Nutrition Advisor - Local Food Systems

ADVERTISEMENT: NUTRITION ADVISOR 

ROLE PURPOSE

Save the Children is seeking Nutrition Advisor for the 5-year USAID funded Feed the Future Kenya Local Food Systems Activity (KFS). The five-year Feed the Future Kenya Food Systems (LFS) activity will promote inclusive agriculture-led growth, strengthen the resilience of people and systems, improve nutrition and diet diversity of women and children, as well as integrate cross-cutting themes in Kenya’s North, West and Southeast. The role of Save the Children in this activity will be to identify market-systems approaches in delivering nutrition messaging, diet diversity practices and Social Behaviour Change Campaigns and to lead multi-sectoral nutrition advocacy with relevant Ministries and departments at national and county levels. 

The Nutrition Advisor will support the KFS Regional Hubs on nutrition programming, planning and strategy, attend relevant cluster coordination meetings, and provide direct technical support to the field team throughout activity implementation.

Under the general guidance and direction of the Project Team Lead, the Nutrition advisor will support the Regional Hubs on nutrition programming, planning and strategy. Develop, lead, monitor, and evaluate the nutrition aspects of the Kenya Food Systems Activity including nutrition-sensitive agriculture. The Nutrition Advisor will coordinate and lead in advocacy efforts with county leadership from both nutrition-specific and -sensitive departments and other NGOs. Lead on all nutrition elements of the project and reports, providing capacity building for the county staff. Promote best practice in the nutrition programmes and contribute to the overall success of the Kenya Food Systems project. 

Oversee planning, implementation and reporting of Nutrition activities in KFS zone of influence counties - Garissa, Isiolo, Makueni, Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Homabay, Migori and Siaya Counties and, other locations as may be determined by the donor.      

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

SCOPE OF ROLE AND RESPONSIBILLITY

• Provide technical leadership in nutrition related programming, ensuring that LFS interventions are informed by the most recent evidence and global best practices in nutrition.
• Advise on nutrition messaging to improve diet diversity practices through Social Behaviour Change Campaigns 
• Provide leadership in nutrition-sensitive Agri-culture programming within the activity’s approach including policy priorities, activity planning and execution, etc.
• Facilitate national, regional and county level multisectoral nutrition planning and coordination
• Maintain an overview of the county(ies) nutrition programmes and of the national context, with a view to strategically learn and adapt Local Food Systems Activity in the Counties.
• Give technical support to field officers and government partners.
• Liaise with the technical team members to ensure sequencing, layering and integration.
• Carry out regular monitoring visits, ensuring that project objectives are met.
• Supervise and monitor the development of reporting systems for data collection, do data analysis and follow-up and feedback to relevant staff, partners and other agencies.
• Maintain an oversight of all procurement related to nutrition supplies ordered for the project at field level, supporting the supply-chain staff in the coordination and quality control of nutrition supplies.
• Provide input into the integration of beneficiary participation and accountability in the LFS Activity.
• Serve as the thought leader in nutrition programming demonstrated e.g. by publishing regular knowledge pieces, strategic SBCC approaches and techniques, etc.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Strategic Planning and Programme Development

• Be fully aware of and actively participate in the development and review of the Local Food Systems project implementation strategy.  Specifically lead the operationalisation and implementation of the Nutrition component of the Local Food Systems project and ensure that nutrition strategies and approaches are integrated into other thematic areas.
• Build on technical knowledge and understanding of the operation of multisectoral nutrition policy and services in Kenya, and how these policies can best work for the needs of the Local Food Systems project implementation Counties.
• Ensure that programme strategies support and demonstrate good practice in child safeguarding.
• Using a child rights programming lens, ensure that Kenya Food Systems nutrition programming is built around the Theory of Change and is regularly monitored.

Advocacy and Policy Development

• Work with the consultant to develop the SBCC strategy towards improved nutrition Knowledge, awareness and nutrition practices within counties of operation
• Be fully aware of and proactively engage in the development, review, dissemination and operationalisation of County level policies, legislation, strategies and other initiatives and developments by government and other stakeholders relating to nutrition, health, WASH and/or food security issues. 
• Regularly assess and communicate the implications for Local Food Systems project and Save the Children’s programme and priorities of any changes in the operating environment relevant to this theme.
• Help to clearly articulate the nutrition advocacy messages for the Kenya Food Systems project.  Work with the project team, operations team, the PDQ-I teams, government and partners to develop and update the national and county health and nutrition advocacy strategy and support the implementation plan (with timeline, key outcomes and activities)
• Support and monitor the implementation of nutrition-related elements of the advocacy strategies at county level, including through ensuring that programme staff have relevant advocacy skills and that roles and responsibilities for different activities are clarified.
• Work with SCI policy advisor to Support the SCI health and nutrition lead and system strengthening lead to Develop policy briefs and position papers as and when required related to the nutrition programme in coordination with key programme staff.  This may require technical support from other technical specialists within the Local Food Systems project leadership team.
• Represent and advocate for the KFS activity with County Governments, NGOs and others at the Regional and County levels in both verbal and written communications to ensure that Local Food Systems project work is visible in terms of innovation and quality of implementation. Specifically ensure that evidence, learning and recommendations from Kenya Food Systems project programmes are shared through:
• Active participation in Nutrition Technical Forum meetings at the county level
• Active participation in the Nutrition multi-sectoral Platforms at the county level
• Sharing information for use by the SCI health and nutrition lead to share during Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) meetings at the national level in Nutrition Technical Forum and the respective technical working Groups.
• Sharing information with Child poverty reduction Technical Specialist to be used during Regional Food Security and Nutrition Working Group meetings.
• Ensuring pro-active engagement with the UN Agencies, including through coordination meetings at County(ies) and regional levels.
• Advising field teams to ensure adequate field visibility through technical attendance and technical meetings at sub-county level.

