Call for experts – WHO initiative to estimate the global burden of foodborne diseases

Deadline: 31 October 2020

Background

Foodborne diseases are a major cause of human morbidity and mortality. According to the global estimates from the WHO Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG 2007-2015), foodborne diseases caused 600 million illnesses, 420,000 deaths, and 33 million Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) in 2010. Foodborne diseases disproportionately adversely impact children. According to the WHO FERG estimates, although children <5 years of age represent only 9% of the global population, 40% of the foodborne disease burden is borne by children in this age group. There are also considerable differences in the burden of foodborne diseases among sub-regions with the highest burden of per population observed in Africa.

The First International Conference on Food Safety (Addis Ababa, 12–13 February 2019) and the International Forum on Food Safety and Trade (Geneva, 23–24 April 2019) reviewed the status of food safety globally and identified new and emerging challenges. One of such challenges highlighted in these conferences was the importance of improving the evidence base for food safety decisions through systematic monitoring of foodborne hazards, surveillance of foodborne diseases, and an estimation of the public health and economic burden of foodborne diseases.2

At 146th Session of the WHO Executive Board meeting held on 3-8 February 2020 in Geneva, Switzerland, the Board discussed food safety under the agenda item 19, “Accelerating efforts on food safety” (EB146/25) and recommended the adoption of a resolution on “Strengthening efforts on food safety”(WHA73.5). The Seventy-third World Health Assembly adopted this resolution, which requests  WHO to monitor regularly, and to report to Member States on, the global burden of foodborne diseases at national, regional and international levels, and in particular to prepare, by 2025, a new report on the global burden of foodborne diseases with up-to-date estimates of global foodborne disease incidence, mortality and disease burden in terms of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).

Based on the above, high interests from scientific communities, and WHO’s new vision to show a measurable impact in countries, WHO plans to update the global burden of foodborne diseases, and aims to deliver a second global report by 2025

Objective of the call

The objective of the call is to identify qualified experts who are willing to serve as a member of the advisory group, “Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG)”, for an initiative to estimate the global burden of foodborne diseases. Terms of reference of the group are to: 

  • Advise WHO on the methodology to estimate the global burden of foodborne diseases
  • Review epidemiological data on foodborne disease burden
  • Identify technical gaps and priorities for research activities
  • Make recommendations to WHO on the establishment of task forces and other means through which scientific and technical matters are addressed
  • Advise WHO on the development of and the methodology to monitor food safety-related indicator(s) 

Successful candidates should meet most or all of the following qualifications: 

  • Hold an advanced university degree(s) in epidemiology, data science, health or bio-statistics, food science, risk assessment of chemicals or pathogens, knowledge translation;
  • Scientific excellence evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals;
  • Professional experience in burden3 of disease study in foodborne diseases, infectious diseases, or any other diseases either at sub-national, national, regional or global level;
  • Practical experiences in epidemiological modelling;
  • Ability to converse in and document in English;
  • Ability to prepare documents and spreadsheets in electronic format;
  • Ability to work with people from different backgrounds, as well as with scientists from various disciplines.

Application

Interested applicants are invited to fill out the online application form and submit a CV (no more than 10 pages in A4 format), filled Declaration of Interest (DoI), and a list of publications, no later than 31 October 2020 (CET). An applicant shall be made available by his or her employer for engaging in this WHO work and be released for an international meeting at least once a year and quarterly teleconferences. 

Criteria and process for selection of experts

The criteria for the selection of experts are the basic and essential qualifications together with the proven competence and expertise in the various areas as described above. The curriculum vitae of the applicants will be reviewed on the basis of the criteria listed above by a selection panel of three or more individuals including at least one independent, internationally recognized expert appointed by WHO. The purpose of the panel review is to determine whether the applicants meet all the essential requirements. The highly qualified individuals selected from the applicants will be used by WHO to invite experts to meetings and/or expert consultations. In selecting experts consideration will also be given, in addition to scientific and technical excellence, diversity and complementarities of scientific backgrounds, representation from all geographic regions including developing and developed countries as well as gender. 

Appointment of experts

Experts will be selected in their individual capacity on the basis of their expert knowledge to give advice on specific topics. The term "personal capacity" means that the expert is expressly expected to serve in his/her capacity as an independent expert rather than a representative of his or her employer. The views of the independent expert would not necessarily be reflective of any views and positions of his or her employer. All experts will be required to complete a Declarations of Interest form before participation in any expert meetings can be confirmed.

Experts do not receive any remuneration from the Organization. However, when attending meetings by invitation of WHO, they shall be entitled, in accordance with the administrative regulations of the Organization, to reimbursement of travelling expenses and to a daily living allowance during such meetings.

Applications should be submitted by 31 October 2020 to:

WHO focal point

Yuki Minato
WHO secretariat for the initiative to estimate the global burden of foodborne diseases
Department of Nutrition and Food Safety
World Health Organization 
Email: fbd-burden@who.int

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Webinar series – Nutrition in a Digital World

5 November 2020 - Episode 1
19 November 2020 - Episode 2 
3 December 2020 - Episode 3  (Register Here )
17 December 2020 - Episode 4 (Register Here)

Event flyer

The Internet and other digital technologies are drastically changing the world we live in. Information and data are being produced, shared, used and consumed at a continuously accelerating speed, and people and services are more and more inter-connected.

