TEAM/PROGRAMME:Programme Development and Quality
LOCATION:Nairobi with 30-40% of the time in Save the Children field locations.
GRADE**: 2**
POST TYPE:National (1 year contract with possibility of renewal)
ChildSafeguarding:
Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people
ROLE PURPOSE:
Under the general direction and guidance of the Head of Child Survival, and as a key member of the Programme Development and Quality (PDQ) team, the Nutrition Technical Specialist (TS) will ensure that all nutrition programming is of excellent technical quality, attracts significant donor funding and contributes significantly to Save the Children’s strategic objectives, national/global learning and advocacy. The Nutrition TS is expected to provide technical advice and support to programme staff to ensure programming objectives are successfully achieved. He/she shall also lead the development and implementation of the country office nutrition strategy, closely linked to WASH and health programming, as well as child sensitive livelihoods as part of wider nutrition resilience efforts. The post holder will play a lead role in the technical design of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive projects, with relevant project managers, to ensure the projects contribute to the achievement of the thematic programme plan; be responsible for ensuring that key organisational principles and approaches such as child participation and sound monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) systems are well integrated throughout the project cycle; be responsible for ensuring that lessons derived through implementation of projects are well articulated, documented and disseminated both internally and externally, and; engage with policymakers and work to achieve advocacy objectives to realise greater change for children. He/she will support the overall country strategic intent to focus on risk reduction, adaptation and nutrition resilience in light of a changing context in East Africa.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to:Head of Child Survival
Dimensions: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners. Current programming focuses on health & nutrition, child protection, child rights governance, education and child poverty. In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined the programmes of SC UK, SC Canada and SC Finland to create a single operation in Kenya. In Feb 2014, we completed a second transition, which saw us join forces with the British INGO, Merlin, and merge their health and nutrition programmes with our own. Save the Children now has an operational presence in Bungoma, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Turkana and Wajir and we work through partners in many other parts of the country. We employ nearly 300 staff and will have an operating annual budget in 2015 of approximately US$20-25 million.
Staff directly reporting to this post:Nutrition Research & Learning Coordinator
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Strategic Planning and Programme Development
· Be fully aware of and actively participate in the development and review of country strategy and thematic programme plans. Specifically lead the operationalisation and implementation of the nutrition component of the Save the Children Kenya Health & Nutrition strategy and ensure that nutrition-sensitive strategies and approaches are integrated into other thematic strategies.
· Build on technical knowledge and understanding of the operation of nutrition policy and services in Kenya, and current/previous programming to develop proposals for new programming in close coordination with the programme staff. Ensure all new programming supports the achievement of Save the Children’s objectives as outlined in the Health and Nutrition Strategy, specifically improving child survival, food security, resilience and adaptation in Kenya.
· Analyse donor priorities and positions on issues related to nutrition; identifying institutional and private sector funding opportunities and developing and maintaining contacts with potential donors, partners and key technical agencies. Ensure that new partnerships in this technical area reflect the programme quality we expect of ourselves.
· Ensure that programme strategies support and demonstrate good practice in child safeguarding.
· Using a child rights programming lens, ensure that our nutrition programming is built around the Theory of Change and aligns with global and country office nutrition strategies.
Advocacy and Policy Development
· Be fully aware of and proactively engage in the development, review, dissemination and operationalisation of national policies, strategies and other initiatives and developments by government and other stakeholders relating to nutrition, and related health, WASH and/or food security issues. Regularly assess and communicate the implications for 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 country office. Work with the Head of Child Survival, Health Advocacy Advisor and Health Technical Specialist in the development of a national health and nutrition advocacy strategy and an implementation plan (with timeline, key outcomes and activities). Support and monitor the implementation of nutrition-related elements of the advocacy strategies at national and county level, including through ensuring that programme staff have relevant advocacy skills and that roles and responsibilities for different activities are clarified.
· 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 country office or within the SC Members.
