Save the Children is currently pursuing a Scaling-Up Nutrition Technical Assistance Project in Zambia funded by USAID over a six-year period. This upcoming contract will focus on an integrated approach to nutrition activity intended to bring to scale a core package of evidence-based interventions that will reduce stunting in a minimum of 30 districts in Zambia. The quality and quantity of dietary intake, access to appropriate health conditions, access to clean water as well as behavior change for improved livelihoods, nutrition and WASH practices will have a major impact on the sustainability for this project.
The Nutrition and Child Health Advisor for this key program in Zambia will be responsible for the overall strategy development and implementation of the nutrition and behavior change activities relevant to this project and will provide technical support on how they will be implemented to achieve expected results. S/he shall provide cross-cutting, strategic and program implementation direction and management to promote demand for key health and nutrition SBCC and service based interventions at community and household level. The advisor will work closely with the WASH Advisor and Smallholder/Livelihood Advisor to ensure a comprehensive integrated approach to meet the program objectives of reducing stunting. The Advisor will also work closely with the monitoring and evaluation team to ensure progress is being achieved towards program targets. S/he will establish and maintain close and effective liaison with relevant ministry and government officials, partners and country stakeholders to facilitate flow of information concerning research, policies, and programs and to stay abreast of current trends. The focus will be centered around pregnant women and Zambian children under the age of two, as measured by stunting.
- In collaboration with the senior technical team, develop an overall strategy for the provision of technical assistance to increase community and household-level activities that foster an integrated approach.
- Ensure the smooth, efficient and effective start-up and ongoing implementation of the nutrition components of the project including linkages with other project components.
- Ensure development of detailed implementation plans, collection of appropriate baseline and monitoring data, as needed, clear process and impact indicators, and effective project monitoring and evaluation procedures to ensure accountability and make improvements in these target areas.
- Guarantee timely and accurate donor reporting.
- Provide sectoral leadership for all nutrition and child health activities relevant to this project.
- Seek to continuously improve programs, initiate new project implementation strategies as needed, and plan for expansion of project impact, as appropriate.
- In partnership with the other key staff, establish and maintain good relationships with project co-implementers; government ministries and departments; NGOs working in the area and other key stakeholders. Attend coordination meetings as appropriate. Ensure that activities are coordinated with relevant stakeholders, including communities.
- Demonstrated progressive experience with increasing responsibility focused in integrated programming of nutrition, child health, early childhood development, and SBCC
- Demonstrated progressive experience in providing technical expertise to host government(s) for the areas of care, treatment, and prevention of malnutrition
- Solid experience developing SBCC training tools and materials
- Experience developing and implementing a behavior change communication strategy for the program, focusing on creating demand for community nutrition services
- Experience working with nutrition-sensitive agriculture and livelihoods programs
- Prior experience developing and managing community-based health programs in developing countries
- Experience working in health systems strengthening
- Extensive experience working in Africa, preferably Zambia
- Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Zambian nationals are encouraged to apply
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.