UNICEF Pacific Consultancy: Investment Case for Improving Food Environment Regulations for Fiji, 95 days spread over 7 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, heath.

Malnutrition in all forms is a serious public health problem in Fiji. Anaemia affects 32% of women of reproductive age and 40% of children under five. Overweight and obesity also present significant health challenges, impacting 34% of older children and adolescents, and 66% of adults. A recent assessment of Fiji’s food environment revealed multiple issues that hinder access to and consumption of healthy foods. These issues are interconnected and include the marketing of unhealthy foods in school environments, advertisements during peak TV viewership including in children’s programs as well as the convenience and affordability of unhealthy food options, which are currently positioned as the most attractive choices for consumers.

Global evidence highlights four key policy and regulatory recommendations that have been effective in addressing unhealthy food environments when adopted by countries. These include a) establishing healthy school environments; b) implementing taxes on unhealthy food and beverage; c) unhealthy food and beverage marketing restrictions (UFBMR); and d) introducing Front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FOPNL). Evidence shows that these four policies are mutually re-enforcing, leading to a greater impact when implemented simultaneously.

Fiji has made significant progress in policy development and regulation to improve food environments – such as legislation, policies and guidelines to improve school environments, and to impose taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages. However, mandatory FOPNL and UFBMR have yet to be implemented, despite preparatory efforts over the years.

Lessons learnt from Latin America and other countries that have introduced and enforced FOPNL and UFBMR, comprehensive evidence is necessary to support advocacy for regulatory amendments. A critical aspect is determining whether the return on investment of these regulations is worthwhile for Fiji. This includes assessing the financial implications of implementing such regulations, estimating the potential economic net benefits, by quantifying the savings to the national economy through improved national health outcomes and reduced healthcare expenditures related diets-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

In light of this, UNICEF in collaboration with the Fiji Ministry of Health and the Consumer Council of Fiji, is seeking a consultant to undertake a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis and creating an investment case for two key regulatory measures: the mandatory implementation of FOPNL and UFBMR.

How can you make a difference?

1. Scoping review of cost-benefit analysis and other similar studies on FOPNL and UFBMR

• Conduct a literature review of cost-benefit analyses and other similar studies on FOPNL and UFBMR from other countries. Identify the key lessons learnt from these case studies, especially from countries with similar structures, economies and context to Fiji and the Pacific.

1. Assessing Implementation Costs

• Identify and quantify the expected direct and indirect economic, administrative and compliance costs associated with implementing mandatory FOPNL and UFBMR regulations. Additionally, revenue losses from businesses are also to be analysed.
• Identify cost-related challenges and key cost-drivers, when implementing each regulation while proposing strategies to mitigate them.

1. Evaluating the Benefits

• Analyse potential benefits, including improved public health outcomes and reduced healthcare expenditures and long-term economic gains. The net impact of these benefits is to be clearly explained and discussed.
• Assess potential shifts in marketing landscape including considering the consumer awareness and consumer purchases of foods.

1. Establishing Policy recommendations

• Establish evidence-based recommendations to policy makers regarding the feasibility and expected impact in terms of the cost-benefit ratio of the regulations.
• Present possible implementation scenarios for implementing the regulations while still achieving their intended objective.

1. Developing a framework for a model for cost-benefit analyses of FOPNL and UFBMR in Pacific countries

• Design a framework for conducting cost-benefit analyses of FOPNL and UFBMR for future use in other Pacific Island countries.
• Develop a step-by-step guide to enable local stakeholders to conduct similar analysis with local/ domestic capacities and resources.
• Conduct an initial training session on applying the framework for cost-benefit analyses.

The assignment will primarily rely on primary data collection but also incorporate secondary data where reliable sources exist. It’s expected that the methodology approach should be robust and include sensitivity analyses to test all assumptions.

Please refer to the ToR ( ToR_Investment Case Food Environment Reg.pdf) for further information on the deliverables and the timelines.

GUIDANCE FOR APPLICANTS:

Please submit a separate financial offer along with your application and technical proposal including 2 most recent projects. The financial proposal should be an all-inclusive lump sum amount for all the deliverables and should show a break down for the following:

• Monthly / Daily fees – based on the deliverables in the Terms of Reference (95 days)
• Travel (economy air ticket for 1 field mission to Fiji)
• Living allowance for international consultant that will need to relocate to PICTs, for the duration of in-country assignment (25 days)
• Miscellaneous – to cover communications, and other costs, if applicable.

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

Education:

• An advanced University degree in health economics and/or public health and/or nutrition or any other related economic-related field. A PhD will be an added advantage

Experience & Skills:

• A proven minimum of 5 years of professional experience in health economics and nutrition related work
• Experience in conceptualizing, designing and implementing cost-benefit studies for public health related interventions or regulations.
• Work or research 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.
• 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 knowledge products
• Proficiency in various analytical applications for economic modelling
• Proven ability to work independently under difficult conditions
• Fluency in English (both written and verbal) is required
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and to establish harmonious and effective relationships both within and outside the organisation

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.

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 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 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. Consultants 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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