District Coordinator-Kheda – CARE

CARE is a not-for-profit organization working in India for over 70 years, focusing on alleviating poverty and social injustice. We do this through well-planned and comprehensive projects in health, education, livelihoods and disaster preparedness and response. Our overall goal is the empowerment of women and girls from poor and marginalized communities leading to improvement in their lives and livelihoods.

During FY 2018-19, CARE India directly reached out to 37.2 million people through 43 projects across 14 states, covering more than 80+ districts. We are part of the CARE International Confederation, working in 100 countries for a world where people live with dignity and security.

CARE India seeks a world of hope, tolerance and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and people live in dignity and security.

Our goal is to ensure that women and girls from the most marginalized communities are empowered, live in dignity and their households have secure and resilient lives. CARE India aims to accomplish this goal by working with 50 million people to help them have quality health, education, livelihoods and overcome the effects of disasters.

POSITION/DESIGNATION District Coordinator-Kheda (Gujarat)
GRADE G
PROJECT Elevating quality nutrition service delivery across the first 1000 days
PROJECT DURATION Tentative 1st October 2022 to 31st March 2024 (18 months)
REPORTS TO Project Coordinator-UP, Project Coordinator-Gujarat,
LOCATION Kheda
TRAVEL 80 %

PROJECT DETAILS
CARE is anticipating an 18-month Implementation Research Project supported by Nutrition International, a non-profit agency dedicated to eliminating vitamin and mineral deficiencies worldwide.

Maternal Newborn Health and Infant and young Child Nutrition strategy has key indicators based on “continuum care” through stages of life cycle. This strategy provides a comprehensive framework for programing to improve maternal, newborn health and Infant and young child nutrition. In order to make progress on most critical interventions, focus on first 1000 days window opportunity between pregnancy and first 24 months is critical with a broader life cycle approach.

The aim of project is to systematically investigate, through Implementation Research (IR), the factors that facilitate/enable or hinder the program pertaining to quality nutrition service delivery and recommendation uptake during the first 1000 days, and implement relevant mitigation strategies through an improved model of implementation.

The IR project will include 

1. Training and supporting (through improved supportive supervision and other health-systems strengthening activities) AAAs and select facility-based workers on interpersonal counseling soft and technical content and skills to provide effective IPNC to pregnant and post-partum women and caregivers of children under two on maternal nutrition and IYCF practices

2. Health systems strengthening to ensure regular availability and distribution of maternal (IFA and calcium) supplements, haemoglobinometers, weighing machines for adults and children, zinc-ORS, and any other relevant supplies for quality service delivery at ANC, postnatal care (PNC).

3. BCI materials/strategies aimed towards recommended behavioral outcomes on both the provision and consumption sides.

Improve women’s decision-making ability and increase involvement of family members in the care and support of pregnant and postpartum women, and children under two years of age for improved nutrition.

JOB SUMMARY

• The District Coordinator is responsible for the management of the project in the selected blocks of assigned district- Saharanpur and Mathura in UP and Kheda and Tapi districts in Gujarat.
• S/He will lead the project operations and provide necessary guidanceand supervision to the block level team members.
• This position is responsible for implementation and advocacy related work specifically in the district and coordinate with the project team, government, and non-governmental stakeholders within the district/state and with the donor, for better program implementation along with budget management.
• This would entail ensuring that the project delivers in time with quality the set goals and achieved with the desired impact. This includes development and implementation of detailed operational plans, supervision and development of team members, monitoring and evaluation, budget preparation and monitoring of expenses, team management, ensuring compliances to all policies by the program in the assigned blocks as well as optimal utilization of resources within the program.
• The position shall be responsible for establishing/strengthening functional relationships, provide technical and operational assistance to the Department of W&CD, Health, and relevant stakeholders for managing the critical interventions required for child development during the first 1000 day of development.
• S/he is also responsible for upholding organizational core values, program management and achieving results in a defined geographical area.
• Follow up on regular stock assessment of essential drugs (IFA & Calcium), logistics and consumables related to the program on Monthly and Quarterly basis

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate with block coordinators (BC) and provide quality supervisory support to field level functionaries in delivering the desired outputs.
• Ensure issuance of appropriate directives and guidance to the team for effective & timely implementation of project interventions / activities. Also, timely share with project team, relevant district/state directives/guidelines that may be issued from time to time by the ministry/ department.
• Extended support in administration with district officials for coordination and approval of two QIQA rounds with Research agency (IFPRI)
• Support in distribution of BCI materials/training modules, etc.  to service providers (AAAs & Supervisors)
• Facilitate district and block level trainings for AAAs, Staff nurses and supervisors
• Monitor quality of training for quality assurance.
• Hands on training support of service provider (Staff Nurse, ANM, ASHA, ASHA facilitator and AWW) and
• Supervisor Cadre during supportive supervision field visit.
• Capacity building and supportive supervision of processes and staff for better delivery of high quality of maternal, Newborn and IYCN services.
• Provide required information and support evaluations and surveys being conducted for the Project.
• Capacity building of BCs during field visits, monitoring of programme data/MIS
• Coordinate with Project Coordinator & NI Team Leader at State level to strengthen program quality and ensure compliance with the organization’s policies and procedures.
• Organize periodic review of the program and ensure necessary follow-up action is undertaken
• Lead the team in developing and refining tools and systems that strengthen partnership management, provision of quality technical services, capacity building inputs and accomplishment of the project objectives.
• Contract Compliance/Financial Management: Ensure compliance to established practices and procedures, all contract
• Provide regular updates to Project Coordinator and NI Team Leader  about the overall progress of the program.
• Provide leadership support to implement the M&E system up to the field level and ensure its robust functionality.
• Undertake regular monitoring visits to implementation blocks, supportive supervision review with staff & partner NGOs and comply to donor & organization’s documentation & reporting requirements
• Be responsible for documentation of Program activities.
• Promote and strengthen networking government as well as non-government agencies
• Support the team towards developing advocacy material
• Any Other work/task given by Team leader of NI and Project Lead from Care India
• Support in existing review meetings of Health & ICDS at the district and block level
• Regular program update with the district & block officials with Health & ICDS department & Zilla panchayat
• Manage donor visits

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Project Coordinator
• Block Coordinators
• Monitoring & Documentation Officer

QUALIFICATION & EXPERIENCE
Essential:

• Post-graduation in Public Health/Social Sciences/equivalent qualification.
• 3-5 years’ experience in implementing health, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene programs, with focus on facilitating implementation of national programs preferably at District level.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Understanding of the complex relationship between child health, childhood nutrition and maternal health
• Understanding of the structure and functioning of the government
• Leadership and team management skills
• Capacity Building skills in nutrition, health, sanitation and hygiene.
• MIS / M&E management
• Strong advocacy skills, including ability to negotiate project decisions by key state and district level officials. Effectively develop coordination with the government systems
• Fund management skills including Budget utilization
• People management, particularly performance management of team
• Donor Management skills i.e. reporting, funding & networking
• Decision making skills
• Computer skills

LANGUAGE SKILLS
Fluency in Hindi/official language of the state and English (Reading, Writing & Oratory Skills) is a prerequisite. Knowledge of other languages spoken in India would be an asset.