Senior Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) and Nutrition Advisor - Tajikistan (LEAP)

ZemiTek LLC is a Woman-Owned SBA-certified 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) based in the Washington DC metro area. We have a strong record delivering innovative and high-quality solutions. Since 2007 ZemiTek has provided technical assistance project management information technology (IT) knowledge management monitoring and evaluation training and learning development and institutional support services.

The Senior Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) and Nutrition Advisor will support the implementation of life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) in alignment with U.S. Government global health priorities including the goals of the U.S. Government Global Nutrition Coordination Plan and MNCH strategy. The Advisor will provide high-level technical guidance and coordination support to national and subnational governments especially the Ministry of Health to scale up evidence-based MNCH and nutrition interventions aimed at improving health outcomes among women newborns and children.

The Advisor will play a central role in identifying gaps in service delivery strengthening institutional capacity and promoting data-driven decision-making in MNCH and nutrition programming. The Advisor will coordinate across sectors such as health education social protection and agriculture where relevant and work closely with donors implementing partners and community-level stakeholders to ensure alignment and maximize impact. The Advisor will also ensure the integration of MNCH and Nutrition programming into wider USG TB HIV/AIDS and GHS portfolios. The Advisor will be embedded within the Ministry of Health or designated government counterpart institution and will report to the U.S. Embassy on a weekly and monthly basis.

Work schedule: Full-time

Location:Dushanbe Tajikistan

Technical Leadership and Support:

• Provide technical guidance to the Ministry of Health and relevant ministries on the effective delivery of MNCH and nutrition services including antenatal care skilled birth attendance postnatal care essential newborn care integrated management of childhood diseases (IMCI) infant and young child feeding (IYCF) prevention and management of wasting and stunting and micronutrient supplementation.
• Support the design implementation and monitoring of high-impact interventions targeting maternal and child health outcomes and nutritional status including integration with immunization WASH and community health platforms as well as wider USG TB HIV and GHS portfolios.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of national MNCH and nutrition strategies policies guidelines and operational plans.
• Strengthen routine data systems to collect analyze and use timely data for program planning and performance improvement including Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) Nutrition Information Systems (NIS) and community-based platforms.

Program Implementation and Systems Strengthening:

• Assist with the rollout and monitoring of the National Multisectoral Nutrition Action Plan and MNCH-related Strategic and Action Plans.
• Support facility- and community-level service delivery improvements through training supervision and mentorship of health workers.
• Help strengthen referral systems and continuity of care for mothers and children especially in rural and underserved areas.
• Ensure integration with USG health technical areas as are GHS HV/AIDS and TB portfolios.
• Facilitate multisectoral coordination between ministries (Health Education Social Protection Agriculture) and donors to enhance the impact of MNCH and nutrition services.
• Identify systemic bottlenecks in MNCH and nutrition service delivery and work with stakeholders to design and implement context-appropriate solutions.

Grants Donor Coordination and Reporting:

• Provide technical support in the development of funding proposals and concept notes related to MNCH and nutrition for mechanisms such as the Global Financing Facility (GFF) World Bank Asian Development Bank (ADB) or UNICEF grants.
• Review and analyze program performance reports submitted to USG and other donors and provide inputs for strategic planning and program adjustments.
• Participate in donor coordination platforms such as Scaling Up Nutrition Movement and MNCH Advisory Counsil to ensure alignment of efforts and avoid duplication of services.
• Support the U.S. Embassy with technical briefings activity reports contributions to the annual Operational Plans and the Performance Plan and Report (PPR).

Capacity Building and Best Practices Dissemination:

• Organize and facilitate training workshops mentorship sessions and technical exchange visits to promote adoption of best practices in MNCH and nutrition.
• Promote the institutionalization of quality improvement approaches in maternal and child health and nutrition programming.
• Support national-level efforts to scale community-based MNCH and nutrition interventions and ensure integration with other health areas such as TB HIV/AIDS GHS; and non-health sectors such as education social protection and food security.

Communications and Coordination:

• Regularly engage in conference calls and meetings with multisectoral stakeholders the U.S. Embassy Foreign Assistance Office and relevant Washington-based teams to share updates discuss challenges and align on strategy.
• Provide technical inputs and represent USG in national technical working groups donor coordination platforms and inter-ministerial meetings.
• Produce weekly and monthly reports for the State Department summarizing progress achievements and emerging issues.

Reporting:

The Senior Advisor will provide:

• A monthly technical report to the U.S. Department of State by the 5th of each following month.
• A weekly update including a brief summary of key accomplishments and challenges.
• Contributions to USAIDs annual reporting processes such as Operational Plans (OP) PPRs and other donor coordination reports as required.

Required:

• Advanced degree (MPH MS MD or PhD) in public health nutrition maternal and child health or related field.
• Minimum 13 years of relevant technical experience with a masters degree or 15 years with a bachelors degree.
• At least 10 years of experience working on MNCH and/or nutrition programming in low- or middle-income countries preferably with humanitarian and development sectors.
• Demonstrated expertise in evidence-based MNCH and nutrition programming program design and evaluation.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with host country governments donors implementing partners and community-level stakeholders.
• Advanced knowledge of host country government systems and institutions policies and regulatory frameworks.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English; proficiency in Russian and/or Tajik highly desirable.

Preferred:

• Experience with MNCH or nutrition programs.
• Experience working in fragile or humanitarian settings.
• Familiarity with tools and platforms for nutrition surveillance community health worker supervision or integrated health information systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience supporting or conducting national assessments including Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) SMART surveys or nutrition surveillance systems.

ZemiTekis an equal opportunity employer where an applicants qualifications are considered for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation age gender identity or expression national origin genetic information veteran status disability or any other basis prohibited by law.

ZemiTekis committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment ZemiTek will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application interviewing completing any pre-employment testing or otherwise participating in the employee selection process please direct your inquiries to.