Public Health-Nutrition Consultant, Long-Term Agreement (LTA), UNICEF Athens, GCO (15 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

UNICEF GCO in collaboration with the Ministry of Health is implementing a National Programme aiming to prevent and address child obesity in the country. The National Program of Physical Exercise and Healthy Nutrition- Addressing Childhood Obesity in Greece, is part of the “Spyros Doxiadis” and “Greece 2.0” National Recovery Plan, implemented by the Ministry of Health and partners and supported by UNICEF. The program is funded by the European Commission’s NextGeneration EU, and it is an innovative initiative which aims to reduce childhood obesity through the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity across prevention levels and with a holistic approach. The program focuses on children aged 0-17 and their families with multi-faceted interventions at home, school, health services, and the community at large. Greece stands in the higher rankings of prevalence of child obesity among European countries and so the national program aspires to be catalytic in addressing challenges across sectors of the obesogenic environment through programmatic interventions in the sectors of education, primary/secondary health prevention and early detection platforms which aligns with the EU Global Health Strategy.

The National Programme focuses on achieving the following objectives:

• Promoting a healthy beginning in life for every child through the encouragement of nutritious eating practices and enhanced physical activity
• Combating childhood obesity by mitigating risk factors
• Fostering awareness, education, and the adoption of healthy lifestyles
• Conducting comprehensive national research and collection of data

The program’s key pillars include the reform of the legal framework to promote healthy living, the implementation of primary prevention through schools and health services, the establishment of a European Center Combating against Obesity for secondary prevention, and the provision of tertiary prevention for children with co-morbidities. Furthermore, a nationwide awareness campaign is designed to transform public perception regarding healthy living and practices. Through these initiatives, the program seeks to create lasting changes in the environment and social behaviors that contribute to childhood obesity, ensuring a healthier future for families and children in Greece.

How can you make a difference? 

To meet these requirements, UNICEF would like to engage a Public Health- Nutrition Consultant under a Long-Term Agreement (LTA) who, under the direct supervision of UNICEF’s Programme Coordinator of the National Program for addressing Childhood Obesity, will provide expert guidance and support in developing, implementing, and evaluating strategies aimed at preventing and reducing the prevalence of obesity among children. The consultant will play a crucial role in shaping evidence-based interventions, ensuring they are culturally appropriate and aligned with the specific needs of children in Greece. This includes advising on policy development, community engagement, and educational initiatives to promote healthy eating and physical activity. By leveraging their expertise, the consultant will support UNICEF GCO in achieving sustainable and impactful outcomes in the fight against child obesity.

The Consultant will:

• Provide technical support for the generation of evidence regarding effective national policies across sectors (food systems, education, health and social welfare) to advance an effective enabling environment to address child obesity.
• Formulate evidence-based nutrition interventions tailored to the national context and to the national programme.
• Establish frameworks for the assessment and evaluation of the effectiveness of the programmatic interventions.
• Engage in advocacy initiatives aimed at influencing policies related to health promotion and nutrition at national level.
• Engage in research activities to generate knowledge and evidence
• Collaboration with key Stakeholders for the programme and coordination of various scientific teams

Objectives

• Assist in the development, implementation, and assessment of effective public health /nutrition initiatives. This requires collaboration with authorities, non-governmental organizations, and community groups to ensure that nutrition interventions are grounded in evidence and culturally relevant.
• Strengthen the capabilities of actors involved in the national programme by supporting them with the provision of scientific guidance and support for the implementation of optimal practices for nutrition assessment, counseling, and intervention techniques.
• Provision of technical expertise in the development of nutrition-related policies at national levels. Advocacy initiatives will emphasize the significance of nutrition within public health priorities.

MAJOR TASKS TO BE ACOMPLISHED

1. Support a national study on the marketing strategies of unhealthy foods towards children/parents with a child rights-based approach.
2. Support the process/impact/outcome evaluation of the national programme in close collaboration with Harokopeio University and the European Center for Obesity that is leading the process.
3. Support the networking and promotion of the European Center for Obesity and lead on the efforts to connect with policy specialists in other countries with important results on addressing child obesity.
4. Provision of overall technical and scientific support to various technical documents, training and tools developed, public awareness initiatives, and community involvement programs.
5. Promote collaborations with government agencies, NGOs, academic institutions, and other stakeholders to amplify the program’s reach and effectiveness.
6. Compile comprehensive reports and documentation of best practices to guide future program development and contribute to the understanding of strategies to combat child obesity.

Responsibilities of the Consultant:

1. The consultant will communicate as frequently as needed via Teams calls with UNICEF GCO team and UNICEF Regional Advisors to make sure that all work and procedures have been completed with the highest rigorous standards.
2. The consultant will use their own equipment; laptops, software and other accessories that may be required for this task.
3. The consultant will not give the content/material or any part thereof, to any third party without the written permission of UNICEF. All components will be the property of UNICEF, and the consultant will not share the same with anyone else.
4. The consultant will not put their own name or logo/emblem on the content / final product. The only organization branding will be UNICEF, if required.
5. The consultant will provide technical expertise and professional recommendations on nutritional best practices, including the development of policy documents, guidelines and educational materials, and planning of interventions targeting children, families, and communities.
6. The consultant will conduct or oversee research efforts to address knowledge deficiencies, assess the effectiveness of interventions, and adapt strategies in response to new challenges and opportunities within the domain of nutrition and public health.

