Consultant - Writer/Editor for Documentation of the “Know Your Food” campaign, China (Remote)

Consultant Programme & Policy

Overview

Document the successes of the 'Know Your Food' campaign for UNICEF

You have:

• Master or equivalent degree in behavior change communication, public health, or related field.
• At least 10 years of work experience in writing and editing of publications, stories, articles, briefs and other communication materials.
• Demonstrated experience in communicating complex development issues to multiple audiences, and the ability to interpret technical and research data in a concise and engaging manner.
• Strong drive for results, taking pride in delivering as per expectation in terms of quality and timeliness.
• Experience working with UNICEF or other UN organizations desirable.
• Knowledge and understanding of China and its development context.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, Nutrition

Today, China has one of the largest groups of overweight and obese children in the world. Without action, the threat of childhood obesity could have severe short-term and long-term consequences, leading to chronic illness, disability and mortality.

A changing food environment characterized by increased availability of cheap, highly processed food and drinks together with aggressive marketing of these products to children and adolescents has contributed to a shift in diets with increased consumption of foods high in fat, sugar and salt. The subsequent impact is childhood overweight and obesity and increased risk of other non-communicable diseases. To address the increased risk of child overweight and consumption of processed foods, UNICEF China launched a public education and advocacy campaign called “Know Your Food” in May 2022.

The key objectives of the campaign were:

1. To bring attention to the vulnerability of children and adolescents to the rapidly evolving ultra-processed food landscape in China;
2. To educate children, adolescents and caregivers regarding the risk of frequently consuming ultra-processed food;
3. To improve food literacy leading to shifts in purchasing and consumption choices.

In addition, the campaign would help:

1. Strengthen the current school nutrition programme
2. A start point for expanding urban-based nutrition programme to more cities

3. Application the warning FOPL using PAHO NPM and plain food package for policy advocacy

   The campaign ran from May 13 to June 15, including following three dimensions:

4. Convenience Stores — Three physical ones and a virtual exhibition

As the core communication asset of the “Know Your Food” Campaign, three convenience stores, filled up with mock-ups of prepackage foods that are popular consumed among children and adolescents were created. Starting from mid-May, three cities, Chengdu, Weihai and Enshi host the stores for visitors.

2. Social media assets

Social media assets were made to reach larger audience. These include:

1. 1. A video of a tour to the store was recorded in Chengdu and disseminated through social media platforms.
   2. A virtual 3D store exhibition/H5 was made available online.
   3. Several scientific experiments which showed how much sugar salt or fat in the popular consumed food items were recorded as videos and were disseminated on social media through Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs).

   4. Other assets include a landing page, posters and social media posts.

   5. School-based Nutrition Sessions

Together with partners, UNICEF developed materials to deliver school-based nutrition sessions, including two for children, two for adolescents and one for parents. As UNICEF’s partner on this work, China Nutrition Society and Student Nutrition and Health Association promoted it to all provinces of China during the China Nutrition Week and Chinese Student Nutrition Day. UNICEF also reached out to 16 cities, which supports Children-Friendly City Initiative, additionally. Six key messages was promoted, including “Eat more vegetables”, “Drink less sugary drinks”, “Eat less processed foods”, “Choose healthy snacks”, “One hour of moderate exercise a day”, and “Have enough sleep”.

On top of this, three launch events in Chengdu, Weihai and Enshi, as well as a livestreaming by UNICEF further amplified the impact of the campaign.

The campaign has achieved good results. Based on preliminary data analysis, the campaign assets reached 49 million views, 278,487 likes, and triggered 2,994 comments on social media. Among which, 91% found new information and found it interesting. Children and parents were reached by the school-based nutrition sessions in more than 70 cities. 93% of students reported that they found the sessions educational and inspiring.

For more information about the campaign, please visit the website: #KnowYourFood | UNICEF China

How can you make a difference?

The purposes of the documentation include:

1. to capture lessons related to campaign design, link with programme delivery and expansion, and measurement of results;
2. to propose new pathways for advocacy and communication with key stakeholders in China and strengthen our partnership with Chinese government by building on the shifts in awareness related to the importance of a healthy food environment;
3. to share experience of the campaign across UNICEF and partners, including communication assets, with the hope that other country offices can be inspired and benefited.

Activities include:

1. Develop a documentation plan. This will require the consultant to collect and review background materials, landing page, social media assets and news articles of the campaign, and propose the best document types for it, which may include, but not limit to a documentation report, slides, newsletter, etc.; (5 working days)
2. Draft the documentation report, based on the information collected, which will incorporate inputs from UNICEF staff and partners who were involved in the campaign; (20 working days)
3. Write an executive summary based on a drafted monitoring report. The summary should be less than 4 pages and will be included as part of the documentation; (5 working days)
4. Collect and incorporate feedback from UNICEF and its partners to ensure accuracy, clarity and coherence of the documentation report and executive summary. This requires the consultant to drive the documentation processes by timely engagement of relevant colleagues from UNICEF China office and EAPRO; (10 working days) and
5. Develop other associated documents, including slides, news letters which will be used to disseminate the report in various platforms. (within 10 working days, depends on the agreed documentation plan)

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

• Minimum Academic Qualifications required and disciplines:
• Master or equivalent degree in behavior change communication, public health, or related field.
• Knowledge/Experience/Expertise/Skills required:
  1. At least 10 years of work experience in writing and editing of publications, stories, articles, briefs and other communication materials.
  2. Demonstrated experience in communicating complex development issues to multiple audiences, and the ability to interpret technical and research data in a concise and engaging manner.
  3. Strong drive for results, taking pride in delivering as per expectation in terms of quality and timeliness.
  4. Experience working with UNICEF or other UN organizations desirable.
  5. Knowledge and understanding of China and its development context.
  6. Fluency in written and spoken English.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

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 and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

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.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org