Consultancy: To prepare a technical report and communication materials in the area of digital marketing of unhealthy foods to children in East Asia Pacific, UNICEF EAPRO, Bangkok, Thailand

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 fulfilling 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, a better future

UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region.  This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

 

How can you make a difference?

The Nutrition Section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Region Office (EAPRO) is seeking an individual consultant to prepare a technical report and communication materials based on the results of a study on the digital marketing of unhealthy foods to children in six countries of East Asia Pacific.

 

Background:

In the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region, it is estimated that 10.4 million children under five are overweight while modelled data suggests that over 80 million school age children are overweight, and the numbers are growing rapidly. Diets are shifting to a higher consumption of highly processed foods and drink high in fat, sugar and salt and low in essential micronutrients. This shift is the result of a changing food environment due to urbanization, movement of women into the workforce and driven by the aggressive marketing of unhealthy food and drinks to children.

UNICEF EAPRO has committed to addressing overweight among children aged 0-18 years and a key area is supporting governments to introduce controls on the marketing of unhealthy food and drink to children, including through digital media. UNICEF EAPRO has commissioned a study to examine the marketing strategies for unhealthy food and drink adopted by food and beverage companies. The study has been undertaken by a market research company using proprietary and sophisticated tools to understand the search behaviour of internet users in six countries in the region: China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines and Thailand. The COVID-19 pandemic broke out during the study and allowed assessment of changes in search behaviour as a result of the pandemic. The market research company has provided some details of the methods employed and the results of the assessment. This information needs to be presented in a format that is technically robust highlighting the key findings, and setting out conclusions and recommendations. In addition, communication materials are required that can be used to advocate for the introduction of legislation and policy to improve the diets of children.

 

Work Assignment:

Under the direct supervision of UNICEF Regional Nutrition Advisor, the consultancy has the following objectives and outputs:

1. To prepare a technical report of the study on the marketing strategies for unhealthy food and drink adopted by food and beverage companies via social media:

The report should include sections on methods (including limitations of the methods adopted), key findings, conclusions and recommendations plus an annex with specific information for each country. Illustrative graphs and figures should be included where appropriate. The report should be written in an accessible style for an audience that is not necessarily familiar with digital marketing techniques.

2. To prepare a set of communication materials based on the technical report: 

The communication materials should consist of one short advocacy brief and an accompanying power-point for each of the six study countries.

 

Product	Description
Output 1: Technical report	Report based on the study including methods, results, conclusions and recommendations (Maximum of 20 pages in English plus annexes)
Output 2: Country briefs	Six country briefs (Estimated 4 pages each in English)
Output 3: Power-point presentations	Six power-point presentations based on the content of the briefs (Maximum of 10 slides per deck)

 

Work Schedule and Deliverables:

Product	Estimated days of work	Tentative Timelines
Output 1: Technical report	6	4 weeks after commencement of contract
Output 2: Country briefs	3	2 weeks after commencement of contract
Output 3: Power-point presentations	1	2 weeks after commencement of contract

 

Estimated Duration of Contract:   10 working days during 20 November – 31 December 2020

 

Official Travel: The consultant will work remotely from home.

 

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

• An advanced university degree (MSc or PhD) in psychology, food and food marketing, or other nutrition-related science field is required.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in research on food and media.
• Proven knowledge and expertise in research and policy development related to digital marketing of unhealthy foods to children.
• Knowledge of policy and programme landscape in the East Asia and Pacific region is an asset.
• Experience with production of technical documents and communication materials.
• Excellent oral and written English skills.

 

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV or P-11, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, and proposed daily professional fee in USD by 15 November 2020.

 FORM P11.doc

 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People, and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

 

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

 

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.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.