Chief of Party (Anticipated USDA McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program)
Chief of Party (Anticipated USDA McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program)
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Job Description
NOTE: Hiring is contingent upon the successful award of the Activity and USDA approval; the anticipated start date is around October 2025.
About USDA McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program:
The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (McGovern-Dole) is a five-year initiative funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Its primary goal is to improve literacy and primary education particularly for girls while addressing food security and nutrition among school-aged children in low-income food-deficit countries. Key services include:
- Providing school meals using U.S. agricultural commodities.
- Enhancing literacy and education outcomes through teacher training and education support.
- Supporting maternal infant and child nutrition initiatives.
The programs strategic objectives are:
- Improved literacy and education for school-aged children.
- Increased use of health nutrition and dietary practices.
McGovern-Dole emphasizes sustainability local capacity building and community involvement to ensure the programs long-lasting impact after USDA funding concludes.
Job Purpose
Reporting to the Deputy Regional Manager WA Hub The Chief of Party (COP) will lead the overall management strategic direction and implementation of the Food For Education a program funded under the FY25 McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. The COP will be responsible for ensuring the project achieves its objectives of improving food security reducing hunger and enhancing literacy and nutrition outcomes particularly for school-aged children and vulnerable populations. This role includes managing partnerships stakeholder engagement financial oversight and compliance with donor regulations. Relocation will be supported.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Program Oversight:
- Provide overall leadership and direction to the project to achieve McGovern-Doles strategic objectives of improving literacy and nutrition outcomes.
- Oversee program implementation ensuring alignment with the McGovern-Dole objectives and regulatory requirements.
- Lead the development and execution of project work plans ensuring that activities align with strategic objectives and are on track.
- Provide thought leadership and technical expertise in the areas of food security literacy nutrition and local capacity building.
Stakeholder Engagement and Representation:
- Serve as the primary point of contact with USDA/FAS local government agencies implementing partners and other stakeholders.
- Strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders including ministries of education health and agriculture to ensure local ownership and sustainability.
- Represent the program in national and international forums to advocate for policy and programmatic changes.
Operations and Compliance:
- Ensure program operations comply with USDA/FAS regulations including monitoring evaluation and reporting requirements.
- Oversee the management of U.S. and local commodity procurement logistics and distribution ensuring alignment with food safety and nutrition standards.
- Ensure robust risk management strategies are in place to mitigate fraud waste and abuse of resources.
Financial Management and Resource Allocation:
- Oversee the program budget ensuring efficient allocation of resources and compliance with financial guidelines.
- Work closely with the finance team to monitor project expenditures and ensure cost-effectiveness.
Staff Supervision and Capacity Building:
- Recruit supervise and mentor a multidisciplinary project team including key personnel such as a Deputy COP M&E Lead and Technical Experts.
- Foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment to drive project success.
- Build the capacity of local staff and partners to ensure project sustainability.
Qualifications :
- Masters degree in Social Sciences Public Health Education Agriculture International Development or a related field.
- Minimum 10 years of senior-level experience managing large complex international development projects preferably funded by the U.S. Government.
- Proven experience in leading food security literacy and nutrition programs in low-income food-deficit countries.
- Demonstrated expertise in partnership building with governments donors private sector and local organizations.
- Strong knowledge of U.S. Government regulations and compliance standards particularly USDA or USAID-funded programs.
- Experience in commodity management including logistics and supply chain oversight.
Skills and Competencies:
- Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Strong representational and communication abilities including experience engaging with high-level stakeholders.
- Fluent in French and proficient in English (Oral and written).
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams.
- Strong project management skills including budget oversight and compliance monitoring.
- Excellent representational and communication skills in one or more local languages.
- Strong written and oral proficiency in English
- A team player with visionary leadership.
Additional Information :
Please submit your CV or resume along with a cover letter explaining your interest and qualifications for this opportunity.
Amref Health Africa does not require applicants to pay any money at whatever stage of the recruitment and selection process and has not retained any agent in connection with recruitment. Although Amref may use different job boards from time to time to further spread its reach for applicants all open vacancies are published on our website under the Vacancies page and on our official social media pages. Kindly also note that official emails from Amref Health Africa will arrive from an @ address.
Amref Health Africa is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Amref Health Africa is is dedicated to diversity and is an equal-opportunity employer with a non-smoking environment policy.
Remote Work :
No
Employment Type :
Full-time
Employment Type
Full-time
