Capacity Building Advisor at Helen Keller International

Background

• The upcoming project will provide technical support to nutrition interventions across sectors and disciplines for the Donor and its partners. The project’s multi-sectoral approach draws together global nutrition experience to design, implement and evaluate programs that address the root causes of malnutrition.
• Committed to using a systems approach, The project will strive to sustain positive outcomes by building local capacity, supporting behavior change and strengthening the enabling environment to save lives, improve health, build resilience, increase economic productivity, and advance development.
• The overall purpose of the project in Nigeria is to provide technical support, implement innovative nutrition interventions, and generate evidence to enhance nutrition programming toward achieving the overall goal of improving nutrition for a healthy, productive, and resilient Nigeria.
• This project will support the Donor’s effort to strengthen the enabling environment for innovation, commitment, capacity strengthening, coordination, collaboration, and support for multi-sectoral nutrition policies and programs among government, donors, civil society, and private sector stakeholders in Nigeria.

Scope of the Position

• The Capacity Building Advisor will support the technical team to build the capacity of the targeted local organizations (Community-Based Organizations/CBOs).
• The Capacity Building Advisor will lead all capacity building activities and be responsible for the achievement of the capacity building indicators.
• The position will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of Party and is expected to work closely and coordinate with Helen Keller colleagues including the Country Director, Vice President, Nutrition, and any other staff assigned to support the project.
• Helen Keller has a matrixed reporting structure. Regular communication and a spirit of teamwork among colleagues, both hierarchically and laterally are essential to make this structure thrive.
• This position is based in Abuja, with frequent travel to the project states in the northern and Eastern part of Nigeria (up to 30%).

Job Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and guidance for all organizational capacity development activities, including developing assessment tools, establishing capacity building performance standards, and developing strategic approaches to capacity building.
• Provide strategic direction to and oversee implementation of a coordinated capacity strengthening program to strengthen the technical and organizational capacity of local partners toward direct funding from Donors,
• Facilitate participation and inputs from other project senior technical leaders to ensure a cohesive capacity strengthening program across all project result areas.
• Support the strategic learning and capacity strengthening efforts and provide strategic oversight, technical guidance, and advice.
• Provide surge support as necessary to the local partners to advance localization programming.
• Coordinate with the team to ensure capacity strengthening tools are managed and used/disseminated effectively to support the operational needs for localization.
• Support the design and implementation of strengths-based capacity strengthening activities, including capacity assessments and knowledge gap analysis.
• Identify short- and long-term goals for improving performance in consultation with leadership of selected technical offices and integrating emerging good practices in localization.
• Oversee and advise on the design and delivery of training to local organizations and ensuring alignment with donor’s Local Capacity Strengthening Policy
• Support development of knowledge management systems and learning products.
• Lead organizational capacity activities, such as organizational capacity assessments and indexes, network analyses, and systems change analyses).
• Strengthen local organizations to transition to direct donor funding and developing non-traditional income generation models.
• Oversee and support the coordination of all project training initiatives and provide curriculum development.
• In collaboration with the MEAL team, regularly collect, analyse, and report on data derived from the capacity development process.
• Contribute to the overall strategic technical direction of the project including advising on implications of technical approaches taken and resulting learning for achieving sustainability of localization efforts.
• Ensure efficient execution of grants and contracts to local partners and the adherence to defined processes and meeting of requirements.

Required Qualifications / Competencies

• Master's Degree in a relevant field such as international development, Project Management, Statistics, Economics, or a related Social Science.
• At least Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience implementing capacity development initiatives with local organizations especially civil society and community – based organizations and managing teams.
• Proven technical expertise leading capacity development assessments; and planning and managing cohesive capacity development plans across complex objectives.
• Excellent facilitation and coaching skills with governmental, civil society, private sector, and donor stakeholders.
• Experience in developing organizational capacities and systems strengthening.
• Demonstrated experience leading capacity strengthening and organizational development activities using a systems orientation and participatory approaches.
• Demonstrated experience developing capacity in grant management, procurement, and donor compliance for implementing partners.
• Ability to engage and forge strategic relationships with CSOs, national and regional federations, the private sector, non-government education institutions, and the Government of Nigeria.
• Familiarity with Local Capacity Strengthening Policy and localization commitments.
• Demonstrable respect for all persons regardless of religion, ethnicity, class, or gender, with a high comfort level working in a diverse environment with a demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards.
• Ability to work effectively with local CSOs/CBOs, government, and NGO stakeholders.
• Skilled in fostering new and effective partnerships facilitating meetings, and effectively participating in technical working groups.
• Ability to develop and apply monitoring and evaluation plans to determine activity results and monitor impact.
• Knowledge of donor’s regulations, policies, strategies, and program priorities.
• Experience working effectively in partnership with staff, collaborating organizations, international donors and agencies, Government agencies, host country governments and ministries and other relevant stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft software packages: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.
• Excellent English language skills, both written and spoken with strong presentation skills.
• Willingness and ability to undertake travel outside Abuja (up to 30%)

Physical Demands:

• Ability to travel regularly to the project states (Bauchi, Kebbi, Ebonyi, FCT and Sokoto) as needed

Terms & Conditions:

• This is a local posting in Nigeria, and as such, is subject to local terms and conditions.