Job
Description
PCI India, a registered Indian society, has been working in India for the past 25 years. We drive interventions to transform the lives of communities at scale by solving complex development problems. In the past year, PCI India reached more than 1.5 crore, i.e. 15 million people in 1649 Blocks of 163 Districts in 14 States Maternal undernutrition and iron-deficiency anaemia contribute to 20% of maternal deaths globally and significantly increase risks of perinatal mortality, especially among pregnant women and adolescents. In India, where around 30 million pregnancies occur annually, a large proportion of women enter pregnancy malnourished 18% are underweight (BMI 18.5), 24% are overweight or obese, 52% are anemic, and 7% begin pregnancy as adolescents (NFHS-5, 2019). As per NFHS-5, anemia prevalence in Gujarat exceeds 62%, while 25% of women aged 15-49 years have a low Body Mass Index (BMI). At the same time, 77% of women had four antenatal care visits, and 79% registered in the first trimester. These maternal health issues result in poor birth outcomes, such as low birth weight, preterm birth, and increased risk of complications like dystocia, hemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, and gestational diabetes. These maternal health issues result in poor birth outcomes, such as low birth weight, preterm birth, and increased risk of complications like dystocia, haemorrhage, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes. To address these issues, the Government of India is implementing Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) and Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA). AMB focuses on six key strategies including IFA supplementation, testing and treatment, BCI, and improved supply chain and monitoring, while PMSMA ensures quality antenatal care and identification of high-risk pregnancies. Anemia among adolescents is also catered to the comprehensive AMB strategy with supplementation, testing and follow up. NI, in collaboration with Goal, plays a critical role in strengthening maternal nutrition services to address persistent gaps and sustain progress. This project aims to strengthen the implementation of maternal and adolescent nutrition interventions focusing on improved ANC/PNC service quality, consistent availability of IFA and calcium, anemia testing among adolescents, and community engagement using behavior change tools. Nutrition International, in collaboration with PCI and government stakeholders, will support program planning, capacity building, supply chain management, and advocacy to enhance maternal nutrition outcomes. The goal is to scale up proven strategies, ensure system readiness, and increase uptake of essential nutrition services for adolescents, pregnant and lactating women. This project is a collaborative effort, with NI overseeing technical and financial aspects and PCI executing implementation activities. Postgraduate in Nutrition/Rural Management/Social Science/Social Work, Public Health or any related field More than 6 years of experience working at the district in the development sector with leading civil society organizations, particularly on Nutrition projects. Strong understanding of the nutrition technical domain (maternal and adolescent nutrition) Good Communication skills in English and Hindi with a good understanding of MS Office. Skills and Competencies Experience working in teams and with diverse stakeholders Strong skills in documentation and preparing power point presentations. Understanding of the functioning of ICDS, Health, SHGs, PRI and field level functionaries, etc. Understanding of the health and nutrition situation and challenges of the region Well-versed with developing project management plans and implementation strategies Willingness to travel to inter and intra Districts monthly About the Role Under the guidance of the PCI and NI state teams the Project Coordinator will work closely with government officials and will be responsible for coordinating the project activities in the intervention districts in line with the workplans to ensure that all targets are achieved. S/he will be the focal point of contact for the State Program Representative at NI and will actively engage with the project stakeholders and solicit their support in implementing identified project activities. The position will supervise and support the Divisional Coordinators for the timely accomplishment of the project deliverables. The PC will be responsible for coordinating project activities across Adolescent and Health and Nutrition (AHN) and Maternal Nutrition (MN) domains in the intervention districts. Responsibilities: Provide technical support to strengthen procurement and supply chain systems for IFA blue tablets and digital hemoglobinometers by supporting demand forecasting, indenting, stock monitoring, and redistribution across districts. Support Divisional Coordinators (DCs) in promoting Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFAS) through