Jessica Tilahun
Food Security and Nutrition Advisor at Helen Keller International- Claim this Profile
Click to upgrade to our gold package
for the full feature experience.
-
Romanian -
Topline Score
Bio
Credentials
-
Registered Dietitian
Commision on Dietetic Registration
Experience
-
Helen Keller Intl
-
United States
-
Non-profit Organizations
-
500 - 600 Employee
-
Food Security and Nutrition Advisor
-
Aug 2013 - Present
I am on the Food Security and Nutrition team working on the SPRING project (Strengthening Partnerships, Results, and Innovations in Nutrition Globally). www.spring-nutrition.org I will be working to support USAID funded project to link the agriculture work under Feed the Future projects with nutrition work--improving the impact on health, nutrition, and poverty alleviation. I am on the Food Security and Nutrition team working on the SPRING project (Strengthening Partnerships, Results, and Innovations in Nutrition Globally). www.spring-nutrition.org I will be working to support USAID funded project to link the agriculture work under Feed the Future projects with nutrition work--improving the impact on health, nutrition, and poverty alleviation.
-
-
-
USAID
-
United States
-
International Affairs
-
700 & Above Employee
-
Nutrition Advisor
-
Mar 2011 - Aug 2013
Work in the Health, Infectious Disease, and Nutrition Division of the Global Health Bureau. I work on project like Universal Salt Iodization, A2Z micronutrient project, and other programs linked to nutrition. I was activity manger for the Child Blindness Project. Re-initiated the Multi-Sectoral Anemia Task force Lead the work in one of our projects on nutrition related non communicable diseases Served on the ICCIDD Global Network Board Backstopped Ethiopia, Malawi, South Sudan, Yemen, and other countries Show less
-
-
-
Management Sciences for Health
-
United States
-
Non-profit Organizations
-
700 & Above Employee
-
Nutrition Consultant
-
Jan 2010 - Mar 2011
Work carried out in Virginia and Malawi --Provide ongoing technical assistance (on-site and from a distance) to the team in Malawi implementing GMP scale-up --Review tools developed for GMP for efficacy --Support development of an appropriate M&E system for GMP, including indicators and defined data collection processes --Participate in a review of activity in-country Work carried out in Virginia and Malawi --Provide ongoing technical assistance (on-site and from a distance) to the team in Malawi implementing GMP scale-up --Review tools developed for GMP for efficacy --Support development of an appropriate M&E system for GMP, including indicators and defined data collection processes --Participate in a review of activity in-country
-
-
-
-
Research Associate
-
Apr 2010 - Feb 2011
Worked on the Food Aid Quality Review with Tufts University. Researched micro and macronutrient needs of infants, young children, and pregnant and lactating women and how to translate that into appropriate food aid. Worked on the Food Aid Quality Review with Tufts University. Researched micro and macronutrient needs of infants, young children, and pregnant and lactating women and how to translate that into appropriate food aid.
-
-
-
Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
-
Switzerland
-
International Trade and Development
-
300 - 400 Employee
-
Nutrition Consultant
-
Mar 2009 - May 2009
Work carried out in Nepal --Assisted in development of Operational Framework for nutrition leading to the implementation of a more comprehensive Child Survival Strategy --Costed Operational Framework for nutrition using various tools including MBB leading to a budget that can easily be absorbed into the current budget of the MoH Work carried out in Nepal --Assisted in development of Operational Framework for nutrition leading to the implementation of a more comprehensive Child Survival Strategy --Costed Operational Framework for nutrition using various tools including MBB leading to a budget that can easily be absorbed into the current budget of the MoH
-
-
-
-
Nutrition Consultant
-
Aug 2008 - Apr 2009
Work carried out in Nepal -Researched cost, logistics, and efficacy of various commodities to improve micronutrient status of Nepali beneficiaries so as to improve the impact of the WFP food basket on the targeted population --Created monitoring and evaluation plan for new food package to assess this brand new course of action for WFP and tell us about future prospects world wide for this type of food basket --Produced BCC program for fathers as they pick up the food package to encourage WFP to work with male caretakers and improve family knowledge of caring practices Show less
-
-
-
The World Bank
-
United States
-
International Trade and Development
-
700 & Above Employee
-
Nutrition Consultant
-
Apr 2007 - Aug 2008
Work carried out in Ethiopia and Washington DC -Research and analysis for a publication on Ethiopia nutrition situation and nutrition and education linkages which was the precursor for the creation of the new National Nutrition Plan --Chosen to represent authors and present Economic Sector Work at launching of the National Nutrition Strategy leading to greater interest and understanding in the cross-cutting nature of nutrition --Worked with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO, WFP, WB, and other partners to create a National Nutrition Program --Represented WB interests in meetings with Ministries of Health, Education, and Agriculture ensuring the WBs mission to push forward the National Nutrition Plan would be clear to all partners Show less
-
-
-
Micronutrient Initative
-
Canada
-
Non-profit Organization Management
-
1 - 100 Employee
-
Nutrition Consultant
-
Jun 2007 - Apr 2008
