Nutrition Analyst

  • Contractor
  • Rome, Latium, Italy
  • TBD
  • World Food Programme profile




  • Job applications may no longer be accepted for this opportunity.


World Food Programme

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

28 August 2024-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome)

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

Are you interested in further developing your professional experience while contributing to ending global hunger? Are you passionate about helping those in need? Would you like to join a global organization investing in its people?

If so, an exciting & fulfilling career awaits you!!! Join our diverse and passionate team that works on varied and international projects directly contributing to saving & changing millions of lives around the globe.

About Wfp

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), a highly prestigious, reputable & world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP’s values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

WHY JOIN WFP?

  • WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
  • WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.
  • WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.
  • A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
  • We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

Background And Purpose Of The Assignment

Background

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is one of the leading global institutions helping to measure and alleviate malnutrition. WFP supports national food and health systems across more than 80 countries as they strive to provide access, safely and systematically, to healthy, nutritious diets and reduce micronutrient deficiencies in women, children and the population at large. A key part of this work is the generation of data on food and nutrition security and status, dietary diversity and access to nutritious foods and nutritious diets, including food costs and expenditure, and using these data to highlight where there are risks of insufficiencies, by target group, geography or vulnerability, reflected as hunger (insufficient dietary energy and coping strategies), unaffordability of nutrient-adequate diets, inadequate dietary diversity, risk of inadequate micronutrient intake and likelihood of micronutrient deficiencies.

When households, and specific household members, are unable to meet their dietary micronutrient needs due to physical, financial or sociological barriers, it becomes necessary to consider additional pathways that can safeguard against micronutrient malnutrition. Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) is a powerful, cost-effective intervention for improving micronutrient intake that can be adapted to many food vehicles and contexts and delivered through different platforms, including both conventional commercial markets and food assistance, including school meals and social protection programs. WFP has long been involved in efforts to expand the scope and impact of LSFF.

Advocacy and decision making about LSFF and other micronutrient intervention programmes and policy, especially about whether, where, what, how and for whom to advocate for and implement such initiatives, require evidence. This includes information on micronutrient deficiencies and dietary intake for different populations, the likelihood that current diets are able to meet the recommended requirements for key vitamins and minerals and current intake of fortifiable foods among specific sub-groups of the population. They also require information about the extent to which different LSFF programmes, programme delivery scenarios, and other micronutrient interventions could assist in filling nutrient intake gaps for key populations. Such evidence is imperative to inform decisions across the LSFF ecosystem, including policy formulation, setting standards and determining whether LSFF is having an impact, in general, and with particular emphasis on those who are most vulnerable, with a focus on gender. However, due to cost, time needed and complexity of primary data collection on vitamin and mineral deficiency (VMD) and dietary intake, there are still many gaps in data needed to quantify the problem, e.g., magnitude and distribution of micronutrient malnutrition and nutrient inadequacy, as well as food consumption patterns within a population, required for proper program design and exploration of new cost-effective vehicles and entry points for fortification. Further, existing data or methods of obtaining data are limited in their ability to describe dimensions of intake inadequacy related to vulnerability in terms of gender, age, geography, biological status and illness.

The WFP specialises in uses innovative data approaches to support governments make informed decisions about the design and effective implementation of food security and nutrition policy and programs, including the integration of nutrition objectives across food systems – to achieve maximum impact. WFP’s HungerMapLive is widely-used to inform humanitarian programming and food security situation monitoring. HungerMapLive displays real-time information on food insecurity, nutrition and various relevant drivers using primary data collected using remote monitoring, estimates generated using machine learning-based predictive analytics and publicly available secondary data pulled automatically through APIs. The use of innovative methods to use existing data to estimate or predict the risk of dietary vitamin and mineral deficiencies and the potential of different programs, including LSFF, to fill nutrient gaps can support programme and policy decision-makers from national governments and other stakeholders. This activity brings together the analytical and government technical assistance expertise of the Nutrition and Food Quality Service, and data collection and visualisation experience from the HungerMapLive Team.

About The Team

WFP’s Modelling and Mapping risk of Inadequate Micronutrient Intake (MIMI) approach generates and increases access to modeled data on risk of inadequate micronutrient intake at national and sub-national levels, which is critical to advocate for and inform the design and roll-out of large-scale food fortification as well as other micronutrient interventions and complementary programs.

