Vacancy: Senior Program Officer, Maternal & Child Health & Nutrition at Micronutrient Initiative

Position Title: Senior Program Officer, Maternal & Child Health & Nutrition 
Reports to/Position Title: Country Director 
Reports indirectly to: Deputy Regional Director Health, Africa Date prepared: February 2015.


Overall Purpose/Broad Function:
In line with MI’s strategic objectives in Africa, and, in partnership with key stakeholders in Nigeria, to arrange and provide appropriate technical and other assistance to the Government of Nigeria and/or other stakeholders to help them provide, on a sustainable basis, improved antenatal care and child health services to pregnant mothers and children, particularly those at most risk, within which appropriate micronutrient interventions are fully integrated and achieve sustained high coverage and utilization. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:
3.1 Project Development: With the support and guidance of relevant members of the MI technical team:

• Ensure a regularly updated landscape analysis is available on the status of micronutrient supplementation and/or other relevant interventions for pregnant women in Nigeria and in the treatment of diarrhea in children, including the status of work by organizations involved in provision of these services in Nigeria.
• Design and plan projects in Nigeria in collaboration with key stakeholders and partners that respond appropriately to the situation and aim to ensure appropriate intake of micronutrients (based on high levels of coverage and adherence to protocols) to benefit mothers and children.
•  With support of Regional Behavior Change Communication Adviser, help stakeholders develop relevant BCC programs for women of childbearing age and child carers (and health workers) and to develop viable approaches for improving access and quality of provision of care for these target groups especially the underserved. 
• Solicit and review grant-proposals submitted by stakeholders or partners. ensuring they are in line with MI strategic objectives and that special attention is paid to improving utilization of micronutrient supplements, as well as coverage, and to improving sustained intake among women at elevated risk of severe anemia at term and improved outcomes in diarrhea management. 
• In collaboration with stakeholders, prepare Project Concept Notes for MI-supported interventions to support the implementation of the MoH’s policies on IFA supplementation and diarrhea management. 
•  Agree on financial commitments with Director Nigeria and ensure appropriate inputs are made in MI Contracts Database.

3.2 Project Implementation and Management 

• Develop annual work plans and budgets for MNCHN project
•  Ensure that work plan activities are implemented as scheduled and per the approved budget. 
• Carry out site monitoring visits to ensure that implementing partners are implementing activities according to agreed strategy and contractual commitments.
•  Ensure data monitoring plans are timely implemented, project monitoring data is collected and the data workbooks are regularly updated. 
• Review and analyse technical and financial project reports from implementing partners and ensure that remedial actions are taken by implementing partners to ensure that projects are on track. 
• Develop quality monthly, quarterly and performance monitoring (both technical and financial) reports for MNCHN projects and ensure challenges are identified and recommended corrective actions are timely implemented. 
• Review and ensure the Contracts Database is regularly updated, in line with MI contract management procedures. 
• Draw on internal MI expertise at the regional and headquarter offices as necessary to ensure quality plans and project outputs.
• Prepare documentation for meetings, conferences and field visits and taking notes on decisions and action points to ensure follow up of the same. 
• As required, provide the Director, Nigeria with technical and management support relating to other MI programs.

3.3 Project Review 

• Review program for lessons learned and document and share appropriately.
• 3.4 Program Evaluation 
•  Participate on the design of research and evaluation activities for MCHN projects and work closely with researchers and external evaluators to ensure research and evaluation exercises are feasible and respond to project and MOH needs. 
• Support the timely dissemination of research and program evaluation findings in Nigeria and elsewhere with the view to inform others on available new information and improved practices for the MCHN program. 
• 3.5 External Relations: 
• Build and maintain good collaborative relations with MoH, other government agencies, UN agencies, and NGOs to promote information sharing and effective coordination of effort to improve and sustain effective and efficient IFA supplementation programs as part of Antenatal Care services for pregnant women and the use.

Education/Professional Designations/Experience:

Education :

• Masters degree from a recognized university in one or more of the following areas: reproductive health, child health, nutrition, food sciences, health sciences, public health. 
• Training in epidemiology and research methodologies preferred. 

Experience:

•  At least 10 years experience in reproductive health, child health, public health, nutrition and/or related field in Nigeria or the Sub Saharan Africa. 
• At least 5 years experience in supervising MCHN programs. 
• At least 5 years experience in donor funded program /project implementation/supervision/ monitoring and evaluation. 
•  Experience with micronutrient supplementation programs desirable.

Travel Requirements:

Based in Abuja, Nigeria, around 20-25% of time will be spent travelling in Nigeria with occasional travel outside Nigeria.

Other Specific Skill Requirements:

• Excellent interpersonal skills 
• Very good presentational skills 
• Excellent team working skills 
• Excellent IT skills