Work carried out in Ethiopia --Designed the MI Ethiopia strategic five year plan for micro-nutrients integrating all planning with the new National Nutrition Program resulting in a cohesive strategy to combat undernutrition in Ethiopia and propel progress forward toward the MDGs --Worked with the State Minister of Health to launch the Lancet’s Series on nutrition and the National Nutrition Strategy garnering interest in the new National Nutrition Plan helping us to raise money and persuade other ministries of the importance of their cooperation Show less
-
-
-
GOAL Global
-
Ireland
-
Non-profit Organizations
-
700 & Above Employee
-
Nutrition Coordinator of Surveys and Rapid Assessments
-
Sep 2006 - Apr 2007
--Assisted in implementation of CTC programs providing emergency nutrition to over 300 children in rural Ethiopia --Worked to empower my Ethiopian assistant, teaching her correct principles and skills to manage and carryon work when I left --Monitored implementation of CTC by sub-grantees and reported back to USAID assuring rapid access to funds during emergencies while maintaining appropriate protocols for USAID --Managed rapid assessments and KAP and coverage surveys with responsibility of design, hiring and training teams, logistics, analysis and report generation resulting in up to the minute information for the local, regional and federal governments on the status in rural areas --Worked in South Sudan to complete surveys of returning refugees resulting in better information for UNHCR to enhance their provisions and preparations for the influx of Sudanese returnees Show less
-
-
-
Tufts University
-
United States
-
Higher Education
-
700 & Above Employee
-
Teachers Assistant
-
Sep 2004 - May 2006
Graduate level Introductory Nutrition, Fall semesters 2004 & 2005 *Served as communication conduit between students and professor *Taught lectures in the class as well as a weekly recitation session *Graded papers and helped design tests *Audio-visual support International Nutrition Programs Spring semester 2006 *Assisted in lectures and grading of projects *Served as a source for outside class assistance *Audio-visual support Graduate level Introductory Nutrition, Fall semesters 2004 & 2005 *Served as communication conduit between students and professor *Taught lectures in the class as well as a weekly recitation session *Graded papers and helped design tests *Audio-visual support International Nutrition Programs Spring semester 2006 *Assisted in lectures and grading of projects *Served as a source for outside class assistance *Audio-visual support
-
-
-
-
Survey Specialist
-
May 2005 - Jul 2005
Completed an evaluation of the UNICEF overlay project, DULAR, in the Indian ICDS system resulting in the creation of a large data base to be used for years after and recommendations leading to scale up of the project Member of UNICEF team responsible for analysis and report writing on means of addressing malnutrition among children in north India resulting in a greater understanding in the progress of the poorest states as well as an innovative way to analyze health and nutrition data Completed an evaluation of the UNICEF overlay project, DULAR, in the Indian ICDS system resulting in the creation of a large data base to be used for years after and recommendations leading to scale up of the project Member of UNICEF team responsible for analysis and report writing on means of addressing malnutrition among children in north India resulting in a greater understanding in the progress of the poorest states as well as an innovative way to analyze health and nutrition data
-
-
-
Peace Corps
-
United States
-
International Affairs
-
700 & Above Employee
-
Health Worker
-
Jun 2002 - Aug 2004
Served my 2 years in the Republic of Moldova, city of Orhei Worked as Gender and Development Coordinator-2003-2004-organized and oversaw seven countrywide projects for endangered and at-risk youth preparing these youth to return to their homes and teach others Taught pre-natal courses in the Women's Clinic at Orhei Regional Hospital and worked to acquire funding for improvements in care and educational resources Taught HIV/Aids and health education to grades k-12 and college students resulting in over 500 students in 2 years Show less
-
-
-
-
Principal Dietitian
-
Nov 2000 - May 2002
Supervised high-risk pregnancies and children liaising with their care takers resulting in an appropriate continuum of care for at-risk marginalized clients Worked to assure low-income families were accessing appropriate care and pregnant and breast feeding women and infants and children were healthy and growing appropriately Taught and counseled English and Spanish speaking clients on appropriate health and nutrition behaviors Developed monitoring system to track progress towards clinic goals resulting in an improved reporting routine Show less
-
-
-
-
Finance and Guest Relations Manager
-
May 1994 - Sep 1999
Worked at this summers only job 80 hours per week to pay my way through college Began as a cashier and was promoted to Supervisor in 2 years then Manager in 6 years Managed daily cash flow needs and customer complaints and issues Managed a team of 4 at age 18 progressed to 35 employees by age 20 Worked at this summers only job 80 hours per week to pay my way through college Began as a cashier and was promoted to Supervisor in 2 years then Manager in 6 years Managed daily cash flow needs and customer complaints and issues Managed a team of 4 at age 18 progressed to 35 employees by age 20
-
-
Education
-
2004 - 2006
Tufts University
MS, Food Policy and Applied Nutrition -
2004 - 2006
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Certificate, Humanitarian Studies Initiative -
1996 - 2000
Utah State University
BS, Nutrition Science
Community
