Senior Policy Associate, UN Food Systems Summit – Bangladesh

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is seeking a Senior Policy Associate to deliver on GAIN Bangladesh’s policy and influencing strategy as part of GAIN’s key activities for the UN Food Systems Summit taking place in 2021.

This role is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh and is offered on a full-time contract of up to 12 months starting in January 2021 with the possibility of extension (subject to job requirements and funding).

About GAIN

GAIN is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with both governments and businesses, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious food for all people. In particular, we aim to make healthier food choices more desirable, more available, and more affordable. GAIN’s mission is to advance nutrition outcomes by improving consumption of nutritious and safe food for all people, especially those most vulnerable to malnutrition.

About the role

In September-October 2021, The UN will convene a Food Systems Summit to raise global awareness and finalise global commitments and actions that transform food systems to resolve not only hunger, but to reduce diet-related disease and heal the planet. As a leader of one of the Summit’s Action Tracks (Ensuring Access to Safe Nutritious Food for All), GAIN will be convening a group of 25 experts from across the world over the next 12 months to forge a consensus on an action plan that will be required of governments, civil society groups, the international development community and businesses to meet the Action Track’s goals.

The inclusion of nutritious and safe foods as a major theme is well aligned with GAIN’s strategy to make nutritious foods more affordable and accessible for all. The Food System Summit will be a major opportunity to advance GAIN’s strategy and merits a special effort to link and align many aspects of our programmes, learning and influencing.

Country level participation, through the influencing work led by the Bangladesh Country Director and the Senior Policy Associate, is the key to the project’s success.

Role specifics will include;

• Support national preparations and planning for the Food Systems Dialogues for the UN Food Systems Summit, and the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit.
• Liaise and communicate with the respective advisors, consultants and where appropriate, and facilitate preparations for the national commitments.
• Support the integration and alignment of the Food Systems Summit policy and advocacy work into GAIN’s national business plan.
• Responsible for internal communication and updating GAIN colleagues regarding the Summit objectives and national programme.
• Track the project planning and propose plans enabling prospective solutions to effectively take in place (e.g. policies, institutions, finance, incentives, data, innovation, advocacy, education, etc.)

About you

You will need to have a Bachelor’s degree in public relations, food science, nutrition, social science, business administration, or a suitable equivalent experience. The Senior Policy Associate will also have professional experience in policy development and planning within a government setting that involves public private engagement.

With a proven track record in strong stakeholder management, you will have experience in building strong relationships with senior officials to support and engage in the food policy dialogue within the country context. In addition to this, you will have key understanding of food systems and must have the ability to report on projects as appropriate.

This advert closes on 7th December 2020. Early applications are encouraged. GAIN reserves the right to close this advert early should we receive suitable candidates ahead of the closing date.

Please note that GAIN is unable to sponsor working visas.

About our offer

In addition to competitive salary, GAIN offers an attractive pension scheme, 25 days holiday (plus public holiday), flexible working and home working. We will support you to grow in your career through professional development opportunities and we offer this within a supportive and collaborative environment.

Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 21^st December 2020

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

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.