The Advisor will technically account to the Infrastructure Service Desk in the Federal Ministry of Education and will be based at the Federal Ministry of Education while administratively reporting to the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI). 

Background

Recently, food and nutrition security has become among the Ethiopian Government's priorities leading to a commitment to demonstrate different nutrition-sensitive and specific policies, strategies, and programs. The recently endorsed policies and programs of the country such as the Food and Nutrition Policy and Food and Nutrition Strategy have included school feeding as one of the interventions to enhance the implementation of nutrition-sensitive works in the education sector. School Health and Nutrition Strategy and School Feeding Policy Framework and Strategy are among the crucial measures taken by the government to improve the nutrition, health, and education of school children. Multi-sectoral approaches are envisaged by the policy and strategy which in turn requires the involvement of different sectors such as education, health, agriculture, water, trade, industry, finance, women, and social affairs.

School-age children in Ethiopia are affected by a wide range of health and nutrition-related problems that constrain their ability to thrive and benefit from education. Some of the common health-related problems are parasitic infections, malaria, anemia, trachoma, skin diseases, disabilities, injuries, unhealthy sexual and reproductive behavior, and psychosocial and substance abuse. Some of the common nutrition-related problems are inadequate food consumption and associated levels of undernutrition including stunting, wasting, and underweight as well as micronutrient deficiencies such as iron, iodine, zinc, and vitamin A deficiencies.  In addition, overnutrition is an emerging issue in cities reflected by the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity.  Furthermore, there is low awareness of the effect of poor health and nutrition on children’s ability to learn. From a policy and strategy perspective, there is a lack of ownership and coordination as well as ineffective utilization of resources due to different standards being applied by different organizations on the delivery of comprehensive school health and nutrition (SHN) interventions.

The Ethiopian government developed SHN strategy and school feeding policy framework and strategy to fill the gaps, and harmonize and strengthen existing SHN interventions which serve as a tool for the integration and reinforcement of broader SHN interventions. Schools are ideal settings to implement health and nutrition programs because they offer substantial opportunities to promote health and nutrition as well as promote educational quality. SHN promotes equity, as children who begin school have the most to gain from SHN interventions as they have the worst health and nutrition status. It also enables them to benefit from better educational outcomes, since they show the greatest improvement in cognition from SHN interventions. Thus, SHN particularly benefits the poor and the disadvantaged, many of whom are increasingly accessible through schools because of Ethiopia’s universal education strategies.

School health and nutrition (SHN) is about investing both in schoolchildren and adolescents’ health and well-being and in their learning, with benefits extending to their homes and communities. When children are sick and hungry, they do not learn well. Further, good health, nutrition, and education are not only rights and ends in themselves, but they are also an investment in a country’s future and in the capacity of its people to lead productive and satisfactory lives.

Generally, this inter-relationship between education, nutrition, and health calls for a more integrated, systems approach to school health and nutrition, and coordinated action to bring effective, multicomponent policies and programs to scale. To coordinate the interventions in nutrition and health, technical support from partners is deemed necessary. Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) is committed to technically supporting the effort of the Ministry of Education to coordinate school health and nutrition strategy, school feeding policy framework, and strategy.  Considering the current challenges in multi-sectoral coordination, EPHI has planned to provide technical assistance through the National Information Platform for Nutrition (NIPN) to the school health and nutrition coordination under the Ministry of Education by hiring one multi-sectoral school health and nutrition advisor with relevant competencies to strengthen and support multi-sectoral coordination in the implementation of the school health and nutrition interventions.

The main responsibility of the technical advisor is to strengthen the multi sectoral coordination and collaboration across all relevant Food and Nutrition Strategy implementing sectors in general and school health and nutrition implementing sectors in particular with the collaboration of the MOE as well as reinforce linkages with international organizations, research institutions, and academia.

Objectives

The overarching objective of the technical advisor is to provide technical advice and support to the Ministry of Education on the effective implementation of school health and nutrition through enhanced multi-sectoral coordination.

Considering this, the following specific objectives are to be attained through technical assistance from the hired advisor

• Provide technical support to the Ministry of Education during the planning, and implementation of the school health and nutrition program

• Provide support and strategic guidance for sustained multi-sectoral coordination at the federal and regional level

• Provide technical support and strengthen the monitoring and evaluation of school health and nutrition.

• Provide need-based capacity building for school health and nutrition implementing sectors, coordinate resource mobilization, budget allocation, and liquidation.

