Programme Policy Officer (Policy Development)

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JOB TITLE: Programme Policy Officer - Policy Development

TYPE OF CONTRACT: Special Service Agreement (SSA, Level 10)

UNIT/DIVISION: Programme

DUTY STATION (City, Country): Kigali, Rwanda

DURATION: 6 months

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ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency fighting hunger. WFP reaches more than 150 million people per year - delivering humanitarian food assistance and working with smallholder farmers, communities, and governments to improve nutrition and build resilience to crises. As conflict, climate change and economic shocks drive up the number of hungry people in Eastern Africa, finding innovative solutions to the complex humanitarian and development challenges in the region is essential, now perhaps more than ever.

In Rwanda, WFP supports the Government with its ambitious goals to ensure food security and nutrition and equitable access to sustainable livelihoods for all. In this effort, WFP Rwanda works closely with diverse stakeholders to provide general food and nutrition assistance to over 135,000 refugees, asylum seekers and returnees; to strengthen national disaster risk management, social protection, school meals and nutrition programmes; to transform food systems; and to support emergency preparedness and response.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT FOR NATIONAL FOOD FORTIFICATION POLICY DEVELOPMENT

1.    Background

The Government of Rwanda is highly committed to reducing malnutrition in all its forms as highlighted in the Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) and the fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA 5).

Rwanda is facing a triple burden of malnutrition, characterized by undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight/obesity. Undernutrition continues to pose a major public health challenge in Rwanda with 33 per cent stunting rates in 2020 . This remains alarming, surpassing the public health threshold of severity set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The situation is particularly concerning in 20 out of the 30 districts in the country, where stunting rates exceed 30 per cent. 

Micronutrient deficiency is another major challenge in maternal and child nutrition. Inadequate intake of foods rich in vitamin A, B12, iron, iodine, zinc, and folic acid leads to stunting, anemia, impaired cognitive development, and greater vulnerability to disease. The prevalence of anemia among children aged 6 to 59 months remained persistently high at 36.6 per cent in 20201, close to the public health crisis level of 40 per cent set by WHO.

Given the linkage of nutrition to child development and malnutrition as key marker of human capital index, the triple burden of malnutrition in Rwanda has a significant impact on human capital development targets and the achievement of the SDGs – only 38 percent of children born today in Rwanda can live to achieve their full potential.

Food fortification, adding essential vitamins and minerals to commonly consumed foods,is recognized globally as a cost-effective strategy to improve population nutrition outcomes. In industrialized countries a wide range of foods are fortified with many different micronutrients including vitamin A, vitamin B complex, iron and iodine . In Rwanda, mandatory regulations are in place for the fortification of staple foods including edible oil, maize flour, salt, sugar, and wheat flour with important micronutrients such as iron, folic acid, vitamin A (RFDA, 2020) but not enforced.

2.    Justification 

Rwanda has made notable progress in addressing malnutrition through policies and programs such as micronutrient supplementation, universal salt iodisation, and nutrition-sensitive initiatives including the “one-egg-per-child” program, promotion of biofortified beans and fruit trees, large-scale food fortification (LSFF),  Kitchen garden promotion at household level, School feeding programs, and nutrition education through early childhood development centres (ECDs). The approach to addressing micronutrient deficiencies however is not systematic as the country lacks a comprehensive national food fortification policy to guide regulatory frameworks, standards, enforcement mechanisms, and stakeholder coordination.

The gap has been recognised by both the Government and partners with steps taken to develop a national food fortification policy, that embraces both Biofortification and Large Scale Food Fortification as national priority and in alignment with global best practices as well as regional frameworks.
A national consultant is needed to undertake the assignment of developing a national food fortification policy under the leadership of MINAGRI and NCDA, with guidance/support from the Food Fortification Technical Advisory Group (TAG) as well as national Food and Nutrition Technical Working Group.  

  
Prior to the development of this policy, the recommendations from the studies conducted in the country on the Landscape Analysis of Biofortification,Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) and other analysis will be used as key evidence inputs. In addition, a rapid, in-depth strategic review of the national food-fortification landscape will be conducted to inform the document. This review will include analysing, reviewing, and synthesizing existing food and nutrition policy documents, as well as assessing current food-fortification and biofortification interventions and programmes implemented in the country.

