Chief of Party (Anticipated USDA McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program)

Company Description

Amref Health Africa was founded in 1957 and has since grown to become the largest African-based international health development organisation; currently implementing more than 180 programs, reaching more than 40 million people across 35 African countries; and a staff complement of over 2,000. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, Amref Health Africa has offices in ten countries in Africa – Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea (Conakry), Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. An additional eleven advocacy and fundraising offices are located in Europe and North America.

Amref Health Africa is driven by its vision of ‘Lasting health change in Africa’ and its mission ‘To catalyze and drive community-led and people-centred health systems while addressing social determinants of health’. We believe that the power to transform Africa's health lies within its communities, and therefore strive to ensure that health systems are not only functional but that communities are empowered to hold these systems accountable for the delivery of quality and affordable health care.

Job Description

NOTE: Hiring is contingent upon the successful award of the Activity and USDA approval; the anticipated start date is around October 2025.

About USDA McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program: 

The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (McGovern-Dole) is a five-year initiative funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Its primary goal is to improve literacy and primary education, particularly for girls, while addressing food security and nutrition among school-aged children in low-income, food-deficit countries. Key services include:

• Providing school meals using U.S. agricultural commodities.
• Enhancing literacy and education outcomes through teacher training and education support.
• Supporting maternal, infant, and child nutrition initiatives.

The program's strategic objectives are:

1. Improved literacy and education for school-aged children.
2. Increased use of health, nutrition, and dietary practices.

McGovern-Dole emphasizes sustainability, local capacity building, and community involvement to ensure the program’s long-lasting impact after USDA funding concludes.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Deputy Regional Manager – WA Hub, The Chief of Party (COP) will lead the overall management, strategic direction, and implementation of the Food For Education, a program funded under the FY25 McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. The COP will be responsible for ensuring the project achieves its objectives of improving food security, reducing hunger, and enhancing literacy and nutrition outcomes, particularly for school-aged children and vulnerable populations. This role includes managing partnerships, stakeholder engagement, financial oversight, and compliance with donor regulations. Relocation will be supported.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Program Oversight:

• Provide overall leadership and direction to the project to achieve McGovern-Dole’s strategic objectives of improving literacy and nutrition outcomes.
• Oversee program implementation, ensuring alignment with the McGovern-Dole objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Lead the development and execution of project work plans, ensuring that activities align with strategic objectives and are on track.
• Provide thought leadership and technical expertise in the areas of food security, literacy, nutrition, and local capacity building.

Stakeholder Engagement and Representation:

• Serve as the primary point of contact with USDA/FAS, local government agencies, implementing partners, and other stakeholders.
• Strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders, including ministries of education, health, and agriculture, to ensure local ownership and sustainability.
• Represent the program in national and international forums to advocate for policy and programmatic changes.

Operations and Compliance:

• Ensure program operations comply with USDA/FAS regulations, including monitoring, evaluation, and reporting requirements.
• Oversee the management of U.S. and local commodity procurement, logistics, and distribution, ensuring alignment with food safety and nutrition standards.
• Ensure robust risk management strategies are in place to mitigate fraud, waste, and abuse of resources.

Financial Management and Resource Allocation:

• Oversee the program budget, ensur