Regional Technical Senior Specialist – Network Capacity Development and Communications | Guatemala, Kenya, Niger, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe | 2024

Chemonics seeks a Regional Technical Senior Specialist – Network Capacity Development and Communications (RTSS-NCDC) to be based in one of the following regional offices: i) Guatemala City, Guatemala, ii) Nairobi, Kenya, iii) Niamey, Niger, iv) Colombo, Sri Lanka, and v) Harare, Zimbabwe for the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) 8 Decision Support (DS) project. The RTSS-NCDC plays a crucial role in the FEWS NET project by enhancing the capabilities of the project’s network partners to perform acute food insecurity analysis, interpret FEWS NET’s analysis for decision-making purposes, and supporting analytical messaging within the region. They also serve as training leaders on the project, providing support to foundational trainings for DS Team staff within the region, and will also ensure FEWS NET partners are equipped to translate FEWS NET’s findings into actionable plans for decision-making in the realm of food security and assistance. While the preference is for candidates to be based in Guatemala City, Nairobi, Niamey, Colombo and Harare, highly qualified candidates who have legal work authorization and are based in other select countries in which FEWS NET 8 operates in may be considered. Countries are as follows:

• LAC region: Colombia, Haiti, Honduras, and El Salvador.
• East Africa Region: Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda;
• West Africa Region: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali, Nigeria, Benin, and Togo.
• Asia region: Afghanistan, Burma, Nepal, and Pakistan.
• South Africa region: Angola, DRC, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia.

We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

FEWS NET is an integrated set of activities funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is intended to provide timely, accurate, evidence-based, and transparent food security early warning information and analysis. The eighth phase of FEWS NET includes the Decision Support (DS) project which is charged with providing integrated monitoring and analyses of current and forecast acute food insecurity in countries worldwide to support the USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) policy and programmatic decisions. Based on an in-depth understanding of local livelihoods, the FEWS NET DS Team members monitor information and data on factors that affect food security, such as conflict, weather conditions and climate, crops, pasture, markets and trade, and nutrition. The work of the FEWS NET DS Team relies on close collaboration with international, regional, and national partners on food security data and information gathering and analysis. Major activities include joint monitoring and assessments, data sharing and exchanges, collaborative analysis and reporting, and technical capacity strengthening.

Responsibilities include:

The main responsibilities of the RTSS-NCDC include, but are not limited to:

• Supporting implementation of regional and national capacity development strategies to selectively enhance the acute food insecurity analysis skills of FEWS NET staff and network partners
• Working with the NCD Advisor, Regional Technical Lead (RTLs), and Country Technical Leads (CTLs) to develop strategic annual workplans aimed at effectively meeting contractual deliverables, commitments and deadlines through collaborative and efficient processes
• Supporting design and delivery of training and mentorship programs focused on data analysis, interpretation, and decision-making in the context of food security
• Supporting and building the food security analytical capacity of country-level IPC technical working groups (TWGs) to promote high-quality and reliable results from joint IPC analyses
• Creating resources and tools to aid FEWS NET partners in analytical tasks and decision-making processes
• Working with the NCD Advisor and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&T) Advisor to evaluate the impact of capacity development activities and adjusting strategies and programs as necessary to maximize effectiveness
• Coordinating guidance and capacity development for partners in connection with analysis of food security conditions and threats
• Assisting partners in interpreting FEWS NET DS analysis and translating findings into actionable decisions
• Providing the regional office and country offices with communications support, development and completion of communications products, and training on writing and communications
• Identifying and responding to areas of additional support or training of partners as appropriate and in consultation with the NCD Advisor
• Collaborating with the NCD Advisor and country offices to ensure capacity development activities align with project goals and objectives
• Coordinating with other agencies, institutions, and organizations to leverage resources, share best practices, and avoid duplication of efforts
• In coordination with the KMCCD Senior Specialist, RTL and CTLs, supporting foundational and refresher trainings for new FEWS NET DS Team staff
• Closely collaborating with other FEWS NET mechanisms as needed and appropriate

Qualifications

• Fluency in English is required; additional language skills in French, Spanish and/or Arabic are desirable
• Education and experience in a discipline relevant to the food security.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience (with Master’s degree), or 12 years of relevant experience (with Bachelor’s degree) is required.
• Experience in capacity development, training, or mentorship roles, preferably in the field of food security or a related area is required
• Experience identifying and developing approaches to creating capacity development solutions in analysis of acute food insecurity is desirable
• Relevant work experience includes food security analysis, network development activities, food security capacity development, and collaboration within food security networks
• Strong understanding of data analysis, interpretation, and decision-making in food security is required
• Deep commitment to improving food security conditions and supporting partners in efforts to mitigate threats to food security is required
• Experience with remote collaboration tools and strategies are an advantage
• Excellent writing, editing, and presentation skills with internal and external audiences are required
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well with US and field-based, local staff via telephone, e-mail, and other remote means, are required
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, are required