Appointment Brief
PROGRAM DIRECTOR, SOCIAL SAFETY NET PROGRAMS SEPTEMBER 2020
CONTENTS
01 03 03 05 05 06 09
WELCOME Dear Candidate, Thank you for your interest in this new position at Nutrition International. COVID-19 is precipitating a global malnutrition crisis. The negative feedback loops from health systems and economic systems are increasing vulnerability around the world at precisely the moment when government and donor resources are most stretched. In our role as expert ally to governments on nutrition, NI has been reflecting on how we can best support our government partners rise to the challenge of the coming malnutrition crisis. It is clear to us that eliminating missed opportunities to improve nutrition outcomes through social safety net programs must be a central part of the response. SSNPs are vital at this time because they are reaching the most vulnerable and governments around the world are doubling-down on their own investments in SSNPs — often not only deepening existing programs but establishing new ones in many cases. There is increasing interest on the part of government counterparts to explore how SSNPs can be made more impactful along multiple dimensions, including nutrition. NI is looking to support governments in these efforts. SSNPs are also of increasing interest given their relative resilience at a time when many ‘traditional’ platforms for reaching vulnerable populations with critical nutrition interventions (such as health facilities) have been hampered by the pandemic. NI is able to offer our government partners not just narrow nutrition expertise, but deep experience with integrating nutrition into existing large-scale platforms. Our core approach is to help governments maximize their return on investment by developing the best, evidence-based plans and subsequently building local government capacity to implement and take on the challenge. We believe this is the most sustainable and effective approach in an increasingly resource constrained environment. While social security has traditionally been an ‘adjacent’ sector of NI’s work, we are well positioned to make it a central focus and are looking for a leader who can help us build into this adjacency. You can find out more about the role and Nutrition International in this document, and if you are as determined as we are to meet the nutrition challenge, we’d love to hear from you. Ann Witteveen VP of Program Operations
1
2
BACKGROUND Good nutrition is the foundation for human development. It is the critical ingredient every one of us needs to survive and to thrive. Without it, the brain cannot not develop fully, the body cannot grow properly, the immune system cannot function effectively, and individual potential can be stunted, permanently. Just as malnutrition creates often insurmountable barriers, proper nutrition can open a world of opportunity — because good nutrition is so much more than a full stomach. The right nutrition at the right time builds the capacity to dream, it fuels the power to achieve, and it lays the foundation upon which we can build a healthier, fairer and more productive world. At Nutrition International we believe that a better world is possible, but to build it we need to fundamentally change the way we approach development. We need to break down silos, take a ‘no missed opportunities’ approach, and focus on the ‘how’ of reaching people living in poverty with what works. We need to put the people we serve and the issues they face at the center, build up partnerships that address those issues, and scale up investment. In essence, we need to do development differently.
OUR ORGANIZATION For over 25 years, we have focused on delivering low-cost, high-impact, nutrition interventions to people in need. Working alongside governments as an expert ally, we combine deep technical expertise with a flexible approach, increasing impact without increasing complexity or cost. We serve as a force multiplier across the development ecosystem, using our unique combination of capabilities to help countries overcome barriers to scaling up nutrition, domestic resource mobilization as well as local government capacity and ownership. Many development activities are siloed by competitive institutional mandates, the availability of financing, donor preferences or sectoral boundaries — rather than driven by the best interests of the people they are meant to serve. NI seeks to break these silos in pursuit of a “no missed opportunities approach.” We do this by using nutrition as a pathfinder, by adding value through packages and double-duty actions rather than single interventions, and by welding nutrition onto other platforms and sectors where it is missing. At Nutrition International we don’t just fight on behalf of the people we serve, as if they were a passive, powerless force. We work with communities, empowering them to make better choices for themselves and their families, and to have louder voices so they can change the way things are. From modest beginnings as a specialized Canadian Initiative, we have become a global nutrition organization, with world-class technical expertise, cost-effectiveness and global influence. Despite significant growth, our mission remains unchanged, we exist to do the greatest good for the people we serve.
3
4
OUR APPROACH At Nutrition International, we want to see a world where everyone, everywhere, is free from malnutrition and able to reach their full potential. Building upon our core strengths, we concentrate our interventions in 10 high-priority countries, while providing global technical assistance, vitamin A and salt iodization programs in more than 50 others. We achieve impact by increasing our coverage of low-cost, high-impact interventions; by maximizing our leverage, utilizing new delivery platforms and creating new partnerships, and by wielding our influence, increasing investments for nutrition through research, advocacy, and knowledge creation as well as sharing. The interlocking nature of these three strategic components, guided by the cross-cutting focus on gender equality, form the basis of our approach.