Expectations

This technical advisor is expected to provide a significant contribution to the successful implementation of the school health and nutrition program and enhance the effective utilization of multi-sectoral school health and nutrition data by strengthening the M&E framework at all levels. The main outcome will be enhanced technical capacity, multi-sectoral coordination, and enhanced multisector food and nutrition data utilization.

The success of the technical advisor  will be evaluated  by the attainment of the following:

1. Prepare sound ToR for school health and nutrition multi-sectoral coordination and get relevant ministerial sectors and other stakeholders’ approval for proper implementation of SHN intervention

2. Coordinate preparation of costed multi sectoral school health and nutrition plan by implementing sectors and development partners.

3. The functionality of the multi-sectoral coordination platforms at all levels and the use of the performance scorecard results in decision-making and course correction.

4. Sustainable allocation of budget from implementing sectors at all levels.

5.  Establishment and effectiveness of the School Health and Nutrition Coordination platforms/ structure at all levels.

Scope of work

Position Summary: The overarching objective is to support the multisector school health and nutrition coordination through the establishment and functionality of national and regional coordination platforms and facilitate effective implementation of the school health and nutrition strategy and school feeding policy framework and strategy. The School Health and Nutrition Coordination Advisor will ensure the delivery of results within the agreed timeframe and resources, cohesion across all activities, and efficient cooperation with the school health and nutrition staff in the Ministry of Education, nutrition-sensitive, and specific implementing sector focal persons, regional school health and nutrition coordination platforms, development partners and other stakeholders. The Advisor will also provide comprehensive and integrated support on the overall planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the school health and nutrition program.

The School Health and Nutrition Coordination Advisor will be based in the Ministry of Education and technically report to the Infrastructure Service Desk  Directorate.  S/he will communicate with implementing sectors, regional education bureaus, and coordination platforms. The School Health and Nutrition Coordination Advisor is envisioned to be a seasoned expert in school health and nutrition who understands how education/school service and nutrition programming in Ethiopia works, and has ample project management experience with a results-oriented mindset and expertise in one or several areas related to multi-sectoral coordination. Taking a facilitative, consultative, and participatory approach under the overall guidance of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute and the Ministry of Education  and the advisor will undertake the following tasks:  

 Roles and Responsibilities:

• Summary of key roles and responsibilities- The School Health and Nutrition Coordination Advisor is responsible for the day-to-day planning, implementation, and monitoring of the national and regional school health and nutrition coordination and implementing sectors; Specifically, s/he will

1. Provide technical oversight, coordination, and capacity-building support for effective planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of school health and nutrition coordination and implementation.

• Provide technical leadership and support to the Ministry of Education on school health and nutrition coordination for effective implementation of the school health and nutrition interventions

• Provide the day-to-day school health and nutrition program management support to the Ministry of Education for the execution of planned nutrition activities

• Provide technical support to establish and strengthen school health and nutrition coordination at the national and regional levels.

• Provide capacity-building training to national and regional sectors to enhance the implementation of school health and nutrition activities.

• Support preparation and implementation of costed annual joint multisector school health and nutrition plans that clearly set out quarterly and annual output targets, indicators, activities, resource requirements, and budget.

• Provide  technical guidance and support for coordinated implementation of multisector school health and nutrition activities across national and regional sectors

• Prepare proposals and mobilize resources for program interventions reflected in the SHN and School Feeding Policy framework and strategy.

• Liaise and build on synergies among implementing sectors, development partners, and private sectors for effective implementation of SHN activities and share best experiences.

• Provide capacity building, and technical guidance to SHN coordinating platforms at the regional level.

• Provide technical assistance in the identification, design, and preparation of activities that support deepening multi-sectoral coordination of SHN efforts and integration of high-impact multi-sectoral interventions with improved SHN outcomes into sectoral activities implemented outside of the education sector

• Identify and leverage experiences on multi-sectoral coordination of SHN both within Ethiopia and globally.

• Support and strengthen the mechanism of recognizing implementing sectors and development partners for best performance

• Liaise implementation of sector-specific and nutrition-sensitive strategies/programs such as Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture (NSA), One Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Program, etc.

• Support coordination of development partners for successful implementation of SHN activities.

• Support the creation of appropriate SHN structures at all levels to ensure and support the effective implementation, leveraging, and scaling-up of SHN interventions.

• Coordinate uptake of effective and innovative interventions in SHN including approaches and materials from key partners.

·       Produce and support time-based multisector SHN implementation assessment reports to track the implementation performance.

