Position Title: Project Director

Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally-driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, civil society, gender, youth, research and technology — creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today's interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 70 countries and all U.S. states and territories.

Alive & Thrive (A&T) is a global nutrition initiative to save lives, prevent illness, and ensure healthy growth of mothers and children. From 2009–2014, A&T demonstrated that rapid improvements in infant and young child feeding (IYCF) are possible in settings as diverse as Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and Viet Nam. In 2014, A&T began working in Burkina Faso, India, Nigeria, and throughout the Southeast Asia region, expanding its scope to include maternal and adolescent nutrition, and using agriculture and social protection programs as delivery mechanisms for maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN). Currently, A&T is leveraging its robust network and knowledge base to strengthen systems and build capacity in these and other countries across Africa and Asia, and disseminate innovations, tools, and lessons worldwide. A&T is managed by FHI 360 with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other donors.

The overarching goal of A&T is to accelerate effective coverage at scale of key nutrition interventions in priority geographies. In Bangladesh, A&T focused for many years on demonstrating that significant MIYCN performance improvements are possible at scale by integrating a comprehensive set of social behavior change communication (SBCC) strategies into the community-outreach platform of a leading Bangladeshi non-governmental organization (NGO). Since 2016, A&T has refocused its efforts on strengthening mainstream systems for MIYCN by providing technical assistance to the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), development partners and other stakeholders to accelerate sustained delivery.

Improving in-facility MIYCN services has so far been the focus of UNICEF, World Bank, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and A&T’s efforts to help GoB achieve higher rates of MIYCN counseling, weight measurement and iron folic acid (IFA) supplementation in community clinics. However, community-based approaches are an essential complement to in-facility service delivery if Bangladesh is to significantly accelerate its MIYCN performance. UNICEF has therefore issued a request for proposal (RFP) for “strengthening community-based approaches for MIYCN and inter-linked health, preventive and promotive practices and services”, for which A&T is bidding.

FHI 360 is seeking qualified candidates for the following position.

Position Title: Project Director, Strengthening community-based approaches for improved maternal, infant and young child nutrition, and interlinked health, preventive and promotive practices and services

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

A&T is seeking a senior executive with a passion for innovation in sustainable health system strengthening and community mobilization. The perfect candidate is as comfortable leading a small team to assess and design solutions, managing a large program encompassing implementation research in partnership with the government and other NGOs, defining and advocating for a pathway to scale and sustainability, and managing partnerships with multiple development partners and GoB.

The Project Director will work in close collaboration with A&T’s South Asia regional leadership and Bangladesh country director to ensure the delivery of high quality and timely solutions for Bangladesh, as well as to set a global example for mainstreaming MIYCN community mobilization and promotive practices.

The purpose of the project is to “analyze existing community engagement and accountability approaches and mechanisms (including processes, platforms and packages); and establish a standardized and evaluable model to scale-up and improve infant feeding, maternal nutrition and inter-linked [maternal, newborn and child health] MNCH practices. There practices include IYCF, maternal nutrition, [antenatal care] ANC, birth planning and Skilled Birth Attendant (SBA) for delivery, newborn [NNC] and postnatal care [PNC], nurturing care 0-3 years and [extended program on immunization] EPI (to examine feasibility of integrating with systemic delivery of services), as well as service-delivery platforms and modalities such as the [community clinic] CC, [upazila health complex] UHC, [union health and family welfare center] UHFC, [community health care provider] CHCP, [family welfare assistant] FWA / [health assistant] HA, [multi-purpose health worker] MPV, mothers support groups and mothers assembly.” (RFP)

The specific objectives of the project are to:

  • “Review, mapping and analysis of existing community outreach engagement and accountability interventions/packages linked to nutrition service delivery approaches through health and other systems in Bangladesh and identify gaps, innovation and best practices,
  • Formulate and develop in consultations with partners a standardized evaluable package for nutrition interlinked to MNCH interventions for community-outreach engagement and accountability,
  • Conduct formative evaluation, rollout package in select districts and document lessons learned for scale up and institutionalization.” (RFP)

The project will be conducted in three phases, which roughly correspond to these three objectives. The first phase will focus on assessing the current state of community approaches in Bangladesh, identify gaps, innovations and best practices to serve as a foundation for a standardized and evaluable solution package. The second phase will consist on developing and field testing the package and prepare for large scale demonstration. The third phase will consist in implementation research and preparation of scale up through the system.

The project will be contracted in a phase-wise approach with UNICEF. However, a high performing Project Director will be proposed other opportunities within the A&T program in case of interruption of the project between phases.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES;

  • Lead the Strengthening Community Based Approaches for MIYCN and interlinked health, preventive and promotive practices and services project?Support drafting the project proposal
    • Develop the implementation plan
    • Recruit and build the project team
    • Ensure capacity of the team
    • Actively manage and oversee operations
    • Ensure timely completion and submission of the deliverables as per the protocol
    • Liaison with national and local health officials and negotiate buy-in
    • o Draft the workplan and report as per schedule
  • Oversee and directly contribute to mapping and analysis of community outreach engagement and accountability interventions/packages for MIYCN, nurturing care 0-3 years and inter-linked MNCH preventive and promotive practices and service delivery approaches?Develop assessment strategy and method
    • Lead assessment consisting on primary and secondary research across the Bangladesh system
    • Participate to research activities
    • Identify Bangladeshi and global innovations and best practices
    • Develop high quality deliverables
  • Lead the formulation of a national package for community-outreach, engagement and accountability on MIYCN, nurturing care 0-3 years and interlinked MNCH practices and services
    • Ensure technical excellence of the solution
    • Manage relationships with partners, including UNICEF, World Bank, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, local implementation and evaluation partners
  • Lead implementation research to demonstrate the feasibility and value of a solution package at scale, define and advocate for scale up

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Excellent team leader able to project a vision, mobilize, empower and make the best of team members, and establish a high performing team
  • Strong system thinker who can conceptualize simple solutions susceptible to be mainstreamed to complex problems
  • Excellent oral and written communication in Bangladesh and English
  • Strong experience advocating and managing relationships with government and development partners based on reciprocal trust, delivery excellence and understanding of partners’ constraints
  • Strong experience in health system strengthening and community mobilization, including preferably:
    • MIYCN service delivery
    • MNCH, including ANC, delivery, NNC and PNC
    • EPI
    • CC and HFWC delivery systems
    • o Collaboration with union parishads and different levels of GoB administration
  • Master in nutrition, health, social sciences or business-related field
  • At least 12 years of managing nutrition projects / health services management / monitoring, learning & evaluation / technical assistance at subnational / national levels
  • At least 4 years as project or country director
  • International experience strongly preferred
  • Experience as a consultant on landscaping, scoping and design project

 

Application Deadline: 17 July 2019

Interested candidates may find further information and apply online through FHI 360's Career
Portal at https://www.fhi360.org/careers

FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development and policies and programs that support healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others — and yourself.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. FHI 360 is an equal employment and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other status or characteristic protected under applicable law.