HEALTHY RECIPES BOOK FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

UNICEF seeks to produce a cookery book of recipes created by top Latin America chefs, to stimulate consumption of healthy diets, develop cooking skills and promote the social aspect of cooking and eating in primary and secondary school children. The book would be available for free download (pdf form) from UNICEF LACRO website but also available for purchase (hardcopy) from publishers for UNICEF’s fundraising purposes.

Though diet-related Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) often manifest themselves in adulthood, they have their origin early in life. Child overweight and obesity, which is increasing globally and particularly in Latin America, affects a child’s immediate health and wellbeing, peer relations e.g. through bullying and discrimination, and opportunities to participate in educational and recreational activities but also contributes to the development of non-communicable diseases throughout childhood and into adulthood.

Eating and lifestyle habits are established early in childhood with learned behaviors often continuing into adulthood. As children and adolescents spend a high proportion of their time in schools both for academic and extracurricular activities the school environment provides excellent opportunities for prevention initiatives. Unhealthy feeding practices, and low nutritional and health literacy are barriers to healthy growth and development and schools should foster a protective and enabling environment for children to reach their full potential.

Fostering an appreciation of quality non-processed food and the development of cooking skills at school and the home environments are considered as key preventive measures, empowering children and adolescents with the knowledge and skills to adopt healthier dietary choices.

To this effect, UNICEF wishes to develop a cooking teaching and learning tool for use by children and adolescents in schools and at home. UNICEF is a key advocate for the protection of child rights, including the right to a healthy growth, and the right to quality education.

PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

General objective:

UNICEF seeks to produce a cookery book of recipes created by top Latin America chefs, to stimulate consumption of healthy diets, develop cooking skills and promote the social aspect of cooking and eating in primary and secondary school children. The book would be available for free download (pdf form) from UNICEF LACRO website but also available for purchase (hardcopy) from publishers for UNICEF’s fundraising purposes.

Specific objectives:

Under the overall guidance of the Regional Nutrition Specialist and in coordination with the Communication team, UNICEF is looking for a consultant to coordinate the production of a cookery book of recipes created by top Latin America chefs.

Main tasks:

• Contact Top 50 Latin American Chef association for contact list
• Prepare introduction letter to be sent to Chefs
• Prepare agreement for free and unrestricted use of recipes by UNICEF, including rights of sale of printed book for fundraising.
• Prepare modalities/standards for images/photos of chefs and dishes
• Contact Chefs and follow up with material and deadlines
• Prepare media material (documentary style) regarding the book development process.  Additional media material on the book initiative and its use
• Edit and format material for publishing
• Select printer/publisher
• Establish hardcopy ordering modalities and sale cost. Availability for purchase through Country Offices to be consider.

Top 50 Latin American Chef contributing:

• Chef profile (with photo), what prompted their passion for coking and how they developed their career path (max 1000 words) (written in 1st person could be an option)
• 3 dish recipes. 1 starter 1 main course and 1 dessert.  Each recipe should have no more than 500 words and be accompanied by no more than 4 images of key preparation stages and a picture of the final dish. (each recipe to fit in 1 page). Dishes are the own creation of chefs.

Recipes:

• Recipes should be developed for school children and adolescents for preparation in school or at home with basic coking instruments and basic cooking skills.
• The recipes should be exciting to the palate and to the eye, stimulating an interest in raw ingredients, their origin, preparation and should promote the social aspect of eating.
• The recipes should promote healthy balanced diets, proposing exciting ways to prepare a variety of foods and, fruit and vegetables.
• The recipes should promote the use of ingredients local to the chef’s restaurant but also suggest alternatives if an ingredient may be difficult to find in other Latin American countries.
• The 3 recipes should have sugar, fat or salt content within limits set in WHO guidelines for a healthy diet.
• Recipes should have different degree of difficulty and preparation times: a) easy requiring no more than 20min. preparation b) medium difficulty with no more than 40min preparation; c) challenging, with no more than 60min preparation.
• Recipes will be presented in the book in 3 sections (starters, Main courses and Desserts) starting with easier/faster recipes and progressing with more complex/longer preparation times. Given the contribution by several Chefs, the proposed recipes and their degree of difficulty/time needed for each recipe will be discussed with Chefs, to ensure a variety and balance in the recipe collection,

The book:

• Language: Spanish
• Title: To be defined
• Foreword by UNICEF Regional Director
• Introduction by UNICEF Regional Nutrition Specialist on healthy diets, the importance of Nutrition, cooking and the social aspect of cooking and eating.
• Chefs Profiles
• Starters Sections
• Main courses
• Desserts

• 1 page of drinks recipes with low or no sugar content: (water with fruit pieces or herbs)

DELIVERABLES

QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education:

• University degree in Communications, journalism, marketing or any related área

Work Experience:

• A minimum of five years working in the field of communication, journalism or marketing in the public or private sector.
• Experience in public relations, audiovisual production and Print Media.
• Work experience with the media sector, particularly as an editor and/or writer is required.

Additional skills:

• Demonstrated excellent writing skills
• Demonstrated ability to collect information, undertake research and present findings
• Communicates effectively in writing and verbally to varied audiences, including formal public speaking
• Able to work effectively in a multicultural environment
• Sets high levels of quality and productivity for self
• Ability to seek and quickly absorb new information
• Ability to clearly defined objectives and plans activities
• Ability to work efficiently under tight deadlines. Must be detail oriented and creative and possess strong communication skills

Languages:

• Spanish mother tongue.
• Knowledge of English will be considered as an asset.

The duration for the contract is estimated to be of no more than 4 (four) months starting on the date of the signature of the contract, 20^th November (expected). The contract will be suspended for two weeks during the period 25 December 2017and 5 January 2018.

HONORARIA & FEES

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a weekly and monthly rate. Proven experience and financial proposal will be taken into consideration during selection process. Any travel, if and when required, will be covered by UNICEF as per the United Nations standards.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit CV including the proposed weekly and monthly rate.

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable).  Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

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 organisation.