3.    Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to develop a comprehensive National Food Fortification Policy for Rwanda, encompassing both Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) and Biofortification. The policy will provide clear strategic direction, robust regulatory guidance, and practical implementation frameworks to ensure the sustainable fortification of staple foods and condiments. Ultimately, this work aims to strengthen national nutrition efforts and improve public health outcomes across the population

4.    Objectives 
The overall objective is to formulate an evidence-based, inclusive, and actionable policy to guide food fortification efforts in Rwanda.

Specific objectives are:

• Review existing legal and policy frameworks related to food, nutrition, standards, and health including landscape analysis and other analysis on food fortification including  Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) and Biofortification. 

• Integrate and validate the stakeholder mapping and food vehicle recommendations generated by GAIN’s Landscape Analyses on Biofortification and Large Scale Food Fortification.

• Propose regulatory and institutional frameworks for mandatory LSFF and Biofortified foods. fortification.

• Develop policy options, strategies, and an implementation plan.

• Produce the draft and final National Food Fortification Policy.

5.    Description of the assignment
Under the leadership of MINAGRI and NCDA, with guidance from the Food fortification Technical Advisory Group (TAG), the consultant will lead the development of the National Food Fortification policy and perform the following tasks:

a.    Situational Analysis

• Conduct a desk review of the national nutrition data, micronutrient deficiency trends, assess existing fortification programs (e.g., salt iodization, flour, edible oils) and evaluate food processing capacity and industry readiness in the country.

• Analyze consumer consumption patterns and socioeconomic factors.

b.    Policy and Regulatory Review

●    Review relevant national policies, strategies, framework and guidelines including:

• NST2 and PSTA5

• National Family and Nutrition Policy

• MINICOM, MOH and MINAGRI sectors’ policies and strategies. 

• Rwanda FDA and RSB Food fortification Standards and regulatory frameworks governing LSFF and RICA in the production, certification, and marketing of biofortified food crops. 

• EAC / COMESA / AU’s harmonized standards and guidelines

●    Identify policy gaps and opportunities.     

• Review and evaluate the effectiveness of existing national programmes and policies aimed at addressing micronutrient deficiencies in Rwanda

c.    Stakeholder Consultations

The consultant will organize consultations meeting with government ministries, especially the Social Cluster ministries, involved in food & nutrition security; agriculture, food fortification and bio fortification as well as with all other key stakeholders in the nutrition and agriculture sector to identify key high impact interventions and/or policy decisions to be included in the national food fortification policy. 

d.     Development of Policy Options

Based on situation analysis and stakeholders’ consultations, the consultant will:

• Identify feasible mandatory fortification options.

• Propose quality assurance, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms.

• Conduct cost-benefit analysis and feasibility assessments.

e.    Drafting the Policy

●    The National Food Fortification Policy document among others should, include the following:

• Vision, goal, objectives

• Priority food vehicles

• Regulatory framework

• Institutional roles 

• Implementing arrangements 

• Monitoring and evaluation system

• Financing mechanisms

f.    Validation and Finalization

• Present the draft policy to the national stakeholders for validation.

• Incorporate feedback from stakeholders.

• Produce the final policy document.

6.    Deliverables
1. Inception report with methodology, work plan, and timeline.
2.    Comprehensive situational analysis report.
3.    Stakeholder mapping and consultation report.
4.    Policy options and recommendations report.
5.    Draft National Food Fortification Policy.
6.    Facilitation of a national food fortification policy workshops 
7.    Final National Food Fortification Policy (print-ready version).

7. Duration

The assignment is expected to take 6 month with 10-15 days work each month. 

8.    Qualification requirements

• Advanced degree in Public Health, Nutrition, Food Science, Public Policy, or related fields.

• Minimum 7–10 years of experience in nutrition policy development.

• Proven experience in food fortification, food safety, or regulatory frameworks.

• Familiarity with Rwanda’s health and nutrition context.

• Strong analytical, research, and report-writing skills.

Note: This is position is only open for Rwanda Nationals.

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