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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.

For every child, the right to opportunities 

Background

Food regulations and standards are crucial for the development of any nation, and they form the basis for trade and public health protection. Botswana as a net importer with over 97% of its food needs are imported commodities, needs a strong regulatory framework to address emerging challenges, including food related health incidences. Countries with strong and effective food legislation have enhanced consumer protection, better market access for food products, and increased economic development.

In Botswana the food environment is dynamic, evolving and transitioning from indigenous food to ultra-processed foods, leading to a surge in overweight, obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).  In 2014, data from Ministry of Health indicated overweight obesity amongst adults aged 15-69 years of age was estimated at 30.6%.  The Botswana 2017 demographic survey also estimated the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children 5-19 years at 12.7% with highest prevalence amongst children aged 5-6 years (18.6%), followed by children aged 7-13 years (13.2%), and then adolescents aged 13-19 years (8.5%). This is precipitated by increased production, marketing and consumption of highly refined foods which are calorie-dense, high in saturated fats, salt, and sugar. The growing burden of NCDs in Botswana, including obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases has been strongly linked to unhealthy diets and food environment. These trends present a major public health challenge and threaten the progress in national development and health goals.

Despite multisectoral efforts to promote healthier eating habits, there remain gaps in the regulatory and policy frameworks that govern the availability, marketing, labelling, pricing and accessibility of food products.

 

2.Justification for Legal Landscape Analysis

Although Botswana has taken steps to address NCDs and promote heathy diets through national strategies, the policy environment requires further strengthening. Existing laws and regulations do not adequately address the determinants of unhealthy food consumption, including food marketing to children, front-of-pack labeling, food provision in schools, and fiscal policies on sugar-sweetened beverages.

 

In addition, the current Food Control (Labeling of Pre-packaged Food Regulations SI,15: 2003) is equally deficient with regards to nutrition formation, nutrient declaration and nutrition and health claims in line with regional and international standards. These regulations were formulated in 2003, when the food industry in Botswana was in its formative years, hence the implementation of the labeling regulation has since become challenging due to identified gaps.

 

Thus, to inform policy and reforms and multisectoral action, a comprehensive legal landscape analysis is needed. This will involve reviewing national legislation, regulations, policies and relevant international commitments to identify gaps, overlaps and opportunities to create a healthier food environment in Botswana.

How can you make a difference? 

To conduct a legal landscape analysis of Botswana’s food environment, using UNICEF’s legal landscape analysis tool. The objective of the analysis report is to inform the development of laws on front-of-package nutrition labeling, restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages, and unhealthy food and beverage taxes, thereby addressing overweight and obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases and improving nutrition and overall health outcomes.

3. Scope of Work and key task

The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

a) Inception meetings:

• Conduct an initial inception meeting with the contracting authority (UNICEF), Ministry of Health and other relevant key stakeholders
• Prepare and submit inception report outlining methodology, data collection/sources including a list of identified stakeholders to be consulted for the analysis, and workplan

b) Desk review and legal mapping

• Collect and review national laws, policies, and regulations across sectors, as set out in the UNICEF tool (See Annex).

c)Stakeholder consultation

• Conduct key informant interviews with government officials, legal experts, academic, civil society and development partners including private sector food industries to inform the practical analysis sections of the UNICEF tool.

e) Reporting and recommendations

• Develop a comprehensive report with an executive summary, detailed findings, and prioritized legal and policy recommendations
• Present findings to stakeholders in a validation workshop

4.Deliverables and timelines

Days	Key Activities / Deliverables
Days 1–5	Inception meeting with UNICEF, Ministry of Health, and key stakeholders Finalize work plan, methodology, and analytical framework Begin desk review of relevant national, regional, and international legal/policy documents
Days 6–12	1st Draft Inception Report Continue and complete desk review  Conduct key informant interviews (e.g., MoH, legal experts, regulators, CSOs) Begin legal mapping and identification of policy/legal gaps Share feedback from UNICEF & Government
Days 13–20	2nd Draft Analysis report Analyze findings from desk review and interviews Draft Legal Landscape Analysis Report (including gaps and recommendations) Internal review and revision of draft report for second round of feedback from UNICEF & Government
	Submit Draft Report to UNICEF/MoH for feedback  Incorporate feedback and finalize the report Preparing and Facilitating Validation Meeting Submit Final Report and Presentation Slides of key recommendations and executive summary

 

4. Payment and budget schedule

The Consultant will be paid in line with agreed deliverables.

 

NB:

•  All submissions should be made in electronic version (Word, Excel, tabulations etc., the format must be agreed with UNICEF).
• All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.
• UNICEF does not provide any equipment/software (e.g. computer equipment, software applications, software license, server, other related services) required for conducting the project. Interested contractors should ensure the availability of equipment and software necessary for conducting the project.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements:

Education: Master's degree in law (LLB or equivalent), with demonstrated experience in public health law, international law or food policy; an advanced degree (e.g., LLM) would be an asset.

 

• Work Experience: 

           At least 5-7 years of professional experience in legal and policy analysis or administrative law, preferably with roles in health, nutrition or food systems

           Demonstrated experience in conducting legal reviews in Botswana

           Excellent analytical, writing and presentation skills

           Experience working in Botswana

• Skills

  Competencies:

  •           Ability to design and facilitate consultative process with multisectoral technical teams.

  •           Excellent analytical skills.

  •           Good communication skills

  •           High proficiency in English both written and verbal is required.

• Language Requirements:

  High proficiency in English both written and verbal is required.

  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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

[add the 8^th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.