Job Description
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is a leading global provider of objective, evidence-based food security information and analysis. Created in 1985 in response to famines in East and West Africa, the project provides global coverage with a mix of presence and remote monitoring countries. The FEWS NET implementing team includes NASA, NOAA, USGS, USDA, Kimetrica, and Chemonics International, which manages the Washington-based technical office and more than 20 field offices.
Based on in-depth understanding of local livelihoods, FEWS NET analysts monitor information and data on factors that affect food security, such as weather conditions and climate, crops, pasture, markets and trade, and nutrition. FEWS NET produces regular reports including the Food Security Outlook and Outlook Updates, emergency alerts, market and price updates, and global weather hazards. The project also produces specialized research products on food security drivers and crosscutting issues such as climate change and resilience. FEWS NET makes all reports available at
www.fews.net and distributes them globally to governments, relief agencies, and other organizations engaged in humanitarian response and development programs.
The ongoing third phase of FEWS NET (2012-2017) relies on close collaboration with international, regional, and national partners on food security analysis and reinforcement of food security networks. Major activities include joint monitoring and assessments, data exchanges, collaborative analysis and report writing, and training. FEWS NET supports local and regional food security networks to contribute to achieving the global objective of food security for all. The nutrition advisor will be based in Washington, DC and the advisor will provide direct technical supervision to two regionally based nutrition specialists in Niamey, Niger and Nairobi, Kenya, and two national nutrition officers in Nigeria and Afghanistan. The advisor will report to the FEWS NET Deputy Chief of Party
Responsibilities include:
- Provide technical guidance on the inclusion and use of health and nutrition information in food security monitoring, assessments, and analysis, including scenario building and integrated food security phase classification (IPC)
- Oversee the development and maintenance of a database of nutrition and health survey data for each of FEWS NET’s presence countries;
- Oversee the development of nutrition context documents for select FEWS NET countries;
- Conduct nutrition causal analysis (NCA) studies to understand the causes of undernutrition in different contexts;
- Provide technical guidance on the implementation of food security and nutrition (e.g. SMART) surveys and assessments;
- Actively contribute to the IPC nutrition technical working group
- Facilitate nutrition trainings to FEWS NET staff and external partners;
- Manage, coordinate, and support two regional nutrition specialists and two national nutrition officers for the project;
- Promote and support collaboration with local, regional, and international partners in health and nutrition-related activities
- Propose innovative initiatives and tools that will contribute to early warning;
- Provide guidance to the development and refinement of the approach to health and nutrition related methods and products
- Promote and support collaboration with local, regional, and international partners in health and nutrition‐related activities
- Provide input to and participation in the preparation and dissemination of decision‐support products, including monthly reports, special reports, alerts, and briefings
- Collaborate with FEWS NET implementation partners in carrying out project activities
- Support the development and strengthening of global partners and food security systems
- Ensure that there is efficiency and effectiveness in the management and compliance of the contractual
requirements
Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in a discipline directly relevant to the position, preferably in nutrition or public health, required
- Experience in the following areas required:
- Analysis of complex survey data, particularly nutrition and health data;
- Development and implementation of nutrition and health surveys, preferably in emergencies: experience with standardized monitoring and assessment of relief and transitions (SMART)
- Provision of training to partners and staff
- Understanding of household food security concepts, terms, and analytical approaches and a strong interest in multi‐sectoral, integrated analysis
- Significant experience implementing relevant programming or conducting research/analysis in developing countries
- Ability to work effectively with a diverse group of staff across 25 country and regional offices
- Ability to travel internationally, approximately 30 percent of the time
- Experience in people management and particularly with remote management
- Demonstrable skills in brokering, negotiating, networking, and coordinating with various stakeholders
- Experience in training and building capacity of partners and staff members
- Experience in the following areas desired:
- Nutrition surveillance
- Nutrition causal analysis
- Early warning
- Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
- Strong presentation and representation skills
- Written and spoken fluency in English and working knowledge of another language, preferably French
- Eligible to work in the United States
Application Instructions:
Apply through our Career Center at https://chk.tbe.taleo.net/chk05/ats/careers/jobSearch.jsp?org=CHEMONICS&cws=1 by August 6, 2017. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.
Chemonics is an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics. Military veterans, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.