Digital technologies are being applied throughout the food system, influencing the ways people interact with it and potentially redefining their food environments. The digital world potentially affects not only underlying and immediate causes of malnutrition in all its forms, but also its root causes, and our ability to address them. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has yet again illustrated this.

The webinar series “Nutrition in a Digital World”, comprises four thematic sessions promoted by UNSCN/UN Nutrition that aim to raise awareness on the risk-benefit duality of the digital world in improving nutrition, helping achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

This webinar series intends to continue the conversation about this quickly evolving topic, building upon UNSCN 45 - Nutrition in the Digital World, published in July 2020. 

 

EPISODE ONE | Thursday, 5 November 2020, 13:00-14:30 (CET) - The challenges of digital food marketing

Moderator: Stineke Oenema, UNSCN Coordinator
Panelists: Kathryn Backholer, Kremlin Wickramasinghe, Vivica Kraak, Joao Breda, George Rapsomanikis

EPISODE TWO | Thursday, 19 November 2020, 15:00-16:30 (CET) - The opportunities and risks of digital technologies in nutrition behaviour change and capacity building

Moderator: Sabrina Ionata Granhein, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
Panelists: Inka Barnett, Fernanda Ferreira dos Santos, Archana Sarkar, Alessandro R Marcon, Srujith Lingala

EPISODE THREE | Thursday, 3rd December 2020, 17:00-18:30 (CET) - Digital solutions for data driven decision making, to help improve nutrition of vulnerable groups and to address inequalities 

Register Here

Moderator: Denise Coitinho, UNSCN Senior Consultant
Panelists: Joseph Tinarwo, Nathaniel Jensen, Niyati Parekh, Zeina Makhoul, George Kent

EPISODE FOUR | Thursday, 17 December 2020, 14:00-15:30 (CET) - Digital solutions for nutrition sensitive programming

Register Here

Moderator: Stineke Oenema, UNSCN Coordinator
Panelists: Raul Saenz, Bin Liu, Jenny Walton, Susan Keino, George Rapsomanikis

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IAEA’s Nutritional and Health-Related Environmental Studies Newsletter – Issue 12 (August 2020)

The 12th Nutritional & Health-related Environmental Studies Newsletter has a special focus on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It includes suggestions for conducting IAEA nutrition studies during the COVID-19 pandemic and reflections from a researcher at our Collaborating Centre in Bangalore, India, on stalled research activities due to COVID-19. In addition, don’t miss the UNSCN contribution on the impact of COVID-19 on food systems and food environments including useful links to available resources.

Check also the news on other activities, new publications and success stories.

You can download you copy here.

 

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Evidence and Guidance Note on the Use of CVA for Nutrition Outcomes

The main purpose of this document is to provide the nutrition sector with evidence and guidance to more routinely consider and, if appropriate, use cash and voucher modalities in nutrition in emergencies response in order to better address the nutritional needs of vulnerable populations. It consists of the following parts:

Part 1 – Evidence Note: Provides an overview on the evidence base on the use of CVA for nutrition outcomes in emergencies and identifies the most common approaches and best practice to integrate CVA in nutrition response.

Part 2 – Guidance Note: Provides operational guidance on considering and using cash and voucher modalities in nutrition in emergencies response. It further provides entry points on how to improve the potential of household cash transfers, including multipurpose cash to contribute to nutrition outcomes. It concludes with recommendations to the nutrition sector and other humanitarian actors on key actions that are required to more routinely consider and, if appropriate, use cash and voucher modalities in nutrition in emergencies. The Guidance Note draws from key findings in the Evidence Note and includes cross-references relevant sections. It can however be read as a stand-alone document.

Launch event

 

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Webinar: Strengthening Food Systems in Fragile Contexts

Monday August 3rd, 2020 - 2.00PM CEST/1.00PM BST/08.00 US EST 

To join the webinar please click here 

The Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition is pleased to launch its latest policy brief, Strengthening food systems in fragile contexts. 
 
This policy brief seeks to stimulate international development organisations, governments, and other stakeholders, to realign policies within fragile contexts to ensure that diet and nutrition are improved, whilst also building more sustainable, resilient food systems. Currently, 1.8 billion people live in fragile regions with high societal, economic, environmental, political and security risks. By 2030, according to OECD, this is projected to reach 2.3 billion, and will include 80% of the global poor. In 2020 fragile states were disproportionately affected by food crises. 

Join the Global Panel and WFP for a panel of global food systems and nutrition experts who will discuss policy priorities for strengthening food systems in humanitarian crises. 

Follow the conversation on Twitter using #Food Systems in #FragileContexts during the webinar.

