Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 5,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects. RTI's Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI's experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world.

SG&Rs Global Food Security and Agriculture portfolio is working to strengthen agricultural markets, engage youth and women as critical leaders of the on- and off-farm workforce, and tackle the dual burden of malnutrition around the globe. RTIs work is helping foster stronger food systems, reduce malnutrition in all its forms, build resilience and engage the next generation of food security leaders. RTI is currently partnering on nearly 30 projects in East Africa, including activities focused on private sector-driven agricultural growth in Rwanda and market systems development in Kenya.

Project Description

The purpose of the Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture activity is to increase access to healthy diets, particularly for women and children, by improving competitiveness, inclusiveness, and resilience of the Ethiopian food and agriculture system. Transforming Agriculture will also increase incomes gained from agriculture by as much as 40 percent over the next five years. To achieve its goals Transforming Agriculture must collaborate intensively with other USAID funded projects working in the food and agriculture sector.

Position Description

RTI is seeking a Nutrition and Gender Officer Dire Dawa for Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture. This position is responsible for assisting the Nutrition Manager and Gender Youth and Social Inclusion Advisor with nutrition and gender specific interventions. This position will be based in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia,andwillreport to theArea Program Manager, Dire Dawa Office.

Your primary responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:

• Implement nutrition and gender interventions including collaboration with food security/agriculture and gender cross-sector initiatives. The gender and nutrition interventions are integrated within the regional work plan as a cross-cutting area that synergizes with the other components.
• Contribute to designing and monitoring regional nutrition and gender activities to achieve improved outcomes for priority vulnerable populations, that are sensitive to regional situations and align with the national strategies.
• Support nutrition and gender technical programming for all activities in the Food Utilization pillar in areas such as purchasing power, behavior and preferences, intra-household dynamics and vulnerabilities, preparation and waste, and hygiene.
• Support the regional Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team on measuring impact and reach of nutrition and gender activities with appropriate data collection tools.
• Provide the ongoing nutrition training and capacity building of program staff, grantees, and stakeholders.
• Provide technical support to grantees focused on gender, social inclusion, and nutrition.
• Provide technical support on the integration of gender equality into activity work plans.
• Provide input at regional level on nutrition and gender activity for reporting against priorities and indicators, including nutrition and gender success stories.
• Provide regular updates to the Nutrition Manager and Gender Youth and Social Inclusion Advisor on activity implementation plans and issues.

Required skills and qualifications:

• Masters degree and 3 years of experience, or a Bachelors degree and 5 years of experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Local knowledge of the nutrition and gender environment in the specific region or cluster, with at least 3 years of experience supporting development programs.
• Proven ability to work under pressure, and with multiple concurrent demands.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Verbal and written fluency in English required. Regional language preferred.
• Ability to travel and work throughout Ethiopia in difficult terrain/conditions at times.