National Consultant

National Consultant: Strengthening Nutrition Education through the Nutrition School Ambassadors (NUSA) Initiative, Pretoria, South Africa (Remote) UNICEF South Africa’s Health and Nutrition Outcome: Girls and boys, including the most deprived, receive an integrated package of quality and equitable maternal, neonatal, and child health (MNCH), HIV / AIDS, and nutrition care and services. The Health and Nutrition section has 3 outputs, and this consultancy supports Outputs 2 and 3 under the key interventions: support the implementation of the Blueprint for improving the South African school food environment; empower young people and learners to advocate for a healthier food environment in schools and institutions of higher learning, and promote NCD prevention and modifiable risk factors, including overweight and obesity. Since UNICEF South Africa has supported government efforts to improve the food environment through youth‑led advocacy and social and behaviour change communication campaigns under the banner My Body, My Health: My Wealth . The initiative reached over 3 million youth aged between 13 and 18 years with messages on the prevention of obesity and non‑communicable diseases (NCDs), while empowering young people to become agents of change in addressing food system challenges and advocating for relevant policies. The third phase of the campaign introduced the youth‑led Fix My Food movement, aimed at transforming the food system through policy advocacy. This included support for the implementation of draft regulations on food labelling and advertising, and efforts to improve campus food environments. In partnership with the Department of Basic Education (DBE), UNICEF also supported the development of the Blueprint for Improving the South African School Food Environment, leading to an 18‑month, two‑phase pilot in six public schools in the iLembe district of KwaZulu‑Natal. One of the key insights from this pilot was the establishment of Nutrition School Ambassadors to make learners agents of change for their own school food environment. UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Report highlights that the prevalence of overweight among South African children aged 5–19 years increased from 9 % in 2005–06 to 21 % in 2018–19, surpassing underweight as the most common form of malnutrition. Consequently, approximately 18.8 million school‑aged children and adolescents are now at heightened risk of developing life‑threatening NCDs, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive and sustained action. This indicates that despite the efforts of the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), sustainable behaviour change remains limited due to inconsistent and poorly integrated nutrition education, low learner engagement, and the insufficiency of one‑off campaigns. To bridge these gaps, the DBE and UNICEF, through the NSNP’s Nutrition Education (NE) pillar, aim to establish the Nutrition School Ambassadors (NUSA) initiative. The initiative will complement and strengthen nutrition education through peer‑led approaches that empower learners to become active agents of change for their own school food environment. The initiative will be integrated under the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning’s (CSTL) Nutritional Support pillar by establishing a “NUSA School Club” as a sub‑committee within the Representative Council of Learners (RCL). In this background a consultant is required to support the establishment of the NUSA initiative in support of the DBE’s National School Nutrition Programme. The focus will be on advancing competency‑based food and nutrition education and facilitating youth‑led policy advocacy to promote healthier school food environments. How you can make a difference Under the supervision of the Nutrition Manager from the Health and Nutrition Section, the consultant will provide technical support to DBE in enhancing learners’ knowledge, skills, and advocacy capacity through participatory, curriculum‑linked nutrition education, enabling them to critically engage with their own dietary behaviour and that of their peers. The consultant will also develop toolkits for the NUSA initiative to empower learners to advocate for healthier school food environments by engaging with School Governing Bodies, School Management Teams, and food vendors to promote and enforce policies that ensure the availability and affordability of nutritious options in and around schools. Activities Write and submit an inception report outlining the methodology, work plan, timeline, and package materials to be developed. Review existing nutrition education materials, training package, and guidebook targeted at learners and educators. Ensure alignment of materials with the national curriculum and the Nutrition Education (NE) pillar of the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP). Engage with education and nutrition experts for technical input and validation of toolkit content. Provide technical and strategic support to strengthen the integration of learners’ voices, foster learner‑led advocacy and peer education within NUSA, leveraging existing UNICEF youth structures such as campus clubs and FMF advocates. Conduct orientation and sensitisation workshops in 5 provinces – Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape, and North‑West – for DBE management teams at provincial and district level including SMT, SGB, and RCL in secondary schools. Build capacity of NUSA members in identified schools in the 5 provinces. Conduct 4 supportive monitoring visits to 5 provinces to support implementation of the NUSA initiative. Co‑create with learners a package of information materials in various formats (social media tiles, blog posts, scripts for radio and video, surveys or quizzes, press releases, etc.). Liaise with Fix My Food advocates and allocate them to support provinces through advocacy initiatives targeted at learners. Coordinate and support the capacity building of Fix My Food (FMF) advocates and Campus Club volunteers. Develop and implement a monitoring and evaluation framework within the initiative’s plan to track progress, outcomes, and impact of the NUSA initiative. Prepare a comprehensive written report of the process, achievements, reach, and lessons learned, and present the final evaluation and results to UNICEF. Identify best practices and lessons learned from implementation to inform the scale‑up of the NUSA initiative. Deliverables Inception report outlining methodology, work plan, timeline, and package materials. Finalised revised toolkit approved by UNICEF and DBE, including training and orientation materials, guidebook, supporting materials, monitoring and evaluation tools, framework, SOP with roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders. Five orientation and sensitisation workshops conducted in the 5 provinces for DBE management teams (SMT, SGB, RCL). Capacity of NUSA members built in identified schools. Mid‑way progress results presented to UNICEF. Four supportive monitoring visits conducted. Monitoring and evaluation framework implemented. Co‑created information materials package. Close‑out report on the NUSA initiative including process, achievements, reach, and lessons learned. Best practice and lessons learned documentation for scale‑up. Stakeholder Engagement Each step will require review, feedback, and approval from UNICEF and DBE before it is considered complete. The consultant is expected to provide regular updates and present progress and findings to UNICEF and DBE at the agreed time. Qualifications Advanced degree (MPH, MSc, etc.) in Public Health, Social and Behavioural Health Science, Public Nutrition, Health Education and Promotion, Social Sciences, or other related disciplines. At least 5 years of relevant experience in public health, nutrition, or social and behaviour change communication (SBCC). Knowledge and understanding of child and adolescent nutrition, food systems, health promotion, and/or NCD prevention is essential. Experience in youth engagement and implementing similar advocacy or education campaigns is an advantage. Proven experience in the development of capacity‑building materials (manuscripts, job aids, tools, etc.). Strong track record in working with the government and implementing social and behaviour change strategies. Relevant experience working in the UN or other international development organisations is an asset. Skills Proven project management and coordination skills. Strong writing, facilitation, and communication skills. Strong computer skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) are required. Skills with other software, such as Canva, Photoshop, and similar, are desirable. Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including youth, government, and civil society. Familiarity with government regulations and UNICEF youth advocacy initiatives is desirable. Familiarity with the South African education and Health systems is highly desirable. Language Requirements Fluency in English is required in addition to strong written and verbal competency. Working knowledge of other official South African languages would be an advantage. Desirables Expertise on social and behaviour change communications campaigns and strategies. Knowledge on nutrition, food systems, health promotion, NCD prevention or similar. Financial Proposal Please submit your financial proposal in ZAR; applications without a financial proposal will not be accepted. UNICEF Core Values 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. Competencies Required Builds and maintains partnerships Demonstrates self‑awareness and ethical awareness Drive to achieve results for impact Innovates and embraces change Manages ambiguity and complexity Thinks and acts strategically Works collaboratively with others Inclusion, Diversity, and Accessibility 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 the UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of 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 neuro‑divergence. 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. 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. UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. 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 cancelled. Legal Requirements and Policy Statements UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates 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, or hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’