Global Technical Senior Specialist – Nutrition
Ngo & Social Services Jobs
- Chemonics FEWS NET
- Expires 31 Jul 2025
- Harare
- Full Time
Job Description
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) is an integrated set of activities funded by the United States Government (USG) and is intended to provide timely, accurate, evidence-based, and transparent food security early warning information and analysis. Created in 1985 in response to famines in East and West Africa, FEWS NET provides global coverage of acute food insecurity. FEWS NET’s work is implemented across several mechanisms through close collaboration among a team of government and university partners Chemonics International (Chemonics) and other contractors. Chemonics implements FEWS NET’s Decision Support Team (DST), which is charged with providing integrated monitoring and analyses of current and forecast acute food insecurity in countries worldwide to support the USG’s policy and programmatic decisions. The DST operates through a Washington-based technical office and regional and select local FEWS NET offices established in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and eastern Europe.
Based on an in-depth understanding of local livelihoods, DST members monitor information and data on factors that affect food security, such as conflict, weather conditions, crops, pasture, markets and trade, and nutrition. The FEWS NET DST produces regular reports, including Food Security Outlooks and Outlook Updates, emergency alerts, market and price updates, and targeted analyses. FEWS NET makes reports and data available globally to governments, relief agencies, and other organizations engaged in humanitarian response and development programs.
The eighth phase of FEWS NET began in 2024. The work of the FEWS NET DST relies on close collaboration with international, regional, and national partners on food security data, information gathering, and analysis. Major activities include joint monitoring and assessments, data sharing and exchanges, and collaborative analysis and reporting. FEWS NET supports local and regional food security networks with the global objective of achieving food security for all.
Position Description
Nutrition is an integral part of food security analysis. Poor nutritional status contributes to acute food insecurity as both a potential outcome and a potential driver. Along with data on food consumption and livelihoods, nutrition data contribute to the full set of evidence used to classify the severity of food insecurity for a population. The FEWS NET DST incorporates nutrition information and data into its convergence of evidence on current acute food insecurity and when developing assumptions in its scenario development process, FEWS NET’s methodology for developing food security projections. Nutrition information is also a key piece of evidence used as part of Cadre Harmonisé (CH) and the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) classifications.
The overarching goal for the FEWS NET DST’s nutrition sector is to fully integrate nutrition information into FEWS NET’s early warning and food security analysis, to advise on securing access to and/or collecting nutrition data in priority geographies, and to advise on data quality and best practices for using nutrition data and nutrition-related information in FEWS NET’s ongoing food security analyses as well as network partner analyses.
The FEWS NET DST is responsible for providing decision support to the USG in over 40 countries located in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The project operates out of a home office, based in Washington, D.C. and five regional offices located in LAC (Guatemala), West Africa (Niger), East Africa (Kenya), Southern Africa (Zimbabwe), and the Asia, the Middle East, and Europe (Jordan). The Global Technical Senior Specialist for Nutrition (GTSS-N) will support nutrition-related efforts across these regions, under the direction of the Nutrition Advisor, and collaboration with key partners in the broader food security and nutrition community.
Duties and Responsibilities
The main responsibilities of the GTSS-N include, but are not limited to:
· Supporting the Nutrition Advisor on the identification and implementation of work plan activities and other nutrition activities as needed
· Advising on best practices for the use of nutrition data and information in food security and nutrition analysis, including analysis of nutrition data and development of nutrition assumptions
· Supporting the development, refinement, and delivery of guidance and capacity development materials for the nutrition sector and FEWS NET DST staff engaging with nutrition data or information
· Supporting the FEWS NET DST’s efforts to access nutrition-related data, information, methods information, and metadata, and supporting the Data Management Advisor in the maintenance of related databases
• Under the direction of the Nutrition Advisor, leading on the development of assumptions on the likely evolution of nutrition for countries monitored by the FEWS NET DST as a part of the DST’s projection of acute food insecurity up to 12 months into the future. Collaborating with regional technical specialists to ensure alignment of nutrition assumptions with conflict, livelihoods, agroclimatology and markets and trade assumptions
· Under the advisement of the Nutrition Advisor and needs identified by Regional Technical Leads, supporting FEWS NET DST nutrition data collection activities, including leading planning, management, implementation, and review of primary data collection activities
· Supporting sector-specific collaboration and participation in FEWS NET and cross-sectoral activities, including but not limited to qualitative and quantitative data collection, and ad hoc information requests
• Collaborating with members of the FEWS NET DST, including the Data Management Advisor, Data Management Specialists, and Quality Assurance and Methods Advisor to ensure coordination on delivery of data and data analysis products in fulfilment of USG regulations and in accordance with FEWS NET Data, Learning and Communications Hub (Hub) standards. This includes, but is not limited to:
o Liaising with FEWS NET DST project staff and partners to facilitate timely data flows.
