Vacancy: Planning and Coordination Officer, USAID Advancing Nutrition Ghana

Company Profile

USAID Advancing Nutrition is USAID’s flagship multi-sectoral nutrition project, led by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), and a diverse group of experienced partners. Launched in September 2018, USAID Advancing Nutrition implements and provides technical support to nutrition interventions across sectors and disciplines for USAID and its partners. The project’s multi-sectoral approach draws together global nutrition experience to design, implement and evaluate programs that address the root causes of malnutrition. Committed to using a systems approach, USAID Advancing Nutrition strives to sustain positive outcomes by building local capacity, supporting behavior change, and strengthening the enabling environment to save lives, improve health, build resilience, increase economic productivity and advance development. From 2020 - 2022, USAID Advancing Nutrition will provide technical support and assessment services to advance the Government of Ghana’s efforts to improve equitable delivery of quality services that promote household resilience and early childhood growth and development. Technical services provided through USAID Advancing Nutrition will strengthen national and local government planning in Northern Ghana and stimulate the development of multisectoral solutions most pressing food security and nutrition problems. The portfolio will encompass activities funded by USAID/Washington as well as the USAID Ghana Mission.

Job Description

DESCRIPTION: USAID Advancing Nutrition is USAID’s flagship multi-sectoral nutrition project, led by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), and a diverse group of experienced partners. Launched in September 2018, USAID Advancing Nutrition implements and provides technical support to nutrition interventions across sectors and disciplines for USAID and its partners. The project’s multi-sectoral approach draws together global nutrition experience to design, implement and evaluate programs that address the root causes of malnutrition. Committed to using a systems approach, USAID Advancing Nutrition strives to sustain positive outcomes by building local capacity, supporting behavior change, and strengthening the enabling environment to save lives, improve health, build resilience, increase economic productivity and advance development. From 2020 - 2022, USAID Advancing Nutrition will provide technical support and assessment services to advance the Government of Ghana’s efforts to improve equitable delivery of quality services that promote household resilience and early childhood growth and development. Technical services provided through USAID Advancing Nutrition will strengthen national and local government planning in Northern Ghana and stimulate the development of multisectoral solutions most pressing food security and nutrition problems. The portfolio will encompass activities funded by USAID/Washington as well as the USAID Ghana Mission.

• Job Location: Accra with periodic travels to project sites as required.


• Reporting: The Planning and Coordination Officer (PCO) reports to the National Support Manager.

Job Summary

The PCO is a key member of the USAID Advancing Nutrition Ghana team and will focus on supporting the Government’s Medium-Term Development Planning (MTDP) process, including the development of guidelines. The PCO will provide coordination support to National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) with other relevant national nutrition stakeholders in the coordination of multi-sectoral nutrition for identified analysis.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain and serve as link between NDPC and the USAID Advancing Nutrition team.


• Provide secretariat services to NDPC in the coordination of multi-sectoral nutrition and administrative services.


• Support NDPC and the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) stakeholder coordinating unit in scheduling meetings including drafting of agendas, meeting notes and action items.


• Maintain cordial and supportive relationship with NDPC, Ghana Health Service (GHS), SUN stakeholders and other national level government agencies and ministries to advance multi-sectoral coordination for nutrition in Ghana.


• Support the medium-term development planning (MTDP) process and support the development of the guideline.


• Engage relevant national-level stakeholders to develop guidelines and tools to integration nutrition into the medium-term development planning processes.


• Work with NDPC to identify existing body or committee to serve as advisory panel to provide direction, advice, oversight, and validation of methodologies and analytical components developed under the project.


• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and foster multi-sectoral planning for nutrition, food security and resilience in the MTDP processes.


• Contribute to the development of USAID Advancing Nutrition annual work plans detailed activity plans.


• Contribute to drafting of project quarterly, annual, and other ad hoc reports on project activities and results.

Required Skills or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in development planning, social science, public health, or nutrition or relevant discipline preferred.


• Must have in-depth knowledge of the local government planning process in Ghana.


• At least five years of progressively increasing responsibility working in maternal, newborn and child health, including nutrition and local government planning processes or related fields.


• Demonstrated ability to establish professional relationships and to work collaboratively with Ghana government agencies, ministries, donors, civil society and CBOs.


• Excellent English language skills, both written and spoken with strong presentation skills.


• Working knowledge of Microsoft software packages: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.

Preferred Skills or Experience

• Prior experience with USAID-funded project.