District Coordinator – John Snow India Private Limited (JSI India)

Apply by 7th January 2024 (Sunday)

John Snow India Private Limited (JSI India) is a leading public health organization in India, dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communities across the country. JSI India was established in 2013 with a vision to be a catalyst for strengthening public health initiatives in India for improving the lives of individuals and communities. Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable communities through innovative, evidence informed, and replicable strategies in partnership with government, private sector and civil society. Over the years, JSI India has become a recognized leader for its innovative approaches in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH), family planning (FP), immunization, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, non-communicable diseases, nutrition, supply chain management, monitoring & evaluation and health system strengthening. We are implementing projects supported by USAID, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, GAVi, amongst other leading partners/stakeholders.

Position Name: District Coordinator
Position Type: Full time
No. of Positions: 1 Position
Company/Division: John Snow India Pvt. Ltd.
Reporting To: Project Coordinator
Locations : Kheda in Gujarat

Project Overview
First 1000 Days is a project on nutrition working towards 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 programming to improve maternal, newborn health and Infant and young child nutrition.

In order to make progress on most critical interventions, a focused approach on first 1000 days window opportunity (from the time a woman gets pregnant till the time her child is of 24 months age) is critical with a broader life cycle approach. The aim of the 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 recommend uptake during the first 1000 days of life and implement relevant mitigation strategies through an improved model of implementation.

The IR project will include the following components:

• Capacity building (through improved supportive supervision and other health-systems strengthening activities) for the AAAs and select facility-based workers on interpersonal counselling through soft and technical content and skills to provide effective inter-personal nutrition counselling (IPNC) to pregnant and post-partum women and caregivers of children under two on maternal nutrition and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices.
• 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), GMP visits and any follow up visits (home visits) during child’s two years of age as defined by the formative-baseline; allow for adequate supportive supervision; and, improving monitoring, strengthening capacity on use of nutrition data for decision making, coordination, and planning (including for adequate budget and supportive policy) at the district and state levels to allow for IPNC to take place with quality.
• Improved BCI materials/strategies aimed towards recommended behavioral outcomes on both the provision and consumption sides.

Job Summary
Based at the district head quarter in Saharanpur and Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) and Tapi and Kheda (Gujarat), the District Coordinators for Uttar Pradesh will work under the guidance of Project Manager, based in Delhi and the District Coordinators for Gujarat will work under the guidance of the Project Coordinator based in Gujarat. They will be the focal point at the district level and coordinate the activities in line with the project workplan and Gantt Chart and ensure that all targets are achieved. They will actively engage with the state teams of the partner, project stakeholders including officials in the Department of Women and Child Development as well as Health & Family Welfare, PRIs, and other partners of the partner and solicit their support in implementing identified project activities. District Coordinators of each state will supervise and support the respective Sector Coordinators for timely accomplishment of the project deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Project Coordinator (Gujarat) to finalize the work plan and intervention package, based on the Formative Research findings.
• Support in on- boarding the team of Sector Coordinators and facilitate their orientation on the project and their roles and responsibilities.
• Establish rapport with the project stakeholders at state, district, and block level, introduce the project and staff to the district administration and solicit their buy-in and support through regular updates on the project progress.
• Plan and oversee the implementation of the program activities in the assigned district, as per the project work plan in close coordination with the Project Coordinator (Gujarat), Sector Coordinators and state team of partner.
• Support Project Manager in development of operational guidelines and training package for capacity building of Frontline Workers, health officials from different health facilities.
• Jointly with the Sector Coordinators, conduct series of training sessions for AAA on inter-personal nutrition counselling and on the importance of first 1000 days of life, guidelines for Saksham Anganwadi centers, basics of supply chain management.
• Jointly with the Sector Coordinators, conduct series of training sessions on supportive supervision for supervisors of FLWs.
• Conduct series of training sessions on supply chain management for Pharmacists.
• Monitor quality of trainings delivered, prepare workshop reports and share feedback during review meetings.
• Conduct supportive supervision visits to different facilities with Sector Coordinators and district officials and share findings with officials at the district level for timely corrective action.
• Provide technical support to block and district officials to accurately forecast the requirement of essential maternal supplements (IFA and Ca) and other relevant health and nutrition commodities, including haemoglobinometers, weighing machines for adults and children, zinc-ORS, essential anthropometric, and other relevant supplies to support quality nutrition service delivery across the first 1000 days window.
• Technical Support for ensuring availability and supply chain monitoring of essential micronutrient and anthropometric equipment in the intervention blocks via supportive supervision
• Jointly with the Sector Coordinators, identify community platforms like VHSNCs, VHSNDs, Mothers Groups, and implement community engagement events for promotion of Behaviour change on the first 1000 days window.
• Conduct advocacy meetings with district officials of the Department of Women and Child Development as well as Health and Family Welfare and facilitate discussions about budget allocations and or provisioning to support implementation, procurement, training, and awareness.
• Establish convergence at district and block levels between different departments and organize quarterly meetings for sharing of project progress.
• Provide guidance and assistance to the district in ensuring adequate availability of IFA, Ca & FA supplies at the relevant Service Delivery Points (SDPs) across the districts
• Lead the roll out of BCI intervention in the assigned district.
• Conduct monthly stock assessment at program delivery points (district, block, SDPs) to understand forecasting practices, availability of supplies, provide support to adapt distribution strategies using inventory management principles
• Be responsible for data management and preparation of monthly and quarterly progress reports for the activities conducted at the district level. Share monthly progress report with the district stakeholders.
• Responsible for managing the team of Sector Coordinators, and ensuring timely accomplishment of the project deliverables and results.
• Document success stories and best practices in close coordination with the Sector Coordinators.
• Ensure optimum utilization of program budgets and preparation of presentations, reports, deliverables, as required.
• Perform or assume other duties as assigned by the Project Coordinator (Gujarat) and Project Lead.
• Understanding of health and nutrition situation and challenges of the region.
• Experience of working in teams and with diverse stakeholders.
• Driving License and having own two-wheeler will be an advantage.

How to Apply:
Please review the detailed Job Description and submit your application at the following link (please copy and paste the link in your browser):  https://forms.gle/fmwNQyha5jyF5Sit5

JSI India subscribes to a policy of equal opportunity. Applicants for employment will not be discriminated against on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, caste, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual preference, genetic information, political affiliation, or military status (special disabled veterans or veteran status) in any employment decisions.

JSI India is a child-safe organization, and the safety and well-being of children is a priority of our organization.

We have robust recruitment procedures to ensure that all staff are suited to work with the children served by our programs.

Please note that the last date of applying for this position is Jan 07, 2024 and only the shortlisted candidates will be called for the interview.