Niger: Strategic Coordination & Learning Advisor, USAID Food for Peace DFSA

Established in 1915 with Helen Keller as a founding trustee, Helen Keller International (HKI) is dedicated to saving the sight and lives of the world’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Headquartered in New York City, HKI currently conducts programs in 21 countries in Africa and Asia, as well as in the United States. Renowned for its reliability, efficiency and high level of technical expertise, HKI promotes the development of sustainable, large-scale programs that deliver effective preventative and curative services for nutrition, eye health and neglected tropical diseases. The hallmark of the organization’s work is its proven success in developing, testing and scaling-up health interventions, and integrating them within government and community structures to support and build local capacity and sustainable solutions.

Background

HKI started its programs in Niger in 1987, and Niger has been HKI’s flagship program in vitamin A supplementation, significantly reducing vitamin A deficiency – and child mortality. Currently, HKI implements a large and complex program focusing on nutrition and the control of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

HKI seeks a Strategic Coordinator and Learning Advisor to be based in Niger to ensure coordination, collaboration and learning across all activities in an anticipated USAID Food for Peace (FFP) Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) program.

Niger is one of two focus countries, along with Burkina Faso, for USAID’s resilience agenda in the Sahel. USAID builds the resilience of vulnerable rural residents by:

· Strengthening the institutions and governmental bodies meant to serve them;

· Improving their productive opportunities; and

· Helping increase the capacity and accessibility of social services while ensuring access to more nutritious foods; while

· Building on the many practices that Burkinabe have used to weather conflicts and natural shocks.

Functional Relationships

Reporting to the Chief of Party, the Strategic Coordinator serves as the learning and knowledge sharing lead for the USAID Food for Peace (FFP) Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) program. The Coordinator will work closely with the Food Security Technical Coordinator and the Monitoring and Evlauation Senior Advisor in-country and work closely with other colleagues at HKI’s Africa regional office and headquarters. The position also requires close cooperation with the government of Niger, partner NGOs and key stakeholders, as well as with the donor.

HKI has a matrixed reporting structure that respects both the line management and authority within country office and regional hierarchies; and the accountability and oversight duties of subject matter experts at the regional and headquarters level. Regular communication and a spirit of team work among colleagues, both hierarchically and laterally are essential to make this structure thrive.

Scopeof the Position:

Together with the Technical Coordinator and Senior M&E Advisor, the Strategic Coordination and Learning Advisor will ensure coordination, collaboration and learning across all activities in the assigned implementation area, to include active, intentional, and adaptive learning exercises within and across its multi-sectoral activities. The advisor should ensure robust stakeholder coordination by activity staff with entities including local partners, USG, host country government, international donors, multilateral organizations and private sector investments. Additionally, this role will improve peer-to-peer learning, knowledge sharing and application, activity-based capacity strengthening, evidence and data utilization, and collaborating, learning and adapting (CLA). This position will be based in Maradi (or Zinder) with frequent travel to project areas.

Qualifications:

· An advanced degree (PhD or Master’s) plus a minimum of five years directly relevant experience is required, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

· Demonstrated experience in food security, knowledge management, organizational learning, and capacity strengthening.

· Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners.

· Fluency in English and French are required. This includes excellent oral and written English language skills, including the ability to quickly synthesize complex technical and programmatic issues into concise communications and develop high quality reports.

· Experience working within the Francophone West African/Sahel development context is an advantage.

· Computer literate in use of word-processing and spreadsheets required; experience in statistical software, data analysis and interpretation, a plus.

· Ability to travel extensively within the country and internationally, as required and as security permits.

· An ability to work in challenging and changing environments, and to see through challenges to find solutions; an ability to maintain balance when under stress.

· Demonstrable respect for all persons regardless of religion, ethnicity, class or gender, with a high comfort level working in a diverse environment with a demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards.

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

Employment is contingent upon USAID award. The initial contract is for two years with the possibility of renewal.

Helen Keller International is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.