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Vacancy for Senior Food Policy Advisor

Job Opening:
Senior Food Policy Advisor
MSF Access Campaign
Location Geneva


Introduction
Childhood malnutrition is a global health crisis that causes the death of 10,000 to 15,000 children a day and contributes to at least 35% of overall child mortality under 5 years of age.

In 2007 MSF treated more than 150,000 malnourished children with community based innovative approaches. Childhood malnutrition is a longstanding crisis that risks to be further exacerbated by rising food prices which are likely to affect small children the most. The root causes of under nutrition are complex and include but are not limited to destitute poverty, food insecurity, conflict and marginalization. MSF believes that in addition to medium and long term programming there is a need for immediate solutions targeting children, a radical shift in thinking and action in food assistance and nutrition programming is required to save the lives of children. Childhood undernutrition and its consequences can no longer be ignored.

Médecins sans Frontières through its Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines launched its global malnutrition campaign: Starved for Attention, in October 2007. The Malnutrition Campaign aims to raise the nutritional needs of young child nutrition as a public health priority and promote change in the way international food aid as well as health care providers target the needs of millions of children under two years of age that are most at risk for death and disability stemming from inadequate, undernutritious food.
 
The Malnutrition Campaign wants international food aid to adapt policies to provide food that is appropriate for children under two and to see an international scale up of treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition in community based/outpatient programmes. Furthermore, the campaign aims to reduce the price of ready-to-use food (RUF) and promote a diversified production, including in affected countries, and development of further adapted products.

Functions
The MSF Access Campaign is creating a position for a senior policy advisor who will lead and further develop policy and advocacy strategies for MSF’s global Malnutrition Campaign. The Malnutrition Campaign of MSF is focused on highlighting the nutritional needs of children that are most at risk for undernutrition and, in particular, articulating the role that ready-to-use therapeutic and supplementary foods can play in addressing this crisis.

Policy and Advocacy
· Develops MSF’s policy and advocacy strategy for malnutrition to achieve the Malnutrition Campaign objectives
· Works closely with the Access Campaign’s nutritional medical advisor and other medical and nutritional experts in MSF to develop policies that are relevant for MSF
· Supports and coordinates (for specific actions) MSF staff in 19 MSF sections that are working on the malnutrition campaign.
· Participates directly in advocacy towards policy makers in international organizations and governments
· Develops and maintains synergetic networks with other civil society actors working on nutrition
· Together with the communications coordinator/deputy director to develop campaigning and communications messages.

Policy Analysis
· Contributes to MSF’s understanding of international food aid and nutrition programming policies and funding streams
· Use an understanding of food security and livelihood approaches to articulate a coherent role for ready-to-use therapeutic and supplementary foods in the food policy environment
· Develops policy reports and documentation as appropriate

Place in the organization
The senior nutrition policy advisor reports to the Deputy Director of the Access Campaign who leads the nutrition team.
The Access Campaign works in a matrix function and the senior nutrition policy advisor is also part of the policy advocacy team. He/she coordinates closely with the Policy Advocacy Director.

Required Skills and Qualifications
· Degree in (development) economics, public health or nutrition
· Minimum of ten years experience in food security, food aid policies and/or nutrition programming
· Proven track record of effective high level advocacy
· Civil society experience
· Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate information and knowledge in creative and effective policy and advocacy approaches
· Excellent communication skills and proven ability to write and communicate for a range of audiences
· Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relationships with governments, international organizations, civil society and other stakeholders
· Field experience preferable


Additional information about the position:

Location:    Geneva
Type of contract: full time, 1 year, renewable

To apply, please send your CV with cover letter to Jess Williams at jess.Williams(at)geneva.msf.org in the Access Campaign. If you would like to further discuss about the position please contact Daniel Berman, Deputy Director of the Access Campaign at Daniel.Berman(at)geneva.msf.org or +41 22 849 8908

More information about the MSF Campaign for Essential Medicines can be found on www.msfaccess.org