schools and Anganwadi platforms, ensuring regular and quality coverage. Facilitate the effective implementation of Adolescent Health and Wellness Days (AHWDs) in RKSK districts by supporting DCs with planning, coordination, and execution of activities. Guide the field team in conducting introductory meetings with district stakeholders (Health, ICDS, Education) to establish rapport and introduce project objectives. Assist in planning and facilitating ICDS-led nutrition interventions under PURNA and SAG schemes, with a focus on reaching out-of-school adolescent girls with WIFAS. Review DC participation in district convergence forums and provide feedback to ensure nutrition priorities are well represented. Provide technical guidance to identify and establish Nutri Smart Schools (NSS) in select districts to promote improved dietary practices. Ensure DCs identify underperforming areas using HMIS/AMB dashboards, provide on-site mentoring for WIFAS/AHWDs, and implement mechanisms for feedback and improvement. Support the design of systems for DCs to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of teachers, frontline workers (AWW, ASHA, FHW), and identify key barriers around WIFAS and dietary diversity. Ensure technical support during key adolescent-focused events (e.g., POSHAN Maah, Menstrual Hygiene Day) and other national campaigns. Build the capacity of supervisors to mentor frontline workers in delivering quality adolescent nutrition services during facility and community-level visits. Provide guidance to DCs for developing and implementing community engagement strategies that involve family members (husbands, mothers-in-law) in promoting care for pregnant and lactating women. Support annual planning and forecasting of IFA red and calcium supplements for PW and LW, in coordination with the health system. Facilitate regular stock assessments during field visits and guide adaptive distribution mechanisms to prevent stockouts. Assist in rolling out the ANIKA chatbot among FLWs in target districts and review utilization patterns regularly. Ensure DCs conduct on-the-job capacity-building for ANMs, ASHAs, AWWs, and facility staff on ANC/PNC protocols, emphasizing maternal nutrition. Oversee DCs supportive supervision visits to CHCs/SDHs/DHs (especially during PMSMA) and VHNDs to assess service quality and provide mentoring. Support the development of district-level strategies to leverage community platforms like SHGs, VHSNCs, and PRIs to promote maternal nutrition messages and practices. Cross-Cutting and Programmatic Responsibilities: Support DCs in planning and conducting district-level orientation workshops to introduce the program, share research insights, and enhance stakeholder ownership. Build the capacity of district/PHC-level pharmacists in accurate supplement stock calculations and monitor the effectiveness of such training. Work closely with the NI and PCI state teams to ensure timely and high-quality project reporting, monitoring, and supervision. Mentor DCs on HMIS, ANIKA analytics, and VHND reports for local planning, data-driven decision-making, and timely corrective actions. Assist with data management and the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual reports for internal and external stakeholders. Undertake regular field visits to provide supportive supervision and mentoring to DCs and field teams. Document and share best practices, monthly field visit reports, and significant activity updates with the State office on a quarterly basis. Provide support to DCs on any emerging district/regional/state-level priorities as required. Facilitate the development of community engagement models by leveraging platforms like SHGs, VHSNCs, PRIs, NSS, and NYK to generate awareness and action on adolescent and maternal nutrition. Promote behavior change communication (BCI) efforts that increase family and community support for improved nutrition outcomes, especially by involving key influencers like husbands and mothers-in-law. Lead advocacy efforts with district officials to introduce the project, secure buy-in, and align it with district priorities. Support DCs in rapport building at district and block levels through regular updates and collaborative planning. Monitor PIP implementation progress, coordinate with the NI state team for course corrections, and track timelines. Plan and coordinate capacity-building efforts for service providers and FLWs in collaboration with PCI, NI, and district officials. Contribute to the development of frameworks for strengthening service delivery platforms in consultation with technical partners. Lead documentation of field learnings, success stories, and support dissemination through internal and external channels. Carry out additional duties assigned by supervisors (SPO/TL) and contribute to overall program strengthening in the assigned district (Bhavnagar). PCI is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct.
