Job and Career Info

GHFP-10-171

The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute (PHI) in partnership with the Harvard School of Public Health, Management Systems International and the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. GHFP is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The goal of GHFP is to improve the effectiveness of USAID Population, Health and Nutrition programs by developing and increasing capacity of health professionals in Washington, DC and overseas. This is accomplished through the recruitment, placement and support of junior, mid and senior level health professionals; a diversity initiative focused on providing internship and mentoring opportunities in international public health to underrepresented communities; and professional and organizational development activities to bolster USAID’s ability to maximize results and strengthen its leadership role in global health.

INTRODUCTION

The Nutrition Division within the Office of Health, Infectious Disease and Nutrition (HIDN) in the Bureau for Global Health provides global technical leadership and field support to improve nutrition and food security in USAID assisted countries. The Division works with various USAID operating units and their partners implementing food security and nutrition programs, including Title II cooperating sponsors/private voluntary organizations (PVOs), President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief partners, Child Survival and Health Grant Program partners, and host country institutions.

The Division is also contributing to the planning and implementation of two initiatives – Feed the Future (FTF), the US global hunger and food security initiative, and the Global Health Initiative (GHI). Nutrition is the lynchpin between FTF and GHI and improving nutrition will be fundamental for achieving the ambitious targets of both initiatives. Complementary strategies and smart integration are required to achieve Millennium Development Goals 1, 4, and 5. The Division supports USAID Missions to design and implement integrated nutrition programs, which are tailored to the country specific determinants of undernutrition and reflect a country-led process and plan.

The Nutrition and Food Security Advisor (the Advisor) serves as a member of the Nutrition Division. S/he provides broad expertise in food security and nutrition programming, nutrition in emergencies, food/nutrition interactions with HIV and other infectious diseases and the monitoring and evaluation of these programs toward achieving the overall operational objectives of USAID.

Under the general direction of the Nutrition Division Chief, the Nutrition and Food Security Advisor provides support to USAID’s strategies, policies, and programming as they relate to nutrition, health and food security. S/he provides technical assistance to USAID country programs on the integration of nutrition into related programs of the Bureau for Global Health and other Bureaus. S/he also assists the Nutrition Division in accomplishing HIDN objectives, including policy and strategic development, program and project planning, implementation and evaluation of Agency nutrition and food security activities.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Nutrition and Food Security Advisor serves as a member of the Agency’s nutrition team and advises on nutrition, health and food security issues and approaches. S/he will:
- Provide high quality technical assistance to field missions, on the design and implementation of comprehensive nutrition programs
- Work with the Bureau for Global Health, Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade, regional bureaus and USAID Missions to provide state-of-the-art technical guidance on the integration of nutrition into health systems and food security programming
- Collect and compile evidence-based practices and new approaches to document and share with colleagues and missions
- Provide strategic planning guidance on the production of key strategic documentation, presentations and dissemination activities with both US Government and PVO partners for nutrition activities in the context of Feed the Future and the Global Health Initiative
- Contribute to the Nutrition Division’s strategic approach to programming related to nutrition, health and food security
- Plan, participate, facilitate and present at international and domestic meetings, workshops and conferences

Other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned based on (a) organizational and programming need and/or (b) the Technical Advisor’s own interests.

REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

- Master’s degree in human nutrition, public health, food security or related discipline
- Minimum five to twelve years’ progressively responsible experience in designing, implementing, and managing nutrition, food security, or related health programs in developing countries, with at least two years’ experience in an international or resource poor setting
- Experience in providing technical assistance on nutrition program design, implementation and evaluation
- Understanding of US Government budgeting and procurement policies and procedures preferred
- Experience working with USAID/Washington and USAID Missions, host country governments, cooperating agencies, and/or international PVOs preferred
- Demonstrated flexibility and openness in responding to changing work priorities and environment
- Strong interpersonal communication and writing skills
- High degree of demonstrated maturity and ability to work well with diverse teams
- Willingness and ability to travel
- Fluency in a foreign language preferred
- US Citizenship or US Permanent Residency required

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary will be based on commensurate experience and earnings history. The Public Health Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including professional development programs http://www.ghfp.net/docs/2010_Benefits_for_GHFP_Fellows.pdf