STC – to support WHO in the Western Pacific to find ways to effectively and responsibly engage the food and beverage industry, including importers and distributors, for positive public health outcomes

BACKGROUND

The ongoing burden of poor nutrition and diet-related NCDs calls for concerted action. Public-private partnerships for addressing all forms of malnutrition (SDG2) have gained great attention and recognition among the global public health community in the last two decades. For the Future, the vision for WHO’s work with Member States and partners in the Western Pacific, acknowledges that “major gains in health and well-being will stem from action outside the health sector… particularly with regard to NCDs”. However, the private sector has competing interests outside of the health sector that may threaten public health.

The private sector has shown it can play a positive role in stemming the ongoing burden of undernutrition, obesity and diet-related chronic diseases. Concrete actions taken by the food and beverage industry include global public commitments to address food reformulation, food fortification, consumer information, responsible marketing, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and public-private partnerships. However, managing these partnerships requires careful consideration of risk and a unique set of skills that are less familiar to many Member States.

This project is an initial, exploratory step in reviewing how WHO can support Member States to effectively engage and partner with the private sector for public health gains, while minimizing risk, using the food and beverage industry as an example. It seeks to learn from positive experiences that some Member States in the Western Pacific have had in engaging other sectors, as well as the challenges that have been faced.

Building on these lessons learned, this project will then identify key opportunities across the Region where successful public-private partnerships between governments and the food and beverage industry could be explored. This may potentially also include partnerships with civil society organizations.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The consultant will support WHO in the Western Pacific to find ways to effectively and responsibly engage the food and beverage industry, including importers and distributors, for positive public health outcomes. They will help to review examples of public-private partnerships in nutrition to support the development of an evidence base to assist Member States in their own engagement. Based on this review of best practice, they will help to develop recommendations and actions that can be taken by ministers of health and their respective governments, as well as other sectors, to advance efforts to address poor nutrition and the burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Region.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT and METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

Under the supervision of the Technical Officer, External Relations & Partnerships Unit, the consultant is expected to work either at the WHO Regional Office for Western Pacific in Manila, Philippines, or remotely.

Output/s

Output 1: Develop an evidence base on public-private partnerships in nutrition

• • Deliverable 1.1: Conduct a review of past or current public-private partnerships in nutrition and other relevant areas. Use existing literature as well as consultations with practitioners. Examine the challenges, lessons learned and identify positive practices that can be applied.

Output 2: Planning for a potential nutrition partnership project in the Western Pacific to be implemented in 2022

• • Deliverable 2.1 Develop a mapping of key food and beverage industry (growers, suppliers, manufacturers, producers, distributors, direct sales, etc) in the Region and their current and potential contribution to achieving SDGs.
• • Deliverable 2.2: Conduct a series of informal consultations with stakeholders (national and local governments, food and beverage industry, civil society) to advocate and identify scope of collaboration to contribute to global targets of SDGs.
• • Deliverable 2.3: Develop a project proposal for a partnership with the private sector, including recommendations and actions that can be taken by ministers of health, their respective governments and other sectors, to advance efforts to address malnutrition in the Region and achieve positive outcomes for nutrition, based on the learnings from deliverables 1.1, 2.1 and 2.2.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Advanced Degree in political science, international relations, public health, or a related field

EXPERIENCE

Essential

• At least seven years of related experience, working at the national or international level, in the public or private sector, on health-related programmes
• Proven experience in forging effective partnerships between the public and private sectors
• Experience in developing and managing projects
• Experience in developing analysis

Desirable

Experience in the Western Pacific, and particularly the Pacific

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Effective negotiation, facilitation and consensus building skills
• Experience in effectively engaging the private sector
• Strong writing skills
• Experience in research

LANGUAGE

Expert knowledge of English

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Duration of contract: 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV and a cover letter to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 12 September 2021. 

The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily consultancy fee and availability.

Please use Tender Notice No. 140943 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.