Consultant (short term) - Support for pricing analysis on affordable nutrition

Organization

ATNi (Access to Nutrition initiative) is a global nonprofit actively challenging the food industry, investors and policymakers to shape healthier food systems. We analyse and translate data into actionable insights, driving partnerships and innovations for market transformation so that all people have access to nutritious and sustainable food. ATNi is registered in the Netherlands with 25 staff and dozens of consultants around the world. For more information on ATNi, please visit our website www.accesstonutrition.org.

Research project: 2025 Retail Assessment

In 2025, ATNi will publish its first global Retail Assessment, providing a comprehensive analysis of retail environments across high-income (HIC), upper-middle-income (UMIC), and lower-middle-income (LMIC) countries. This research will examine the retail sector, focusing on governance structures, consumer reach, and the regulatory policies shaping retail food environments. It will assess retailers’ performance in offering nutritious private-label products and their strategies for marketing healthier food choices. Additionally, the research aims to investigate the affordability of healthier foods, including the pricing strategies retailers employ. Furthermore, the study will identify effective policy interventions and collaborative approaches that incentivise retailers to improve make nutritious food more affordable and accessible, drawing insights from successful models across different income settings.

Specific research objective: Pricing analysis

As part of the overall objectives outlined above, ATNi aims to investigate the (relative) affordability of healthier food options compared to less healthier options, using data gathered from its Retail Assessment. The analysis, where feasible, will be carried out at the portfolio, product category, and brand levels, taking into account the difference between branded products and private labels. The following questions will guide this analysis:

• What is the relative affordability of  packaged foods adjusted by Purchasing Power Parity (PP) for LMICs, UMICs and HICs?

• Are healthier packaged foods[1] more or less affordable than unhealthier packaged foods in LMICs, UMICs or HICs?

Through this analysis, ATNi will develop a model for evaluating food product affordability by comparing prices (of selected products and/or baskets of products) in relation to income levels, purchasing power parity (PPP), and other economic indicators across different regions and countries. The findings will offer insights into the absolute and relative affordability of healthier food options across markets with varying income levels (HICs, UMICs, LMICs), providing a basis for recommendations for retailers and policymakers.

[1] The Product Profile is an independent assessment of the nutritional quality of companies’ product portfolios. For this purpose, ATNi uses the Health Star Rating (HSR) model, which rates foods from 0.5 to 5.0 based on their nutritional quality. ATNi uses the threshold of 3.5 stars or more to classify products as generally healthy.

The role and candidate profile

To support this specific research objective, we are hiring a Pricing Consultant with expertise in working with complex datasets and a strong background in mathematics, statistics, and/or affordability analysis. The consultant will assist in designing the analysis, assessing feasibility, running the analysis, and interpreting the results.

Responsibilities

1.      Design affordability analysis framework

• Define methodologies to assess the absolute or relative affordability of healthier food options.

• Determine with the ATNi team a workable product scope (products/ baskets) and key affordability indicators.

• Develop a model that can be applied across multiple markets (HICs, UMICs, LMICs).

2.      Assess feasibility and data availability

• Review existing ATNi and external data sources to determine feasibility.

• Identify key gaps and potential challenges in conducting the affordability analysis.

• Propose solutions for addressing data limitations.

3.      Develop affordability model:

a. Methodologies and model design should include:

• Price Comparisons: Analyse food prices across different countries and income groups.

• Affordability Index: Compute the ratio of food prices to income, adjusted by PPP.

• Statistical Analysis & Machine Learning: Use regression models, clustering, or other data science techniques to identify patterns in affordability.

b.  Validation methods of the model can include: accuracy and performance metrics, robustness checks, etc.

4.      Conduct affordability analysis

a. Work with available datasets to assess the affordability of healthier food options in different retail environments.

b.  Apply the affordability model to analyse pricing trends and market structures:

• Compare affordability metrics across retailers and geographies.

• Measure affordability scores for food categories/ food baskets across countries.

5.      Interpret findings and provide insights

• Synthesize results into meaningful insights and trend including data visualization

• Provide recommendations on improving affordability for key stakeholders, including retailers, policymakers, and investors.

Support the development of reports and presentations to communicate findings.

Scope of Work

1. Desk-based research on affordability methodologies and best practices.

2. Engagement with team throughout to refine methodology and validate findings.

3. Data cleaning, data preparation and statistical analysis using appropriate software.

4. Preparation of a final report with the methodology, results (incl. visualisations), recommendations and implications for the retail sector.

Data input

1. Provided by ATNi:

• Via Pricing data provided by Euromonitor International.

• Product healthiness data from Nutrient Profiling using the Health Star Rating, NutriScore, UK NPM and WHO Euro models.

2. Other sources can include:

• Household income levels across different socioeconomic groups.

• PPP data for cross-country comparison.

• Consumer price indices (CPI) for inflation adjustment.

Key deliverables and timeline

1. Affordability analysis framework and feasibility report (mid-May)

2. Affordability model including well-documented code and model files preferably in Python or R; Dataset structure and preprocessing guide; Guidelines for adapting the model to new datasets; Validation framework for testing in a new context; Deployment and integration instructions (June)

3. Affordability Analysis Dataset (June-July)

4. Interim Findings Presentation (September)

5. Final report (October)

ATNi resources

These sources show the work conducted so far on nutrient profiling

Product Profile documents Global Index 2024 (healthiness data on 52.000 products by 30 global manufacturers sold in 25 countries)

• ATNi_GI_category_product_profile_B1_final.pdf

• 2024-Global-PP_FINAL_6-Nov-2024.pdf

• ATNi dashboard

Qualifications & Experience

• Advanced degree in economics, statistics, mathematics, data science, or a related field.

• Proven experience in pricing analysis, affordability assessments, or similar analytical projects.

• Expertise in working with complex datasets, including experience with statistical software (e.g., R, Python, STATA, or similar).

• Strong understanding of global retail environments, particularly in food markets.

• Ability to communicate complex findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Experience working in multi-country research projects, particularly in HICs, UMICs, and LMICs, is desirable.

Selection Process:

• Shortlisted applicants will be asked to submit:

• a brief proposal outlining their approach including a budget proposal, which they will submit in writing (max. 2 pages) and present to the team via an online meeting (5-min pitch).

• a detailed fee percentage proposal. The final budget amount will have to be approved by the organisation prior to starting the project.

• Final selection will be based on demonstrated experience, technical expertise, ability to communicate complex findings clearly and alignment with the team’s objectives and values.

Diversity and Inclusion

ATNi is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the organization's policy to recruit, hire, train, and promote people in all job titles without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that diversity and inclusion are driving forces in the success of our organization.