Assistant Nutrition Officer – Baidoa 9 views

Job details

Description

General Position Summary

The Assistant Nutrition Officer is a member of SDRFP Program – Somalia Drought Response and Famine Prevention Program, funded by BHA, working under the supervision of the Program Team Lead. S/he will be responsible for supporting the delivery of high-quality nutrition interventions (including nutrition education to mothers, appropriate infant and young child feeding practices and to improve their overall nutritional status) across multiple grants; engaging actively with the Health and Nutrition Cluster, local governments, and all other health and nutrition actors; and contributing to the development of strategies/plans for program interventions focusing on patient admission for SAM, training Community Health Workers (CHWs) on prevention of malnutrition messages – including key infant and young child feeding messages, preparing and printing hygiene and nutrition IEC materials, and undertake FM Radio integrated SBC messaging on hygiene and nutrition. The position includes assisting to the development of tools for planning, assessment and intervention monitoring; assisting the field program team members in building community participation into project design and implementation; assisting design of high-quality interventions and their implementation designing training modules and delivering trainings for Mercy Corps’ staff and participating the designing and supervising of baseline and end line surveys.

Essential Job Functions

• Assist in the process of regular and consistent technical assistance during implementation – health workers and CHWs at health facilities and outreaches.
• Provide regular feedback on nutrition activities of the program.
• Assist in preparation of program reports.
• Assist in the development and implementation of program work plan.
• Help with activity verification and monitoring activities (referrals and program quality) at supported communities to ensure smooth, high-quality program implementation.
• Assist the preparation of coordination meetings, advocacy meetings and awareness raising sessions at the community level, together with Community Health Workers (CHWs).
• Assist in the collection and compiling process of project data regularly, including case studies, success stories and photographs.
• Assist in ensuring program targets are met using indicator/activity tracking table.
• Assist the program quality data processes through proper entry, cleaning and regular checking and use the data for action on the site.
• Assist the process of the community-based activities such as EPI, nutrition screening, health education and defaulter tracing are done properly.
• Actively participate in the identification and management of any disaster or epidemics.
• Participate the capacity building processes of the Community Health Workers (CHWs) through proper coaching and training.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically
  to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility: NONE

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Program Team Lead

Works Directly with: SPO, ERMS & FS, Reporting & Program Support Officer, Program Manager, Sector Leaders, MEL Unit, Program Operations, Finance.

Knowledge and Experience

• Diploma or equivalent in nutrition, nursing, public health or related fields. Registered nurse preferred.
• At least 6 months in a relief and/or community-based settings with nutrition interventions; from starting up activities to working in emergency and transitional contexts.
• Additional benefits – experience in complex and complicated settings with time sensitive deliverables in unstable environments.
• Demonstrated ability to participate and communicate effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
• It is an additional benefit, to have knowledge of participatory approaches and community sensitization and mobilization.
• Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders including host governments, and national and international NGOs, when she/he appointed by the program.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required.

Success Factors

1. Commitment to local capacity building and the ability to engage local stakeholders in project design and implementation.
2. Ability to work simultaneously on multiple tasks and keeps to deadlines.
3. Knowledge and understanding of the Somali people’s culture and political set up.
4. Strong team player and effective communicator.
5. Willing to interact effectively with international and national personnel and other partners.

Organizational Learning 

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.