SPECIALIST – NUTRITION

THE ORGANIZATION

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. With novel partnerships, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes so that they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people in a climate crisis. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future. Please visit http://www.alliancebioversityciat.org/for more information on the Alliance.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Please visit http://www.iita.org/for more information on IITA.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Nutrition Specialist role is established to provide hands-on technical and coordination support for IITA Nutrition Research, including Area of Work 4, Strengthening the Impact of Biofortified and Health-Enhancing Staples, within the Better Diets and Nutrition Science Program. The post holder will support the implementation, coordination, tracking, and reporting of all AoW4 Packages of Deliverables, helping ensure that technical activities, partnerships, budgets, timelines, and reporting requirements are well managed and aligned with the Better Diets and Nutrition results framework. Given the breadth, complexity, and multi-country nature of the AoW4 portfolio, the role combines technical nutrition expertise with strong program management, stakeholder engagement, and delivery follow-through to support timely implementation, effective risk management, and coherent reporting across the portfolio.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

AOW4 PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND TECHNICAL COORDINATION

The Nutrition Specialist will support all AoW4 Packages of Deliverables across multiple countries and partners. The role requires close coordination with CGIAR Centers, national partners, consultants, and internal program teams, with an estimated 30 percent multi-country travel.

The role will:

  • Provide day-to-day technical support for implementation of all AoW4 Packages of Deliverables.
  • Support translation of workplans into actionable implementation schedules, milestones, and deliverables.
  • Contribute to technical design and review of activities related to nutrition-sensitive agriculture, biofortification, policy engagement, value chains, dietary assessment, and behavior change.
  • Review technical outputs to ensure quality, consistency, and alignment with AoW4 objectives and the Better Diets and Nutrition Theory of Change.
  • Support preparation of technical briefs, concept notes, presentations, summaries, and internal planning documents.

PROGRAM COORDINATION AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT

The Nutrition Specialist will serve as a coordination focal point across internal and external stakeholders.

The role will:

  • Track progress across all PoDs against agreed milestones, timelines, and deliverables.
  • Maintain implementation trackers, action logs, risk logs, and follow-up matrices for the AoW4 portfolio.
  • Identify delays, bottlenecks, and risks early, and flag them with proposed mitigation measures.
  • Support planning and coordination of meetings, consultations, workshops, and follow-up actions.
  • Serve as a focal point for routine follow-up with implementing teams, partner institutions, consultants, and collaborators.
  • Support engagement with national, regional, and international stakeholders relevant to AoW4 implementation.
  • Help align partner contributions with AoW4 priorities, deliverables, and reporting needs.

IMPLEMENTATION, REPORTING AND COORDINATION

The Nutrition Specialist will support high-quality implementation follow-through, synthesis, and operational coordination.

The role will:

  • Lead coordination of routine implementation updates across all AoW4 PoDs.
  • Draft high-quality progress reports, briefing notes, meeting summaries, and donor-facing updates as required.
  • Support preparation of coherent inputs for annual reporting so all PoDs are reflected accurately and consistently.
  • Synthesize technical, operational, and stakeholder information into concise reporting products for decision-making.
  • Support tracking of PoD-related budgets, expenditures, procurement requests, consultant processes, logistics, and administrative actions.
  • Monitor field implementation readiness, data collection processes, and reporting quality, and conduct field visits as needed.

REQUIREMENTS:

EDUCATION

  • Master’s degree in Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, Food and Nutrition, Nutrition-sensitive Agriculture, International Development, or a related field.

