Food Technologist (Complementary Foods) – National Individual Consultant, 12 months, (50% in person – 50% remote), Child Nutrition and Development, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Contract Duration : 12 months

Working arrangement: 50% Office Based 50% Remote + Travel

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.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

TERMS OF REFERENCE
UNICEF Tanzania, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT), Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (MoLF), and other key stakeholders, is working to strengthen food systems by supporting the development and scale-up of high-quality, nutritious complementary foods. This effort aligns with national nutrition priorities and global commitments to reduce child food poverty through sustainable and resilient food systems. The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between policy and practice by strengthening local production capacity and improving the availability of appropriate “first foods” for children aged 6 to 23 months.

To this end, UNICEF is seeking to engage a national consultant to provide technical assistance in the development, reformulation, and scale-up of nutritious complementary foods for children aged 6–23 months. The consultant will work closely with local producers, government institutions, and partners to ensure that products are affordable, safe, nutritionally adequate, and compliant with national regulations and international standards. The consultancy will also provide ongoing, hands-on support to local producers to strengthen quality assurance systems and ensure consistency in product development and production.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: Terms of Reference Food Technologist.pdf

Minimum requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree (required) or Master’s degree (preferred) in Food Science and Technology, Food Systems, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in food technology, nutritious food product development, or related fields.
• Experience in fortified foods, and food product development, preferably using locally available ingredients.
• Demonstrated experience working with local food producers, SMEs, cooperatives, and private sector actors in Tanzania.
• Knowledge of IYCN, complementary feeding, and basic food formulation.
• Understanding of local food systems, processing methods, and food safety standards and policies.
• Ability to provide practical technical support and training to producers and stakeholders.
• Strong coordination, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently in a multisectoral environment.
• Fluency in English and Swahili is required.
• Willingness to travel within Tanzania as needed.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):
• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (upload the Financial proposal TMC0001923.docx to be completed)

Remarks:

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.