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BACKGROUND

The foundation for much of UNICEF s programming work in countries is the situation analysis (or SitAn), which provides a regularly updated analytical narrative of children s rights and well-being in a specific country. It is a flagship product that presents an analytical narrative of children s rights and well-being in a specific country. It aspires to be the reference document on children in a given country for UNICEF and wider audiences. The SitAn typically analyses:

Demographic profilePolitical economy and governanceHumanitarian risk profileGender profilePublic financePovertyDrivers of inequityStakeholdersBusiness practices and potential child rights impacts (positive/negative)Country assessment of essential products, markets and supply chains for childrenKnowledge, attitudes and practices

The SitAn provides an opportunity to make recommendations and highlight major areas where UNICEF needs to deepen or accelerate its response in countries during the next programme cycle. It also helps ensure that governments and other stakeholders have the necessary information to take appropriate action.

With the launch of the UNICEF Programming Guidance on the Early Prevention of NCDs and the Programming Guidance on the Prevention of Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adolescents, UNICEF regional offices and country offices are scaling up their programming work on overweight and obesity, combining double duty interventions that address all forms of malnutrition with overweight specific actions and regulations. Further, UNICEF always considers business and child rights in its work in an integrated fashion; in the context of overweight prevention, UNICEF will consider the harmful impact of business practices side, but also identify sectors/actors who could contribute to generating positive impacts.

In contexts where overweight and obesity are on the rise, it is expected that overweight and obesity would emerge as a priority for nutrition and health from the SitAn process. Depending on the context, the way in which overweight and obesity prevention is formulated as a priority may differ; in some contexts more focus may be given to overweight specific concerns, in others the focus may be on all forms of malnutrition and the need for double duty actions

However, as overweight and obesity is a newer area for many UNICEF offices, the context offered by the traditional SitAn may not be sufficiently rich in this area to inform the prioritization and planning exercise for country offices or equip government with the information they need to act. Indeed, country offices are increasingly encouraged to develop processes for periodic, in-depth analyses addressing thematic areas and emerging issues relevant to their respective country context.

A deeper landscape analysis (or overweight-specific analysis ) may therefore be needed (i) as part of the SitAn or (ii) as a standalone exercise if a country identifies a need to understand the situation in follow up to, for example, a Strategic Moment of Reflection or in instances where a SitAn has, for whatever reason, not been performed. Tools to support this deeper landscape analysis for overweight and obesity are needed to guide implementation by UNICEF country offices.

The purpose of the consultancy is to develop feasible methods for conducting such a landscape analysis, including the development of a methods tool and accompanying guide for use by country offices and/or their contractors.

The consultancy will result in a set of clear methods (the tool ) to incorporate analyses of childhood overweight and obesity as part of their SitAn process or as a standalone exercise as and when needed. The methods will be highly usable and avoid unnecessary burden on users (including country offices and/or their contractors).

UNICEF country offices and/or their contractors would be expected to use the tool as part of the SitAn process to have a more comprehensive overview of the country context with regards to overweight and obesity (via e.g. a deeper analysis of data; review of published literature; a sweep and evaluation of existing legislation, policies, programmes and interventions for overweight and obesity; relationship to other relevant nutrition initiatives such a stunting prevention programmes, as well as to other areas such as NCDs). If a SitAn is not performed, the tool should also be able to function as a standalone analysis in countries wishing to obtain more in-depth insights. The outcomes of the landscape analysis would inform the prioritization of a set of activities and interventions for child overweight and obesity prevention in the country, inspired by the UNICEF Programming Guidance documents. It is intended that this process will inform the country programme development and detailed workplans.

Terms of Reference

Starting with a review of existing relevant tools, such as the INFORMAS Food-EPI, the consultant would work with UNICEF staff members to select relevant elements and agree the structure/scope of the tool. The consultant would then develop the step-by-step methods and provide guidance in the form of instructions and tips (e.g. a decision tree when conflicting data points exist).

The consultancy will follow the below process:

STAGE 1: Familiarizing

The consultant will review the UNICEF Programming Guidance on Early Prevention of NCDs and Programming Guidance on Overweight and Obesity Prevention in Children and Adolescents; UNICEF guidance and toolkits on conducting situation analyses; guidance on mapping and integrating business and child rights into planning; and any other relevant UNICEF documents provided by UNICEF staff members.The consultant will also review existing landscape analysis tools from academics and governments (e.g. including but not limited to INFORMAS Food-EPI) as well as methods previously applied by UNICEF (e.g. landscape analyses for maternal nutrition and complementary feeding as part of the another UNICEF project).

