International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) 

Title: Senior Specialist – Nutrition

Job ID: HQ01202

Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Closing Date: April 8, 2020

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is the world’s premier research organization dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations. IRRI is an independent, nonprofit, research and educational institute, founded in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller foundations with support from the Philippine government. The institute, headquartered in Los Baños, Philippines, has offices in 17 rice-growing countries in Asia and Africa, and over 1,000 staff.

Working with in-country partners, IRRI develops advanced rice varieties that yield more grain and better withstand pests and disease as well as flooding, drought, and other harmful effects of climate change.

Job Purpose

Under the direction of the Country Manager – Healthier Rice Program Bangladesh, the Senior Specialist – Nutrition will build the necessary partnerships with the organizations engaged in nutrition and promote Golden Rice as well as other Healthier Rice and their sustainable deployment in Bangladesh. S/he will need to understand the local context and culture, coupled with and understanding of how to mobilize public, civil and private organizations for long-term collective impact. Guide NARES partners on high-level engagement of government and no-government organizations to facilitate adoption of the bio-fortification approach in government nutrition and food production policies and programs.

Roles and Responsibilities

Purpose

  • Promote nutritional awareness and healthy eating among project target audiences, particularly women and children, through effective and efficient nutritional communications and activities
  • Understand local food availability, food habits and consumption patterns of target audiences, and collect/develop locally adaptable and nutritionally improved recipes with project crops for promotion
  • Develop promotional messages and coordinate nutritional promotion events to be implemented by project team members and/or partners, and monitor the implementation and outcomes
  • Develop nutrition training materials and provide nutrition courses (lectures and hand-on) for project training programs in English and Bangla
  • Develop a program model that will ensure availability of affordability of Golden Rice in local markets (expanding to cover more and more areas), with demand created among consumers through effective marketing
  • Design and implement periodic assessments (FGD, case studies, etc.) to understand the effectiveness of nutrition activities and its impact on the target audience

Engagement

  • Partnership building and stakeholder engagement with BRRI, NARES partners and other project partners to develop and roll-out nutrition activities as appropriate for each stage of the project
  • Facilitate the conduct of technical presentations, briefings, roundtable discussion and meeting with key stakeholders from various agencies in Bangladesh
  • Participate in third party conferences, workshops related to discussion and development of agricultural and nutrition policies that can affect the successful deployment of Golden Rice and other bio-fortified rice
  • Coordinate closely with deployment and communications and stakeholder engagement arms of the project in properly communicating Healthier Rice to target audience and building support and acceptance of the product in Bangladesh
  • Contribute to design of the project nutrition strategy and develop work plan

Delivery

  • Build the experiences and processes for engagement with Ministry of Food, Ministry of Health and Nutrition, and the network millers, wholesalers and retailers for grain
  • Develop metrics from each actor to assess their deployment plans in terms of model sustainability with ability to scale within existing market channels and government programs, and reaching beneficiaries. There will be an agreed set of metrics for performance that guide each actor in deployment
  • Systematize the processes for engagement with key government and non-government and private sector agencies in the deployment of golden rice
  • Review and analyze the latest policy developments, existing processes, strategies and guidelines and provide recommendations for possible changes or amendments to strategy relevant to nutrition;
  • Documentation of meetings, briefings and other engagement activities flagging insights, action items and recommendations for continued engagement
  • Support events as needed, including developing message platforms, drafting agenda, identifying participants and serving as facilitator/ moderator

Educational Qualifications:

Masters or PhD degree in nutrition, public health, or a related field, with at least 5-7 years of work experience in behavior change communication and community-based agricultural and/or development projects.

Skills Required

  • Experience in implementing public advocacy programs related to the passing of peace of legislation, a regulatory approval, or a binding multi-stakeholder agreement.
  • Experience in dealing with private sector to secure buy-in and subsequent commitment
  • S/he must have skills in organizing and communicating effectively. Proficiency in ‘Bangla’ and English (written and spoken) is necessary
  • Has proven ability to develop plans and strategies relevant to nutrition
  • Has good organizational skills and is timely in delivery
  • Experience in program development, use of participatory approaches, familiar with USAID program operation procedures will be an advantage
  • Has experience working for an international organization
  • Has a good understanding of complex scientific information and theories related to agriculture
  • Has basic understanding of agricultural biotechnology
  • Has stakeholder engagement and coordination experience
  • Has knowledge on equal opportunity, cultural, and gender diversity
  • Experience working with/ in a nutrition project or program

 Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Salary Ranges: Basic (70,667  - 130,833) BDT per Month

Other Benefits: Housing Allowance: 30% of base pay per month, Transport Allowance: 14,400 BDT, Festival Bonus: 2 times each year, Contributory Provident Fund (CPF), Returning Mother Allowance: BDT-1,000 per month for 9 months to female employees post-delivery of a baby to support return to the workplace, Medical insurance coverage: maximum US$16,000/year and other admissible benefits.

Apply Instruction

Interested & eligible candidates are requested to submit their application to (https://www.irri.org/jobs).

IRRI regrets that only shortlisted applicants will be notified and any kind of persuasion in the selection process will lead to cancellation of candidature. Join Us to Deliver Rice Science for a Better World. Join Us to Deliver Rice Science for a Better World.

IRRI is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Application Deadline: April 8, 2021

Company Information
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Bangladesh Office, House-103, Road-1, Block-F, Banani, Dhaka-1213, Bangladesh.
Web : www.irri.org
Business : International Agricultural Research