AGRICULTURE AND AGRO-INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

LONG-TERM ALN COORDINATOR (INDIVUAL CONSULTANT) TO PROVIDE SENIOR TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC DIRECTION TO THE

AFRICAN LEADERS FOR NUTRITION (ALN) INITIATIVE

 

 

 

  1. The African Development Bank (AfDB) is recruiting for an Individual Consultant to be engaged on a long-term consultancy basis to coordinate the African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) Secretariat.

The African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) secretariat is hosted by the African Development Bank at the Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department (AHAI) in the Agriculture Research, Production and Sustainability division (AHAI2). The ALN was established in recognition of the far-reaching and long-term effects of malnutrition on the continent’s human capital potential. ALN aims to build and sustain high-level political leadership, commitment, and accountability on the part of African Heads of States to invest resources in the fight against malnutrition.

The ALN is a high-level platform for political engagement. The platform works to mobilize Nutrition Champions from amongst African Heads of States and Eminent Personalities and forge strong partnerships with other stakeholders working on the nutrition agenda at continental and global levels. By working with these champions, the ALN is committed to increase the visibility and strengthen political will to address complex underlying problems confronting nutrition and encourage specific policy and financial commitments to ensure improved nutrition outcomes across Africa. The political dialogue with Heads of States and Ministers of Finance is expected to accelerate progress toward the achievement of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)/Malabo targets, the six World Health Assembly (WHA) nutrition targets, and the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG2), through sustained and increased investment for nutrition.

  1. The Consultant is being recruited by the AfDB/AHAI.2 to provide senior technical leadership and strategic direction to the African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) initiative with a view of enhancing the visibility of nutrition issues on the continent and strengthening the political will and commitment to increase national-level investments in nutrition interventions ;
  1. The consultant will be based in the in the Agriculture Research, Production and Sustainability division (AHAI2) under the supervision of the Manager. She/He will work closely and directly with the division and where necessary will support project teams to improve the quality of operations and cross cutting initiatives. She/He will coordinate the work of the M&E Officer, the Communication and Partnership Officer in the ALN secretariat as well as other resources at her/his disposal. The consultant will be based at the Bank Headquarters in Abidjan ;
  1. The selected individual consultant is expected to :
  • Be the face of ALN Secretariat, by providing senior technical leadership and strategic direction to the ALN initiative with a view of enhancing the visibility of nutrition issues on the continent and strengthening the political will and commitment to increase national-level investments in nutrition programmes and activities ;
  • Provide leadership on high-level advocacy activities in support of the ALN champions and cultivate other African Leaders and Eminent Personalities who could be potential nutrition champions, as well as strategic stakeholder organizations and institutions ;
  • Establish and nurture partnerships at the regional and global level, to spearhead the work of the ALN ;
  • Ensure the day-to-day management and coordination of the work and staff of the ALN Secretariat, including contributing to the promotion of the multi-sectoral approach to the nutrition agenda within the Bank ;
  • Ensure the effective and timely management of the ALN work plan, including the proper follow-up of ALN activities, the implementation of guidance from the Steering Committee and other advisory bodies.
  1. The selected individual consultant will report to the ALN Steering Committee (ALN/SC) and the Division Manager, Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department (AHAI2) and work closely with internal and external stakeholders to deliver the following :
  • Support the ALN Secretariat through strategic management and coordination of the ALN Initiative and Work Plan, as well as the planning, coordination and communication activities. The responsibilities include actively participating in management meetings for institutional planning, policy and strategy development, and follow up on implementation of the Advisory group and the Steering Committee decisions in liaison with key partner institutions, internal and external stakeholders and the Bank Group ;
  • Provide leadership and overall guidance to the staff of the ALN Secretariat who are variously responsible for communications, partnerships, monitoring and evaluation, programmatic support, country relations and finance and administration ;
  • Set overall strategy for the ALN, with guidance from the Division Manager AHAI2 and Senior Management of the Bank for strategic alignment with continental goals, country-level outreach, external relations, awareness building, and accountability agendas ;
  • Ensure that the Bank’s management is regularly briefed on the progress of the ALN and facilitate all aspects of dialogue and collaboration between the Bank and ALN stakeholders
  • Deliver against the outcomes set out in the ALN grant, including the development of a continent-wide nutrition scorecard and reporting on the economic impacts of nutrition at regular intervals ;
  • Design and execute high-profile engagements on nutrition at global, continental and country levels, including influencing agendas that maximize the visibility and overall engagement of ALN ;
  • The Coordinator will fulfil any other responsibility linked to support leaders in a way that cultivates ALN champions and leverages their influence through strategic engagements and highly visible advocacy and communication campaigns.
  1. In this regard, the Agriculture Research, Production and Sustainability division (AHAI.2) invites Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the above-described services. Interested Consultants shall provide information on their qualifications and experience demonstrating their ability to undertake this Assignment (documents, reference to similar services, experience in similar assignments, etc. ;
  1. The eligibility criteria: the establishment of a short list and the selection procedure shall be in conformity with the Bank’s Rules and Procedure for the Use of Consultants under projects financed by the Bank Group, available on the Bank Website at http://www.afdb.org. Please, note that interest expressed by a Consultant does not imply any obligation on the part of the African Development Bank to include him/her in the shortlist.
  1. Duration of the Assignment: The period for this assignment is 12 calendar months with key timelines as shown below renewable once up to 12 months based on the performance. The expected start date of the assignment is 3rd January 2022 ;
  1. Desired Qualifications :
  • The consultant must have a minimum of a Master’s Degree in public policy, international development, social sciences, nutrition or public health or any other relevant degree, with at least fifteen (15) years of relevant professional experience in international development with significant experience in project management and policy analysis as well as extensive relevant work experience in Africa ;
  • The consultant must have demonstrated experience in coordination, information sharing, programme management, developing and nurturing partnerships with relevant organizations such as UN Agencies, Private Sector, Governments’ Line Ministries, Research Organizations, Bilateral and Multilateral Agencies and Philanthropic Foundations ;
  • Familiarity with the multi-dimensional nature and effects of malnutrition and the importance of adopting a multi-sectoral and integrated development approach to nutrition interventions ;
  • Demonstrated experience in leading and managing coalitions, in strategic planning with a variety of stakeholders, and responding quickly to a wide variety of strategic opportunities through careful prioritization ;
  • Experience in advocacy, communications, and shaping public debate on an issue through creative communications campaigns; convening coalitions for meaningful collective action and executing strategy in coordination with other groups ;
  • Experience in using data for decision making through use of various tools (such as evidence-based reports, report cards, or trackers) for advocacy, and prior experience working directly with government representatives at multiple levels and with the advocacy community on nutrition or a related issue ;
  • Experience in managing teams and finances, including multiple subcontractors with proven experience in fund raising and resource mobilization ;
  • Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint).

Expressions of interest must be received no later than September 30, 2021 at 5pm Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire time to the address below

  1. Selection criteria : The consultant will be selected based on i) his/her qualifications, experience and iii) experience of working in developing countries.

Mr. Laouali GARBA

Manager, AHAI.2

African Development Bank Group

Immeuble CCIA Abidjan – Plateau

BP 1387 Abidjan 01 Côte d’Ivoire

l.garba@afdb.org

to Ms. Fati KONDO, kondo@afdb.org

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