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About the AGA KHAN FOUNDATION

The Aga Khan Foundation is a leading global development organisation working to tackle the root causes of poverty. For more than 50 years, we have helped create strong community institutions that support sustainable, locally-driven initiatives to improve the lives of millions of people. Rooted in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, our staff have unique insights into the complex challenges people face today as well as the opportunities for tomorrow. By combining local knowledge with global best practices, we strive to bring about transformative and long-lasting improvements to the quality of life. Taking a generational approach, we have built the trust required to do this work even in the most fragile contexts. 

Our programmes aim to ensure infants have the best possible start in life; families are healthy and well-nourished; children and young people can access quality learning opportunities and grow to fulfil their potential; and adults can develop future-facing skills so they can gain employment or start their own businesses. We believe women and girls should not be limited in their choices or opportunities and are dedicated to fostering inclusive communities in which all voices are heard and valued. As our climate changes, we are working with the communities we serve, and especially farmers, to adapt to its challenges and opportunities and contribute to a healthy planet.

But the issues we face are evolving rapidly. To meet them, we use innovation to empower communities to develop new solutions that can be quickly tested and refined ensuring they are relevant, feasible, and sustainable. Working alongside the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network – comprising hospitals, schools, universities, businesses and climate and cultural programmes around the world – we have access to a unique breadth of resources and in-depth know-how. And through partnerships with local communities, civil society and business as well as governments and international aid agencies we are working to expand opportunity for everyone. We are building a future where we all thrive together. 

About the Role

Working closely with colleagues in the Global Programme Team, particularly Agriculture and Health, the Global Lead, Nutrition will further develop and refine AKF’s nutrition strategy. This will include implementation and providing technical assistance to field-based teams, while also supporting programme design and resource mobilisation. The successful individual will nurture cross-sector partnerships, foster innovation, oversee programme quality and support a learning agenda.

Purpose of the Role

Global challenges have intensified with rising rates of malnutrition and hunger, alongside the troubling coexistence of overweight, obesity, undernutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies. Inequalities have worsened due to uneven economic recovery after COVID-19, and the disruptive impact of climate change on global food production and supply. These factors negatively affect food availability, access, affordability, quality, and coping behaviours related to food and nutrition.

At a global level, 3 billion people are unable to afford a healthy diet, and 1.5 million cannot afford a merely nutrient-adequate diet. Micronutrient deficiency is widespread among low-income populations and is more prevalent in regions and countries with low dietary diversity.

Additionally, nutrition and food systems’ approaches have evolved in response to past dissatisfactions. This includes a shift from supply-driven programmes focused on food volume and production to a greater emphasis on access and affordability. There is also now more focus on sustainable nutrition and diets, climate considerations, rural-urban linkages, and global connections.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the further development, refinement and operationalisation of AKF’s global nutrition programme strategy. This includes collaboration and building integration with programmes across AKF themes as well as identifying regionally specific approaches or tailoring as needed.
• Facilitate the development and implementation of country-specific, multi-sectoral nutrition strategies that integrate child wellbeing, health, agriculture, gender, and civil society themes. This includes using behavioural change approaches, building country team capacity and ownership, identifying opportunities to grow the nutrition portfolio, and ensuring local coordination across thematic areas.
• Oversee the quality of AKF’s nutrition programme by providing regular technical and operational support to field-based agriculture and health/nutrition teams. This includes flagship programmes such as the Indian Ocean Coastal Regeneration Initiative, the Central Asia Stunting Initiative, and the regenerative farming initiative. Support will ensure technical goals are achieved, donor and partner commitments are met, and country teams follow required procedures, regulations, and policies.
• Support programme design and resource mobilisation by engaging in donor discussions at bilateral, regional, and global levels. This includes developing materials such as capability statements, decks, and videos, as well as helping country teams foster partnerships and identify new funding opportunities. Also support proposal development in collaboration with AKF’s field and donor offices, as well as other AKDN agencies.
• Foster, sustain and support linkages and partnerships for better nutrition outcomes amongst assets, institutions, and programmes of the Aga Khan Development Network.
• Provide nutrition leadership at the country level to identify opportunities to influence, shape and drive the national nutrition agenda and be catalysts for broader impact.
• Facilitate the development of innovative solutions to meet programme and country needs, including mentoring and supporting the growth of nutrition-related staff. This includes advancing the Nutrition Innovation Challenge and ensuring lessons and results are documented and shared both internally and externally.
• Contribute to AKF’s global results framework for nutrition by developing clear outcomes, indicators, and validated data collection tools aligned with sector best practices. Work with country teams to ensure these standard metrics are integrated into all new programme designs.
• Oversee country nutrition programmes’ compliance with global and national benchmarks, and support timely, effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on activities and progress.
• Support evidence-based approaches to drive AKF’s programming on nutrition, including analysis and communication of relevant data on AKF target groups, co-leading pilots, Human Centred Design activities for structured learning, and advising on approaches to enhance AKF’s understanding of the effectiveness of our work and changes over time.
• Sustain and strengthen global and regional communities of practice and external partnerships for strategic, technical, and fundraising purposes. This includes leading the AKF global nutrition community of practice and delivering regular nutri-cafes and nutri-blogs.
• Provide technical input to the development of global nutrition briefs, nutrition concept papers, communication materials on nutrition programmes and innovations, and reporting to management, the Board, internal and external partners, and other stakeholders on nutrition.
• Prioritise among a range of issues emerging from country teams, and guide both country offices and the Global Programme Team in setting strategic priorities for interventions and geographic focus.
• Represent AKF as required, collaborating closely with colleagues from the Global Programme Team and Global Partnerships at meetings and conferences.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Postgraduate qualifications in Nutrition or equivalent, with knowledge of food science, food technology, food security, agriculture, or horticulture, are an advantage. 
• At least 10 years of experience working on nutrition programmes, including integration with the food and agriculture sectors, is preferred. Exposure to regenerative farming approaches that enable high-nutrition food crops would be an asset.
• At least 10 years of field experience delivering or managing nutrition programmes in developing countries, including focusing on gender sensitivity, behavioural change, and experience in working with community groups.
• Experience developing partnerships for nutrition programming with various stakeholders (donors, governments, and international organisations).
• A solid understanding of trends and innovations in nutrition technical programmes, nutrition financing, and nutrition partnerships.
• A solid knowledge of value chains and food systems at macro (region, country), meso (province, district), and micro (community, household, family farm) levels.
• Experience working with the private sector to address health and nutrition issues, particularly for rural communities, would be an asset.

Core Competencies

• Ability to engage and share confidently, constructively, ethically, openly, and honestly with stakeholders from different cultures and professional backgrounds.
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical skills, and a pragmatic and flexible/creative problem-solving ability.
• Effective communicator of ideas – written and verbal, in English. Ability to communicate in other languages spoken in AKDN programme countries is an asset.
• Adept at building teams – working collaboratively across countries, not only with AKF nutrition and health staff but also with other thematic areas, AKDN agencies and partner institutions.

Travel

• Ability to travel regularly to AKDN programme countries across Africa and Asia; this includes regular field travel to remote locations.