Analysis and modelling of dietary intakes data to inform content for development of context-specific nutrition education and counselling guidance, Federated States of Micronesia, Cooks Islands and Niue, 73.5 days over 7 months

UNICEF Pacific seeks for a dedicated and proactive individual Consultant for analysis and modelling of dietary intakes data to inform content for development of context-specific nutrition education and counselling guidance in Federated States of Micronesia, Cooks Islands and Niue.

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.

The Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (PICTs) face a triple burden of malnutrition. Overweight and obesity rates are alarmingly increasing across all population groups (children and adults), while undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies still continue to persist.

Sub-optimal diets are conceptually the main key immediate driver for malnutrition in all its forms including overweight and obesity. In Cooks Island, obesity and associated non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a significant public health concern. The 2011 Stepwise Approach to Surveillance of Risk Factors for NCDs (STEPS) survey found that 87.1 and 65.7 per cent of the female adult population aged 25-64 were overweight and obese respectively. Furthermore, more than half of the children between 5-19 years are obese.

Similarly, in Niue, obesity and associated non-communicable diseases are a significant public health concern for the adult population. The 2011 STEPS survey found that 86.6 per cent of females aged 15-64 were overweight, of which 62.7 per cent were obese. Data on obesity prevalence in children are limited; however, existing evidence suggests Niue has the second highest obesity prevalence rate among school children in the PICTs group (UNICEF, 2017).

Routine health and nutrition service delivery data shows that the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is equally faced with a growing public nutrition challenge of obesity especially in children. This is coupled with the underlying challenges of child stunting, micronutrient deficiencies including Vitamin A deficiency. These health and nutrition service trends can be observed across all states in FSM.

These three countries, Cooks Island, Niue and FSM are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change on food and nutrition security, directly through its effects on agriculture and fisheries, and indirectly by contributing to underlying risk factors such as water insecurity, dependency on imported foods, urbanization and migration, and nutrition service disruption. Ministries of Health in these countries are keen to optimize locally available nutritious foods and promote these for healthier diets including promoting indigenous diets.

However, there is a lack of reliable data to show the full picture of the local food basket, the current dietary patterns, to guide development of evidence-based nutrition counselling tools.

Studies and evaluation of nutrition programs across the globe consistently show that tailored nutrition counselling addressing the gaps in the prevalent dietary intake patterns as well as addressing existing interpersonal or community socio-cultural barriers, is more effective in improving dietary quality and long-term health markers than generalized nutrition education and counseling. Additionally dietary patterns are influenced by broader food access issues which in turn are shaped by socio-cultural norms, market prices, regulations, climate and the broader food system.

UNICEF emphasizes the need for national nutrition-related guidance to be tailored to local food contexts. Furthermore, nutrition-related social behavior change communication should specifically address deficiencies in prevailing dietary patterns as well as socio-cultural barriers. Ensuring that food-related policies and regulatory acts are up to date to address barriers to accessing and utilizing locally available nutritious foods is a priority for UNICEF.

In this context, UNICEF is seeking an individual consultant to analyze dietary intake assessments data from Cook Islands, Niue and FSM to assess the risk for inadequate nutrient intakes and guide modelling to develop context-specific food-based recommendations for these countries. The analyses are primarily geared at developing content for nutrition education and counselling materials for promoting optimal dietary behavior.

How can you make a difference? 

 The objective of this consultancy is to analyze dietary intake assessment data, which will inform the development of context-specific food-based recommendations for FSM, Cooks Island and Niue. The findings of the assessment are expected to contribute to developing context-specific nutrition-related guidelines to detail out healthy and affordable, meal and snack plans (which are as much as possible aligned with indigenous recipes/diets) for different age groups based on locally available foods. Additionally, the findings will also inform the content of other aspects of dietary behavior that can promote healthy intakes in each age group. The findings pertaining to the key opportune foods for each country, will contribute to planning of broader food system (food supply-chain, agri-food production) interventions.

The assignment which is expected to be carried out virtually will include the below listed tasks for each country:

1. Quality assurance of dietary intakes data collection ▪

• Review existing sources of literature including Food lists from primary data collection and revise existing (or develop) country-specific Food Composition Tables in liaison with the local counterparts in each country
• Review the field data collection protocols for multiple-pass 24-hr recalls
• Examine the 24-hr recall data collected by the local counterparts and flag any inconsistencies requiring re-addressing

1. Analysis of adequacy/excesses of nutrient intakes

• Analyze the data to identify the proportion of people in each age-group, who are at risk of inadequate or excess intakes of nutrients as per Food Composition Tables.
• Undertake any other relevant analyses that would support understanding the dietary patterns in each age group. This will be requested based upon the findings from the initial analyses; however, indicatively for now the follow-up analyses will entail, most frequently consumed foods/food sub-group for each age-group, pattern of consumption of particular local foods of interest

1. Modelling to inform development of food-based recommendations.

• Provide an abridged orientation to local counterparts in each country on the modelling process to facilitate a more context relevant feedback process in reviewing and finalizing context fitting food-based recommendation food models.
• Undertake modelling to identify necessary dietary modifications to the current prevalent typical diets which would be needed to mitigate the identified nutrient intake gaps or excesses to achieve optimal recommended dietary intakes. The modifications will be guided by findings from the data, and tentatively these could include :

1. Nutrient-dense foods: Identify the critical/opportune locally available nutrient-dense foods that could potentially address nutrient intake gaps/excesses. These should also consider foods that could potentially be locally available or produced but are currently reported as less commonly consumed.
2. Portion size and weekly frequency of intakes: Recommend adjustments to and portion sizes of foods and frequency of intake of foods, i.e. including both the nutrient dense foods (point I above) as well as the ordinary typical dominant foods in the diet.
3. Recipe modification: Identify possible modifications (additional type of, and quantities of ingredients to current recipes (including indigenous recipes) that could support promoting point i and ii above. The modifications should also include alternative preparation methods that could enhance the nutritional quality.
4. Based on points i – iii above and in consultations with local counterparts above, develop a set of possible full day meal and snack plans that could be considered for use by different age groups in each country to promote healthy optimal food intake.
5. Undertake costing of the recommended full day meal and snack plans including costing each meal

Please refer to the ToR ( TOR Analysis and Modelling.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:

• Monthly / Daily fees– based on the deliverables in the Terms of Reference above.
• Travel (economy air ticket where applicable to take up assignment and field mission travel
• Living allowance where travel is required.
• 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 is required, a PhD will be an added advantage

Experience & Skills:

• A minimum of 5 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, Opti Food, 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 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. At 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 | 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:  

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.