Job for Gender and Nutrition Specialist at Sahel Consulting Agriculture & Nutrition Limited

Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Ltd (Sahel) is a leading management consulting firm focused on the agricultural and nutrition sectors in AfricaWe partner with government agencies, private sector companies and leading international development organizations to conduct research, analyze policies, develop strategies and implement programs that promote sustainable food security and improved nutritionWe have worked on a variety of projects across West Africa.

Sahel is currently recruiting for a program focused on developing the local Nigerian dairy sector. We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Gender and Nutrition Specialist

Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Job Type: Full Time
Reports to: Chief of Party (CoP)
Travel: Limited travel across project States in Nigeria

Role Summary

• The role of the Gender & Nutrition Specialist (GNS) has two components. The first component would involve serving as the project’s technical advisor on nutrition activities, as well as managing and leading the execution of a holistic nutrition study that will assess the nutrition situation in smallholder farming communities in Northern and Southern Nigeria
• He/she will be required to manage sub-grantees recruited to support the nutrition study which will comprise of a baseline assessment incorporating anthropometric and related health indications to assess malnutrition levels; an in-depth assessment of food basket and consumption patterns among smallholder farming communities to uncover dependencies or causalities influencing the malnutrition situation; testing and investigation of approaches to address malnutrition and influence improved nutrition outcomes and the organization of a stakeholders meeting to obtain buy-in from stakeholders in the government, private and development sectors on the proposed approaches. These program activities will be undertaken with dairy products as a central theme
• The second component is to lead the planning and implementation of the gender analysis of the dairy development component of the ALDDN, including understanding of cultural and social norms influencing gender relations in Northern and Southern NigeriaHe/she will work alongside other critical stakeholders in the project and other project team members to plan and develop gender integration strategies for the project.
• The GNS will also manage and lead the execution of a holistic gender study that will assess barriers that women face in dairy producing communities in Northern and Southern Nigeria and propose specific interventions that will address these barriers. He/she will be required to manage sub-grantees recruited to support the gender study which will comprise of a baseline assessment.
• The gender and nutrition specialist will also work closely with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure services are provided to smallholder dairy farmers while working with stakeholders at the federal and state ministries of agriculture as well as development agencies involved in the program to design and implement gender sensitive approaches for enhancing the livelihood of smallholder dairy farmers while yet improving their nutrition.

Minimum Qualifications and Requirements
Candidates should have:·

• Degree in Nutrition Studies, Development Studies or any related field, or a relative discipline with at least two years of work experience in a similar capacity in Nigeria or West Africa
• Bachelor’s in Nutrition or a Social Science course with at least five years of work experience in women’s development, gender and/or food security and nutrition issues, with skills and abilities working with women in Nigeria or West Africa.
• Deep understanding of women’s and gender equality issues in Nigeria both at national and local levels as well as a substantial understanding of gender equality with knowledge of relevant international and national gender and human rights instruments, conventions and legislation.
• Familiarity with key policies and stakeholders related to women’s and gender equality issues in Nigeria (local and international governmental and non-governmental actors).
• Knowledge of international and local stakeholders in Nigeria in the agriculture, health, food aid and nutrition sectors.
• An understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of gender mainstreaming strategies and methodologies and of gender dynamics and complexities and cultural issues/constraints in facilitating women’s participation in developmen
• Expertise in strategic gender planning, gender analysis, gender budgeting, preparing/conducting gender impact assessments, and gender mainstreaming is highly desirabl
• Have an ability to develop and interpret monitoring results of gender-sensitive indicators.
• Ability to be flexible, respond professionally, and establish priorities in often fluid, changing, and challenging situations with little clear guidance is necessary.
• Ability to work calmly, tactfully, and effectively under pressure and to demonstrate extreme flexibility in managing more than one activityHigh evaluation, data collection, analytical and report writing skills.
• Willingness and enthusiasm for working with rural and vulnerable communities living in remote areas of the country.
• Ability to interact directly and independently with senior management of technical partners and senior government official.
• Understanding of the social and cultural contexts that underpin Fulani and smallholder farming communities in Nigeria.
• Proficiency in the English language (required) and Yoruba, Hausa and Fulfulde (preferred).

