Innovation lead based in Bangladesh

Project: Intervention Implementation Strategy - Strengthen SBC Approach for Bangladesh Nutrition Activity
Duration: 5 Months with the possibility of extension. 
Time commitment: 100%

The ten-year program (October 2018 to September 2028) applies a combination of market system development and social behavior change (SBC) approaches that empower market and community actors to address underlying causes of malnutrition in Bangladesh and catalyze sustainable change in communities. To support this goal, the activity’s partner Quicksand - a specialised Human Centered Design (HCD) firm from India has developed two intervention opportunities centered around the result area 1 of the Activity (consumption of nutritious, diverse, and safe diets by rural households) that are now proposed to advance to the next phase of small-scale pilot testing.

The two interventions to be piloted are:
1. Homestead Support Toolkit: A system to provide knowledge, tools and support on homestead practices such as using the right seeds and fertilizers, expert consultations, and improving access to quality agri-inputs. Build on existing homestead infrastructure to provide knowledge, tools, and support for homestead practices. This also includes exploring the potential of rural entrepreneurs as service intermediaries.

• Support Quicksand in initial research, co-design with users and stakeholders, and service design for the Homestead Support Toolkit and Procurement Platform interventions
  

• Work with the Quicksand team in identifying local partners needed to build and implement the solution, and ensure that operational procedures are developed in line with contextual realities and constraints 
  

• Lead conversations & research enquiries  with stakeholders, including community members, rural entrepreneurs, vendors, and end-users to help understand the challenges and work with Quicksand to translate those into potential design solutions 
  

• Drive the pilot phase, setting timelines, KPIs, and reporting mechanisms to measure success and adapt as necessary.
  

• Develop market linkages for last-mile vendors, mobile vendors, and households to improve access to diverse and nutritious food.
  

• Oversee the capacity-building of rural entrepreneurs in delivering homestead support services.
  

• Monitor the performance of interventions and provide data-driven insights to improve processes and outcomes.
  

• Foster partnerships with local government bodies, NGOs, and private sector actors to support the scaling of these interventions.
  

• Document the pilot’s learnings and provide recommendations for scaling and future initiatives.
  

• The applicant should have the ability to travel to remote locations within Bangladesh for extended periods of time to oversee design and implementation of interventions
  

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Innovation, Design, Business Administration, or a related field. Experience with Human Centered Design is highly valued. 
  

• 10+ years of experience as project lead  in program design & innovation, project management, participatory research & co-design  .
  

• 5+ years of experience in social impact and development sector projects
  

• Experience of innovation projects involving digital product development, communication strategies, new business model design are preferred
  

• Strong understanding of human centered design and other innovation methods and processed with clear applied experience
  

• Proven track record in designing and implementing pilot projects, preferably in rural settings.
  

• Experience working on agricultural or food security projects is highly desirable.
  

• Strong understanding of market systems, rural livelihoods, and entrepreneurship development.
  

• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
  

• Having access to a network of creative professionals from fields of visual, interaction/digital and communication design
  

• Ability to navigate complex rural ecosystems and work collaboratively with diverse teams.
  

• Strong analytical skills, with experience in monitoring and evaluating pilot interventions.
  

• Entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to experiment, iterate through quick prototypes and proof of concepts
  

• Proficiency in English and Bangla
  

A compensation package commensurate with your skills and experience will be designed for you.