Partnership Specialist, Inspiring Good Nutrition Initiatives Through Enterprise (IGNITE) Program

TechnoServe Background: 

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe’s work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of businesses and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing...when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off.  

 

Program Description: 

The Inspiring Good Nutrition Initiatives Through Enterprise (IGNITE) will build on the foundations of the Technical Assistance Accelerator Prelude (TAAP) program to achieve increased motivation and fortification capability of millers leading to increased proportion of fortified staple foods and conversion of a critical mass of millers to improved quality practices across eight countries. Namely Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Tanzania with India, Kenya, and Nigeria serving as the operational hubs. 

IGNITE will facilitate the activation and expansion of a catalytic collective impact initiative – the Millers 4 Nutrition (M4N) coalition – to globally coordinate and locally implement an ultimately sustainable model for delivery of technical assistance (TA) and other services to millers through contributions of and collaboration with corporate partners- Strategic Fortification Partners (SFPs). 

These TA services, and associated engagement platforms, will establish business cases and motivate and develop capabilities of food processors to improve their performance in the fortification of selected staple foods and condiments, and thereby to achieve large-scale and relevant (contributing to the diets of large proportions of populations in countries where staple FF has been identified as part of national nutrition strategies) coverage on a sustained basis. 

 

Job Summary:

The Partnership Specialist will play a vital role in supporting M4N’s mission by managing day-to-day coordination with partners (including selected millers), ensuring seamless communication, and contributing to the implementation of strategic initiatives. This position is ideal for a highly organized, proactive individual who excels in project management, stakeholder engagement, and data-driven decision-making.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

Partner Engagement and Coordination

• Coordinate bilateral and collective calls with Strategic Fortification Partners (SFPs) and country teams, ensuring agendas are prepared and follow-ups are tracked.
• Support the implementation of region-driven frameworks for partnership engagement, ensuring alignment with M4N’s strategic goals.
  
  

Data and Insight Management

• Assist in compiling and organizing partnership data to inform decision-making and track progress against key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Collaborate with MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning) teams to ensure data is incorporated into partner discussions and engagement strategies.
• Maintain a centralized database of partnerships, including contributions, gaps, and milestones.

Operational Support

• Monitor and track partner activities to ensure alignment with program objectives.
• Prepare briefing notes, presentations, and reports for internal and external meetings.
• Identify and escalate challenges or delays in partnership activities to the Strategic Partnership Manager, along with potential solutions.

Strategic Alignment

• Contribute to gap analyses by identifying areas where partners could offer additional support or expertise.
• Support the Strategic Partnership Manager in broadening the scope of partnerships beyond fortification, exploring opportunities in supply chain, technology, and financial support sectors.
• Assist in the planning and execution of networking events, workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions to enhance partner collaboration and engagement.
• Support the coordination of collaborative discussions/activities with other Food Processing programs that TNS