Project Associate, Initiative on Climate Action and Nutrition (I-CAN)

About the Role

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is seeking a Project Associate, Initiative on Climate Action and Nutrition (I-CAN) to support the implementation of the I-CAN model in Pakistan. This role will be based in Islamabad, Pakistan and is offered on a 12 months’ fixed term contract subject to the availability of funding.

Reporting to the Head of Policy and Advocacy, the Associate will work closely with the GAIN Environment Team and our I-CAN partners (including FAO, WHO, SUN, UN Nutrition, and climate organizations) to drive forward initiatives that embed climate action into food systems.

The postholder will support the execution of specific project activities such as conducting research, preparing policy briefs and discussion papers, facilitating capacity-building efforts, managing partnerships, and ensuring effective reporting. Through these activities, you will play a vital role in furthering I-CAN’s integration into the food system transformation process in Pakistan.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Supporting the implementation and management of activities under I-CAN, including tracking, monitoring, and reporting on KPIs for I-CAN to ensure that the initiative is on-time, on-budget, and well-coordinated
• Assisting the Head of Policy and Advocacy in project implementation and providing technical know-how to design and deliver national level work including deep-diving analysis of nutrition and climate integration and technical advice on policy priorities
• Supporting the I-CAN lead and I-CAN partners the development of annual budgets and detailed work plans for country I-CAN activities at national level
• Preparing briefs, discussion papers, memos, high profile slide decks, and engaging in other content development support (inputs/notes requested by government partners/stakeholders, developing first drafts of Opinion Editorials, writing country memos and country briefs, publication drafts etc.)
• Compiling data, conducting data analysis and synthesizing findings for reports, briefs, and for engagement with government and other stakeholders
• Conducting desk research, literature reviews, and other research analysis
• Supporting the planning and preparation for high level meetings, events and trips
• Participating in and summarizing output from partner meetings, sharing information with the broader I-CAN team and contributing to maintaining up to date information on the website, in coordination with the Communications and I-CAN teams

About You

The ideal candidate will have proven experience working in an environment requiring collaboration and liaising with government stakeholders, relevant industries, and international organizations. You will have understanding and/or experience in food systems, nutrition, climate change or other related environmental issues and strong technical knowledge on public health and nutrition, including climate change. The postholder will also have experience in developing advocacy briefs and previous experience working in an international NGO.

You will possess excellent communication skills and fluent in written and spoken English. Also, you should be highly flexible with the ability to work within tight time schedules and willing and able to travel in challenging environments.

A Bachelors’ degree in environment, agriculture, economics, nutrition, public health, business management or related field and a progressive experience in similar role. Candidates with a master’s degree would be an advantage. You will be computer literate with strong PowerPoint presentation skills and strong data analysis skills and ability to present complex information to non-technical audiences.

About our Offer

The starting salary on offer for this role is from PKR 1,940,772 – PKR 2,224,788 per annum (gross salary), depending on experience.

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.

About GAIN

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.

Our Working Culture and Environment

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.

Applicants must be currently based and have the existing right to live and work in the Islamabad, Pakistan region to be eligible to apply for this position.

This advert closes on 12th December 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.