o Working closely with the Country Technical Leads to ensure that nutrition data and information collected in the region are obtained, cleaned, organized and uploaded in accordance with guidance provided by the Nutrition Advisor and Data Management Advisor
o Contributing to the regular collection, organization, and storage of data as set out by the FEWS NET Senior Management Team in collaboration with the FEWS NET Hub.
· Supporting nutrition analysis for FEWS NET’s monthly acute food insecurity analysis and engagement in IPC/CH analyses
· Closely collaborating with other mechanisms of FEWS NET, as relevant
· Contributing to the nutrition sector’s bilateral and multilateral engagements with nutrition and food security partners, including but not limited to IPC/CH analyses, IPC/CH technical development activities, food security/nutrition cluster meetings, and other engagements as relevant.
· Supporting the Nutrition Advisor in meeting the USG’s expectations on timely delivery of decision support products, which include, but are not limited to: responding to urgent questions within one day; providing briefings within one week of request; and contributing nutrition assessments to requests for acute food insecurity analysis in ad hoc countries that will be delivered within one week of USG request.
· As needed, contributing to the FEWS NET DST’s decision support efforts to identify as early as possible potential or emerging nutrition crises. The GTSS-N will be expected to demonstrate the ability to respond quickly to sudden increases and decreases in analysis needs globally by, under the direction of the Nutrition Advisor, re-orienting work plans and initiating new lines of monitoring and reporting outside of traditional areas of coverage.
Qualifications and Experience
• At least 5 years of relevant experience (with a master’s degree), or at least 6 years of relevant experience (with a bachelor’s degree). Relevant work experience includes humanitarian and/or development work, of which at least two years must be directly relevant experience in nutrition, food security, or other technically relevant areas.
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent work experience) in a discipline relevant to the work of FEWS NET is required. An advanced university degree (master's degree or higher) in a discipline relevant to the work of the nutrition sector is preferred.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English [and secondary language] is required; other local language skills relevant to the region are desirable.
· Significant regional experience in analyzing and interpreting nutrition data and understanding of nutrition surveillance and information systems is required
· Demonstrated ability to effectively conduct nutrition assessments (SMART surveys), focus group discussions, key informant interviews, other rural rapid appraisal techniques, analyze information from relevant sectors using both qualitative and quantitative methods is required
· Detailed knowledge of, and experience with, the IPC’s technical methods and approach are desired
· Previous experience living and working in a region or country in which FEWS NET project staff work is highly desirable
· Previous experience with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is preferred.
· Excellent writing, editing, and presentation skills are required
· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are required, including demonstrated ability to coordinate productively with diverse partner stakeholders (e.g., UN, non-governmental organizations, host government entities) and multidisciplinary, multicultural teams, and to work effectively with remote-based colleagues
· Excellent computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint) are required; ability to effectively use statistical software packages and/or GIS applications is desirable
Location and Reporting
The GTSS–N is a full-time position globally-based and authorize to work in one of a number of potential locations, including a regional office (Guatemala, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Niger, or Jordan), or another Chemonics-approved location (Burundi, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali, Nigeria, DRC, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Afghanistan, Yemen). The GTSS–N will work under the technical direction and supervision of the Nutrition Advisor. The GTSS-N may be required to supervise technical assistants, data processors, and/or short-term consultants, as/if delegated by the Nutrition Advisor. The GTSS-N will be required to travel within FEWS NET’s geographies, security and health conditions permitting.
How to Apply
Please apply using https://chemonicsinternational-accna.formstack.com/forms/global_technical_sr_specialist by July 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET. No telephone inquiries, please. Chemonics will contact short-listed candidates.
Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.
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