UNICEF continues to support government initiatives on improving the South African food systems through implementation of evidence-based policy initiatives such as taxing of sugar-sweetened beverages, labelling of foodstuffs including front-of-package labelling, restrictions of marketing of unhealthy foods to children, strengthening food standards in places where children live, learn and play. To support these initiatives UNICEF has been capacitating youths as agents of changes to advocate for these policy initiatives and working closely with various stakeholders including civil society organizations and youth networks. The Consultant will be required to coordinate and facilitate implementation of activities for Fix My Food (FMF) advocacy initiatives targeting adolescents and young people aged 15-24 with the aim of building capacity on advocacy initiatives for the change in the food environments for the prevention of non-communicable diseases.

Contract Duration: 9 months

Working arrangement: Pretoria, South Africa & Remote + travel

 

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

                                                         TERMS OF REFERENCE

The scope of work includes coordination, facilitation and mentoring of the Fix My Food Advocates during the ongoing campaign of advocating for healthier food environments for children. This also includes the development of toolkits with young people and overall guidance during the implementation of the campaign.

Key responsibilities include:

  1. Supporting FMF advocates in the youth-led planning, designing, implementation and evaluation of the campaign strategy and workplan, including SMART objectives, activities, milestones, defined roles and responsibilities, slogan campaign, and a defined digital advertising strategy.
  2. Facilitating the development of a package of NCD prevention and food environments campaign toolkit in various formats, which are co-designed by FMF youth advocates (social media titles, blog posts, scripts for radio and video, surveys or quizzes, press releases etc.), and recommend to UNICEF targeted boosting using multiple platforms to reach 1,500,000 youths.
  3. Providing mentoring and coaching sessions to the FMF youth advocates through workshops and online sessions to co-create and deliver compelling, youth-leading storytelling and digital advocacy content for the campaign. – campaign toolkit, training young people, digital advocacy.
  4. Together with FMF advocates, amplify the FMF youth-led campaign through outreach and engagement with various stakeholders, volunteers’ networks, other campus clubs, including optimizing key moments such as health calendar days (e.g. National Nutrition week, World Obesity Day, NCDs related events, etc.), including leveraging various existing platforms targeting young people and engagements with policy makers.
  5. Strengthening linkages of the FMF youth advocates and the Department of Basic Education Nutrition School ambassadors’ initiatives with active involvement of the FMF Advocates to advocate for better school food environment and healthy lifestyles.
  6. Liaise with relevant UNICEF staff to keep the FMF youth campaign website up to date with new materials and contents.
  7. Within the campaign plan, develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan including quantitative and qualitative research tools for collection of baselines and endline data to assess the reach and effectiveness of the campaign and the reach of the activities conducted.
  8. Conducting evaluations of key activities based on the campaign objectives.
  9. Preparing a comprehensive written report of the process, achievements, reach and lessons learned and present final evaluation and results to UNICEF.
  10. Compiling policy briefs and case study on the campaign for advocacy purposes and sharing the learnings.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: Download File ToR TMC0002662.pdf

Minimum requirements:

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in: Nutrition, Public Health, Behavioral Health Sciences, Psychology, sociology, Health Education and Promotion, Social Sciences or another related field.

Work Experience:

  • Minimum of 5 years or more of relevant experience.
  • Knowledge in social and behavior change, and community engagement.
  • Previous experience with nutrition and food systems or health promotion.
  • Experience in engaging and working with young people.

Language Requirements:

  • Strong command of English – both written and spoken.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

  • Expertise in the development and design of knowledge products for various audiences.
  • Expertise in food environments for children.

Desirables:

  • A good track record in working with the government and other partners on youths related interventions.
  • Relevant experience working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

Remarks:  

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

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