[Hiring] Consultant to provide technical support to ASEAN Secretariat and advance large-scale food fortification (LSFF) agenda in EAP Region @AGORA

Role Description

UNICEF seeks an experienced consultant to provide high-level technical, policy and coordination support to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat, ASEAN Health Cluster 1 and Member States to accelerate progress on large-scale food fortification (LSFF) across the East Asia and Pacific Region (EAPR).

The consultant will support ASEAN to:

• Operationalize the ASEAN Guidelines and Minimum Standards for LSFF.
• Strengthen accountability and peer learning across Member States.
• Advance policy dialogue to sustain LSFF mandates.
• Improve regional monitoring systems.
• Support priority countries facing risks of policy backsliding or implementation bottlenecks through tailored technical assistance, advocacy support, evidence generation and partner coordination.

Scope of Work

• Strengthen ASEAN leadership and regional coordination for LSFF.
• Support ASEAN Health Cluster 1 to coordinate regional dialogue and leadership on LSFF.
• Strengthen and institutionalize ASEAN LSFF partner coordination platform(s).
• Facilitate engagement between ASEAN Secretariat, Member States, UNICEF, development partners and technical institutions.
• Support follow-up on decisions and commitments related to LSFF.
• Support operationalization of ASEAN LSFF Minimum Standards.
• Support Member States to review alignment with ASEAN LSFF minimum standards (2024).
• Develop tools and guidance for country self-assessment of adoption and implementation.
• Provide technical support to countries to strengthen implementation of LSFF mandates.
• Support selected countries facing private sector pressure or rollback risks.
• Strengthen monitoring, data systems and accountability.
• Lead development of the ASEAN Annual LSFF Scorecard.
• Support annual benchmarking of Member States against ASEAN LSFF standards.
• Prepare scorecard findings for ASEAN Health Ministers’ review processes.
• Support country roadmaps based on scorecard findings.
• Develop policy briefs, country summaries, advocacy materials and technical updates.
• Document best practices, innovations and lessons learned.
• Generate evidence to support sustaining mandatory LSFF legislation.
• Support communications and strategic engagement on LSFF.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Nutrition, Partnerships, Advocacy, Development, Communications.
• 10-15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in public nutrition, food systems, public health or related development programming, with substantial experience in LSFF, USI or micronutrient deficiency prevention.
• Demonstrated experience supporting regional or multi-country programmes in Asia, preferably within EAPR.
• Proven track record of working with inter-governmental bodies such as ASEAN, Asian Development Bank, Regional Economic Communities, governments, UN agencies, development partners, academia and/or private sector stakeholders.
• Strong experience in policy reform, standards development, regulatory frameworks, trade facilitation or programme implementation in low- and middle-income countries.
• Experience in planning and facilitating high-level consultations, ministerial meetings, technical working groups and multi-stakeholder platforms.
• Strong communication, negotiation, diplomacy and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluency in French and English is required.
• Strong technical knowledge of LSFF, USI, food systems, food standards, quality assurance/control systems, premix supply systems, regulatory monitoring and compliance mechanisms.
• Good understanding of regional trade systems, including certification and cross-border regulatory frameworks.

Desirables

• Previous experience working with ASEAN or any other Asian Regional Economic Communities.
• Experience in EAPR countries.

Benefits

• Diverse opportunities for professional and personal development.
• Attractive compensation and benefits package.

Company Description

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture.