Senior Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) and Nutrition Advisor - Tajikistan (USAID/LEAP)

Who We Are

ZemiTek, LLC is a Woman-Owned, SBA-certified 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) based in the Washington, DC metro area. We have a strong record delivering innovative and high-quality solutions. Since 2007, ZemiTek has provided technical assistance, project management, information technology (IT), knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation, training and learning development, and institutional support services.

Position Description

The Senior Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) and Nutrition Advisor will support the implementation of life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA), in alignment with U.S. Government global health priorities, including the goals of the U.S. Government Global Nutrition Coordination Plan and MNCH strategy. The Advisor will provide high-level technical guidance and coordination support to national and subnational governments, especially the Ministry of Health, to scale up evidence-based MNCH and nutrition interventions aimed at improving health outcomes among women, newborns, and children.

 

The Advisor will play a central role in identifying gaps in service delivery, strengthening institutional capacity, and promoting data-driven decision-making in MNCH and nutrition programming. The Advisor will coordinate across sectors such as health, education, social protection, and agriculture where relevant and work closely with donors, implementing partners, and community-level stakeholders to ensure alignment and maximize impact. The Advisor will also ensure the integration of MNCH and Nutrition programming into wider USG TB, HIV/AIDS and GHS portfolios. The Advisor will be embedded within the Ministry of Health or designated government counterpart institution and will report to the U.S. Embassy on a weekly and monthly basis.

 

Work schedule: Full-time

Location:Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership and Support:

• Provide technical guidance to the Ministry of Health and relevant ministries on the effective delivery of MNCH and nutrition services, including antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, postnatal care, essential newborn care, integrated management of childhood diseases (IMCI) infant and young child feeding (IYCF), prevention and management of wasting and stunting, and micronutrient supplementation.
• Support the design, implementation, and monitoring of high-impact interventions targeting maternal and child health outcomes and nutritional status, including integration with immunization, WASH, and community health platforms as well as wider USG TB, HIV and GHS portfolios.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of national MNCH and nutrition strategies, policies, guidelines, and operational plans.
• Strengthen routine data systems to collect, analyze, and use timely data for program planning and performance improvement, including Health Management Information Systems (HMIS), Nutrition Information Systems (NIS), and community-based platforms.

 

Program Implementation and Systems Strengthening:

• Assist with the rollout and monitoring of the National Multisectoral Nutrition Action Plan and MNCH-related Strategic and Action Plans.
• Support facility- and community-level service delivery improvements through training, supervision, and mentorship of health workers.
• Help strengthen referral systems and continuity of care for mothers and children, especially in rural and underserved areas.
• Ensure integration with USG health technical areas as are GHS, HV/AIDS and TB portfolios.
• Facilitate multisectoral coordination between ministries (Health, Education, Social Protection, Agriculture) and donors to enhance the impact of MNCH and nutrition services.
• Identify systemic bottlenecks in MNCH and nutrition service delivery and work with stakeholders to design and implement context-appropriate solutions.

 

Grants, Donor Coordination, and Reporting:

• Provide technical support in the development of funding proposals and concept notes related to MNCH and nutrition for mechanisms such as the Global Financing Facility (GFF), World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) or UNICEF grants.
• Review and analyze program performance reports submitted to USG and other donors and provide inputs for strategic planning and program adjustments.
• Participate in donor coordination platforms such as Scaling Up Nutrition Movement and MNCH Advisory Counsil to ensure alignment of efforts and avoid duplication of services.
• Support the U.S. Embassy with technical briefings, activity reports, contributions to the annual Operational Plans, and the Performance Plan and Report (PPR).

 

Capacity Building and Best Practices Dissemination:

• Organize and facilitate training workshops, mentorship sessions,