Volunteer, Nutrition-Rapid Systematic Review

Scope of Work

Global reductions in food aid for undernutrition are already resulting in the suspension of wasting treatment services and severe constraints in the availability of lifesaving therapeutic products. These disruptions are being reported anecdotally across multiple countries, but there is currently no systematic documentation of their scale. The impact looks set to increase as climate-related shocks, protracted conflict, and economic instability converge to drive higher levels of acute malnutrition and further strain already fragile systems. Yet the global nutrition community still lacks a trusted, consensus-driven estimate of what these service losses mean for child survival, as well as their wider health and developmental consequences. Partners within the Global Nutrition Cluster (GNC) have recently formed a technical Task Force to develop a clear and trusted understanding of the consequences of losing access to wasting treatment services. The objective of this rapid systematic review is to generate transparent, trusted, and consensus-driven estimates of the impact of losing access to wasting treatment services on mortality and other outcomes that can directly inform promotion, resource mobilization, and financing decisions.

Structured searches across academic databases, grey literature sources, and technical agency platforms will identify all relevant studies and program documents. 
The Volunteer will support with:
- title and abstract screening of identified studies and program documents, 
- after that initial review a full text review to determine eligibility
- Data extraction of the finalised bibliography with key variables including case definitions, methodological approaches, contextual factors, and outcomes (as defined by the authors, with a focus on mortality, health, nutrition and developmental outcomes)

The volunteer will: 
- Develop foundational skills in evidence synthesis, including title/abstract screening and full‑text eligibility assessment using standardized criteria.
- Strengthen competencies in critical appraisal, learning to identify methodological strengths, weaknesses, and potential biases in diverse study designs.
- Gain practical experience with systematic review tools (Covidence) and data extraction templates, 
- Build the ability to extract and code data systematically, including case definitions, methodological approaches, contextual factors, and reported outcomes related to mortality, health, nutrition, and development.

Minimum qualifications

• Currently enrolled in, or recently completed, a Master’s program in Public Health, Nutrition, Epidemiology, Global Health, Social Sciences, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience conducting literature reviews—preferably systematic, scoping, or narrative reviews.
• Experience with title and abstract screening and full‑text review, ideally using screening tools such as Covidence, 
• Familiarity with variables such as case definitions, methodological approaches, contextual factors, and health, nutrition, or developmental outcomes.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy during screening and coding.
• Ability to work independently and maintain progress on defined timelines.