[Hiring] Consultant (Application, Training and Intersectoral Plans of the Indigenous Food Systems Matrix) @AGORA

Role Description

Although Brazil has exited the FAO Hunger Map, available national data on nutritional status still reveal concerning figures among Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities, where rates of malnutrition tend to be significantly higher compared to children from other population groups. Nutritional status assessment data are outcomes of food and nutrition insecurity and allow for monitoring temporal trends within each community, as well as identifying priority areas. However, there are currently no available tools or indicators to support the diagnosis of the underlying causes of malnutrition related to local food systems within each community’s territory.

In this context, the Ministry of Social Development (MDS), together with UNICEF and other partners, developed a tool– the Indigenous Food Systems Matrix - to enable the assessment of traditional food systems in Indigenous areas, aiming to identify relevant needs and appropriate intersectoral actions. The second phase of this project consists in the Matrix’s training and application, and the development of local Intersectoral plans based on the Matrix results.

The objective of the consultancy is:

• To describe technical and conceptual aspects related to Indigenous food systems in order to inform the methodology for training and application of the matrix;
• To train stakeholders in the use of the matrix in selected territories;
• To participate in the assessment of Indigenous food systems using the tool;
• To contribute to the development of preliminary intersectoral local action plans.

Three territories were selected for this pilot project: Cruzeiro do Sul (Acre), Cuiabá (Mato Grosso), and Fortaleza (Ceará). To carry out the project activities, two field visits will be required in each of these territories, totaling six trips. The first visit, related to training and application of the matrix, is estimated to last 12 days. The second visit, related to the development of action plans, is estimated to last 4 days.

At the end of this consultancy, it is expected that the processes of training, matrix application, and action plan development will guide relevant actions among different stakeholders and public policies related to food and nutrition security in Indigenous contexts.

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD degree, completed or in progress, in fields related to the intersection of public health, environment, and Indigenous food systems.
• Experience in facilitating workshops, participatory processes, and conducting fieldwork in Indigenous territories.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to produce technical and analytical documents.
• Strong organizational skills, autonomy, and commitment to deadlines and quality of deliverables.
• Availability for travel and for extended stays in remote field settings.
• Previous participation in Phase I of the Indigenous Food Systems Project will be considered an asset.

Requirements

• Fluency in Portuguese is required.

Benefits

• Consultant’s travel costs should be included in the consultant’s fee.
• UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities.
• UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF.

Company Description

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.