Senior Project Manager, Food Fortification Program at Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)

Classification: R5 -Senior Project Manager 
Direct Reports: 1-2
Work Travel Required: 50

Overall Purpose
The Senior Project Manager Food Fortification will work closely with the GAIN Nigeria Country Director and the TechnoServe (TNS) Strengthening African Processors for Food Fortification (SAPFF) team to deliver the enabling environment component of this project as well at the complementary GAIN-ENABLE project in Nigeria.  

The overall strategic objective of SAPFF is to increase the coverage of fortified foods, towards reducing undernutrition, averting deaths, and improving cognitive development in target populations. The project approach aims to increase the compliance of food processors to meet national food fortification standards. The project aims to deliver change working through two key mechanism or components:

• Component 1 - Strengthen the ability of food processors to comply with national food fortification standards, and 
• Component 2 - Strengthen the food fortification enabling environment.

Despite a well-developed private sector presence and strong in-country leadership, fortification continues to pose a significant challenge for a complex and large food industry. The scope of work for Nigeria includes robust interventions in and leadership of the fortification agenda for both components. GAIN is delivering this project under a sub-grant agreement with TechnoServe and will deliver the following outcomes:

• Engage critical high-level stakeholders in the enabling environment to address fortification issues and provide targeted support to improve the capacity of government and the monitoring/enforcement agency actors
• Strengthen overall governance by strengthening communication channels and coordination between the different stakeholders in the food fortification sector
• Support advocacy efforts driven by civil society actors such as industry and trade associations and consumer protection groups, and
• Improve the capacity of testing laboratories (selected government, research and private sector)

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Strategically supporting the effective implementation of the overall SAPFF project and all national fortification programmes (universal salt iodization, mandatory fortification of wheat flour and semolina, maize flour, edible oils and sugar) by:
  • Advising on changes and improvements required to develop the roles and responsibilities for the overall governance of the national food fortification programme
  • Working with the key agencies – NAFDAC, SON and CPC at Director General and senior technical levels to define and implement Joint Frameworks for investment, capacity building, coordination, enforcement and monitoring including agreeing MoUs as relevant
  • Collaborating with TNS on Component 1 to support the delivery of the Commitments made by stakeholders (government, industry and development partners) on the Nigeria Food Processing and Nutrition Leadership Forum; and co-convene this Forum annually as a mechanism for monitoring progress
  • Engaging key new actors in the food fortification enabling environment such as Fed Min of Industry Trade and Investment (FMITI) and the Nigeria Customs Service to secure their support for the national fortification programme
• Strengthening coordination and national oversight of food fortification by:
  • Organizing a National Food Fortification Summit in order to stimulate debate and agreements about the optimal structures for national oversight of food fortification and the continued relevance of the National Fortification Alliance (NFA), and lead the delivery of the commitments from this Summit
  • Exploring the support requirements of industry associations relevant to food fortification as part of the oversight mechanisms
  • Promoting the adoption of FortifyMIS, a web-based platform for storing and managing fortification data; carrying out stakeholder consultations and securing technical and executive level buy-in 
  • Supporting TNS in the implementation of options for industry-led self-monitoring and regulation in furtherance of commitments made at the Nutrition Leadership Forum 
  • Providing Technical Assistance (TA) to SON in the implementation of a Quality Awards Scheme through the adaptation/expansion of existing schemes based on regulatory monitoring and compliance data  
  • Working with the CPC to explore and develop partnerships with consumer/advocacy organizations support public accountability mechanisms and more stringent consumer protection standards 
  • Exploring the integration of food fortification awareness into the programmes, projects and activities of key civil society organisations, academia and professional bodies 
• Strengthening monitoring and enforcement by:
  • Supporting the review of national standards for the fortification of mandatory vehicles and other emergent food vehicles as required (rice, cassava, processed foods, etc.); providing technical support for establishing improved legal frameworks for food fortification.
  • Supporting the dissemination of national standards and directives to key stakeholders and helping to create awareness for better compliance.
• Contributing to the assessment of the availability and capacity of testing laboratories in Nigeria with a view to identifying and addressing gaps, especially the capacity gaps of government and third-party testing laboratories. 
• Facilitating technical assistance (TA) to regulators in the oversight of premix/supplement producers and suppliers, including the certification and streamlining the supply, procurement, and distribution of premix companies and suppliers.
• Coordinating communications and coordination between government institutions, nongovernmental organizations, UN agencies, and private industry, including organizing meetings and workshops.
• Ensuring that all project activities are completed according to the national project implementation timeframe.
• Preparing and ensuring timely submission of implementation, progress, and financial reports.
• Delivering technical assistance and monitoring progress on the field.
• Contributing to the monitoring and evaluation and subsequent dissemination of the outputs of fortification coverage using Fortification Assessment Coverage Tool (FACT) surveys.
• Acting as Lead Representative for GAIN at strategic and technical meetings/workshops pertaining to food fortification.
• Other activities as may be assigned by the GAIN Country Director.

Key Organizational Relationships

• Reports to the Country Director, Nigeria.
• Works with other GAIN Nigeria programmes including SBN, PLAN, CF, Support to the FMARD, etc.
• Liaises as required with GAIN’s global food fortification team and the QUAD project management mechanism.
• Liaises with local partners and stakeholders to ensure optimal project implementation.
• Liaises with consultants and experts who provide technical assistance to the project.
• Liaises with partners, donors, and other stakeholders to safeguard GAIN’s external reputation and to support resource mobilization.

Job Requirements
Experience:

• Extensive experience in developing and managing projects in nutrition, food processing, fortification, food science, or related areas.
• Experience and knowledge of best practice in quality assurance and control, food safety, and regulatory mechanisms.
• Experience in strategy development, advocacy, communications, and documentation of best practices.
• Ability to advocate, cultivate and negotiate significant senior level partnerships and relations and operate in high level meetings and similar settings.
• Experience in providing on-the-job and formal training to various partners as well as management of workshops and other public events.
• Experience of managing and developing staff 
• Knowledge of food fortification and public nutrition programming is preferred.

Skills and Attributes:

• Excellent project coordination, management, negotiation, and advocacy skills.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills.
• Ability to operate within the corporate and public sectors to effectively liaise with private companies, development agencies, and governments at senior level.
• Excellent stakeholder management
• Takes initiative, prioritizes, multi-tasks, and works well under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Clear and systematic thinking that demonstrates good judgment, expert problem solving, and creativity.
• Strong presentation and communication skills in multi-cultural, multi-lingual environments.
• Ability to provide direction and support in the formulation and dissemination of strategy, policy analysis, and recommendations.
• Excellent follow-up skills within a diverse set of concurrent operation, programme, and business development related functions.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment.

Education:

• Minimum of Master’s degree in Public Health, Nutrition, Food Technology, International Development

Other Requirements:

• Experience working in Nigeria
• Eligible to live and work in Nigeria 
• Fluency in spoken and written English is essential
• Comfortable to travel 50% of the time