Specifically, MIMI works with academic and policy partners to develop innovative methods for modelling the risk of inadequate dietary micronutrient intake and the extent to which large scale food fortification (LSFF) (of different commodities and fortified according to different specifications) could reduce risk, to inform policy decision-making and advocacy. MIMI’s estimated and predictive analytical models use secondary data on food supply, food consumption and expenditure, socioeconomic status and climate, among others, and allow exploration of nutritional vulnerability by geography, gender and socioeconomic characteristics. To date, methods have been validated against dietary consumption and micronutrient status data in three countries. The outputs have been developed into inputs to display on interactive sub-national maps, with the support of WFP’s Hunger MapLive Team. Importantly, the team are engaging with stakeholders in each of the focus geographies to support and document the application, validation and uptake of modelled evidence to inform policy and advocacy and document the process. The initiative overall has benefited from WFP in-country presence and partnerships with the relevant academic and civil society partners, among other stakeholders, to promote transparency, provide a forum for discussion, maximise stakeholder involvement at the global-level, incorporate the views of potential end users at the country level and build community acceptance.

Between 2024 and 2026, MIMI will expand evidence generation and stakeholder engagement activities to an additional eight countries and explore the potential of integrating WFP’s real-time data monitoring into the modelling and analysis. The advertised position reflects work to be undertaken under this new phase.

Purpose Of The Assignment

The Nutrition Analyst will play a critical role in the MIMI team, within the WFP Nutrition and Food Quality Service. Under the supervision of the MIMI Team Lead, and working as part of a dynamic, multidisciplinary team of nutritionists, data scientists, policy and advocacy specialists, this position will contribute to the application of analytical methods to develop evidence and data visualisations in response to identified policy questions and engage meaningfully and present outputs to diverse stakeholders at the global- and country-level and support their application to policy decision-making. The ideal candidate will bring experience working in or supporting nutrition or public health programmes or policy in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), data analysis experience and a willingness to expand their skills in analysis and modelling of large datasets for nutrition.

Accountabilities/Responsibilities

  • Support engagement with WFP country office staff and other relevant partners and stakeholders in diverse countries to understand the policy context and key policy questions
  • Map and explore data sources and indicators relevant to food consumption, micronutrient status and nutrition and food fortification policy and programmes
  • Work collaboratively with team members, and analytical partners to apply MIMI methods to estimate the risk of inadequate micronutrient intake and model fortification scenarios for 3-6 countries.
  • Support the development of evidence outputs and data visualisations based on stakeholder requests and user feedback, including preparing outputs for the HungerMapLive.
  • Lead or participate in activities to disseminate and support country stakeholders to review and apply evidence to nutrition policy and programme decision making and advocacy.
  • Prepare for and provide training and other capacity strengthening activities on the analytical methods to estimate micronutrient risk, data visualisation or evidence translation, as relevant.
  • Contribute to the drafting of academic manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals.
  • Presentation at academic webinars or conferences, as relevant.
  • Participate in field missions to focus countries and WFP country offices, as required.

Deliverables At The End Of The Contract

  • Development of materials to present methodology and results to diverse stakeholders nationally and internationally.
  • Analysis conducted or supported for 1-3 countries to estimate risk of inadequate micronutrient intake and potential contribution of intervention scenarios, as required
  • Data outputs or visualisations developed to present analytical results
  • Relevant synthesis and thematic presentations and publications developed.
  • Contribution to peer-reviewed articles, topic briefs and other external-facing materials as required to present methodology, analysis and validation of results.

Education

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

  • Masters degree or higher in Nutrition, Public Health or a related field.

Experience

  • 3-4 years work experience, some of that supporting health or nutrition policy or programmes within LMICs a plus.
  • Experience in research or analysis, especially related to the analysis of large household survey datasets
  • Experience developing communication material and presenting analytical methods and findings to diverse audiences, including government stakeholders, programme staff and academic partners, in a digestible and context-relevant format.
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment, especially with colleagues from diverse backgrounds.

Knowledge & Skills

  • Knowledge of nutrition and micronutrients
  • Able to analyse quantitative data using R (preferred) or STATA statistical software
  • Analytical and problem-solving skills, with a strong solution and action orientation.
  • Flexibility, sound interpersonal skills and cross-cultural sensitivity.

Languages

  • Advanced professional level of written and spoken English
  • Professional knowledge of a French an asset.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our recruitment process is inclusively crafted to welcome candidates of all backgrounds, celebrating diversity and ensuring a respectful environment for all. We aim for an accessible and fair recruitment journey. Should you need any reasonable accommodations or have accessibility concerns, please reach out to us confidentially at [email protected]. Our DEI team is here to ensure your full participation in our recruitment process.

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

  • We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
  • Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
  • Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
  • Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
  • Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
  • Please contact us at [email protected] in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
  • Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.

To apply for this job please visit wd3.myworkdaysite.com.


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