bal-raksha
ROLE PURPOSE Project Name – SWAGAT - A FIRST 1000 DAYS Location-Kandhmal, Odisha Donor- DBS Bank India Ltd.(DBIL) Bal Raksha Bharat in collaboration with DBS bank will implement a programme for The1,000 days between pregnancy and a child's 2nd birthday are the most critical time for a positive impact on a child's cognitive and physical development. The health and well-being of a pregnant and lactating woman are directly connected to the growth and health of her infant. The right nutrition for the mother and for the child during this time can have a profound impact on the child's growth and development and reduce disease risk, as well as protect the mother's health. Undernutrition during pregnancy, affecting foetal growth, is a major determinant of stunting and can lead to consequences such as obesity and nutrition-related non-communicable diseases in adulthood. Focusing multi-sectoral nutrition efforts on evidence-informed interventions targeting this critical window can have lasting implications across the lifecycle. The combination of good health and reduced disease risk for both mothers and their children can also have a powerful, lasting effect on a country's prosperity. While the primary objective of the First 1,000 Days approach to nutrition is to reduce child malnutrition rates, particularly chronic undernutrition in the form of stunting, interventions are facilitated through mothers in terms of promoting healthy behaviors such as exclusive breast-feeding and attention to her nutritional status during pregnancy and lactation. Though these interventions were facilitated through women, women’s health indicators are rarely tracked and measured, which represents a missed opportunity to strengthen the evidence base for associations between maternal nutrition and women’s health outcomes. Bal Raksha Bharat will work in collaboration with the National Health Mission, Health Directorate, and ICDS department for project implementation involving Health Care Workers (HCWs), Front Line Workers (FLWs), caregivers, the community, and Children.All the activities will be undertaken in consultation with District and Taluk health officials to ensure the quality and participation of all Government Medical personnel in the process Key Responsibilities 1. Program Planning and Implementation Lead planning, implementation, and monitoring of maternal and child health programs. Develop annual work plans, implementation schedules, and budgets. Ensure timely execution of project activities aligned with project objectives. Integrate maternal nutrition, antenatal care, safe delivery, postnatal care, breastfeeding, complementary feeding, immunization, and early childhood development interventions. Ensure interventions are evidence-based and aligned with national health guidelines. 2. Technical Leadership Provide technical guidance on maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH). Support capacity building of healthcare providers, frontline workers, and community volunteers. Ensure quality implementation of clinical and community-based interventions. Develop technical tools, SOPs, and implementation guidelines. 3. Stakeholder Coordination Coordinate with government health departments and district health authorities. Build partnerships with NGOs, civil society organizations, hospitals, and community groups. Represent the project in technical working groups and coordination meetings. Foster collaboration with nutrition, WASH, and social protection programs. 4. Team Management Lead multidisciplinary project teams. Supervise project managers, coordinators, field officers, and consultants. Conduct performance reviews and provide mentoring. Promote a collaborative and high-performance work environment. 5. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Develop and monitor project indicators and performance targets. Review routine program data and identify implementation gaps. Support baseline, midline, and end-line assessments. Prepare donor reports, progress reports, and technical documentation. Use data for continuous quality improvement. 6. Financial and Grant Management Monitor project budgets and expenditures. Ensure efficient utilization of project resources. Coordinate procurement of project materials and equipment. Ensure compliance with donor and organizational financial policies. 7. Quality Assurance Conduct supportive supervision and field monitoring visits. Ensure adherence to clinical standards and project protocols. Identify risks and develop mitigation strategies. Support quality improvement initiatives across project sites. 8. Advocacy and Community Engagement Lead community awareness campaigns on maternal and child health. Promote birth preparedness, institutional deliveries, exclusive breastfeeding, maternal nutrition, family planning, and early child development. Engage local leaders and community-based organizations to improve program ownership. 9. Documentation and Knowledge Management Document best practices, success stories, and lessons learned. Prepare presentations, policy briefs, and technical reports. Facilitate dissemination of project findings. Experience Technical Knowledge Maternal and newborn health First 1,000 Days approach Antenatal and postnatal care Maternal nutrition Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Breastfeeding promotion Growth monitoring Early childhood development Immunization Family planning Health systems strengthening Quality improvement methodologies Monitoring and evaluation Data analysis and interpretation Risk management
Strong project management Strategic planning Leadership and team management Stakeholder engagement Budget management Report writing Training and facilitation Data-driven decision making Problem solving Communication and presentation skills Negotiation and partnership development Stakeholder satisfaction and partnership effectiveness. This job description is suitable for leadership roles in government, NGOs, development agencies, and donor-funded maternal and child health programs. It can also be tailored for organizations working specifically on the First 1,000 Days agenda, with added emphasis on multisectoral coordination across health, nutrition, social protection, and early childhood development KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY • Be proactive • Set clear expectations • Accept criticism • Communicate effectively • Willingness to learn Sincerity BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice ) • Positive Attitude and high energy. • Maturity and emotional balance. • • Tact and sensitivity to the needs of others. • Adaptable, flexible, proactive and innovative. • High level of professionalism in conduct. • Ability to work long hours under pressure and respect tight deadlines. • Willingness to abide by BRB’s Code of Conduct and Child Safeguarding Policy
Master's degree in Social science / Public Health (MPH), Community Medicine, Nursing, Maternal and Child Health, Epidemiology, Health Management, or a related field. Work in same field is required EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS 7–10 years of experience in public health programs. At least 3–5 years in maternal, newborn, and child health programs. Experience managing donor-funded projects (e.g., USAID, UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, or similar) is preferred. Experience working with government health systems and district health administration. Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams. KEY COMPETENCIES Knowledge of national maternal and child health policies and guidelines. Experience implementing community-based maternal health programs. Familiarity with digital health tools and health management information systems (HMIS). Experience with quality improvement frameworks and implementation research. Strong analytical and decision-making skills. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Timely implementation of planned activities. Percentage of pregnant women receiving four or more antenatal care visits. Institutional delivery rate. Early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding rates. Maternal anemia reduction. Coverage of maternal nutrition interventions. Timely postnatal care coverage. Child growth monitoring coverage. Achievement of project milestones within budget. Quality and timeliness of donor reporting. Additional job responsibilities The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience. Equal Opportunities Bal Raksha Bharat aims to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applications irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief or creed. Women candidates are encouraged to apply. Child Safeguarding We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse. Safeguarding our Staff The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the BRB’s anti-harassment policy. About Bal Raksha Bharat Bal Raksha Bharat (also known as Save the Children) is India's leading independent child rights organisation. It is a member of Save the Children movement that operates globally with the mission to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and achieve immediate and lasting changes in their lives. We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030: · No child dies from preventable causes before their fifth birthday · All children learn from a quality basic education and · Violence against children is no longer tolerated We run programmes in the remotest corners of India and urban areas in the areas of Health & Nutrition, Education, Child Protection and Livelihood & Economic Wellbeing in order to facilitate quality education, healthcare and protection from harm and abuse and life-saving aid during emergencies to children.