Programme Quality

• Monitor and provide timely, relevant, accurate input on overall nutrition technical aspects of the Kenya Food Systems project’s work in the implementation counties 
• Liaise with Health and Nutrition lead to ensure all health and nutrition and other programme staff receive the necessary and appropriate technical support. In consultation with Health and Nutrition lead agree on the range of advice, support, training and/or other assistance required by the other arms of Kenya Food Systems project to ensure sequencing, layering and integration. 
• Assist in the development of tools for project staff and partners to improve the quality of nutrition work. Where necessary provide – or ensure the provision of - technical training for project staff and partners as required (nutrition education, Behaviour change communication, conducting nutrition surveys and assessments, other monitoring and evaluation).
• Where external consultants (local or international) are required to technically support or monitor and evaluate projects, ensure the consultants adhere to the TOR and that quality is maintained throughout the work. 
• Generate quality first draft reports to donors to ensure that technical debates are well articulated, and reports are of acceptable quality before submission. 
• Provide input on partner selection and provide technical coaching of partners in nutrition.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• In collaboration with the project M&E Lead and engagement with field-based MEAL staff, ensure the project M&E frameworks are adhered to. 
• Participate in the design of the Collaborate, Learn and Adapt methodology of the programme implementation to ensure Local Food Systems interventions are working to address malnutrition.
• Regularly review and monitor programmes for child safeguarding issues.  Take corrective action in modifying programme activities and/or report incidents.
• Ensure the active dissemination of programme findings and lessons learned through the production of high-quality materials and their effective dissemination to key stakeholders. 

Other

• Participate actively in PDQ programme meetings, planning and review activities, providing enhanced insight into nutrition programming.
• Actively participate in key relevant internal meetings such as Programme Review Meetings, Senior Management Team or Area-based meetings as required.  Participate in any donor visit to project(s) within the country office portfolio, as required.   

Ensure the recruitment, training and supervision of nutrition programme staff in technical areas of expertise as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities. Provide feedback on the performance of key programme staff through regular consultation with, as well as through structured performance management processes.

Contract Duration: 12 months 

Number of Vacancies: 1

Work Location: Isiolo/Kisumu

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Nutrition professional with a master’s degree in nutrition or equivalent.
• Min 7 years of experience implementing nutrition programmes with at least 5 years of working at an advisory level in nutrition for international NGOs or the private sector in Kenya. 
• Excellent understanding of the nutrition sector within the Kenyan context
• Excellent understanding of market systems development approach to ending malnutrition.
• Experience in working with the private sector, MSEs and entrepreneurs, farmers, aggregators, food processors, and micro-retailers on nutritional improvement 
• Experience in promotion nutrition education among adolescents and schools
• Behaviour change communication 
• Clear understanding of and proactive approach to nutrition resilience, hunger and food security issues in Kenya.
• Proven representation and advocacy skills.
• Strong commitment to capacity building of county staff and partners with willingness to adopt a participatory and consultative approaches.
• Experience with nutrition programming in Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) and Non ASAL in Kenya is preferred.
• Experience writing donor reports especially USAID.
• Strong writing skills, including experience in writing, capacity statements and position papers. 
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels, considering cultural and language difficulties. 
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets.
• Experience solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in.
• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner.
• Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies.
• Fluency in English, both verbal and written, required. 
• Commitment to Save the Children values, including willingness to abide by and enforce the Child Safeguarding policy.

THE ORGANIZATION

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard. 

 We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday 
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply in English saving your CV and covering letter as a single document, including your salary expectations for this role. To see a full a job description, please visit our website at www.savethechildren.net/jobs

We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse. Employment is subject to our Child protection standards including background checks and adherence to our Child Safeguarding Policy.

Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ and assign the best-qualified talent.

Female Candidates are encouraged to apply.

Disclaimer: 

Save the Children International does not charge any kind of fee at whichever stage of the recruitment process, nor request for medical examination or records and does not act through recruitment agents whatsoever.