on track with reporting obligations. You can explore the different areas of our work at the link provided here: www.unicef.org/pacificislands . 

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.

UNICEF supports Department of Health and Social Affairs in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), in operationalization of multi-sectoral nutrition action plan (m-NAP) to deliver effective nutrition and health services. This includes several interventions ranging from policy and regulatory actions to capacity building of key providers to ensure that nutrition information, education and counselling at the service delivery level are effective enough to support optimal dietary intakes. Additionally, UNICEF aims to address individual, community, policy and regulatory barriers to optimal diets.

How can you make a difference? 

The objective of this consultancy is to conduct a compressive dietary intake assessment, including related food systems mapping, and develop context-specific food-based recommendations in FSM. The findings of the assessment are expected to contribute to revising dietary guidelines with meal plans, nutrition education counselling content, Social Behaviour Change (SBC) interventions as well as inform necessary policy revisions in the long run.   

The assignment includes: 

    1.Quantified dietary intake assessment  

1. Mapping of locally available food (Local food basket)

• Undertake a thorough mapping of locally available food (local food basket) in the selected areas of the assignment considering cultural diversity and variations in food availability.
• Document the types of food commonly consumed and the seasonal variations

2. Quantified assessment

• Undertake a quantified dietary intake assessment of maternal, infant and child diets which can establish dietary nutrient intake gaps or excesses. This should include:

• Collect detailed data on dietary intake from target populations
• Analyze nutrient intakes in line with using relevant analytical methods

3. Recommended dietary modification for optimal intakes

• Based on the above assessment results, and other sources of evidence, undertake relevant analyses to identify necessary dietary modifications to the current prevalent typical diets addressing gaps or excesses to achieve optimal recommended dietary intakes. This may include but are not limited to modifications in terms of:

• Nutrient dense foods: Identify locally available nutrient dense foods that can address nutrient gaps, including those that are currently less consumed.
• Portion size and weekly frequency of intakes: Recommend adjustments to types and portion sizes of foods and weekly frequency of intake of the particular foods
• Food preparation methods: Explore optimal methods to retain nutrient content during cooking, while taking into account socio cultural factors, including overall palatability (appearance, flavour, texture, smell) to the population and practical feasibility
• Food Combinations in snacks and meals: suggest combinations of food that enhance nutrient absorption, while meeting daily nutrient requirements

4. Comprehensive food based recommendations.

• In consideration of points a – c above, develop comprehensive food-based recommendations for infant and young children, school-aged children, and maternal nutritional needs.

5. Costing of the recommended diet

• Undertake costing of the recommendable diet which features the food-based recommendations.
• 2. Local recipe modifications

• In liaison with relevant local stakeholders, identify recipes and food preparation methods that are ideal to be modified and developed further. This will include but not limited to the identification and modification of local recipes that can promote the adequate quantified intake of the identified opportune locally available foods.  These modifications should align with the food-based recommendations mentioned above (1d).
• Guide development of modifications for the commonly used typical recipes and food preparation methods, in alignment with the recommended quantified amounts of intakes.
• Create a potential full-day meal and snack plans incorporating the modified recipes for different groups (young children, pregnant or lactating women, adolescents)

3. Food-systems mapping

• Through desk review and consultation with key informants, undertake a mapping of the food supply chain, accessibility and affordability for the identified opportune foods which are featured in the developed food-based recommendations (in 1d)
• Develop recommendations which can enhance local access of the opportune foods

4. Review / Updating of existing social behavioural change communication (SBCC) materials and Dietary Guidelines

• Take inventory of the existing SBCC materials and dietary guidelines
• Provide technical support in the review of SBCC materials and dietary guidelines based on the findings above and identify aspects for revision.
• Recommend specific modifications to the SBCC materials and dietary guidelines, including message adjustments and technical updates.

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

GUIDANCE FOR APPLICANTS:  

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

• Daily fees– based on the deliverables in the Terms of Reference above.
• 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 PICTs, for the duration of in-country assignment.
• 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

Experience:

• A minimum of 8 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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.  

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.