CGIAR Research Initiative on Fruit and Vegetables

for Sustainable Healthy Diets (FRESH):

Qualitative study on food choices in Benin

Background

Healthy diets provide the nutrients needed for an active and healthy life. For fruits and vegetables (F&V), although recognized as essential food groups for a healthy diet, their low consumption remains a global problem. This challenge is exacerbated by the fact that diets in low- and middle-income countries are rapidly shifting toward greater consumption of ultra-processed foods, a shift that is driven by changing livelihoods and lifestyles, as well as the increased availability and commercialization of these less expensive types of foods. The FRESH initiative aims to improve the production and intake of fruit and vegetables to improve health and nutrition outcomes and promote healthy and sustainable diets.

Food choice is complex. It is driven not only by local traditions, producers, and energy needs, but also by aspirations, assimilation, adaptation, and the expression of group identity. Food choice is also influenced by availability and affordability, but also in taste, lifestyle, convenience, nutrition awareness, and policies. Navigating the why, who, how, and what food choice is embedded in a web of personal behaviors and socio-ecological factors that shape the activities of the food system. Understanding the factors that determine food choices is important to provide necessary guidance to policymakers and implementers at global and national levels to design interventions that meet the health and nutritional needs of the population.

Benin is classified by FAO as a low-income, food-deficit country. About 73.6% of households are food insecure (as measured by the Food Insecurity Experience Scale) and more than eighty percent (82.6%) of people are unable to afford a healthy diet. This situation is further aggravated by low dietary diversity. The latest Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of 2017-18 showed that only 28% of children aged 6 to 23 months meet the minimum dietary diversity. Among adolescents aged 13 to 17 years, the 2016 Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) showed that 10% of students had not eaten any fruit in the 30 days preceding the survey, and 8% had not eaten any vegetables. The same observation is observed among adults for whom, according to the latest report of the ‘Global Diet Quality Project’ of 2022, only 21% of the adult population have a diversified diet containing at least 5 different food groups.

FRESH is seeking a firm or individual to lead a team to conduct a qualitative study to understand the drivers of food choice among adult women of reproductive age (WRA, 18-49 years of age) and adolescents aged 12 to 18 years, focusing on behaviors related to fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption in Benin. Data collection will involve interviews, focus group discussions, and shop-alongs. The responsibilities will include seeking administrative approvals, hiring data collectors, organizing training for data collectors, all field logistics and supervision for data collection, and submitting transcripts of interviews and focus group discussions.

Required qualifications

• Bachelors or master’s in public health, epidemiology, sociology, international development, nutrition, or other closely related field
• Ability to hire data collectors
• Demonstrated experience conducting data collection and leading teams in data collection
• Experience conducting health and nutrition research in West Africa
• Flexibility, adaptability, and ability to multitask, focus, and work effectively.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently while establishing strong working relationships.
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy of work.
• Excellent communication skills; proficiency in English and French

Responsibilities

• Submit and receive IRB approval in Benin
• Develop data collectors’ training plan
• Hire data collectors
• Organize data collection logistics
• Understand administrative structures in Benin and seek required approvals to conduct study
• Compilation and submission of data collected (audio files and transcripts)
• Data collection report

Deliverables (to be confirmed)

• Local IRB approval
• Data collection report
• Audio files and transcripts

Timeframe/duration of work

November/December 2024

Application criteria:

• For individuals: please provide your daily rate when submitting your online application for consideration.
• For firms: please submit a technical and financial proposal with your online application, including CV/resume of staff.