Appel d’offre pour un coordinateur ALN à long terme (consultant individuel) afin de fournir une direction technique et une orientation stratégique à l’initiative des leaders africains pour la nutrition (ALN) : Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

  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 ALN secretariat is hosted by the AfDB 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 dynamic policy direction and strategic leadership to the ALN initiative with a view of positioning and amplifying 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 AHAI2 under the supervision of the Manager. 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. 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.

  1. The selected individual consultant is expected to:
  • Be the face of ALN Secretariat, by providing progressive policy direction and strategic leadership to the ALN initiative with a view of positioning and 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.
  • Lead high-level policy dialogue activities on nutrition with ALN champions and other African Leaders and Eminent Personalities to discuss and identify priority nutrition-related policy reforms to improve nutrition outcomes in Africa.
  • Provide leadership on high-level engagement, country-level outreach and advocacy campaigns in support of ALN champions while cultivating other African Leaders and Eminent Personalities who could be potential nutrition champions, as well as strategic stakeholder organizations and institutions.
  • Establish and nurture diverse partnerships with policy makers and heads of institutions at the regional and global level, to guide and build coalitions while spearheading the work of the ALN.
  • Ensure the day-to-day management and coordination of the work and staff of the ALN Secretariat, including responding quickly to a wide variety of strategic opportunities through careful prioritization and strategic insight whilst contributing to the promotional advocacy and 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 of AHAI2 and work closely with internal and external stakeholders to deliver the following:
  • Lead ALN initiative’s strategic focus and coordinate the ALN secretariat in line with its work plan and regular outreach engagement with the Advisory group and the Steering Committee as well as key partner institutions, internal and external stakeholders.
  • Provide thought-leadership and overall guidance to ALN Secretariat staff in developing and implementing advocacy and policy actions that supports ALN champion campaigns and position ALN within globally policy discussions for nutrition.
  • 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 while influencing agendas that maximize the visibility and overall engagement of ALN.
  • Coordinate high-level policy dialogue at the national level and with the African Union on nutrition, and to measure progress of expected outcomes of the policy dialogue process. This includes holding policy consultations on nutrition, the organisation of national and regional policy dialogue events, working with national governments to develop action plans for nutrition, and inclusion of policy dialogue in the ALN M&E framework.
  • Build and maintain ALN’s position by articulating policy actions in a way that supports strategic direction, 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Desired Qualifications:
  • The consultant must have a minimum of a Master’s Degree in nutrition or public health, public policy, strategy development, international development, social sciences, or any other relevant degree, with at least ten (10) 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, policy articulation, strategy development, coalition building, programme management, organization of high-level policy dialogue activities, 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.

(iii)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 policy analysis, 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 November 19, 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

[email protected]

CC.to Ms. Fati KONDO, [email protected]