District Technical Officers at DAI Global LLC – Mansa

DAI works at the cutting edge of international development, combining technical excellence, professional project management, and exceptional customer service to solve our clients’ most complex problems. Since 1970, DAI has worked in 150 developing and transition countries, providing comprehensive development solutions in areas including crisis mitigation and stability operations, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, HIV/AIDS, avian influenza control, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and host-country governments.

1. Project Background:

The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Program is a cross-ministry and multi-donor program to reduce stunting in Zambia. The National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) implements SUN as part of the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) 1,000 Most Critical Days Program.  SUN 2.0, the second phase of the program, has three major components: (1) Pooled Multi-Donor SUN Fund, (2) SUN Technical Assistance (SUN TA), and (3) SUN Learning and Evaluation. Working in parallel with the SUN Fund, the USAID/Zambia SUN TA program will provide support and direct technical assistance to sub-national government departments in target provinces and districts to plan, implement, coordinate, and monitor integrated nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific activities to reduce the rate of stunting among Zambian children under two.

USAID has identified two main objectives that address stunting, including (1) Adequate Quantity and Quality of Dietary Intake among Target Groups; and (2) Adequate Health Conditions for Biological Utilization of Nutrients. SUN TA interventions will increase access and availability of safe, diverse, nutritious food; adoption of better child feeding habits and household hygiene practices; and access to improved health, water and sanitation services. The project will prioritize sustainability by improving intra-household joint decision making and building capacity of local government and their stakeholders to ensure coordination, accountability, and learning, following the Scaling Up Nutrition model.

2. Location: Mansa Program Office, with frequent (more than 50% of time) travel throughout assigned district – Mansa, Samfya, or Nchelenge, Luapula Province, Zambia

3. Objective:

Each district – Mansa, Samfya, and Nchelenge will have three dedicated District Technical Officers by functional area – Health and Nutrition, Agriculture and Livelihood, and Water and Sanitation. DAI seeks 9 District Technical Officers for its Mansa Program Office.

The District Technical Officer will work in close collaboration with the District Nutrition Coordination Committee (DNCC), District Coordination Committee (DCC), and the line ministries participating in the committees, and will support the implementation of the District work plans and activities and  improve district capacity in the areas of health and nutrition, agriculture and livelihood, and water and sanitation.

4.  Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Provide technical, administrative, and logistical support for SUN TA program activities in the assigned district
• Serve as a liaison between district committees and other district stakeholders and the SUN TA program, ensuring smooth and efficient communication, positive relationship-building, and collaboration
• Conduct joint supportive supervision and quality control monitoring visits to sub-district levels (Wards, Zones and Communities)
• Collect success stories and lessons learned, ensuring these are shared in a systematic way with other project staff and relevant stakeholders
• Support the collection of qualitative and quantitative information for program monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL)
• Identify and secure venues for trainings and workshops, and contribute and participate in program events
• Other duties as assigned by the Provincial Manager for successful achievement of program objectives in the assigned district

5. Reporting and Supervision:

The District Technical Officer will report directly to the Provincial Manager and will be supported by national level SUN TA Technical Experts.

6. Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field and 5 years of relevant work experience in one of the following areas: health and nutrition, agriculture and livelihood, and water and sanitation
• Strong communications skills and ability to collaborate effectively
• Proven problem-solving skills and exceptional stakeholder relations with both internal and external parties
• Well organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgement, high ethical standards, and operational focus
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to sub-district levels
• Fluency in English is required