Position: Field Coordinator- Rice Fortification

Organization: Nutrition International (A leading international NGO that works in the field of nutrition)
Job Location: Anywhere in Bangladesh
Employment Status: (Contractual) Till 31-Mar-23, with possible extension subject to availability of funds
and satisfactory performance

Background

The Ministry Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA) and the Ministry of Food (MoFood) with the support of Nutrition International (NI) and other agencies are scaling up distribution of fortified rice through two social safety net programs, viz., Vulnerable Women Benefit (VWB) and Food Friendly Program (FFP) in selected areas in Bangladesh. To ensure field level monitoring and capacity building support, NI has already deployed 06 Field Coordinators throughout the country under Rice Fortification Program. They are responsible to provide necessary hands-on technical support to all the operational blending units throughout the country under FFP and VWB programs. At present, both these programs are rapidly expanding e.g., the FFP is expanding to 251 Upazilas from existing 173 Upazilas and VWB program to 189 Upazilas. To support the expanding programs the no. of rice fortification blending units and Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK) production industries are also increasing. These 06 Field Coordinators are based at the following Districts - Sirajganj, Khulna, Barishal, Dhaka, Mymensingh and Chattogram to provide necessary technical support to the fortified rice distribution/ operational areas, blending units and FRK industries located in the adjacent 10-12 districts of his base district.

Job Duties & Responsibilities:

Objectives

Extend technical and operational support to blending units, FRK industries and related Govt. Departments for production, monitoring and effective distribution of fortified rice through the Social Safety Net Programs, viz., VWB and FFP to the respective targeted beneficiaries in Chattogram Division.

Specific objectives of this deployment are mentioned below:

• Provide support to the Rice millers for installation, calibration, validation, revalidation and maintenance of blending unit and development and implementation of internal quality control/ assurance protocol at the production level;
• Provide technical support to FRK producing industries for installation, maintenance of plant and implementation of internal quality control/ assurance protocol for production of FRK;
• Provide support in strengthening the Govt.’s supply chain, monitoring and quality control systems;
• Coordinate and liaise with the relevant Govt. Departments, rice millers/ blenders and development partners for effective monitoring and systematic distribution of fortified rice among the target population monthly.

Scope of work

Key responsibilities of Field Coordinator, Rice Fortification Program are as follows:
Technical and operational support to rice millers for installation and maintenance of fortification units (blenders)

• Provide technical assistance to the millers for setting up and maintaining blending units and other machines for production of fortified rice;
• Guide the plant supervisors to calibrate and check FRK feeder for delivering measured quantities of FRK after collection of rice samples for testing and whenever required;
• Orient/ extend supportive supervision to the factory personnel for maintaining proper logbooks recording of production of fortified/ non-fortified rice, FRK received, distribution of fortified rice to the SSNP and Open Market Sale (OMS) and ensure corrective measures in case of any discrepancy noted.
• Orient/ extend supportive supervision to the owners, managers, operators and assistants for imparting technical skills on plant maintenance, hygiene, cleanliness etc. which are critical aspects of good manufacturing practices for rice fortification blending units

Facilitate quality control and quality assurance for production of fortified rice kernel (FRK)

• Provide technical data to prospective entrepreneurs to facilitate decision of procurement of FRK plant;
• Provide technical assistance to FRK plants for installation, commissioning and maintenance of machines for production of FRK;
• Guide plant supervisors, operators for maintaining GMP and QC practices to ensure production of good quality FRK;
• Maintain coordination among FRK producers and Govt. Offices to ensure in time supply of FRK to operational Upazilas under FFP and VWB program.

Facilitate quality control and quality assurance for production of fortified rice

• Collect fortified rice sample randomly from the stock, production line during each visit to rice blending units/ mills and test the blending ratio;
• Facilitate the third-party validation through the agency assigned by WFP/ MoFood/ MoWCA to check quality of fortified rice before distribution to Union Parishad;
• Coordinate with quality control personnel of blending unit/rice mill for testing of fortified rice at least thrice for each batch of production/ blending and keeping test records in book;

Facilitate supply chain management for regular distribution of fortified rice

• Identify gaps in the supply chain and flag them to the concerned authorities and follow up on the distribution of fortified rice from the respective mills to the Union Parishad level;
• Arrange and facilitate upazila coordination meetings with participation of relevant Govt. Officials, NGO personnel, rice miller, Union Parishad (UP) Chairman and UP secretaries at operational Upazilas of base district and adjacent districts;
• Provide regular updates to the Program Officer and the National Program Officer on program progress and identify any gaps for corrective actions;
• Support NI hired vendor(s) in organizing National, District and Upazila level workshop/ training/ meetings etc.

Compensation & Benefit:

• Monthly gross salary for this position is BDT 50,000.
• Travel and other expenses will be provided in addition.
• Eligible for Festival Bonus, PF, Gratuity & Insurance as per company policy.

Educational Requirement:

• Bachelor or master’s degree in Agricultural Engineering, Food Technology/ Food Engineering, Food Science, Nutrition from a recognized University

Experience Requirement:

• Minimum two (02) years of relevant professional working experience is required;
• Knowledge of relevant Govt. policies and programs to address nutritional interventions in Bangladesh is essential;
• Ability to network and negotiate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders including the Govt. High Officials to achieve the target is desirable;
• Working experience in food industries, Private Sector and food fortification, nutrition and public health related issues will be added advantage;
• Computer literacy is also an added advantage;