Deadline: 21-Nov-22
Applications are now open for the second iteration of the Australia Awards Short Course on Multisectoral Approaches to Nutrition and Food Security (Sri Lanka).
Funded by the Australian Government, this short course will ultimately contribute to improved nutrition indicators and food security policy in Sri Lanka. Participants will receive broad exposure to further collaboration and development of inter-sectoral relationships for achieving a greater impact for better nutrition and food security in Sri Lanka. Upon completion of the short course, Participants will be better prepared to incorporate nutritional and food security considerations within the sector specific plans and to adapt activities to meet the country’s emerging needs.
The short course will place an emphasis on:
- Equitable economic growth for enhanced nutrition and food security outcomes
- Food security in targeted value chains
- Building institutional and human resource capacity to support national food security and nutrition objectives across; public health, water and sanitation, agriculture, education and social welfare in the post COVID-19 context
- Developing/improving food production, crop production and safety nets of smallholder farmers and vulnerable communities
- Operationalising existing multi-sectoral program frameworks (including results-based incentives and budgeting models) to accelerate improvements in health and nutrition indicators
- The development of evidence-based sector specific and nutrition sensitive solutions to address vulnerabilities in food security in geographical locations that are less developed than others
- Participatory planning and the promotion of local ownership to better understand and address key challenges in improving the food security and nutritional status of vulnerable communities
- Initiatives to improve nutrition outcomes through the inclusion of women (pregnant and nursing women, young children, and adolescent females), minorities and persons with disability, in nutrition planning
- Developing government policy frameworks and strategies (food security and nutrition) to improve harmonisation, collaboration and coordination between agencies
- Learning from Australia’s experience in the different roles of national versus local governments, and relationships with the private sector and civil society in food security through exposure to key counterpart agencies, civil society and aligned organisations
- Improving nutrition literacy in targeted and influential populations through behavioural change and awareness strategies
- Creating opportunities for the development of linkages and professional networking between Sri Lankan officials, partner organisations and aligned Australian counterparts (online through forums and networking).
Components
The course will be delivered in three components between December 2022 and May 2023.
- Preliminary activities will take place online from 12 -16 December 2022.
- Core learning elements will take place in Australia from 23 January – 10 February 2023.
- Applied learning activities will take place online from 2 – 4 May 2023.
Participant Profile
- Applications are sought from a cross-section of emerging and middle management leaders representing government, non-government, and private sector organizations in Sri Lanka. Selection will prioritise applications from practitioners associated with or working on nutrition specific or sensitive projects. This includes representation from key ministries, agencies, private sector, academia and civil society organizations with an established role in the development of sector programs.
- Gender equity will be maintained throughout the selection process.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must:
- Be a citizen of Sri Lanka and currently residing in Sri Lanka.
- Have stable internet connectivity as well as a laptop/computer to access course content for download, webinar participation and live sessions.
- Not have applied for or hold permanent residency in either Australia or New Zealand or married, engaged to, or are a de facto of a person who holds, or is eligible to hold, Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency, at any part of the application, selection or mobilisation phases.
- Satisfy all requirements of the Department of Home Affairs for the relevant Australian Visa Subclass 500 and be able to provide attested documents for processing a visa application to enter Australia for the duration of the Short Course. This includes COVID-19 vaccination requirements according to the guidelines provided by the Department of Home Affairs.
- Be able to obtain the necessary study and travel approvals from their employer for the time commitment required, as outlined below.
- Be able to commit to completing a Return-to-Work Plan (RWP) with their supervisor
- Be committed and available to participate in each of the three major elements of the Short Course outlined above.
- Meet the ‘Further eligibility criteria’ below for this Short Course and adhere to the application process detailed in this document.
- Have access to the internet and be computer literate.
- Further Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates who can demonstrate the potential to apply the knowledge and experience gained through course participation are encouraged to apply. Selected candidates will be required to complete their negotiated ‘Return to Work Plan’ which will involve the implementation of observations and learnings obtained throughout the short course.
- Female applicants, people with disability or individuals from traditionally marginalised groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
- To be eligible candidates must:
- Be currently working in a relevant area with particular experience in the development and / or implementation of nutrition-specific and/or nutrition-sensitive programming
- Have occupied their current position for at least one year with a minimum of two years of relevant work experience
- Not be retiring or being considered for transfer for at least one year from the conclusion of the short course
- Not have attended any previous Australia Awards Fellowships or Short Course
- Demonstrate a high level of English proficiency to be able to participate in this activity by providing a letter from an employer or colleague confirming English language proficiency.
- Be committed and available to participate in each of the three major components of the short course by ensuring release from usual professional duties during the course delivery phases due to its demanding subject matter.
- Women, people of diverse ethnicity, ability/disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics are all encouraged to apply.
For more information, visit https://australiaawardssrilanka.org/multisectoral-approaches-to-nutrition-and-food-security/