Lead, Initiative on Climate Action and Nutrition (I-CAN) - SYS-1183

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is seeking a Lead, Initiative on Climate Action and Nutrition (I-CAN) to lead on our Initiative on Climate and Nutrition and carry work together with GAIN Environment Team and our I-CAN partners (incl. FAO, WHO, SUN, UN Nutrition and climate organisations). This role will be on a 12 months’ fixed-term contract basis, subject to availability of funding. This position is open to GAIN’s country offices in New Delhi, Nairobi, London and Geneva.

Reporting to the Senior Advisor, Policy and External Relations, you will lead on our I-CAN Initiative and to carry on the advancing work on the environment across our programmes, advocacy and operational work based on GAIN’s Environment Strategy. The GAIN strategy refresh 2022 – 2027 puts environment at the core of GAIN’s work and reiterates the commitment to make GAIN the ‘greenest nutrition organization both organizationally and programmatically’. 

The Initiative on Climate Action and Nutrition (I-CAN) is a multistakeholder, multisectoral global flagship initiative developed by Egypt as COP27 Presidency in partnership with GAIN, WHO, FAO, and SUN, with the goal of fostering collaboration to accelerate transformative action at the critical nexus of climate change and nutrition.

• Overseeing activities under I-CAN including defining the overall direction and strategy of the initiative and identifying new opportunities to scale up impact at the nexus of climate and nutrition
• Acting as the focal point for I-CAN, both internally (including to SMT and the Board) and externally, representing I-CAN at government and donor meetings, the I-CAN Working Group under the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH), technical groups, seminars and conferences
• Generating resource mobilization opportunities in collaboration with GAIN leadership and I-CAN partners and leading on proposal development for future I-CAN work
• Driving knowledge management and learning sharing alongside I-CAN partners and GAIN’s Knowledge Leadership, Communications and Country Programmes teams
• Co-leading with I-CAN partners, the development of annual budgets and detailed workplans for all I-CAN activities at both the global and national level
• Providing guidance on project implementation to GAIN countries and providing technical know-how to design and deliver national level work including deep-dive analysis of nutrition and climate integration and technical advice on policy priorities
• Overseeing tracking, monitoring and reporting on KPIs, ensuring to report progress to the Advisory Council for I-CAN and contribute to I-CAN donor reporting
• Working through key food systems and sustainable development fora and mechanisms to influence strategic direction and good practice on integrated action on climate and nutrition
• Leading planning for events and communications, in coordination with I-CAN partners across climate, health, food, agriculture, gender and wider development agendas
• Developing and managing relationships with other organisations to establish I-CAN as a central hub for nutrition-climate action in the development community, and the go-to place for nutrition-environment action for external stakeholders

About You

The ideal candidate will have proven track record in leading multi-stakeholder initiatives, coalitions or campaigns on topics related to food systems, nutrition, climate change or other related environmental issues. You will possess demonstrable experience of multilateral global policy processes related to food systems, nutrition, climate change or other related environmental issues.

The postholder will also possess demonstrable experience of national-level policy processes and challenges and opportunities in LMIC settings and have strong network in relevant areas and experience in representation with key donors, government, and internal and external stakeholders.

You will have excellent communications skills, fluent in both written and verbal English and able to present clear and structured arguments with different stakeholders. The postholder should also be highly flexible and willing and able to travel to other GAIN offices regularly. Candidates with experience of visiting, living or working within low-income countries would be an advantage.

Preferably a Master’s degree in environmental science, international development, public policy, public health or related field. You will have strong understanding of global hunger and malnutrition issues, climate change and other environmental issues and the intersection of the two areas. The ideal candidate will also possess excellent project management and strategic leadership skills and comfortable in managing and engaging with colleagues and partners.

The starting salary for each office is as follows, depending on experience:

• India: From INR 2,905,824 (gross) – INR 3,322,368 per annum
• Kenya: From KES 6,055,272 (gross) – KES 6,920,316 (gross) per annum
• United Kingdom: From GBP 63,612 (gross) – GBP 68,160 (gross) per annum
• Switzerland: From EUR 125,748 (gross) – EUR 134,736 (gross) per annum

GAIN has a fair and competitive salary structure that allows for annual progression subject to good performance. In addition, GAIN offers a total of 37 days holiday per year (including annual leave, public holidays and additional office closure days), an attractive pension scheme and competitive insurance cover including health, travel and life assurance.

We are committed to the health of our staff, especially in these challenging times, and have developed a programme of wellbeing that includes flexible working, additional leave allowances, wellbeing days, mindfulness coaching and access to independent and confidential counselling.

GAIN also has a strong commitment to professional development. We will support you to grow in your career through both formal and informal training, and are committed to providing opportunities through internal recruitment, secondments and promotion. All of this is delivered in a supportive and collaborative environment.

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the United Nations in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Due to COVID19, conflict in Ukraine and climate change, malnutrition and hunger have worsened significantly since 2019, reversing a decade of progress. There is growing recognition that our food systems need to change if we are to reverse these trends.

GAIN’s Strategy aims to transform food systems to make healthier diets from sustainable food systems accessible to all people and especially those whose are most vulnerable to shocks. By 2027, we aim to improve the access of 1.5 billion people to nutritionally enhanced staple foods, improve the access of 25 million people to healthier diets, and support positive food system change in 10 countries. This is bold and complex, and the only way to achieve this is to work together with partners including governments, businesses, and civil society at the country and global level. These goals, and the ways of achieving them, build on our twenty-year legacy of transforming people’s lives with improved nutrition through concerted action and effective policy change.

We provide a flexible working environment that includes a combination of home and office working opportunities through our global hybrid working policy. This encourages our staff to have a healthy work-life balance and increases staff motivation, enriches employee wellbeing, and improves performance and productivity.

All of our positions are based in one or more of GAIN’s designated offices as stated on our job advertisements. Successful candidates will be based in one of GAIN’s country offices and must have the existing right to live and work within a reasonably commutable distance of the relevant city / cities in which the role is advertised. Please note, that GAIN does not sponsor working visas and relocations. 

GAIN reserves the right to withdraw an offer of employment for candidates who are considered to ineligible under the above conditions during or after the recruitment process.

For more detailed information please see the attached job description. To apply, follow the "Apply Now" link.

This advert closes on 14th June 2024. Early applications are encouraged. GAIN reserves the right to close this advert early should we receive suitable candidates ahead of the closing date.

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition is committed to equality of opportunity and creating an inclusive environment where diversity is valued.  We are keen to reflect the diversity of our society at every level within our organisation and therefore welcome applications from talented and committed people from all backgrounds, representing the diverse societies we operate in.