ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Assisting the government of Senegal to develop policies and strategies that build on research and best practice in RMNCH and MIYCN.
Providing high-level MIYCN technical assistance to national- and state-level RMNCH programs of government and implementing partners to accelerate coverage of evidence-based MIYCN interventions; including but not limited to –
Conducting an operational intervention to monitor Early Initiation of Breastfeeding in health facilities where deliveries occur (maternities) and improve the prevalence of this practice/behavior .
Identification of one district (NORD) in Dakar Region with Head of Maternal and Newborn Unit (Pr Marieme Gueye Ba and A&T Program Director),
Providing technical support to ensure implementation of RMNCH and MIYCN strategies in Senegal, including technical support to help Regional and District Governments achieve sectoral targets in a timely manner, including:
Visit the District Nord to share the EIBF intervention with the DHT, the midwives, nurses and all staff conducting deliveries in delivery rooms.
Conduct a regular monitoring visit to collect EIBF indicators in all selected health facilities in District Nord, in collaboration of MOH/Maternal and Newborn Unit, DSIS (NMIS) and District MIS unit).
Prepare the report of EIBF operational intervention conducted in District Nord of Dakar and share the results at the national and district level and validate the approach and the results.
Introduce EIBF in the DHIS 2 and conduct a new design of DHIS 2 parameters including EIBF indicator alone, in addition to ENC package indicators that already exist in the system.
Prepare a workshop with national MIS service (DNSIS) and District Nord key staff (DHT) to validate the introduction of EIBF in the DHIS 2 and preparation of scaling up process to all country districts (issue of national guideline/directive).
Supporting improved service delivery for MIYCN within the RMNCH platforms in Senegal, and assist in creating enabling environments for the delivery of MIYCN priorities, performance targets and results.
Providing technical guidance in identifying the technical needs and priorities for TA and capacity development required for MIYCN within the RMNCH platforms.
Attending National workshops with key actors to share the new WHO ANC guidelines and update on compliance with these new ANC guidelines particularly the Ca+ supplementation to pregnancy women and the diet diversity of pregnant women.
Pursuing formative research on diet diversity of pregnant women and young children in Senegal (a consultant will be hired to conduct this specific research and Aita will help to draft the SOW of the research).
Ensuring capacity development to enhance knowledge of and ability to program evidence-based MIYCN interventions within the RMNCH platforms.
Guiding counterparts in developing terms of reference and scopes of work for TA, and managing consultancy outputs to ensure quality of deliverables at both provincial and district level.
Organizing and managing technical meetings and workshops (national and regional ECOWAS level), including developing design and technical materials and ensuring achievement of desired outputs.
Taking the lead in supporting the national government in following areas:
a) Reviewing health policies and strategies and institutional frameworks for improving MIYCN services and outcomes within the RMNCH platforms.

b) Reviewing the overall health systems at provincial and district level in terms of their effectiveness in facilitating MIYCN services to the beneficiaries.

c) Reviewing the leadership and governance mechanisms that affect MIYCN service delivery.

Develop and/or contribute written technical expertise to thought leadership pieces, concept notes, program plans, tools, materials, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, and SBC approaches, messages, materials, and tools;
Contribute to writing program reports and collating and synthesizing data and presenting the evidence in simple and easy to understand formats as required by FMOH and A&T.
Facilitate the activities of international and regional consultants and partners as directed.
Implementation:

Develop and/or support the development of A&T relationships with regional and national donors and government and non-government partners;
Assist in the scoping and delivery of technical assistance to governments and partners;
Provide technical input, leadership, and coordination for the design and implementation of all program components, particularly but not solely in A&T’s four key components: policy advocacy, SBC, and strategic use of data;
Oversee the use of data on evidence, program design, program monitoring and advocacy/policy, in the delivery of high quality MIYCN services, and evaluation of innovations in the region;
Facilitate and maintain close communication and coordination with the A&T staff at HQ, and in the regionally-based offices, and consultants;
Ensure effective use of A&T policies and procedures regarding program design, procurement and communication, in consultation with A&T HQ.
Other duties as assigned.
REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

Medical degree or PhD in health sciences preferred.
Master’s degree in one of the following or related fields: Medicine, Public Health, Human Nutrition, International Health, Behavior Change Communications or Behavioral Science.
Experience:

Typically requires 5-8 years of experience in a specialized technical/medical field of study.
Prefer 10 years of relevant experience required with at least 2 years in a senior technical leadership role providing technical input to a large scale international nutrition or public health project in a developing country (preferably francophone West Africa).
Expert knowledge of MIYCN, infant and young child feeding and maternal nutrition global recommendations, programs and policies
Familiarity with the Senegalese public health system and government actors.
Extensive knowledge of nutrition indicators, especially MIYCN data collection, analysis, and reporting
Oversight and/or design or large-scale program implementation and/or operations research of community activities
Skills:

Ability to work independently, assess priorities, and manage a variety of activities while communicating, connecting, and collaborating with HQ and field office staff, subcontractors, and a broad coalition of international agencies, government and NGO partners
Strong interpersonal and diplomacy skills
Outstanding organizational skills
Excellent problem-solving skills
Excellent writing, editorial, and communication skills, including strong oral presentation skills
Fluency in French and English required
Travel:

Travel outside of duty station at least 40-50% time. Possible travel to the US.