UNICEF CONSULTANT – LARGE-SCALE FOOD FORTIFICATION AND IODINE NUTRITION

UNICEF CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITY 2026

POSITION: CONSULTANT – LARGE-SCALE FOOD FORTIFICATION AND IODINE NUTRITION

ORGANIZATION: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

JOB NUMBER: 596210

LOCATION: Abuja, Nigeria, with travel across West and Central Africa.

CONTRACT TYPE: Consultancy

DURATION: 10 months

CATEGORY: Nutrition

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 25 October 2026

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is seeking an experienced consultant to provide high-level technical, policy and coordination support for advancing large-scale food fortification (LSFF) and iodine nutrition initiatives across West and Central Africa (WCAR).

The consultancy will support Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and member states in strengthening nutrition policies, harmonizing food standards, improving regulatory systems and accelerating progress towards universal salt iodization (USI).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Develop technical documents, policy frameworks and operational recommendations to strengthen large-scale food fortification programmes across the region.
2. Support regional institutions and member states in improving institutional capacity, regulatory frameworks and food fortification standards.
3. Contribute to universal salt iodization and micronutrient deficiency prevention initiatives.
4. Prepare country-specific implementation roadmaps for reviewing and strengthening food fortification programmes.
5. Support standards harmonization, quality assurance and regulatory monitoring systems.
6. Contribute to regional food systems transformation initiatives, including the First Foods Africa initiative.
7. Support policy reform, technical consultations and documentation of regional commitments.
8. Facilitate high-level consultations, ministerial meetings, technical working groups and multi-stakeholder engagements.
9. Collaborate with governments, regional institutions, UN agencies, development partners, academia and private-sector stakeholders.
10. Provide technical recommendations to strengthen food quality, regulatory compliance and cross-border trade systems.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education:
A master’s degree in Nutrition, Partnerships, Advocacy, Development, Communications, Economics or a related field.

Professional Experience:
At least 10–15 years of progressively responsible experience in public nutrition, food systems, public health or related development programming, with substantial expertise in large-scale food fortification, universal salt iodization or micronutrient deficiency prevention.

Applicants should also demonstrate:

1. Experience supporting regional or multi-country programmes in Africa, preferably in West and Central Africa.
2. Experience working with ECOWAS, the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, governments, UN agencies or development partners.
3. Strong knowledge of food fortification, food standards, quality assurance, premix supply systems and regulatory compliance.
4. Experience in policy reform, standards development, regulatory frameworks or trade facilitation.
5. Experience facilitating high-level consultations and multi-stakeholder engagements.
6. Excellent communication, negotiation, diplomacy and stakeholder-management skills.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Fluency in written and spoken English and French is mandatory.

Fluency or working knowledge of Portuguese is an advantage.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Interested and qualified applicants should submit the following through UNICEF’s online Talent Management System (TMS):

1. An updated TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV).
2. A cover letter.
3. A separate financial proposal prepared strictly using UNICEF’s prescribed template.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply through the official UNICEF Careers portal:

Apply for UNICEF Consultancy – Job 596210

IMPORTANT NOTICE

The consultancy requires extensive professional experience and fluency in both English and French. Applicants should review the complete Terms of Reference and financial proposal template before applying.

UNICEF does not charge application, recruitment or processing fees.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 25 OCTOBER 2026