Responsibilities of UNICEF:

UNICEF is tasked with the clear delineation of the work scope and specific goals that the consultant is expected to fulfill. This encompasses the identification of critical areas within public health nutrition that necessitate specialized knowledge, including maternal and child nutrition, food security, dietary evaluations, and program assessments.

• Provision of Contextual Information: UNICEF is required to supply pertinent background information regarding the local public health environment.
• Facilitating Access to Resources: The organization must ensure that the consultant has access to essential resources necessary for the effective execution of their responsibilities, such as access to data, reports, stakeholders, and other relevant documentation.
• Ensuring Compliance with Standards: It is imperative for UNICEF to guarantee that all activities conducted by the consultant adhere to international standards and best practices in public health and nutrition. This involves compliance with ethical guidelines and alignment with UNICEF’s mission and values.
• Collaboration with Stakeholders: UNICEF should promote collaboration between the consultant and various stakeholders engaged in public health nutrition initiatives.
• Capacity Building: Additionally, UNICEF has the responsibility to support capacity-building initiatives through training workshops or knowledge-sharing sessions led by the consultant, aimed at enhancing local competencies in public health nutrition.

CATEGORIES and DELIVERABLES

1. Scientific management/oversight and technical guidance to research teams
2. Technical notes/knowledge products (once per month as and when required)
3. ToR for a Steering Committee
4. Estimated days for the completion: up to 10 days as and when required.
5. Technical notes on the Process/Impact/Outcome evaluation methodology and tools (once per month as and when required)
6. Estimated days for the completion: up to 10 days as and when required.
7. Technical notes/proposals of scientific steering committee groups on different outcomes (primary/secondary/tertiary prevention) (once per month as and when required)

Estimated days for the completion: up to 8 days as and when required.

1. Participation in coordination/scientific meetings

Technical notes/knowledge products (once per month as and when required)

Estimated days for the completion: up to 10 days as and when required.

1. Policy/advocacy dissemination

Technical notes/knowledge products (once per month as and when required)

Estimated days for the completion: up to 10 days as and when required.

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

Qualifications:

• Phd related to at least one of the following disciplines: Nutrition, Epidemiology, Public Health
• Experience in Research is necessary
• The individual should be highly proficient in a range of PC/web applications, including but not limited to: MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook
• Possesses expert knowledge and advanced concepts on public health nutrition policies, strategies, and programs. The consultant should be familiar with global and local nutrition guidelines, including those set by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
• Ability to understand nutritional epidemiology and the ability to analyze data related to dietary intake, malnutrition prevalence, and health outcomes.
• Familiarity with food systems, food security issues, and their impact on public health.

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in public health nutrition or a closely related field. Experience in working with governmental and non-governmental organizations on nutrition-related projects.
• Proven track record in designing, implementing, and evaluating nutrition programs or interventions at national levels.
• Previous experience in development of studies, policies, intervention at national level would be an asset.
• Language skills: Excellent written and verbal English. Strong written and verbal communication skills for preparing reports, conducting presentations, and engaging with various audiences.

Competencies:

• Strong analytical skills to interpret complex data sets related to nutrition and health.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for collaboration with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a multidisciplinary team.

How to apply:

The application to be submitted through the online portal should contain 5 separate attachments:

1. A Cover letter explaining the motivation for applying and explaining how the qualifications and skillset of the candidate (to be uploaded online)
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) (to be uploaded online)
3. Three Work Samples – This includes three previously written reports / publications/proposals/ policy/advocacy briefs. It is critical to submit work samples as you will observe from the advertisement that marks have been assigned to these criteria for arriving at the most suitable candidate
4. A financial proposal indicating professional fee. Please do not forget to specify your name in the file while saving. (To be uploaded under other supporting documents).
5. Consultancy Financial Proposal.xlsx
6. Certificates of mandatory courses (Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF (2020 version); Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority (2021 version) & Sexual Exploitation Abuse (PSEA) (2021 version) consolidated in one single pdf.

Without all the above 4 documents your application will be considered incomplete and invalid and will not be considered further.

• Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF’s selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.
• Joint applications of two or more individuals are not accepted.
• Please note, UNICEF does not charge any fee during any stage of the process.
• Female candidates meeting the requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds including persons living with disabilities to apply.

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. AtIn 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 jobs-near-me.org 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: 

Candidates are free to apply to any category based on their qualifications and experience. They can also apply for multiple categories or all of them. UNICEF will award LTA to top ranked three candidates under each category. A candidate may be awarded LTA for one or more than one category. 

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. 

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