The position

The AKF Health and Nutrition Global Advisor will work in close collaboration with AKF’s Health and Nutrition Global Lead, alongside other members of AKF’s Global Programme Team to support the promotion and implementation of AKF’s health and nutrition strategy. They will provide ongoing support to field-based teams, lead programme design, support resource mobilisation, nurture and sustain partnerships within the AKDN and with other key institutions globally.

The ideal candidate will have a deep technical understanding of issues and trends relating to health and nutrition; significant field experience in developing countries, particularly in Africa; exceptional communication skills in English, and ideally proficiency in one or more languages spoken in AKDN programme countries; an ability to constructively and creatively engage, convene and influence at various levels, e.g., leadership, technical staff.

Key Responsibilities

working closely with the Global Lead Health and with key leadership in AKF, AKHS and AKU to develop a cohesive, integrated AKF health strategy that draws on synergies with other AKF and AKDN programmes and broader partnerships;
supporting the operationalisation of the health strategy at the country level, with a special emphasis on Africa. This includes ensuring country teams understand and take ownership of the strategic direction, purpose
and goals, consolidating core programmes, identifying opportunities to grow the health portfolio, ensuring integration with other sectors and AKDN agencies and expanding partnerships with external players;
ensuring AKF health programme quality by providing regular support (technical or other) to field-based teams with a focus on, but not limited to Africa. This includes ensuring technical goals are attained and programmatic commitments to donors and partners are met and that country teams appropriately apply procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies;
supporting programme design and resource mobilisation,i.e., participating in regional and global donor discussions, supporting the in-country team to foster donor-relationships, identifying new funding opportunities, supporting proposal development, working alongside AKF field and donor units, as well as with other AKDN agencies;
nurturing and strengthening linkages amongst AKDN assets, institutions and programmes, as well as government and other actors involved in health systems and population health;
fostering health leadership at country level in order to identify opportunities to influence, shape and drive the national health agenda and be catalysts for broader impact;
facilitating development of innovative ideas and solutions to address programme and country needs, including mentoring and contributing to the performance improvement of health programme staff at country level;
contributing to the development of a framework for health measurement.
ensuring country health programmes comply with existing global and / or national benchmarks and supporting timely and effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on all programme activities and progress;
supporting the Global Health Lead to foster, sustain and strengthen global and regional communities of practice within AKDN (including rosters of specialists), and external partnerships for strategic, technical and fund-raising purposes;
contributing to, and sometimes leading, the development of global briefs, concept papers, communication materials, as well as reporting for management, Board, internal and external partners, and other stakeholders;
providing technical support to identify, grow and ensure technical quality of programmes within other sectors that have well defined health outcomes, e.g., ECD; food security and nutrition; adolescent health; water, sanitation and hygiene promotion; and humanitarian assistance;.

The requirements

Location : The location is flexible, but ideally based in Africa, with regular international travel to AKDN programme countries across Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Egypt.

Person Specification
The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate evidence of the following skills, capabilities and experience:

Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

Master’s degree in Public Health;
significant experience working on global health initiatives;
familiarity and professional experience on issues related to health, including community health, nutrition, health systems strengthening and water and sanitation;
significant field experience in developing countries, particularly in Africa;
solid understanding of trends in health, global health actors and key global health issues. This includes a strong grasp of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Core Competencies

ability to engage and share confidently, constructively, ethically, openly and honestly with stakeholders from many different cultures and professional backgrounds;
strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, and a pragmatic and flexible problem-solving ability;
effective communicator of ideas – written and verbal, in English. Ability to communicate in other languages spoken in AKDN programme countries is an asset;
adept at building teams – working collaboratively across countries, not only with AKF health staff but also with other thematic areas, AKDN agencies and partner institutions.

The deadline for receipt of applications is midday GMT on Friday, 1st May 2020.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview with AKF in mid-May 2020.

An appointment will be made subject to receipt of satisfactory references. The appointed candidate will be offered a salary that is commensurate with their experience and the seniority of their new role.

AKF Safeguarding Statement
AKF is committed to acting ethically and upholding safeguarding standards towards all staff, volunteers and beneficiaries of the organisation.

It is the responsibility of all AKF staff, representatives, and visitors to ensure that they serve the needs and protect the well-being of children and vulnerable adults to whom they have a special duty of care, including those with whom they work, are in contact with or who are affected by their activities. For this reason, AKF has policies and systems in place to
prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation and to safeguard children and vulnerable adults, their staff and everyone they come in contact with (detailed in AKF’s Safeguarding Policy).

This post is subject to a range of vetting checks including a criminal records disclosure.

Please note that applications made via the AKDN CC will be forwarded to a third party recruitment company who will be managing this search on behalf of AKF

Sector

Social Development

About the Agency

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), alongside its sister AKDN agencies, has implemented innovative, community-driven solutions to development challenges for over 50 years. It brings together human, financial and technical resources to address some of the challenges faced by the poorest and most marginalised communities in the world. Special emphasis is placed on investing in human potential, expanding opportunity and improving the overall quality of life, especially for women and girls. It works primarily in six areas: Agriculture and Food Security; Economic Inclusion; Education; Early Childhood Development; Health and Nutrition; and Civil Society.

Region

Eastern Africa

Location

Multiple

Salary

Salary and package to attract the best candidate

Submit your CV and Application on Company Website : Click Here

Closing Date : 1st May, 2020.