CHILD SAFEGUARDING:
Level 3: the role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently(e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.
ROLE PURPOSE:
Under the general direction and guidance of the Somalia Nutrition Consortium Manager and the Consortium’s Technical Working Group (TWG), work closely with partner teams to lead on IYCF strategy implementation and ensure all IYCF programmes in the SNS Consortium are of high technical quality. Lead IYCF capacity development initiatives and advocacy at all levels, within and beyond SNS, as required. Contribute significantly to the Consortium’s strategic objectives, reporting, learning, dissemination and advocacy, at all levels. The IYCF Advisor is expected to lead IYCF strategy implementation and provide technical advice and support to project staff, to ensure programming objectives and related SNS objectives are successfully achieved. The IYCF Adviser must be willing to embrace a Child Rights programming approach and represent the SNS Consortium at different fora and working groups.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Nutrition Consortium Manager
Staff directly reporting to this post:None
Dimension of Role:
This is a challenging role in a complex and demanding environment. It requires a dedicated, experienced and highly motivated individual who can manage the difficulties of working with multiple stakeholders in such an environment and still be fundamental in helping to drive forward SNS programmes and ambitions. The IYCF Adviser will be part of a Consortium Management Team (CMT) made up of a Consortium Manager, Grants Manager, MEAL manager and a Researcher.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Build IYCF capacity amongst Consortium staff and key stakeholders incl. communities
• Support IYCF capacity development of staff at the country and field level of the Consortium members and partners.
• In collaboration with CMT and Technical Working Group members in particular, develop and adapt training materials and job aids for IYCF, in line with the SNS programme and IYCF strategies.
• Provide training, active support and follow up on a variety of IYCF and related initiatives, for Consortium field programme managers and other IYCF staff and community workers (CHWs etc.).
• Provide on the job training, active support and coaching for implementers in the facilities and communities as possible and together with project teams of the Consortium members.
Provide IYCF leadership and technical support to Consortium members
• Lead the implementation of the IYCF strategy for the Consortium.
• Oversee formative research to inform IYCF strategy and programme implementation.
• Support Consortium programme team members in developing, adopting and effectively using innovative approaches and standards to promote and implement IYCF initiatives, to help maximize the effectiveness and impact of the SNS programme.
• Establish strong professional networks with key institutions and agencies who have experience and competencies in implementing successful IYCF programmes within and outside of SNS. Adapt good practices for Consortium teams.
• Contribute to strategy formulation to progress the SNS programme in consultation with other key stakeholders. Identify capacity development needs, develop and adapt training material to address these needs and lead training and support with key field teams.
• Provide day-to-day technical support and advice to SNS teams and IYFC field staff, to ensure consistency with national guidelines, international guidelines and SNS programme strategy.
• Take part in the recruitment and training of nutrition programme staff in technical areas of expertise as appropriate and ensure the availability of appropriate professional development opportunities.
Support programme supervision and documentation at the Consortium level
• Work with MEAL team of the Consortium on developing / setting up indicators and monitoring tools for IYCF
• In collaboration with Consortium members staff to ensure timely data compilation and reporting on IYCF activities
• Support production of successful evidences and case studies related to the programme
• Ensure that IYCF activities are reviewed and acted upon constantly in terms of their effectiveness and impact
• Take part in joint programme planning and review sessions
Ensure timely reporting, adherence to programme strategy and coordination within programme
• Provide quality IYCF reports to line manager as required and according to the SNS M&E plan.
• Ensure regular communication and sharing of constraints/successes with field staff, Consortium members and others as feasible.
• Lead the strategy implementation to ensure programme progress, in consultation with other stakeholders (SNS and beyond) working on IYCF in SC Somalia.
• Participate and collaborate in regular meetings and events as required, for effective coordination within the programme.
• Participate in meetings, training and other assessment/events.
Other duties
• Establish effective and strong working relationships with CMT staff members, SNS partners, the Technical Working Group (TWG) and SNS Field Managers and teams.
• Participate actively in Consortium TWG meetings, planning and review activities, providing enhanced insight into IYCF and nutrition programming. COMPETENCIES AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)
Networking (Accomplished level)
• Builds trust with contacts through openness and honesty
• Participates effectively in sensitive, complex and/or high impact relationships and networks
• Builds strong relationships with a broad range of stakeholders
• Spots opportunities to bring together partnerships/working alliances that have not been used before
Delivering Results
• Translates complex contextual information into planning and achieving results effectively
• Ability to take a range of potentially complex and conflicting information and make decisions
• Designs and reviews large and complex operations to ensure maximum impact
• Ensures measures and metrics are in place to track performance in large and complex programmes
• Establishes clear and compelling objectives with teams and individuals and monitors progress and performance
• Holds others accountable for achieving results and challenges underperformance
Working effectively with others
• Puts mechanisms in place to ensure effective collaborative working across boundaries
• Enables people from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives to contribute to positive outcomes
• Breaks down silo working and challenges behaviours that are not collaborative
• Knows when to follow and lend leadership to strengthen other leaders
Problem Solving and decision making
• Identifies and addresses root causes of long-term problems facing the country programme
• Brings in external perspective to ensure strategic decision making remains relevant and future focused
• Provides a strategic framework to support decision making
• Explores and analyses external trends and their potential impact on strategic choices
• Takes calculated risks and has the courage to stand by decisions despite resistance QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
Essential
• Nutrition professional with a Master’s Degree in nutrition or allied field.
• Significant experience and a track record of success delivering high quality IYCF programmes
• Experience implementing and supporting behaviour change strategies for IYCF (PD Hearth and/or TIPS experience an advantage).
• Experience of designing, implementing and analysing qualitative and quantitative research on IYCF.
• At least 5 years of significant professional experience working at a senior advisory level in nutrition or allied field in the development or humanitarian sector. Experience in Somalia an advantage.
• Knowledge of and commitment to the Operational Guidance on IFE.
• Demonstrable experience representing and advocating for IYCF at high levels.
• Demonstrated experience of successfully building the capacity of national staff and partners, particularly through participatory approaches.
• Experience of nutrition programming in humanitarian settings preferred.
• Ability to travel at short notice, to remote and insecure locations for up to 40% of work time.
• Strong, demonstrable capacity building and mentoring experience.
• Highly developed writing skills, including the production of proposals and donor reports.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels, taking into account cultural and language challenges.
• Strong results orientation and the ability to challenge existing mindsets and foster innovation.
• 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. Somali language an advantage
Date of issue: 03/09/2015 Author: SNS Consortium
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested candidates are required to submit a CV and mandatory cover letter quoting the Job Title and Vacancy Announcement No. SCI/SOM/26b/15 on the subject line.The file name of the CV and attachments must be the applicants name and sent to Somalia.vacancies@savethechildren.org.
Applications close on 5th November 2015.
Previous applications received in the first round will be considered along with any new applications, for subsequent interviews of short-listed candidates