Consultant to provide technical support to advance large-scale food fortification and iodine nutrition agenda in WCAR

The consultant will deliver high-level technical, policy and coordination outputs to support Regional Economic Communities and Member States in advancing large-scale food fortification (LSFF) and universal salt iodization (USI) in West and Central Africa. The role includes preparing technical products, frameworks, and supporting regional commitments and policy reforms.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a defined package of high-level technical, policy and coordination outputs to support Regional Economic Communities and Member States in accelerating progress on LSFF and USI.
• Prepare technical products and draft frameworks to support RECs efforts related to strengthening institutional capacity, advancing regional standards and regulatory frameworks.
• Prepare operational recommendations in selected Member States and consultation outputs supporting regional LSFF commitments including USI.
• Contribute to the broader food systems transformation agenda, including the First Foods Africa initiative.
• Deliver technical outputs supporting policy reform, standards harmonization, technical specifications for strengthening ECOQMARK and monitoring systems.
• Draft country-specific implementation roadmaps for institutional review of LSFF programmes including USI.

Requirements

• Masters in Nutrition, Partnerships, Advocacy, Development, Communications, Economics
• 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 Africa, preferably within WCAR.
• Proven track record of working with inter-governmental bodies such as ECOWAS, African Union, 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.
• 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
• Fluency in written and oral French and English is required.
• Fluency or working knowledge of Portuguese is desirable.
• Previous experience working with RECs or any other African Regional Economic Communities is desirable.
• Experience in West African francophone countries is desirable.

Skills

• Large-Scale Food Fortification
• Universal Salt Iodization
• Micronutrient deficiency prevention
• Public nutrition programming
• Food Systems Expertise
• Policy Reform Leadership
• Standards Development
• Regulatory Frameworks
• Trade Facilitation
• Programme Implementation
• High-level consultation facilitation
• Ministerial meeting planning
• Working Group Facilitation
• Multi-stakeholder Platform Design
• Stakeholder Management
• Negotiation
• Diplomacy
• Food Standards
• Quality Assurance Systems
• Quality Control Systems
• Premix supply systems
• Regulatory Monitoring
• Compliance Mechanisms
• Regional trade systems
• Certification Frameworks
• Cross-border regulatory frameworks

Languages

English, French, Portuguese