Job Abstract

Lead Health Specialist - Global Program Lead Nutrition

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

The Human Development (HD) Practice Group (PG)

The World Bank Group (WBG) is the largest provider of development finance and solutions for human development working with high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries to develop country-tailored solutions for human development (HD) under the themes of education, health, social protection, jobs and gender. The HD PG coordinates with other Practice Groups to ensure a coordinated and integrated approach to development challenges, and through the World Bank Regional Units is expected to deliver the strongest and most pertinent support to our client countries.

The Human Development Vice Presidency (HDVP) at the World Bank Group is made up of the Global Practices for education; health, nutrition, and population; and social protection and jobs; additionally, the HDVP houses the gender group. As such, HD is central to the World Bank Group’s goals to end extreme poverty by 2030 and raise shared prosperity.

Over the past few years the World Bank’s Human development sector has been delivering a scaled-up program with an active portfolio over $71.3B with engagements in 121 countries. New commitments in FY21 are expected to reach a total $21.2B by FY end. Human capital development, and in particular, the health sector program, has taken a central role for the WBG, as a result of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and its impact.

The primary challenges of health development relate to health, nutrition, and demographic transitions that are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic both, through an agile short-term response, and a sustainable and inclusive longer-term response that tackles inequitable opportunities and outcomes in the health sector globally, regionally and within countries. The fundamental challenge is to preempt, prevent and mitigate the developmental impact of these challenges now and into the future. Specific challenges include: providing equitable, efficient, accountable and sustainable financing of health coverage; providing equitable, quality, appropriate and scaled-up delivery of priority public health services according to need; mobilizing the appropriate quantity and quality of key health systems inputs related to health workers, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare technology and facilities; and strengthening models of governance for the health sector that recognize core functions for government, responsibilities/accountability of key actors and enhance competencies for governance across levels (local, national, regional and global) and sectors (public/private/civil society, as well as government sectors such as education, transport, social protection, etc.).

Health, Nutrition & Population Global Practice

The World Bank Group (WBG) supports countries’ efforts towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and to provide quality, affordable health services to everyone —regardless of their ability to pay — by strengthening primary health care systems and reducing the financial risks associated with ill health and increasing equity. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/health
The central contribution of the HNP Global Practice to the World Bank’s twin goals is to enable the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), in which all people are effectively covered by essential health services, and nobody suffers undue financial hardship as a result of illnesses. In the quest for UHC, the HNP Global Practice is building on progress made in the framework of the Millennium Development Goals, an array of analytical and advisory services, strategic partnerships with partner institutions and other financing agencies, and an active lending portfolio. The HNP Global Practice includes staff members in Washington, DC and many country offices.

The HNP Global Practice is led by a Global Director, who has overall responsibility for the GP. The Global Director works closely with the Human Development Directors for each Region and with the regional Practice Managers and the Practice Manager of the Global Unit and the GFF Manager who collectively form the HNP practice board. The day-to-day management of the HNP Global Unit is under the responsibility of the Practice Manager.

Duties and Accountabilities

The successful candidate will lead the HNP Global Unit’s Nutrition team and will be responsible for the development of the vision for the nutrition work for the HNP Global Practice as well as the work program and day-to-day management of the nutrition team in the global unit.
The nutrition team in the HNP Global Unit is responsible for the thought leadership, analytical work, technical assistance, knowledge products, learning agenda and global partnerships of the work area. The priority technical areas build on the new investment framework for nutrition and focus on addressing both undernutrition as well as fiscal and regulatory policies to address the growing burden of overweight and obesity, and the strong links between nutrition, climate and gender. A key area of focus will be to translate global knowledge and the new Global Challenge Program (GCP) on Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) into operational support for regional and country teams, and mentor nutrition staff in the regional teams. The Team will provide technical assistance to the regions and clients to support the development of high-quality nutrition analytical work as well as World Bank financed investment lending projects as well as development policy operations. Given the multi-sectoral nature of nutrition, the nutrition team works across sectors in close coordination with the Agriculture, Social Protection and Water Global practices, as well as the Tax and trade teams and IFC. The global program lead for nutrition will work closely together with the service delivery, public health, climate and PPR leads to enhance technical collaboration across the areas. In addition, the lead will be part of the global unit management team contributing to the overall strategic direction, the partnership and knowledge and learning agenda’s as well as the collective management of staff and resources. The work program is developed in close consultation with the HNP GP regional managers through the Practice Board. The Global Program Lead will report to the practice manager of the HNP Global Unit.
The work program of the nutrition lead consists of the following responsibilities:

1. Develop the overall strategy and work program for the nutrition team in close collaboration with team members, HNP GP staff and the Practice Board.

2. Support country teams in the policy dialogue with client countries including for new business development and develop a comprehensive, systematic and adaptive approach to technical assistance across fragile, low income and low-middle income settings.

3. Develop and oversee the implementation and quality assurance of a substantial, cutting-edge analytical work program across key nutrition priority areas.

4. Contribute to the HNP Learning academy focused on formal training (flagship course), peer to peer learning (Joined Learning Network) as well as cross country and regional synthesis of knowledge and innovations to enhance impact.

5. Develop and maintain technical partnerships with relevant external partners (such as the UN, Bilaterals, Foundations, Global Nutrition Report, SUN Movement, CSOs) as well as contribute to fundraising.

6. In a co-supervisory role with the HNP Global Unit Practice Manager, lead and support team members in the development and implementation of individual work programs, and mentor staff. Responsible for day-to-day management of the nutrition team.

7. Ensure management of budget and resources for the workstream and monitor progress and deliverables against workstream objectives.

8. Ensure quality assurance of the nutrition agenda and monitor program implementation through a focus on results.

9. As part of the technical leadership team, participate in the HNP GP Global Unit management meetings, ensure collaboration across technical teams, contribute to joined products (e.g health system assessments) and contribute to the overall strategy, technical leadership, quality control and resource management of the unit.

10. Engage with HNP GP donors in providing regular updates and reporting, as well as new donor outreach as it relates to the nutrition agenda.

11. Represent the World Bank in key technical and strategic partnerships related to the nutrition agenda.

Selection Criteria

• Minimum Education/Work Experience: Master’s/ PHD in Nutrition or other relevant discipline, demonstrable deep expertise in the field of nutrition and at least 15 years of relevant experience in supporting large scale nutrition programs in low and low-middle income countries.
• Experience working with national governments and other partners at national and sub-national level in policy dialogue and the design of
nutrition reforms including the financing aspects.
• Strong track record of high quality analytical and operational programming in topics related to the nutrition agenda is a requirement.
• Experience and strong track record in cultivating and leading high impact teams, including developing and supporting the implementation of work programs with a track record of collectively delivering results as well as experience mentoring and supporting staff and an ability to create a collaborative work culture.
• Excellent interpersonal, diplomatic acumen, including a strong client focus, combined with team building skills for fostering and maintaining collaborative relationships, is a requirement.
• Ability to develop a strategy and translate that into implementation with a track record of delivering results.
• Experience working in World Bank operations is preferred with a strong preference for experience in diverse country settings.
• Experience developing partnerships with key technical partners in the nutrition area.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English is required and French is highly desirable.
• Capacity to work simultaneously on a variety of issues and tasks, independently adjusting to priorities and achieving results with agreed objectives and deliver against ambitious deadlines. Adept at developing and supporting the implementation of work programs across a team.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

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