Individual Contractor - Analyst/Writer, Beijing, China

Contract

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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, a champion

UNICEF China is supporting China National Health Commission in generating evidence in urban setting for improvement of food environment and prevention of childhood overweight and obesity. China has the largest population of children in the world with about one out of every five being overweight and obese. To tackle this alarming issue, China’s National Nutrition Program (NNP), with a range of interventions targeting to childhood overweight, was introduced by the central government, showing a high level of ambition. Subsequently, Governments at all levels are actively bringing the NNP into practice and exerting their initiatives and creativities to demonstrate for changes. The city of Chengdu, a southwest city in China is one of the pioneers. There over 3 million children, among which 25% are overweight, and 10% are obese, are living on the land of its 14.3 thousand kilometers. With support of UNICEF China office, the municipal government is aggressively converting the city of Chengdu into a more livable city by enabling children eating and drinking healthier and creating a better food environment to help children maintain a healthy weight.

A landscape analysis (LA) is being conducted as the first step, collecting data and information to sketch the current state of childhood obesity in the city and identify gaps of policies and programmes needed as the following actions. The local government, with technical support from UNICEF, has conducted a sampling survey to schools, school-aged children and their caregivers and interviews to officials from multiple governmental agencies. Data and key findings are being consolidated and some key findings have been summarized. Further analysis is needed to identify actions that can be implemented across the city and document results, and a summary of results has to be developed and submitted to the municipality. Following this, the Chengdu CDC and UNICEF will host a workshop to validate the findings, and to engage decisionmakers, academic institutes, and other stakeholders, in the development of a holistic action plan. These discussions will also feed into the finalization of a report to document Phase 1 of the project.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF China seeks to engage a dynamic and skilled individual consultant in the role of an analyst/writer to finalize and document factors contributing to Childhood Obesity in Chengdu, and opportunities for action.

Under the supervision of Nutrition Officer, the analyst will be responsible for drafting and finalizing the LA report, seeking input as needed from national and regional technical experts. The incumbent will consult with the Chengdu implementing partner of UNICEF and UNICEF nutrition team for direction on source content and methodologies.

The incumbent will:

• Propose and discuss report structure and format with the nutrition team and the Chengdu counterpart (content presentation, best use of data and information, visual elements, etc.)
• Review background materials, including but not limited to, UNICEF style guidelines, UNICEF Protocol of LA, record of interviews, and other working documents of the LA as necessary.
• Participate/listen in the validation workshop to be held at the end of March, noting information relevant for the LA report
• Consult external sources as determined by nutrition team
• Draft and edit report text – including charts and graphs, as needed – of not more than 40 pages,

ensuring accuracy and currency of all content

• Draft and edit a 4-pager executive summary, ensuring including key information of the full report
• Consolidate other input into report annexes, to include partnerships and publications information, among others
• Design a report layout using a template agreed with UNICEF nutrition team
• Finalize the LA Report and executive summary, integrating any feedback from UNICEF and their partners and ensuring accuracy, clarity and coherence.

Start Date: end of March or early April 2021

End Date: end of April or early May 2021

Total Duration: The consultant is expected to carry out the assignment over 15 working days in 1 month.

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

• Minimum Academic Qualifications required and disciplines:
• Advanced university degree in Nutrition, Communications, Journalism, Creative Writing, Public Health, Social Sciences or a related field
• Knowledge/Experience/Expertise/Skills required:
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience
• Proven experience in report writing demonstrated through at least 2 samples
• Experience in producing corporate products
• Previous experience in copy-editing will be an asset.
• Familiarity with United Nations and UNICEF report writing requirements
• Strong research and excellent writing skills in English
• High proficiency in the use of Word and Excel applications
• Strong interpersonal skills, able to communicate and work with diverse people

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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:

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.