bout CRS
Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.
Background
Since 2014, CRS/Burkina Faso, in-line with the Government of Burkina Faso’s commitment to support basic education for all, has been implementing the second phase of the USDA McGovern-Dole (MGD) program — “Beoog Biiga.” Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), “Beoog Biiga” is an integrated education program – with school feeding as a major component- designed to: improve the quality and relevance of education, encourage complete cycle of primary education for vulnerable and marginalized children, especially girls; and to improve nutrition and increase community involvement and government investment in education for long-term sustainability.
The anticipated four-year program, to be implemented in three of the provinces most vulnerable to food insecurity, Bam, Sanmatenga and Namentenga, are in the Center-North region. The program will integrate a new component focusing on maternal and child nutrition. The program is implemented in partnership with the Ministries of Education and Health, together with local and international partners.
Job Summary:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is seeking a Health and Nutrition Program Manager for an anticipated four-year USDA McGovern-Dole Program in Burkina Faso which aims to reduce hunger, strengthen education, and boost student literacy through a school feeding program for 335,027 school-age students, especially girls. The Health and Nutrition Program Manager’s role will be to lead complementary activities at school level, Distribution of de-worming medication, vitamins & minerals, training in good health and nutrition practices for students, teachers, PTA/AME/COGES; training in food preparation and storage practices for canteen cooks and warehouse managers; raising awareness about nutrition/health/hygiene (community mobilization and SBCC); capacity building national/school health & nutrition policy training in the Center North Region of Burkina Faso. Through the delivery of school meals, literacy/education and nutrition activities, USDA’s McGovern-Dole promotes primary school enrollment, attendance, and literacy results.
S/he will travel frequently to the field to supervise health-related activities. Additionally, s/he will support the Chief of Party (COP) in the overall management of the “Beoog Biiga” program and take on all health and nutrition related activities. S/he will provide oversight to health and nutrition initiatives of the program and will take the lead in the design, implementation, monitoring and reporting of all training related activities of the MGD project either implemented directly by CRS or in collaboration with government and partners.
Job Responsibilities
- Lead the promotion of all health and nutrition practices
- Provide technical oversight and direction for health and nutrition as an integral part of the MGD project
- Assess nutrition gaps and develop nutrition-sensitive interventions to enhance the health and nutrition of project beneficiaries
- Lead the development of materials, key messages and trainings in schools and communities to promote health and nutrition
- Help schools to develop nutritious menus adapted to the products available in their respective localities
- Enhance meal planning, dietary diversity and nutrition and health practices amongst students in project schools
- Ensure effective partnerships, coordination and collaboration between key project stakeholders, including Ministry of Health, collaborating ministries and relevant departments and agencies
- Manage the relationship with relevant government ministries, departments and agencies, other decentralized departments, as well as nutrition and health partners
- Ensure that resources are used for the intended program activities in accordance to the agreed proposal and budget.
- Develop and maintain effective and mutually beneficial relationships with other key health and nutrition stakeholders
- Coordinate with the MEAL Manager for an efficient and effective monitoring of activities
- Document, report and share lessons learned from program implementation
- Lead the preparation of reports of all health-related activities
- Contribute to the preparation of bi-annual reports to be submitted to the USDA via the office of the Chief of Party
- Manage the Health and Nutrition Project Manager, the School Feeding and Government Partnerships Project Manager and the Social Behavior Change Communication Project Manager.
- Perform other duties as designated by the supervisor.
Key Working Relationships:
- Supervisory: Health and Nutrition Project Manager, School Feeding and Government Partnerships Project Manager and the Social Behavior Change and Communication Project Manager
- Internal: Work with Chief of Party, Project Managers, Project Officers, MEAL Manager, Budget Manager, field agents and other CRS staff
- External: Partner NGOs, teachers, students, mothers, Ministry of Health and its departments, Health District staff, and other school stakeholders
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
- Serves with Integrity
- Models Stewardship
- Cultivates Constructive Relationships
- Promotes Learning
Competencies Relevant for the Specific Position:
- Set clear goals and manages toward them
- Collaborate effectively with staff and stakeholders
- Manage financial resources with integrity
- Applies program quality standards to project design and organizational learning
Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:
Education and Experience
- Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations, or in the field of Nutrition or public heath plus a minimum of five years of relevant field work,
- Minimum of 5 years experience in program/project management with an international NGO, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in the area of Heath and Nutrition
- Good experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USDA and USAID.
- Experience with Social Behavior Change Communication
- Experience in school health & nutrition policy
- Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals.
- Experience engaging with partner organizations
- MEAL skills and experience
- Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
- Experience of report writing, both for technical use and for sharing of best practices
- Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.
Personal Skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions
- Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
- Good presentation and facilitation skills
- Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented
- Strong writing and editing skills
- Ability to communicate with a variety of stakeholders
- Strong organizational skills
- Experience working in a team
Required/Desired Foreign Language
- Fluency in English and French
Travel Required
- Ability and willingness to live in and travel at least 40% of the time to remote areas
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
EOE
More Information
- Job City Ouagadougou
