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, hope, love and care
UNICEF promotes the rights and welfare of all children and adolescents in everything we do. Together with our allies, we work in 190 countries and territories to transform this commitment into practical actions that benefit all children, especially focusing our efforts on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded, worldwide. The UNICEF Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office (LACRO) is based in Panama, and operates in 36 countries and territories, covered by 24 country offices. UNICEF works to put the rights and well-being of the most disadvantaged children at the heart of the social, political, and economic agenda, in line with our equity focus, working across our organization. For more information about UNICEF and its work, see the link
www.unicef.org/lac.
Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the regions with the highest rates of overweight and obesity in the world. The 2023 Thematic Report on-Childhood Overweight in LAC showed that this condition affects more than four million children under five years of age and almost 50 million children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years.
Childhood overweight and obesity impacts children ́s immediate physical and emotional well-being; increases the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) later in life; and carries heavy societal and economic consequences for the individual, families and their communities.
The UNICEF Nutrition Strategy (2020-2030) recognizes the role of five systems, namely food, health, education, social protection and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), as well as social norms, in preventing all forms of childhood malnutrition, including overweight.
UNICEF LACRO has been engaged in overweight and obesity prevention work since 2016 by developing and implementing strategies, policies and tailored interventions. In the previous years, UNICEF LACRO published two thematic reports (2021,2023) describing the general situation of childhood overweight in LAC and UNICEF’s approach and vision for preventing it.
To draw attention to the status of the problem of child overweight in the region and the knowledge and experiences generated at national and regional levels and the required actions to change the situation, UNICEF is seeking an individual consultant who coordinates the development of a third edition of the regional thematic report on overweight prevention. The envisaged audiences include governments, civil society, academia, UN agencies, UNICEF Country Offices in LAC and other regions as well as current and prospective donors.
How can you make a difference?
Under the supervision of the Regional Nutrition Specialist and in close collaboration with the Food Systems Specialist and communications as relevant, the consultant will develop a regional thematic report on the most up-to-date information on childhood overweight, review the progress made in relation to policies and strategies for its prevention of childhood overweight, and highlighting illustrative examples of UNICEF’s work in this area.
Key Activities/s
The individual contractor will prepare a comprehensive report, a summary report and a presentation in PowerPoint on overweight and obesity in Latin America and the Caribbean. The elaboration of these products will include the following activities:
1. Preparation of a timeline and report outline based on the following essential content:
a. Foreword
b. Definitions
c. Executive Summary
d. Introduction
e. Overview of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean
i. Overweight status in children 0-19 years of age
ii. Latest data, evidence and other key updates on childhood overweight and obesity in Latin America and the Caribbean
f.UNICEF’s response and contribution to the prevention of childhood overweight in Latin America and the Caribbean
g.Conclusions
h.Recommendations
i. References
2. Mapping UNICEF’s key initiatives and interventions for overweight prevention in Latin America and the Caribbean, considering UNICEF’s Food Systems perspective. Desk review and analysis of data from the JME, as well as other relevant information, such as gray literature, press releases, journalistic articles, policy papers and other recent (2023-2024) key documents related to the topic.
3. Coordinate with Country Offices and other key stakeholders to collect most relevant information
4. Prepare first draft of the thematic report with clear and accessible language to ensure understanding and engagement by non-specialized audiences (maximum 40 pages; less is welcome).
5. Incorporate feedback and prepare second draft of the report
6. Prepare a summary report
7. Prepare a presentation in PowerPoint, key messages and other key information for dissemination activities
8. Accompaniment and support during the translation, design and layout process of the thematic report and the summary report.
9. Support during activities related to the thematic report’s launch and dissemination
10. Other required activities to pursue the objective of the consultancy
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
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At least 5 years of experience in reporting, quantitative data analysis and qualitative analysis of public health, nutrition, and/or public policy information.
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At least 3 years of experience in accessible writing, including for advocacy purposes.
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Ability to present research findings clearly and accessible to non-specialized audiences.
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Fluency in Spanish and English is required.
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Demonstrated ability to work efficiently under tight deadlines.
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Able to work independently, with low levels of supervision.
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Ability to analyze and synthesize documents and transfer information in an accessible format with a relevant use of graphs and images.
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Ability to write an engaging, convincing and accessible report technically in Spanish and English.
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Familiarity with the nutrition programming and policy context in LAC region is required.
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Previous research or publications on prevention of childhood overweight and obesity is highly valued.
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Experience working with governments or UN agencies is 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.
