Private Sector Support Associate, CASADE at Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)

Overall Purpose

• The (Catalyzing Strengthened Policy Action for Healthy Diets and Resilience) CASCADE programme goal is to improve food security and contribute to the reduction of malnutrition of at least 5 million women of reproductive age and children under 5 in Nigeria.
• The programme has two strategic objectives: it aims to increase access to and consumption of healthy diets, as well as increasing the resilience of households to economic and climate change-related shocks with a focus on women of reproductive age and children.
• The programme will galvanise government, business, and communities around 5 domains:
  • Policy changes and accountability
  • Re-engineering markets and mobilising private sector
  • Transforming cultural norms and practices
  • Taking a gender transformative approach
  • Systematising data and learning for policy.
• GAIN is seeking a Private Sector Support Associate in the Nigeria Country Office for this exciting opportunity.
• The Associate will support the implementation of specific project activities including capacity building, partnerships management and reporting. In addition, this position will report directly to the Project Manager, CASCADE.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Directly responsible for managing the stakeholder database.
• Support the recruitment and management of the project consultants and track the delivery of contractual outputs in a timely manner.
• Contributes to the implementation of the CASCADE initiative by fostering strong collaboration among strategic partners/organizations and other businesses
• Support implementation of CASCADE partnership workplans by tracking processes and timely closure of all gaps identified and prioritized
• Responsible for tracking and providing updates on CASCADE workplans using innovative medium that helps the team to keep abreast of project deliverables
• Responsible for the timely and diligent tracking of key project indicators, that will contribute to the project reporting
• Directs and coordinates activities of businesses involved with investment in health diets products and services.
• Conduct research on the health private sector in Nigeria, including its level of partnership with the government and its financial contribution to food security and malnutrition financing.
• Document the governance structure for the private sector and analyze strengths, weaknesses, and gaps and make recommendations for improvement.
• Facilitate the improvement of the existing institutional and regulatory framework to promote the development of private sector engagement and increase accountability for results in the food security and access to nutritious diets.
• Support with the development of appropriate approaches to reinforce partnerships between the government and private sector health providers to better meet the needs of Nigerians.
• Support the government and the private sector to create partnerships between regional health facilities and private sector facilitating collaboration with the relevant agencies of government support in promoting private sector investment in the Nigerian food systems sector
• Support with the development of working groups designed to increase collaboration between the public agencies (health and non-health) and the private sector.
• Support the capacity development activities of businesses, public-private partnerships with both the government and the private sector.
• Visits the field as the need arises to ensure that businesses’ commitments are on track, keeping track of the implementation of risk mitigation plans as required

Key Organizational Relationships:

• Reports to the Project Manager, CASCADE
• Senior Project Manager, CASCADE
• Nigeria SBN Coordinator
• GAIN Nigeria country team and GAIN staff
• Government, project partners and other key external stakeholders

Job Requirements
Education:

• A University level Degree in a relevant field such as, Business Management, Nutrition, Public Health or any similar qualification.
• A Master's Degree in the above field of studies will be an added advantage.

Experience:

• Proven track record and results in managing private sector and business related development projects in Nigeria
• Experience supporting and strengthening participation of private sector providers (PSP) to better align with government’s nutrition strategies for better products and services
• Experience of advocating for the role of business and the private sector in public service provision
• Experience of developing and supporting market-oriented solutions development challenges
• Experience identifying and supporting SMEs, including women-led and women-owned businesses, to scaleup private sector investment in nutrition
• Experience training SMEs to innovate and scale their businesses to meet developmental challenges.
• Proven track record in identifying and supporting SMEs, including women-led and women-owned businesses, to scale-up private sector investment in nutrition
• Experience providing assistance in advancing gender equality and female empowerment by ensuring full integration of gender issues in programme activities performance monitoring, evaluation, learning, and other activities supported by the project is desirable.

Competencies:

• Excellent follow-up skills within a diverse set of concurrent operation, programme, and business development related functions
• Strong presentation and communication skills in multi-cultural, multi-lingual environments
• Ability to provide direction and support in the development and dissemination of strategy, policy analysis, and recommendations
• Critical thinking that demonstrates good judgment, expert problem solving, and creativity
• People management skills
• Excellent negotiation skills and effective risk management
• Innovative mindset
• Takes initiative, prioritizes, multi-tasks, and works well under pressure to meet deadlines
• Organization and planning Skills
• Strong ICT proficiency
• Excellent stakeholder management, with the ability to operate within the corporate and public sectors to effectively liaise with private companies, development agencies, and governments at senior level.
• Ability to advocate, cultivate and negotiate significant senior level partnerships and relations and operate in high level meetings and similar settings

Other Requirements:

• Experience in an international NGO
• Experience in stimulating, managing or influencing private sector stakeholders
• Fluent written and verbal English
• Must be willing and able to travel in challenging environments

What Gain Offers

• Flexible working hours
• Friendly working environment
• Professional development opportunities

Remuneration
From N6,897,828 - N7,876,788 Annually, depending on experience.