2. Provide technical support to strengthen routine monitoring of SHN implementation

• Ensure execution of the monitoring and evaluation system for SHN and liaise with EMIS

• Provide capacity building to the Ministry of Education and implementing sectors to review the implementation of joint multi-sectoral SHN plan, track progress, prepare progress reports, and highlight issues requiring corrective actions.

• Support collection, collation, and analysis of all relevant SHN information and generate a regular report as required for effective decision-making.

• Support and prepare regular SHN performance reviews and coordination meetings with the implementing sectors.

• Arrange Joint Supportive Supervision missions to monitor and follow the implementation of SHN program.

• Prepare and share feedback to national sectors and regions through a performance measuring scorecard.

• Produce and support quarterly based multi sectoral nutrition implementation assessment reports to track the implementation of monitoring, evaluation, and research steering committee (MER-SC) annual plan

• Ensure execution of the monitoring and evaluation system for food and nutrition policy and strategy and liaise with the EPHI-NIPN and MoE-Nutrition coordination office

Competencies and Critical Success Factors

• Functional competencies and technical expertise- The School Health and Nutrition Coordination Advisor is expected to have at least postgraduate level qualification in the following areas of expertise and experience to provide technical assistance to SHN programming and implementation. 

Job Requirements

• PhD/Master’s degree in Applied Human Nutrition, Community Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, Food Science and Nutrition, Public Health, and other related disciplines

• At least 10+/8+ years of experience in coordination of food and nutrition programs in Ethiopia, with progressive managerial and coordination responsibilities (including at least 5 years of relevant work experience at the national level)

• Proven subject matter expert with a broad understanding of the nutrition space, including Food Security, Agriculture, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Social Protection, Education, and broader Development issues

• Deep knowledge of multi-sectoral food and nutrition coordination and multi-sectoral program planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and learning 

• Broad professional and personal networks in the Ethiopian nutrition community, and public and private sectors will be a distinct advantage.

• Good understanding of School Health and Nutrition Strategy, School Feeding Program Framework and Strategy, National Food and Nutrition Policy (FNP), National Food Nutrition Strategy, Food and Nutrition implementing sectors nutrition-sensitive strategies and programs, and the Government of Ethiopia’s policy and ten years strategic plan.

• Thorough experience in leading and working with teams and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality deliverables.

• Previous work experience with the government of Ethiopia's National Nutrition Program (NNP), Food and Nutrition Strategy, and other multisector programs

• Ability to think critically and analytically to draw sound conclusions based on evidence or data.

• Ability to share knowledge and experience

• Ability to provide quality policy advice services on nutrition programming

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management, and reporting

• Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches, which expand the range of programs

• Ability to work with minimal supervision

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, development partners, and donor representatives.

• Understanding of human resources and capacity-building needs for school health and nutrition and multi-sectoral coordination in Ethiopia.

• Excellent communication, analytical, and writing skills in English and the local language.

Functional Competencies – Leadership and Teamwork:

• Capable to lead teams effectively and showing conflict resolution skills.

• Works well with a diverse group of people

• Focuses on impact and results, and responds positively to critical feedback

• Encourages risk-taking in the pursuit of creativity and innovation

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling Government of Ethiopia values and ethical standards

• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the Government of Ethiopia’s Food and Nutrition Strategy, SHN, and School Feeding Program Framework and Strategy

• Displays cultural and gender sensitivity and adaptability, and

• Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Key core competencies

• Seeing the big picture: Anticipate economic, social, and political developments to keep multi-sectoral SHN interventions relevant and targeted

• Making effective decisions: Push decision-making to the right level within the technical committee and beyond

• Collaborating and partnering: Actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on objectives and shared interests

• Leading and communicating: Be visible to staff and stakeholders and regularly undertake activities to engage and build trust with people involved in the area of work; and

• Nutrition technical competencies: Be able to successfully apply data and evidence of the multi-dimensional effects of malnutrition and the importance of adopting a multi-sectoral and integrated development approach to SHN interventions.

Key working relationships

• Infrastructure Service Desk, Federal Ministry of Education

• Federal Ministry of Health

• Federal Ministry of Agriculture

• Food Science and Nutrition Research Directorate, EPHI

• Regional Education Bureaus

• Regional SHN Coordination Forum/platform

• SHN implementing sectors, National and Regional SHN Coordination

• Other food and nutrition implementing partners.

Additional Information:  Works in a typical government office setting; working conditions include travel to ministries, agencies, regions, and sometimes zones and woredas.

How to Apply

Register using the following link

Note: send your CVs and relevant documents & please attach copies of transcripts, academic degrees, or recommendation letters together with the application.