EXPERIENCE

  • At least 10 years of relevant field and program implementation experience.
  • Demonstrated experience in nutrition-sensitive agriculture and biofortification.
  • Proven experience coordinating complex, multi-country projects or portfolios.
  • Strong experience in stakeholder engagement, partner coordination, and cross-institutional collaboration.
  • Experience in technical writing, reporting, and synthesis for research, development, or donor-funded programs.
  • Experience supporting implementation planning, milestone tracking, and issue follow-up.
  • Experience working with consultants, service providers, procurement processes, and administrative follow-through.
  • Experience conducting or supporting field visits and quality assurance processes.
  • Experience working in multicultural and interdisciplinary environments.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

  • Technical grounding in nutrition and food systems.
  • Excellent project management and organizational skills.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and follow through under pressure.
  • Excellent writing, synthesis, and presentation skills.
  • Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
  • High level of attention to detail and commitment to quality.
  • Ability to work independently while supporting a complex team environment.
  • Sound judgment, discretion, and professional maturity.
  • Ability to identify risks early and communicate them clearly and constructively.
  • Excellent written and spoken English is required.
  • Excellent written and spoken Kiswahili is required.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

  • A consolidated AoW4 implementation tracker covering all PoDs, updated regularly.
  • A milestone-based coordination system for tracking deliverables, risks, dependencies, and follow-up actions.
  • Monthly or agreed periodic portfolio progress updates for the AoW4 Lead.
  • High-quality technical and administrative follow-up for meetings, partner consultations, and workshops.
  • Drafts of technical summaries, briefing notes, presentations, and reporting inputs as required.
  • Timely coordination of contributions to annual reporting and other program reporting requirements.
  • A risk register with mitigation actions and escalation notes for major implementation issues.
  • Budget and procurement follow-up notes to support timely execution of activities.
  • Support to field missions and documentation of key findings, actions, and implementation implications.
  • A coherent end-of-year synthesis of AoW4 implementation progress across all PoDs.

KEY PERFORMANCE MILESTONES

  • Within the first 30 days, establish an AoW4 implementation and reporting tracker covering all PoDs.
  • Within the first 60 days, produce a consolidated milestone map, partner follow-up matrix, and risk register.
  • Within the first 90 days, demonstrate timely coordination of PoD workplans, meetings, and reporting inputs.
  • By mid-year, show evidence of strengthened implementation follow-up, improved milestone visibility, and documented progress across PoDs.
  • By annual reporting period, support delivery of coherent, timely, and high-quality AoW4 inputs into the BDN annual report.
  • Throughout the contract, maintain effective stakeholder coordination, timely issue escalation, and strong follow-through on agreed actions

EVALUATION CRITERIA

  • A consolidated AoW4 implementation tracker covering all PoDs, updated regularly.
  • A milestone-based coordination system for tracking deliverables, risks, dependencies, and follow-up actions.
  • Monthly or agreed periodic portfolio progress updates for the AoW4 Lead.
  • High-quality technical and administrative follow-up for meetings, partner consultations, and workshops.
  • Drafts of technical summaries, briefing notes, presentations, and reporting inputs as required.
  • Timely coordination of contributions to annual reporting and other program reporting requirements.
  • A risk register with mitigation actions and escalation notes for major implementation issues.
  • Budget and procurement follow-up notes to support timely execution of activities.
  • Support to field missions and documentation of key findings, actions, and implementation implications.
  • A coherent end-of-year synthesis of AoW4 implementation progress across all PoDs.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

This is a nationally recruited position based at IITA Nairobi, Kenya. The initial contract will be for one and half yearssubject to a probation period of three months and is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources.

This position is graded at BG08 level, with a minimum basic salary of KES 307,706 in a scale of BG01 to BG14 (BG14 being the highest level according to the Alliance job classification framework policy). We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits including but not limited to insurance, retirement plan, staff training and development, paid time off and flexible working arrangements.


The Alliance Bioversity-CIAT is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority. We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, marital status, and gender identities. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

APPLICATIONS

Applicants are invited to visit https://www.bioversityinternational.org/jobs/to get full details of the position and to submit their applications. Applications MUST include reference number Ref:(RFP301252)-SPECIALIST – NUTRITION the position applied for. Application and CV should be saved as one document using the candidate’s lastname, firstname for ease of sorting.

Note: The Alliance does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training). The Alliance also does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.

Applications closing date:2ndJune 2026

Please note that email applications will not be considered. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.



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