STAGE 2: Scoping of the landscape analysis

Possible elements the landscape analysis for overweight prevention might cover, include:

Epidemiological analysisData analysisPolicy, legislative, standards and programme analysis, including assessment of child rights implicationsA comparison of current situation against international benchmarks and recommendationsAn assessment of business practices, products and servicesStakeholder mapping/bottleneck analysis

STAGE 3: Prioritizing and developing draft methods

Once the consultant has a clear understanding of UNICEF s strategy, work and existing tools, and has considered the possible aspects that could be included, the consultant will propose an overall structure and set of elements that will be included in the protocols and guidance, including checklists and prompts. Effort should be made to ensure as much alignment as possible with UNICEF processes and approaches.At this point, the consultant will provide a first skeleton outline of the proposed methods. It is important that the landscape analysis is manageable, that the process is not too burdensome for country offices and/or their contractors, and that it can easily be integrated into the SitAn process. Thought should therefore be given to identify a core set of indicators and then a secondary set of non-core indicators.The scope of the analyses should cover overweight prevention in both children and adolescents (i.e. 0-19 years).The consultant should also include guidance on the sources that should be used (prioritising sources of data which are ideally available/accessible in most countries). Helpful tips on appropriate sources of data and information (i.e. where to look) and advice on checking data quality and making decision about what to report/what not to include (i.e. how to ensure the landscape analysis is succinct and not overly burdensome).The landscape analysis methodology would also need to provide guidance on process, such as how to engage with government stakeholders to (i) ensure that all available information and relevant documents have been reviewed (ii) validate the findings of the landscape analysis and (iii) prioritize actions based on the gaps and contextual factors identified. Proposals for how UNICEF can facilitate these engagements would be part of the tool.A skeleton/draft will be reviewed by an internal reference group at UNICEF to determine its suitability. Feedback will be provided to determine the approach to be followed. The consultant will make necessary adjustments and complete the first full draft, which will be accompanied by guidance on how to implement the landscape analysis (i.e. how to work with government counterparts; if/how to convene a reference group to inform process; how to present findings; and how to validate them with government and other stakeholders).

STAGE 4: Writing and presentation of methods

The protocol and accompanying guidance should be prepared in a MS Word document. Once the first complete draft is ready, it should be shared with the relevant UNICEF colleagues for feedback.Once the method has been thoroughly reviewed by all relevant UNICEF colleagues, the consultant should complete a revised draft.After the revised draft is complete, the consultant will create a PowerPoint slide to be used for training purposes and a template/outline for completing a concise report (maximum 10 pages, including an executive summary with key messages) that country offices will use as inspiration for the main output from a landscape analysis to clearly articulate the problem, situation, and potential solutions.

STAGE 5: Providing remote support to the pilot test

It is envisaged that the landscape analysis methods will be pilot tested in at least two countries, one in Latin America and Caribbean and one in East Asia Pacific, supported by UNICEF staff and external consultants hired locally.As lead consultant for developing the tool, the consultant will be expected to provide remote support to address queries and challenges that emerge, so UNICEF staff and external consultants develop capacity in using the tool.This experience is likely lead to a further refinement of the methods/approach.The consultant will also undertake a review of a previously developed draft landscape analysis on child overweight in China undertaken by Xian Jiaotong University, applying the lens of the domains and approaches which are being defined for the landscape analysis tool, identifying gaps and making recommendations to fill the gaps.

Qualifications

Advanced University Degree (MSc or PhD) in nutrition, nutrition policy, public health and/or social policy.The candidate should ideally have relevant work experience in nutrition programming/research and or country support at mid-level (>10 years). Demonstrated experience developing methods for situation analyses, landscape analyses or country reviews of policies is strongly desired.Demonstrated research skills and familiarity with capturing key themes from key informant interview.Excellent reading and writing skills in English; understanding of Spanish is an asset.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentialsFinancial proposal that will include:your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference (can be downloaded here:https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html

travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.Indicate your availability

Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate

UNICEF s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at:Here

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

How to apply:

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=527923