Evaluation of the FRESH Approach under Area of Work 3 (AoW3)
of the CGIAR Better Diets and Nutrition science program:
Understanding Diet and Consumer Food Choices in Sri Lanka
Background and justification
Suboptimal diets are a primary cause of malnutrition and the leading cause of diseases worldwide. Improving diets, including increasing fruit and vegetable intake, could save one in five lives lost annually. Micronutrients and dietary fiber are essential for health; micronutrients obtained from fruits and vegetables have a lower environmental footprint than from other foods, making fruits and vegetables essential to healthy and sustainable diets.
Globally, fruit and vegetable intake are far below recommended levels, however, the extent and nature of the problem is poorly understood due to insufficient dietary data, especially in low- and middle-income countries. For example, in Sri Lanka, dietary risks constitute the fourth driver of total deaths and total disability adjusted life-years. Additionally, the Sri Lankan diet is rich in starchy foods, but low in fruits and vegetables. In fact, the general population does not meet the Food Based Dietary Guidelines for Sri Lankans and consume less than the recommended 3 portions of vegetables and 2 portions of fruits daily.
Increasing fruit and vegetable intake will require starting with consumers, understanding dietary patterns, and addressing desirability, accessibility, affordability, and availability barriers through cost-effective solutions. Solutions must take a holistic end-to-end approach that starts from intake and works back through the food system to improve accessibility of fruits and vegetables and increase year-round supply of a diverse range of safe, affordable, nutrient-dense vegetables.
IFPRI is engaging in several emerging workstreams with diet and nutrition endpoints; this includes the Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets (FRESH) initiative under Area of Work 3 of the CGIAR Better Diets and Nutrition science program. One of the FRESH focal countries is Sri Lanka. Within the country, FRESH activities involve undertaking various qualitative and quantitative research aiming to understand drivers of fruit and vegetable intake and to increase fruit and vegetable intake within a target population. The consultant, based in Sri Lanka, will be involved in some short-term activities that will contribute to the broader FRESH initiative implemented in country.
Objectives
The objective of this consultancy is to support the implementation and analysis of a mixed-methods evaluation under the FRESH initiative under Area of Work 3 of the CGIAR Better Diets and Nutrition science program in Sri Lanka. The consultant will contribute to strengthening the evidence base on dietary patterns and drivers of fruit and vegetable consumption, helping inform strategies to promote healthy diets.
Scope of Work
The consultant will undertake the following tasks:
Quantitative Data Support Assist in data cleaning and analysis of 24-hour dietary recall data.Conduct descriptive and bivariate analysis, and support interpretation of findings.Qualitative Data Support Assist with data entry, coding, and thematic analysis of focus group discussions.Support triangulation of qualitative and quantitative findings for reporting.Manuscript and Report Preparation Contribute to the drafting of research manuscripts.Provide inputs to internal reports and presentations.Coordination and Communication Participate in regular check-ins with IFPRI staff.Maintain timely communication and version tracking of shared documents.Deliverables
Cleaned datasets and basic analysis outputs for the 24-hour recall data.Coded qualitative transcripts with summary memos.Contributions to one or more manuscript drafts.Brief summary reports or slide decks, as requested by the IFPRI team.Duration and Timeline
The consultancy is expected to last approximately 120 days, ending in December 2025.Key deliverables will be expected on a rolling basis as tasks get completed.Required Qualifications
Bachelorโs or Masterโs degree in nutrition, public health, or a related field.Experience analyzing dietary recall data and familiarity with relevant statistical methods.Prior experience working with qualitative data, particularly focus group discussions.Ability to write clearly for research publications and reports.Fluency in English; knowledge of Sinhala or Tamil is an asset.Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.Technical Offer
Applicants should submit:
Updated CV with relevant prior experience.At least one writing sample (e.g., publication, report, or presentation).Expected daily or monthly rate in USD.