· Represent and advocate for Save the Children with UN agencies, donors, Kenyan Government, NGOs and others at the highest levels in both verbal and written communications to ensure that Save the Children is seen as one of the leading international agencies in terms of innovation and quality of implementation with a focus on child survival, food security and nutrition resilience. Specifically ensure that evidence, learning and recommendations from Save the Children’s programmes are shared through:
o Active participation in monthly Nutrition Technical Forum meetings at the MoH
o Participation and/or sharing information for use by the Health Advocacy Advisor to share during Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) meetings at the national level
o Participation in Regional Food Security and Nutrition Working Group meetings and/or collaboration with the Child Poverty Technical Specialist to share engagement
o Participation in the Nutrition Information Working Group and/or collaboration with the Health Advocacy Advisor to share engagement
o Ensuring pro-active engagement with the UN/UNICEF, including through coordination meetings at national and regional levels
o Advising field teams to ensure adequate field visibility through technical attendance and technical meetings at district level
Programme Quality
· Monitor and provide timely, relevant, accurate input on overall technical aspects of Save the Children nutrition programme work in Kenya.
· Liaise with the Programme Operations department to ensure all nutrition and other programme staff receive the necessary and appropriate technical support. In consultation with staff and project managers agree on the range of advice, support, training and/or other assistance required to facilitate high quality programming. This will involve regular visits to Save the Children operational areas.
· 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 (IMAM; IYCF; C4D, KAP and nutrition surveys, other monitoring and evaluation).
· Where external consultants (local or international) are required to technically support or monitor and evaluate projects, lead the recruitment and subsequent management of contracted consultants as per the recruitment guidelines.
· Review relevant monitoring reports to donors to ensure that technical debates are well articulated and reports are of acceptable quality before submission. Provide support where necessary to improve report writing skills.
· Provide input on partner selection, and provide technical coaching of partners in nutrition.
Monitoring and Evaluation
· In collaboration with the MEAL Manager and engagement with field-based MEAL staff, ensure the development of MEAL frameworks and key indicators for nutrition that help each project to clearly demonstrate progress and impact, improve the quality of reporting, , identify issues for advocacy and new programmes/projects in the future.
· Participate in the design of baseline, mid-term and end of project evaluations for nutrition programmes, or nutrition components of multi-sectoral programmes. Monitor the evaluation process and provide input and clarification as needed. Review evaluation findings and ensure that lessons and recommendations are actioned and used to improve current programming as well as to inform the design of future programmes.
· 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 and training 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 Area Programme Managers, as well as through structured performance management processes.
SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)
Accountability:
· Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
· Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved
Ambition:
· Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
· Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
· Future orientated, thinks strategically
Collaboration:
· Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
· Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
· Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to
Creativity:
· Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
· Willing to take disciplined risks
Integrity:
· Honest, encourages openness and transparency
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Nutrition professional with a Masters Degree in nutrition or equivalent.
- At least 5 years of experience implementing nutrition programmes with at least two 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, particularly maternal, newborn and child nutrition issues.
- Clear understanding of and proactive approach to nutrition resilience, hunger and food security issues in Kenya, particularly in the context of Northern Kenyan.
- Proven representation and advocacy skills.
- Strong commitment to capacity building of national staff and partners with willingness to adopt a participatory and consultative approaches.
- Experience with nutrition programming in arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) settings preferred.
- Experience writing donor funding proposals for large institutional grants in excess of US$1 million.
- Strong writing skills, including experience in writing proposals, capacity statements and position papers.
- Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels, taking into account 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. Swahili preferred.
- Commitment to Save the Children values, including willingness to abide by and enforce the Child Safeguarding policy.
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested candidates are required to submit a CV and mandatory Cover letter toKenya.jobapplications@savethechildren.org indicating the Position Code on the subject line by 2nd July 2015. Due to the urgency of this position applications will be reviewed as and when they are received. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
