Advocacy Senior Officer – Regional Food Fortification Activity At Nutrition International

About us

At Nutrition International, we make a difference, because nutrition is the difference. Woven into the very fabric of our approach is the passion and drive of our global team of over 600 people, working in 13 offices across 11 countries with one common goal: transforming the lives of people who need it most through improved nutrition.

If you are a motivated and passionate individual who shares our conviction that a better world is possible through improved nutrition, wants to leave the world a little better than they found it, and is looking to be part of a global team with a clear vision, we want to hear from you. Please consider applying for the position below.

About the role

The USAID AFFORD West Africa RFFA Advocacy Senior Officer will serve as the focal person for all advocacy interventions and activities under the RFFA, and will be responsible for identifying advocacy subjects under this award and ensuring partnerships and linkages are forged between NI/AFFORD and Regional bodies/networks key stakeholders within the region. The Senior Officer will be responsible for ensuring that NI/AFFORD is informed, well represented and successfully influences within all regional events and platforms. They will also ensure their program of work contributes to NI’s broader strategic LSFF objectives for the region.

The Advocacy Senior Officer reports directly to the Chief of Party for the RFFA project as well as USAID AFFORD’s Lead for IR1. S/he will work closely with the NI Regional Advocacy Manager and will be expected to maintain communication with the Technical Advisor and the rest of the USAID AFFORD team.

Responsibilities:

Lead in the identification, conceptualization and in designing of advocacy interventions and activities under the RFFA components.
Lead the planning and execution of activities related to advocacy especially those under Components 2 and 3 of the RFFA.
Support and contribute to the identification of regional bodies/networks within the West Africa that can be leveraged for advocacy activities on LSFF.
Support the creation or forging of partnerships and linkages between NI/USAID AFFORD and Regional bodies/networks within the region such as AU and its institutions, and tap into their platforms for advocacy, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
Lead in the identification of opportunities to conduct advocacy events or share messages on LSFF.
Lead in the organization of advocacy events under the RFFA with guidance from the NI Regional Advocacy Manager, the Chief of Party of the RFFA, USAID AFFORD’s IR1 Team, and NI’s LSFF portfolio.
Support the interpretation and packaging of findings and/recommendations from different assessments into advocacy messages for different sectors (public, private, civil society, donors, and others) for call to attention and action.
Identify, support the recruiting, and manage consultants to support advocacy-related activities when and as appropriate.
Represent NI/AFFORD in key regional advocacy events and platforms, and ensure all parties are informed of such events.
Lead in identification of policy and regulatory related advocacy messages and support their integration into the overall regional advocacy plan or other LSFF related advocacy plans within the region.
Progressively identify best practices or successful case studies related to advocacy and increase awareness on food fortification and support their packaging for sharing through the knowledge hub.
Support in the creation of a West Africa LSFF Advocacy module within the global knowledge hub if deemed appropriate.
Liaise with NI Africa Regional Office for opportunities to share best practices and lessons from West Africa Region e.g., African Union events.
Progressively support the assessment of effectiveness of the advocacy interventions implemented across the region and in the countries

About You;

Bachelors or Masters degree in Policy Development, Public Policy, Development Communication, Public Relations, or related field At least 8 years of experience working in-country and / or regionally around the design and implementation of LSFF programs.
At least 8 years of experience working in-country and / or regionally supporting LSFF policy advocacy and / or around the design and implementation of LSFF programs.
Successful experience operating in a matrixed environment with varied reporting lines will be valuable.
Experience working for NGOs, international institutions/agencies, public and private sector.
Experience developing and implementing advocacy and communication strategies, at an international and national level.
Experience building relationships and coalitions with international partners, foreign and domestic governments, NGOs /CSOs and the private sector.
In depth knowledge of nutrition policy environment of West African countries and linkage with the continental and global initiatives.
Knowledge of government structures and functions, donor agencies, private sector and key stakeholders in food fortification programs.
Skilled in analyzing and communicating complex information in an accessible way for a non-technical audience.
Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a fast-paced environment and deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines.
Proficiency using Office 365 including SharePoint, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
Fluent written and spoken English and French is essential.

What we offer

A competitive market pay, health and dental benefits and pension plan, flexible work hours, four weeks of vacation (plus public holidays) and support for learning and development opportunities. We offer a collaborative and engaging work environment.

Nutrition International is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to an inclusive, equitable and accessible work environment. Upon request, accommodations due to a disability are available throughout the selection process.

Please note that all our offers are conditional subject to appropriate screening checks and satisfactory reference checks.