Regional Advisor, Adolescent, Maternal and Newborn Health and Nutrition at Micronutrient Initiative

1. Overall Purpose/Broad Function:

Working as part of Nutrition International’s Technical Team, and based in the Africa Regional Office, the position supports and advises Nutrition International staff, national governments, other external partners and consultants in Africa on appropriate strategies and interventions to improve the health and nutrition status of adolescent girls, women of reproductive age (WRA), pregnant women and newborns in line with Nutrition International’s strategic objectives and vision to see a world free of hidden hunger. The main focus would be on current programming directed to reducing anemia through increasing access to, and consumption of Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) Supplements, and de-worming tablets, improved quality of focused ANC, delivery, as well as optimum cord care, and kangaroo care for newborns. The post-holder will support Nutrition International staff in developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating programs in the Africa region ensuring new knowledge and lessons learned are shared throughout Nutrition International and through wider dissemination as appropriate in liaison with the Research and Evaluation Unit in HQ. The post-holder will work in collaboration with other Nutrition International Africa technical staff working in related areas – Behavior Change, Research and Evaluation, Monitoring and Reporting as well as having close liaison with Senior Technical Advisers for Adolescent Health and Nutrition and Maternal and Newborn (MN) Health and Nutrition in REU, HQ.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

3.1 Program Development **

· Support the development of Nutrition International’s Project Concept Notes and proposals in the field of Adolescent, Maternal and Newborn Health and Nutrition adding value through applying technical expertise and up-to-date subject awareness to ensure proposals are technically sound, realistic, achievable and sustainable.

· Promote the need to propose innovative forms/platforms for delivery of health and nutrition interventions to adolescent girls, WRA, pregnant women and newborns bear in mind that integrated programs for these cohorts can be complex.

· Develop or provide inputs to Nutrition International project performance measurement (monitoring, and as needed, evaluation) frameworks to ensure that realistic indicators and targets are set for projects.

· Support the development of operations or evaluation research, opportunities and ideas when a need is identified, to investigate persistent constraints to improving Adolescent, MN Health and Nutrition to better inform program design, and identify innovative and effective approaches which could be scaled up. Pro-actively propose strategies, tools, guidelines and resource materials to support Nutrition International staff and partners in the design of interventions to improve the effectiveness of

· Nutrition International programs with a focus on innovation and application of evidence-based approaches as appropriate.

· Review components related to adolescent, WRA, MN health and nutrition in initiatives being considered as part of wider Nutrition International programming.

3.2 Program Implementation

· Support the development of Terms of Reference for key program components.

· Provide technical QA and support to Nutrition International staff and partners in implementing programs in Adolescent girls, WRA, MN Health and Nutrition, ensuring appropriate engagement of Government, development partners and other stakeholders.

· Provide technical backstopping to address problems arising during program implementation.

3.3 External Relations

· Develop networks and collaborative relations to facilitate and reinforce sharing of best practice with other relevant programs, experts and organizations in Africa and globally.

· Ensure documentation of lessons learned from Nutrition International work on adolescent girls, WRA, MN (for reporting but also for other wider dissemination) – and on regional partnership development and maintenance

· Promote the value and application of effective strategies for delivering improved adolescent, WRA, and MN health and nutrition to stakeholders, government and donor representatives.

· Represent Nutrition International on technical working groups and other regional fora relating to this field.

· Stay abreast of, and contribute to, the latest knowledge and best practices related to programs relevant to Adolescent, WRA and MN Health and Nutrition.

· Support Nutrition International resource mobilization initiatives as required e.g. writing/reviewing components for external funding proposals and suggesting ideas for new grants

3.4 Program Monitoring

· In liaison with the Regional Monitoring and Reporting Manager, support Nutrition International country teams through tracking their work in monitoring and reporting on Adolescent, WRA, MN and Health and Nutrition programs, providing suggestions for quality improvement as appropriate.

· In liaison with the Grant Managers, provide supportive supervision to country adolescent, WRA and MN health and nutrition programs

· Monitor approaches, roles of selected partners, tools, materials and strategies developed across Nutrition International projects and interventions to identify opportunities for disseminating for organizational learning

3.5 Program Research and Evaluation

· In liaison with the Regional Research and Evaluation Manager, and/or Senior Advisers in Adolescent and MN Health and Nutrition in REU, HQ as appropriate, support the design and conduct of implementation research and baseline and end line data collection for monitoring the progress and impact of Nutrition International programs aimed at improving Adolescent and WRA Health and Nutrition, including review of ToR and support to identification and management of consultants and research agencies.

Other duties and responsibilities that may be required.

Education/Professional Designations/Experience:

• Postgraduate level degree in medicine, nursing, public health, nutrition or health-related disciplines, essential.
• Qualification or training in Adolescent and Maternal and Newborn Health is desirable
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience working in Public Health and Nutrition preferably in the Africa Region
• At least 7 years of clinical experience working in the ANC clinic, labour, postnatal and neonatal wards.
• At least 5 years’ experience in international development work and in particular program design and management
• Experience in qualitative research, monitoring and evaluation.
• Language Skills:
• Fluent written and spoken English essential, knowledge of French languages desirable
• Travel Requirements:
• Based in Regional Office in Nairobi; travel may be required within the region up to 30% of the time.
• This Job Description can and will be amended as required from time to time.