“At Nutrition International, we make a difference, because nutrition is the difference. It’s the difference between attending school and learning there. Between giving birth to a child and giving her life. It’s the difference between what could be and what never gets the chance. At Nutrition International, we nourish people to nourish life.” — Joel Spicer, CEO Nutrition International
OUR IMPACT Nutrition is one of the lowest-cost, highest-impact investments in human potential/capital. Nutrition investments create a virtuous circle linking nutrition to health, education, economic empowerment, equality, peace and stability. To date, Nutrition International has mobilized 1 billion dollars in the fight against malnutrition; nearly one third of that in the last five years. Between now and 2030 Nutrition International’s programming will make a significant measurable contribution towards the Sustainable Development Goals, both through proven health impacts, saving lives and averting cases of anemia and stunting, but also through human capital impacts, increasing IQs and years of schooling. Combined, these impacts will generate billions in economic activity, providing governments with increased revenues which can be used to bolster social systems and improve services. Because a focus on gender equality underpins all of Nutrition International’s programming, these impacts will directly support the empowerment of women and girls across Asia and Africa to make their own choices, improve their nutrition, and their lives. Enabling women and girls to be healthier, attend school longer and do better while there increases their lifetime earnings, decision-making power and agency. 5
JOB DESCRIPTION & SPECIFICATION Position title: Program Director, Social Safety Net Programs (SSNPs) Reporting to/Position title: Vice President Program Operations Salary: CAD 105,000–120,000 Nutrition International offers a highly competitive compensation package including health and wellness benefits, generous leave allowances, retirement savings, annual education allowance and much more. Our culture is built around teamwork, respect and the drive to achieve positive impact in the world. Overall purpose/Broad function: The Program Director, SSNPs will provide overall leadership for NI’s current and future projects that use the infrastructure of existing social safety net programs to deliver improved nutrition to vulnerable populations. The Director will also lead the expansion of NI’s SSNP program and help refine NI’s approach in this area.
Key Duties and Responsibilities Program Leadership: •
Strategic direction: Provide leadership and strategic direction for the growth and implementation of NI’s work in SSNPs across Asia and Africa, including by liaising closely external partners and responding to changes in the landscape as they emerge
•
Partnership: Develop and ensure effective partnerships with key program stakeholders
•
Internal Coordination and Communication: Liaise with key internal stakeholders and ensure clear, ongoing communication and coordination with units including Global Technical Services, Regional Offices, Corporate Services, Advocacy and Communications, Resource Mobilization, leads for other intervention areas within Program Operations, and the Strategy unit
•
Staffing and Capacity Development: Taking a broad view of NI’s SSNP work globally, identify and work closely with relevant internal units to fill critical staffing gaps and develop and implement a multi-year plan to build the capacity of new and existing staff related to SSNP projects
Program Delivery: •
Operational planning: Work with a matrixed, cross-functional team comprised of members from Global Technical Services (GTS), Business Development, Advocacy & Communications, and Corporate Services units to develop and maintain an updated a multi-year costed workplan for NI’s SSNP projects
•
Steering implementation: Put in place an effective mechanism to steer program implementation and coordinate delivery of the program across all areas
6
•
Budgeting and financial oversight: Develop, manage, and monitor the overall program budget ensuring effective allocation and utilization across all program components
•
Grant Management: Ensure that all donor, technical and financial reports are completed in a timely fashion
•
Partnership management: Support relationship management with key stakeholders at national and subnational levels
•
Advocacy management: Support Nl’s global team in the development of regional and country-level government and advocacy strategies
•
Gender mainstreaming: Ensure gender is effectively mainstreamed in new and existing programs
Representation and Advocacy: •
Develop policy briefs on key SSNP programs and their contribution to improved nutrition outcomes
•
Work closely with the Global Technical Services team to support NI’s contribution to knowledge exchanges and global public goods relating to SSNPs
•
Represent NI at external fora
Resource Mobilization: •
Working closely with the Business Development and Advocacy & Communications units identify, lead, and support (as required) on the development of new funding opportunities including the preparation of proposals or RFP submissions
•
Any other related duties
Supervisory Responsibilities: •
This position will lead a cross-functional, matrixed team with resources and capacity contributed from other units and geographies
Education/Experience: •
A minimum of 10 years’ experience managing large, complex, social protection programs in an international development organization or government institution that span multiple geographies and/or are funded by multiple donors
•
Experience and expertise working closely with senior government officials on complex programs and on state capacity building
•
Successful experience of business development, resource mobilization and new partnership building a strong asset
•
Demonstrated skills and experience in external representation and leadership
•
Experience working within a matrixed team structure would be considered a strong asset
•
A master’s degree in public health, international development, public policy or a similar field
7
Language Skills: •
Fluency in English — written and spoken
•
Fluency in French, Hindi, or Urdu preferred
Travel Requirements: •
This position can be based out of any NI office location
•
The position will require regular travel in Asia and Africa
Other specific skill requirements: •
Specific understanding of the workings of SSNPs in India is strongly desirable
•
Prior experience with growing and expanding a program area across new geographies is strongly desirable
•
Demonstrated understanding of results-based management, performance measurement frameworks and fundamentals of program monitoring and donor reporting
•
Strong report writing skills
•
Strong interpersonal communication skills — able to work effectively across teams
This job description can and will be amended as required from time to time.
8
HOW TO APPLY Please submit you current CV with a supporting statement of no more than 500 words, outlining how you meet the role description and person specification via the Prospectus website: www.prospect-us.co.uk/jobs/details/HQ00177747 Nutrition International is committed to achieve greater diversity across its leadership, and welcome applications regardless of sex, gender, race, age, sexuality, belief or disability.
RECRUITMENT TIMETABLE Deadline for applications: 01 November 2020 Interviews with Prospectus: 09–16 November 2020 Interviews with Nutrition International: TBC
Queries: For an informal, confidential discussion about this role, please contact our retained advisors Børge Andreassen or Joan Mwangi at Prospectus via email at: borge.andreassen@prospect-us.co.uk and joan.mwangi@prospect-us.co.uk
9