Helen Keller Intl is a global health organization dedicated to eliminating preventable vision loss, malnutrition, and diseases of poverty.  Co-founded by Helen Keller – and guided by her fierce optimism and belief in human potential – the organization delivers life-changing health solutions to vulnerable families where the need is great but access to care is limited.  In more than 20 countries, our proven, science-based programs empower people to create opportunities in their own lives and build lasting change.

Helen Keller is seeking a Technical Advisor to support the Tanzania team implementing the USAID Advancing Nutrition activities in Tanzania.

Background

USAID Advancing Nutrition is the Agency’s flagship nutrition project, led by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), and a diverse group of experienced partners. Launched in September 2018, USAID Advancing Nutrition implements and provides technical support to nutrition interventions across sectors and disciplines for USAID and its partners. The project’s multisectoral approach draws together global nutrition experience to design, implement and evaluate programs that address the root causes of malnutrition. Committed to using a systems approach, USAID Advancing Nutrition strives to sustain positive outcomes by building local capacity, supporting behavior change, and strengthening the enabling environment to save lives, improve health, build resilience, increase economic productivity, and advance development.

About USAID Advancing Nutrition Tanzania

The USAID Advancing Nutrition project has been active in Tanzania since October 2019. A scoping mission was completed in November 2019, and the Year 1 work plan was approved by USAID in February of 2020. The project works directly with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) as the overall coordinator of nutrition implementation in the country and Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre (TFNC) as the technical arm of the government on nutrition issues.

Since the start of implementation, the project team has made significant progress in fulfilling the objectives as per the scope of work. USAID Advancing nutrition provided direct support during the development of the National Multisectoral Nutrition Action Plan (NMNAP II) and its resources mobilization strategy. The project further supported numerous capacities strengthening activities across sectors identified as nutrition-sensitive as per the NMNAP.

For the remainder of the USAID Advancing Nutrition activity in Tanzania, the team will continue to emphasize capacity strengthening activities and further support PMO in its NMNAP II leadership role and TFNC as the primary advisor on all nutrition-related matters for government stakeholders. Highly focused support will be directed towards the continuation of activities where USAID Advancing Nutrition had previously provided support, namely, the rollout of the Resource Mobilization Strategy (RMS) and NMNAP II and planning and budgeting for nutrition.

USAID Advancing Nutrition is conducting three studies in collaboration with TFNC, including a food intake survey in Mbeya among women of reproductive age (WRA), a qualitative exploration of food preferences and traditions among WRA in Mbeya, and an analysis of Tanzania household consumption and expenditure survey data. The project is also training TFNC staff in selected analytical methods and in interpreting nutrition-relevant biomarker data from a population survey, as well as quantitative and qualitative survey findings.

Scope of the Position

Reporting to the Chief of Party (COP), the Technical Advisor will provide technical assistance to the design and implementation of activities in USAID Advancing Nutrition Tanzania. The position will sit on the Tanzania team. The ideal candidate will have excellent project management skills, practical experience in and technical understanding of multi-sectoral nutrition, particularly related to nutrition-sensitive interventions; and specific experience working in or backstopping nutrition programs. They will communicate effectively with partners and clients and high-level representatives from the Government of Tanzania. The Technical Advisor will also work closely with TFNC to coordinate the deliverables for each of the studies described above and will coordinate activities with USAID Advancing Nutrition.

Responsibilities

• The Technical Advisor will be responsible for the following:
• Support the design and implementation of USAID Advancing Nutrition Tanzania activities guided by the project scope of work.
• Provide overarching technical support to all activities in USAID Advancing Nutrition workplan with attention to nutrition-sensitive interventions.
• Facilitate and/or co-facilitate workshops, training, working sessions with government partners on content related to NMNAP II implementation and/or specific technical areas.
• Write reports, policy briefs, slide decks, and other knowledge products in coordination with CoP and other external authors (government partners, other development partners, etc.)

• Provide strategic inputs to the development of work plans and budgets, ensuring consistency with project direction and strategy.
• Lead, and/or contribute to the technical design, implementation, and review of strategies, activities, deliverables, quarterly reports, annual reports, documents, tools, and materials.
• Support linkages with global (core) activities by identifying synergies and sharing relevant information with the country team and core teams and providing timely support to USAID Advancing Nutrition Country Programs Team.
• Work closely with TFNC to coordinate and ensure timely completion of all deliverables related to the food intake survey, qualitative exploration of food preferences and traditions, and the analysis of household consumption and expenditure survey data.
• Work closely with TFNC to finalize the data analysis for previously collected dietary intake data according to the analysis plan and identify needs for and coordinate tasks related to the interpretation of nutrition-relevant biomarker data from samples that were collected as part of a previous population survey.
• Participate in routine program and management meetings. Help prepare and review materials, facilitate, and/or take notes as requested.
• Participate in routine check-in meetings with USAID, as appropriate. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree or equivalent experience in nutrition, public health, or related field; plus
• Experience: At least 8 years of experience in international public health programming with an emphasis on nutrition, capacity building, health systems, food systems, including at least two years of direct experience implementing public health and nutrition programs in Tanzania.
• Languages: English and Swahili fluency required. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience in the application of nutrition-sensitive approaches.
• Excellent time management, prioritization, and organizational skills
• Strong understanding of global guidance and technical literature on nutrition, public health, and nutrition-sensitive programming in lower to middle income countries.
• Ability to direct multiple long and short-term activities and teams, simultaneously, with minimal supervision, and follow through to completion.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the application of information technology to this type of work including Excel and Microsoft Office Suite or equivalent.
• Experience in implementation of quantitative and qualitative research studies in nutrition, including analysis of food consumption data.
• Experience in training in the analysis of nutrition data is a plus.
• Collaborative, flexible and solution-oriented.
• Strong interpersonal skills and social-emotional intelligence; experience working effectively in teams and cross-cultural settings.
• Comfortable working in a matrixed, integrated work environment.
• Demonstrable respect for all persons, regardless of religion, ethnicity, class or gender with a high comfort level working in a diverse environment with a commitment to high professional, ethical standards.
• Commitment to Helen Keller Intl’s mission.
• Ability and willingness to flex work hours to accommodate multiple time zones.

Preferred Skills/Experience:

• Experience providing and managing technical support to nutrition programming in Tanzania
•  Capacity building, facilitation, and training experience  o Experience planning and conducting implementation research  o Knowledge of USAID and other donor policies.

• Travel: Ability and willingness to undertake domestic travel in Tanzania (approximately 40%).

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to TZ.Recruitment@hki.org noting the job title in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

In the spirit of our founder and namesake, Helen Keller is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity in all its forms is fully valued.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, caste, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.  If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need to request accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us at the email above.

HELEN KELLER INTL

• DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, TEST, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING).
• DOES NOT ASK FOR INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS
• DOES NOT RECRUIT THROUGH ANY RECRUITMENT AGENCY.