Senior Nutrition Governance Specialist

Senior Nutrition Governance Specialist

No. of Vacancy: 1
Location: Kathmandu

Department: Program-Nutrition Governance

Location: Provincial office with frequent travel to the project area

Guided by the remarkable legacy of its co-founder, Helen Keller, Helen Keller Intl partners with communities striving to overcome long-standing cycles of poverty. By delivering the essential building blocks of good health, sound nutrition, and clear vision, we help millions of people create lasting change in their own lives. Working in 20 countries – across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States – and together with a global community of supporters, we are ensuring every person has the opportunity – as Helen did – to reach their true potential.

USAID Integrated Nutrition’s primary goal is to improve the nutrition status of women, adolescents, and children in Nepal’s underserved and marginalized communities. The activity will tackle the direct and underlying determinants of malnutrition in Nepal while strengthening the national and local enabling environment to implement multisectoral nutrition programs through four synergistic intermediate results. Achievement of the purpose will be measured by improvements in indicators of nutrition status among women of reproductive age, adolescents, and children.

Position Overview

This position is responsible for implementing governance-related activities in close coordination with the program team and providing technical support in the implementation of nutritional activities. The role involves offering governance insights and timely support for provincial activities, assisting local teams, and ensuring the effective implementation of governance activities. As a member of the provincial team, this position works closely with the Province Lead and other program teams, including finance & operation, partnership, and compliance, in planning and budgeting to implement effective, inclusive, accountable, and sustainable local nutrition programs with a focus on nutrition governance.

Responsibilities include supporting evidence-based annual planning and monitoring, documenting best practices, updating and sharing data related to local governance, providing necessary assistance during annual reviews and planning meetings, offering regular technical assistance to the local team, and supporting the local team in capacity building of the implementing partner in governance.

This role involves working closely with provincial governance stakeholders, including the provincial MSNP team and the Nutrition and Food Security Secretariat, which is overseen by the Provincial Policy and Planning Commission (PPPC). It also requires frequent visits to the project district/municipalities for tailored and targeted support.

Functional Relationships

Under the direct supervision of the Provincial lead and technical guidance from the Governance Lead, and in close coordination with other program team members and officials of Finance and Operations, the Senior Nutrition Governance Specialist is primarily responsible for project implementation and management in the assigned province, bringing high-quality project management, coordination, networking, representation, and communication skills.

The Senior Nutrition Governance Specialist will uphold Helen Keller’s values and commit to conducting its affairs at the highest standards of ethics, integrity, honesty, fairness, and professionalism, and ensure Helen Keller’s best practices are upheld, including adherence to the code of conduct, policies and procedures, and financial accountability.

Direct Line Supervision: Province Lead

Inter-Line Supervision: Governance Lead (IR-4)

Collaboration with:

• Internal: All Staff
• External: USAID, Governmental and non-governmental agencies at the province levels, program partners, and stakeholders.

Description

Specific Roles and Responsibilities:

Planning and Management:

• Collaborate closely with the provincial lead, the Governance Lead/Senior Specialist, and other program teams to develop and implement provincial and local Detailed Implementation Plans (DIPs).
• Ensure these plans are submitted on time and reflected in the provincial and local annual plans.
• Additionally, provide timely support to the provincial and local program teams to ensure successful implementation of Multisectoral Governance activities.
• This includes technical support in organizing evidence-based review meetings, training, and workshops at the provincial government level on governance.

Program Implementation:

• Work closely with the provincial lead and other team members to provide timely support to local program teams, ensuring successful implementation of governance activities.
• This role involves prioritizing activities for underserved and underprivileged populations, engaging stakeholders, mobilizing local resources, and maintaining quality standards.
• Additionally, work closely with the PPPC, Nutrition and Food Security Secretariat, and local program teams in the districts to develop program quality standards, evidence-based planning, and effective progress monitoring.
• Keep track of resource allocation and utilization for nutrition programs.

Capacity Building:

• Assist in conducting capacity-building activities tailored to the needs of diverse stakeholders.
• These stakeholders include provincial and local government leaders/officials, the Nutrition and Food Security Steering Committee, Technical Working Groups/Committees, local implementation partners in the districts, health service professionals, and community workers on nutrition governance.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Collaborate closely with the MERL team and provincial-level government stakeholders to develop a monitoring and evaluation system aligned with the MSNP III monitoring framework.
• Ensure that governance indicators are accurately reflected and reported in the Provincial and Municipal Information System.
• Additionally, provide technical guidance to local implementing partners in database planning and monitoring.

Coordination, Collaboration, and Networking:

• Support the Province lead and program teams in establishing strong relationships with government stakeholders, including sectoral Ministries, departments, and the Policy and Planning Commission, to ensure effective implementation of multisectoral governance activities.
• Additionally, establish and nurture professional networks with other USAID projects, UN agencies, civil society organizations, professional associations such as MUAN and NARMIN, researchers, policymakers, and advocacy groups.

Documentation & Knowledge Management:

• Compile and organize data, evidence, learnings, and best practices at the provincial and municipal levels. Assist in creating periodic progress reports.
• Support the NFSSC in developing nutrition profiles by synthesizing evidence and reports and disseminating findings.

Required Qualifications and Competencies:

• Bachelor’s degree in social science, management, or education with 6 years of progressively responsible experience OR Master’s degree with 4 years of experience in a related field with UN agencies, I/NGOs, especially in the governance sector.
• Proven ability to:
• Work effectively with a broad range of diverse groups as evidenced by excellent listening and communication skills, balanced and reasoned approaches to problems, ability to inspire trust and confidence, and flexibility and openness to differing points of view.
• Make decisions in a dynamic environment, with an appreciation for how future needs may affect those decisions: a willingness to iterate a strategy and approach, with the ability to recognize the need to course-correct as necessary.
• Strong knowledge of Nepal’s governance and health systems, policies and processes.
• Proven Skills good coordination and networking with governments and likeminded organizations at all levels
• Excellent coordination and communication skills with various stakeholders, including implementers, government officials, and other collaborators.
• Confident and diplomatic skills in dealing with high-level government authorities.
• Excellent English language skills, both in written and spoken forms, complemented by strong communication and negotiation abilities
• Excellent interpersonal and facilitation skills.
• Excellent time management, personal organization, capacity building, team building, management, and coordination skills.
• Highly computer literate with proficiency in software relevant to the job duties.
• Demonstrable respect for all persons regardless of religion, ethnicity, class or gender, with a high comfort level working in a diverse environment with a demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards.
• Personal commitment to Helen Keller’s mission and goals and the values embodied by our namesake and co-founder: courage, integrity, rigor, and compassion.

Source: Kantipur Dainik, 26 October, 2024