Technical Advisor (Nutrition Sensitive Interventions) Bauchi, supervising Gombe and Taraba states

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1 TITLE: REPORTS TO: LOCATION: Technical Advisor (Nutrition Sensitive Interventions) Project Manager, CARING Project Bauchi, supervising Gombe and Taraba states DURATION: 4 years: July 1 st 2016 to June 30 th 2020 INTRODUCTION Established in 1970, Africare is one of the most experienced and largest African- American led non-profit international development organizations providing development assistance to and working exclusively in Africa. We have worked in 36 African countries and are currently operating in 14. Africare has been working in Nigeria since 1978 and has substantial experience in collaborating with the private sector, government at national and sub-national level as well as community stakeholders to deliver community-based programming to hard-to-reach vulnerable populations. Africare centers its development approach on community engagement, capacity building, locally-driven behaviour change and building innovative publicprivate partnerships in the areas of agriculture and health- specifically economic development; nutrition; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), women s empowerment and youth engagement. Africare will serve as lead partner in the proposed consortium program, CARING (Community Action Response to Improve Nutrition and Growth for Northern Nigeria) which aims to improve nutritional outcomes in Northern Nigeria by reaching one million vulnerable households with nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive interventions. CARING will target 3 North Eastern states namely Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba where the program will seek to increase the quality and quantity of CMAM services in addition to promoting improved optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF), hygiene practices and micronutrient supplementation; all of which will be delivered via specified channels at the health facility and community levels. The Technical Advisor (Nutrition Sensitive Interventions) will be responsible for providing technical support to local partners to improve household dietary diversity and incomes through improved food security and livelihoods programs aimed at

2 empowerment, enhanced productivity and income generation. To ensure improved household dietary diversity and improved income through IGA the Technical Advisor for nutrition sensitive interventions will support other partners and stakeholders in the design, implementation, monitoring, and improvement of social safety nets (e.g. cash transfers, savings and loans, cooperatives), enhanced homestead food production and education in savings/financial/business/marketing skill development and behaviour change communication strategies and approaches that promote nutrition-sensitive agricultural production. S/he will provide the highest level of technical leadership and program quality assurance in the 3 targeted states. SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES Under the guidance and supervision of the Project Manager, the Technical Advisor (Nutrition Sensitive Interventions) will carry out the following responsibilities: In line with program goals, ensure the successful roll out of Africare s community care model to drive interventions that improve nutritional and health outcomes in three target states Design and deliver realistic and pragmatic nutrition strategies and programming interventions that will lead to positive nutritional and health outcomes, with a specific focus on pregnant and lactating women and children under five years of age with emphasis on the 1000 Days window period. Plan and implement locally feasible and appropriate strategies that ensure integration of program interventions focused on nutrition, agriculture and livelihoods Provide quality technical leadership to ensure implementation of nutrition sensitive strategies and activities. Design behaviour change strategies that facilitate adoption of enhanced homestead food production including small livestock rearing primarily for household dietary diversification and secondly, selling the surplus for income generation.

3 Train CBOs, partners on cash and food crop value chain related livelihood and empowerment programs Establish linkages through CBOs between agriculture and nutrition activities to improve maternal and child nutrition Provide support for Nutrition-sensitive interventions and programs in agriculture, Water sanitation, social safety nets, early child development and education. Liaise with line Ministries of Agriculture, Women s Affairs to ensure leveraging of existing programs for poor rural women including provision of support to women farmers in post-harvest management Monitor integration of nutrition-sensitive agriculture inputs throughout project activities and interventions using CBOs. Provide nutrition-sensitive agriculture messaging to farmers through CBO intervention. Incorporate nutrition promotion and education into project activities Target the nutritionally vulnerable and improve equity. Ensure tracking and reporting of nutrition indicators and disaggregate data to analyze results within each domain. Facilitate conduct of assessments, reviews and audits aimed at discovering ways to continually strengthen the focus, quality and type of interventions. Work closely with State/LGA teams and other technical counterparts to ensure synergistic and comprehensive programming. Facilitate development of tools and frameworks and mobilization of resources as needed for the Project. Identify successful/best practices in the project that can be showcased in publications, communication materials and conferences.

4 Prepare communications materials that highlight the Project s nutrition sensitive agriculture programming successes and lessons learnt. Target key audiences for nutrition sensitive agriculture information, including the poor, who have the highest malnutrition rates through CBOs Facilitate nutrition assessment and gap analysis to identify gaps in nutrition programming that could be filled through support from health and agriculture programming Facilitate incorporation of dietary diversity in agriculture training and extension and nutrition-hygiene messages through WASCOMS Ensure the timely submission of monthly reports. Participate in the quarterly coordination, planning and review meetings and biannual comprehensive project review meetings Share relevant information and instructions or directives as received from the donor or state. Perform any other duties as assigned by the Program Manager QUALIFICATIONS Master degree in Public Health Nutrition, Agriculture & Food Security, Minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience, preferably in health, nutrition, or food security projects with focus on livelihoods and empowerment. Knowledge of and experience with the design, management and implementation of nutrition and food security projects in developing countries. Relevant experience in Northern Nigeria will be an added advantage Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the socio-economic and political situation in Northern Nigeria, and especially in the North East will also be an added advantage

5 Ability to organize systems to monitor project results. Demonstrated capacity to liaise and negotiate with key stakeholders in other organizations, private sector, small business owners, community groups, government agencies, civil society groups, health institutions and trade unions. Demonstrable ability to supervise staff Excellent organizational, verbal and written communication skills with proficiency (reading, writing, speaking and comprehension) in English Demonstrated leadership and team management qualities including crises and conflict management and mediation Ability to carry out work independently, use own initiative, creativity and good judgment without close supervision Proficient in computer application; word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation packages and internet applications highly desirable Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to interact professionally with culturally diverse staff, consultants and project beneficiaries To apply, please CV and cover letter with subject Technical Advisor Nutrition Sensitive Interventions to Deadline for application is June 7th 2016 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.