District Officer

**Working Title: District Officer**

**Internal Titel**:IN Program Officer I**

**Location: Guwahati
- Assam**

**Districts**:In High burden Districts of Assam**

**Project Name: Addressing the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia through Rice Fortification**

PATH is a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity. With more than 40 years of experience forging multisector partnerships, and with expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales up innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing health challenges.

**About the program**:
PATH is a global leader in rice fortification for two decades, working on technology advancement, evidence building and implementation in multiple countries across the globe. Rice fortification is a proven, preventive, and complementary solution that is cost-effective, scalable, and a sustainable global intervention to address the issue of iron deficiency. The successful scaling up of rice fortification in India today requires improved fortification quality, government mechanisms, trained personnel and data on micronutrient deficiencies and program coverage. The project will involve multi-sectoral engagement to provide technical assistance to the State in the production and distribution of fortified rice, ensuring quality at every level, thereby demonstrating a cost-effective and sustainable model at district level for scale up.

According to National Health Family Survey-5 (NHFS-5), Anaemia in Assam has high statistics among all sections of the population. Moreover, the overall nutritional status of the children with Anaemia has also fallen considerably. This project will support the State in piloting centrally sponsored rice scheme in Assam
- using fortified rice thereby reducing Anaemia in the target population. PATH has undertaken a strategic approach in ensuring that the government guidelines are implemented, all the food-based safety net programs are supported. PATH has developed a results framework to monitor and track project progress and provide a structure for impact evaluation. Results will be measured using a mixed method which details objectives, outcomes, outputs, activities, and assumptions.

**Scope of Work**:
He or She will work closely with the National and State Level team in providing, technical assistance to the National Team and state lead in effectively implementing the project activities, which are:

- Enhance the capacity of the state officials for supply chain alignment at both the state and district level.
- Undertake training at the districts covered in the project.
- Conduct Social and Behavior Change awareness campaigns.
- Work with the district officials for roll out and monitoring etc.

**Role & Responsibilities**:

- Conduct implementation activities of the project at the district level in Assam state.
- Engage with key stakeholders in government departments including the State and District level ICDS, MDM, PDS Officials, and community groups for project-related activities.
- Work closely with Assam State FDA and support the State Lead on setting up testing labs, QA, and QC protocols for fortified rice, improving supply chain efficiency of fortified rice distribution, supporting food safety laboratories supported them with Technical Assistance, FSO training.
- Work towards attaining all the aims, outcomes, and outputs of the project and work closely in the implementation of the project for the overall aim of the project: Reduction in prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anemia in target geographies and work at the district level on Enhancing the capacity of the state officials for supply chain alignment at both the state and district level, undertaking training at the districts covered in the project, conducting social and behavior change awareness campaigns.
- And work with the district officials for roll out and monitoring etc.
- Represent the project in any key district-level fortification-related meetings and training and support the State lead in technical and managerial aspects of the project deliverables.
- Work closely with the AIIMS Delhi and AIIMS Guwahati teams to implement and technically support the Impact evaluation study being planned under the project.
- Report on field-level activities and achievement on a periodic basis as and when required.
- Conduct monitoring visits to validate government data for the project and report submission to donor.
- Facilitate Consultation, Training, and supervisory visits from the donor, national team, and state leads.
- Identify and work closely with FDA and Rice millers of Assam to support set-up of Fortified Rice Kernel units and facilitate training for the same.

**As the Point person you will be responsible for the following**:

- Report to State Lead (Assam) on the progress against the targets as per agreed timelines
- Submit reports and participate in national/state level reviews periodically as per project requirement.