CHAI has substantial experience driving access to essential commodities and services across a range of critical areas in public health, from our early work on HIV/AIDS medications to current work that cuts across infectious diseases, non-communicable illnesses, and women’s and children’s health. CHAI’s nutrition work has focused on addressing both severe and chronic malnutrition: spearheading projects to produce and distribute fortified blended foods, distributing ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) in a range of country contexts, and working with partner states to improve the quality and accessibility of food supplements for women and children. In Ghana, CHAI provides direct technical and operational support to the Ministry of Health and its agencies in efforts to strengthen health systems and expand access to diagnostics and treatment for infectious and non-communicable diseases. Since its inception in Ghana, CHAI has worked with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) under the incumbent of MOH to implement maternal and child health interventions.

Undernutrition continues to be a leading driver of child mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), despite the availability of proven, cost-effective interventions to address undernutrition in its various forms (wasting, stunting and underweight). To date, child wasting continues to persist as a significant public health issue with an estimated 45 million globally, and 12,724 cases specifically in Ghana. To address this, Ghana implemented the Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) program and meaningful progress has been made in reducing the wasting prevalence over the period. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of sustainable funding threaten to reverse this progress.

To further probe into these threats, CHAI together with GHS recently conducted a scoping exercise to better understand the nutrition landscape, identify gaps and generate evidence to inform the development of high-impact and country-specific nutrition interventions for severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic Food (RUTF) has been proven to significantly increase rate of recovery for treating wasted children. Thus, CHAI is committed to supporting the government’s efforts to expand access to RUTF and CMAM services to save lives of children under-five with SAM and reduce disease burden in a sustainable manner.

CHAI is seeking to recruit an Analyst to support with the design and execution of key interventions on the RUTF program to accelerate access to RUTF for Malnourished Under-5s in Ghana. This Analyst must be a highly motivated individual with experience in research and the use data management tools including analysis of data to inform decision-making, the ability to work collaboratively with government, and have strong communication and organizational skills. They must be able to function independently and flexibly. The Analyst will report to the Senior Program Manager.

This position will be based in Tamale and will require extensive travel across the northern regions in Ghana.

• Support the Senior Program Manager in providing Technical Assistance to the Ministry of Health/Ghana Health Service on the review of CMAM guidelines, training manuals and protocols.
• Execute the day-to-day activities for the RUTF program with focus on the northern sector of Ghana.
• Work with Regional Health Directorates and selected facilities during program implementation.
• Coordinate nutrition program implementation in the northern regions.
• Conduct baseline assessment and mapping of CMAM sites in-country.
• Support capacity building of healthcare workers on management of acute malnutrition.
• Support government to develop e-learning modules for capacity building on management of severe acute malnutrition.
• Track and assess program deliverables in line with program outputs.
• Support grant proposal writing for future nutrition-related opportunities.
• Provide input and periodic updates to donors and partners on project activities.
• Perform other responsibilities, as assigned by the Country Director.

• Bachelor’s degree in nutrition, dietetics, public health, epidemiology, social sciences, or related fields.
• Up to 5 years’ experience working in public health supporting MOH programs.
• Fluent in English, both written and verbal.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience working and communicating with government officials and multilateral organizations.
• Experience in monitoring, evaluation, and reporting for public health projects.
• Willingess to travel.

Advantages

• Experience living or working in Ghana and within the health system.
• Demonstrated experience working in MNCH& N programs.
• Experience with project coordination.
• Knowledge in procurement and supply chain management.