India: Senior Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition Technical Advisor, South Asia - Alive & Thrive (A&T)

PROJECT SUMMARY:

Alive & Thrive (A&T) is an initiative to save lives, prevent illness, and ensure healthy growth and development. Good nutrition in the first 1,000 days, from pregnancy to two years of age, is critical to enable all children to lead healthier and more productive lives. A&T is scaling up improved maternal, infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN) through large-scale programs in several countries in Asia and Africa and through strategic technical support and the dissemination of innovations, tools, and lessons worldwide. A&T is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the governments of Canada and Ireland. The initiative is managed by FHI 360.

In South Asia, A&T has field-based teams in Bangladesh and India that have been implementing MIYCN projects in-country since 2009 and 2015, respectively. Additionally, A&T is starting a new South Asia regional collaboration with UNICEF in 2018. Across these initiatives, A&T contributes to improved nutrition outcomes through:

1) Strategic technical assistance and advocacy to the governments of India and Bangladesh, both at the national- and state/division-level, to accelerate delivery and scale up of MIYCN interventions;

2) Implementation research to generate the evidence required to drive change at scale, notably in the areas of maternal, adolescent and urban nutrition; and

3) Technical support to create and promote a regional MIYCN policy platform among South Asian countries.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior MIYCN Technical Advisor, South Asia will provide technical MIYCN leadership and support to implement A&T’s activities in India and Bangladesh, and strengthen organizational and technical leadership for MIYCN in regional organizations, including the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). S/he will work in close collaboration with the Program Director, South Asia and the India and Bangladesh Country Directors as the principal technical advisor for A&T in the region.

S/he will be responsible for providing strategic high-level MIYCN technical assistance to national- and state/division-level government line ministries and missions and implementing partners to advance nutrition outcomes in India and Bangladesh. Areas for technical assistance include advising on the development and implementation of national MIYCN policies and programs, building the capacity of implementing partners on MIYCN service delivery, advising on the effective design and use of MIYCN social and behavior change (SBC) approaches, and delivering MIYCN technical support to state/division-level governments and their implementing partners.

The Senior MIYCN Technical Advisor, South Asia will advise on technical issues involved in the implementation of research projects in the two countries, notably regarding maternal, adolescent, and urban nutrition.

S/he will also provide technical input into the UNICEF-led formulation of regional landscape analyses, guidelines/frameworks and advocacy strategies and tools to address SAARC country needs, in close collaboration with UNICEF’s Regional Office for South Asia.

In coordination with the Program and Project Directors, the Senior MIYCN Technical Advisor, South Asia will also provide project representation and technical expertise at high-level meetings.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Strategic Planning:

• Support the Program Director, South Asia, and Country Directors in Bangladesh and India in the refinement of A&T’s strategy in India, Bangladesh and across South Asia;
• In collaboration with the India and Bangladesh Project Directors, provide high-level MIYCN technical assistance to national- and state-level government and implementing partners to drive the adoption of evidence-based policies, strategies and plans;
• Contribute to the development of annual work plans, planning documents, reports, and program impact pathways; and ensure their alignment with the project’s strategy and priorities; and
• In collaboration with the Program Director, South Asia and Country Directors in India and Bangladesh, ensure that A&T is well-positioned as a MIYCN thought leader in Bangladesh and India.

Technical Leadership:

• Ensure that A&T provides high quality and timely MIYCN technical assistance to national- and state/division-level government and implementing partners;

• Ensure technical activities are evidence-based, aligned with global best practices; and consistent with A&T’s priorities and areas of expertise;

• Represent and position A&T as a MIYCN thought leader at regional, national, state/division and international meetings;

• Develop and/or contribute written technical expertise to thought leadership pieces, concept notes, program plans, tools, materials, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, and SBC approaches, messages, materials, and tools;

• Ensure that state/division-level learning rises to inform national dialogue on MIYCN and foster cross-state/division dialogue; and

• Coach A&T team members at the regional and country levels on MIYCN technical issues.

Implementation:

• Develop and/or support the development of A&T relationships with regional, national and state government and non-government partners;

• Assist in the scoping and delivery of technical assistance to governments and partners;

• Provide technical input, leadership, and coordination for the design and implementation of all program components, particularly but not solely community-based elements (SBC, capacity building, advocacy, monitoring and learning);

• Oversee the delivery of technical assistance and implementation research activities at regional, national and state/division levels; and maintain close communication and coordination with the A&T staff and consultants;

• Ensure effective use of A&T policies and procedures regarding study design, procurement and communication, in consultation with A&T HQ.

• Other duties as assigned.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with a job.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• Master’s degree in one of the following or related fields: Medicine, Public Health, Human Nutrition, International Health, Behavior Change Communications or Behavioral Science.
• PhD or DrPH strongly preferred.

Experience:

• Typically requires 11+ years of experience in a specialized technical/medical field of study.
• Prefer 15 years of relevant experience required with at least 7 years in a senior technical leadership role providing technical input to a large scale international nutrition or public health project in a developing country (preferably India or Bangladesh).
• Expert knowledge of infant and young child feeding and maternal nutrition
• Extensive knowledge of nutrition indicators, especially MIYCN data collection, analysis, and reporting
• Extensive field experience in designing, implementing, monitoring and reporting on technical assistance and capacity building in more than one component of a public health nutrition program (e.g., advocacy, training, SBC)
• Oversight and/or design or program implementation and/or operations research of community activities
• Significant track record of publications in peer reviewed journals
• Recognition for thought leadership contribution in the area of MYICN

Skills:

• Ability to work independently, assess priorities, and manage a variety of activities while communicating, connecting, and collaborating with HQ and field office staff, subcontractors, and a broad coalition of government and NGO partners
• Strong interpersonal and diplomacy skills
• Outstanding organizational skills
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Excellent writing, editorial, and communication skills, including strong oral presentation skills
• Fluency in English required

Travel:

• Travel outside of duty station at least 25-50% time. Possible travel in US and/or Asia

This job description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.
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