Specific Duties and Responsibilities
Sub-Grantee Management: Nutrition Study:

• In coordination with the ALDDN’s Project Management Office (PMO), partner dairy processors, the Gender & Nutrition Specialist and the sub-grantee for the nutrition study, the Gender & Nutrition Specialist will plan, design and lead the execution of the nutrition study in smallholder farming communities in Northern and Southern Nigeria.
• Oversee the development of harmonized methodologies, approaches and instruments for conducting the Nutrition Study.
• In coordination with the Chief of Party, oversee the organization of two stakeholder meetings to share the results of the nutrition study and obtain buy-in for proposed nutrition interventions
• Oversee the development of regular progress reports on the nutrition studies for the PMO and project funder use.
• Oversee the development of interim and final project reports from the nutrition studies for onward submission to stakeholders in the public, private and development sectors.
• Assist the Chief of Party in the selection, contracting and remuneration of sub-grantees working on the nutrition study in accordance with donor guidelines.

Sub-Grantee Management: Gender Study:

• In coordination with the ALDDN’s Project Management Office (PMO), partner dairy processors and the sub-grantee for the gender study, the Gender and Nutrition Specialist will plan, design and lead the execution of the gender study in smallholder farming communities in Northern and Southern Nigeria.
• Together with the sub grantee for the Gender Study, define key hypotheses for the focus of the analysis, including issues around employment of women in the dairy sector, control of productive assets, women participation in household decision making, access to basic education and health services for women and girls.
• Oversee the development of harmonized methodologies, approaches and instruments for conducting the Gender Study.
• Together with the sub grantee for the Gender Study, propose interventions and structures to address barriers that women face in dairy producing communities and to ensure that they continue to maintain a significant control over the proceeds from the sale of their milk and other productive assets related to dairy production
• Investigate the applicability of proven dairy women empowerment programs such as the Africa Dairy Development Project’s Social Capital Development and Dairy Interest Group approaches for the social, cultural and economic settings in Nigeria.
• In coordination with the Chief of Party, oversee the organization of two stakeholder meetings to share the results of the gender study and obtain buy-in for proposed interventions
• Oversee the development of regular progress reports on the gender studies for the PMO and project funder use.
• Assist the Chief of Party in the selection, contracting and remuneration of sub-grantees working on the nutrition study in accordance with donor guidelines.
• Assist the Chief of Party in supporting the implementation of other project activities, including the women empowerment component of the program.

Planning, developing and implementing Dairy Development Services:

• Oversee development and implementation of gender integration plan in the focal cluster communities.
• Work closely with the Chief of Party and Dairy & Livestock Specialist in designing training modules targeting women farmers for improving production efficiencies and increased incomes to families, as well as in implementing project to support inclusion of women’s organizations in these communities
• Serve as a liaison on women’s issues for high-profile delegations from Government and private sector actors within and outside the dairy industry.

Documentation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting:

• Assist the Chief of Party and Project Coordinators to develop project strategies, project plans technical capacity building interventions, activities and policies related to implementing the gender and nutrition components of the NDDP
• Participate in regular field visits to project sites (up to 50% of the time) to ensure high quality project performance and monitor and track progress against project timelines
• Support the Chief of Party, M&E team and other sub-grantees on the collection and reporting of program results especially with regards to the baseline studies and any gender and nutrition-related interventions.
• Support the Chief of Party in monitoring progress and evaluation of project activities including financial performances
• Assist the Chief of Party in preparation of progress reports (quarterly, annual, final) and respond to the queries related to the gender and nutrition components of the project
• Coordinate with federal, state and local governments, communities, project beneficiaries, private sector service providers and suppliers, consultants, and other stakeholders at project level for effective delivery of project activities
• Assist the Chief of Party to maintain good relations with project beneficiaries, partner organizations, and other stakeholdersOversee the preparation of the results of the gender and nutrition studies in compelling formats for eventual publication on selected platforms
• Participate in public forums to share and communicate the results of the study to public, private and development sector stakeholders around the dynamics influencing the success of dairy development, gender and nutrition interventions targeted at West Africa.Work with the Chief of Party to develop proposed gender and nutrition interventions and a framework for the implementation of those interventionsRelationship Management·
• Develop and maintain relations with a wide variety of stakeholders working on malnutrition, agriculture-nutrition, food security and gender-related issues to ensure coordination of activities, support best practices, and build partnerships. Represent the Project on technical working groups focused on nutrition issues including initiatives such as the Scaling-Up Nutrition (SUN) working group.
• Build relationships and partnerships with a wide range of Government officials including ministerial directors at the national level, state and local levels, and representatives from multiple ministries at the management, technical and administrative levels.
• Build relationships and partnerships with potential implementing partners as necessary, including meetings at a senior level with key NGO implementing personnel to discuss issues related to the effective implementation and support for potential interventions

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online