More info and agenda available here

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Strengthened Action on Nutrition in the COVID-19 Response

Putting healthy, affordable and sustainable diets at the heart of a human-rights based response to COVID-19

This narrative was created by members of the UN Interagency Task Force on NCD’s Nutrition Working Group. Members represent UN agencies and partner organisations who work collaboratively to raise awareness and strengthen action towards reducing all forms of malnutrition and diet-related NCDs. 

Read the full advocacy piece here.

The narrative advocates for strengthened action on nutrition to stem the rising food and nutrition crisis that threatens to violate human rights and worsen what is already the leading cause of ill health globally – malnutrition.

It details both the pathways through which the impact of COVID-19 is likely to impact on nutrition, as well as providing a list of areas where UN agencies and their inter-governmental organization partners have focused attention to advance the nutrition agenda and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on malnutrition.

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Webinar: Building Forward Better with Aquatic Foods

Wednesday, 29 July 2020 - 16:30-18:00 Rome time

Register here

COVID-19 has exasperated efforts to improve food and nutrition security around the world, demonstrating our food systems are not prepared to withstand shocks. As research agendas pivot to COVID-19 response, recovery and resilience; our challenge is not to restore the old food systems but to transform them to do better for people and planet. 
 
Aquatic foods must be part of this solution. They are highly regenerative and naturally rich in the micronutrients that humans need. Despite their importance, aquatic food systems are frequently overlooked in important policy and investment decisions due to the critical gaps in knowledge needed to address the complex challenges set out in the 2030 global sustainable development agenda, made now even more urgent by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  
This discussion forum, hosted by WorldFish and partners, seeks to build a concerted, science-based approach to ensure aquatic foods are an integral part of the response and recovery to COVID-19 and the transformation of global food systems towards healthier and sustainable diets. 

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CFS-FSC Webinar: Making Food Systems Work for Healthy Diets

28 July 2020, 2:00 to 3:30pm (Rome time)

Through an interactive discussion, this event will offer participants an opportunity to learn about the work of the gFSC and the initiatives under the CFS, especially the relevance of the Guidelines. Discussions will touch on ways to promote their use in shaping policies and coordinated action at country and regional levels.

Panelists will provide an overview of the work of the CFS and its role in the global governance of food security and nutrition, present the content of the Guidelines with particular attention to the policy recommendations included in Part 3, and present ideas on how UN agencies and bodies could promote their implementation.

More specifically, the webinar will:

  • Familiarize participants with the CFS and showcase examples of its processes and products;
  • Introduce participants to the current version of the Guidelines, its core messages and overarching goals;
  • Stimulate a discussion on the potential role of the Guidelines in steering policymakers and relevant stakeholders when designing policies, laws, regulatory frameworks, strategies, and programmes at local, country, and regional levels;
  • Reflect on potential areas of collaboration between the CFS and the gFSC, with particular attention to the potential use of CFS products – and more specifically the Guidelines – in support of the gFSC’s coordination activities, strategic programming and operations.

Flyer

Concept note

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Webinar: Critical Action for Nutrition Equity

Thrusday 23rd July, 10:00-11:30 (EDT)

Register here

Recent developments – including the COVID-19 pandemic – have highlighted that our food and nutrition systems have not treated populations in developed or developing countries equally. Those suffering from the outcome of inequities - the poor, women and children, minorities, refugees and those living in fragile or conflict states - are disproportionately experiencing the negative consequences of hunger and undernourishment. 

Today, the ultimate outcome of this disparity is glaring. Globally, 1 out of 9 people is hungry or undernourished while 1 out of 3 is overweight or obese. Many countries are experiencing the double burden of malnutrition, where undernutrition coexists with overweight, obesity and other diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCD’s).

Join FAO North America and the Alliance to End Hunger for a panel of global food and nutrition experts who will discuss the effects of inequitable food systems on nutrition and share sustainable solutions in both policy and practice.

Join the conversation on Twitter using the #NutritionEquity during the webinar. 

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Food Systems Summit (FSS) – Programme Officer, P3

Duty Station: Rome, Italy

Deadline for application: 11 August 2020

Vacancy announcement

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Senior Technical Specialist (Social Inclusion – Nutrition) (P-4), IFAD

Duty Station: Regional IFAD office in East and Southern Africa

Deadline for application: 18 March 2021

Vacancy announcement

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Webinar: Human mobility across the urban-rural continuum in the time of COVID-19

21 July, from 16:00 to 17:30 East Africa Time (EAT)

Register here

This webinar is part of a series of webinars (PLG Webinar Series and URL Webinar Series) that aim to contribute to the thinking processes on integrated territorial development and increase understanding how the impacts of Covid-19 can advance opportunities to reorient policies and development practices and to catalyze territorial approaches and promote transformative change. Together with relevant partners, we aim to co-develop a deeper understanding and exchange on how stronger urban-rural linkages and other territorial approaches – such as food systems, landscape and ecosystem approaches – can become an integral part of the Covid-19 recovery responses and global long-term sustainable actions.

Click here to find the agenda and more information on the webinar.

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