Health and Nutrition Officer 195 views1 application

IR/INT/EXT/VN/047.21
September 16, 2021

Post Title:                 Health and Nutrition Officer

Report to:                Area Coordinator

Duty Station:           Oromia Regional State, Chiro/Meayso/Gombi Bordede

Salary:                      As per the organizations scale

Required:                One

Duration:                One year with possible extension

Introduction

Islamic Relief is an international relief and development charity founded in 1984 with its headquarters in Birmingham, UK. As well as responding to disasters and emergencies, Islamic Relief promotes sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities – regardless of race, religion or gender. The office officially started operation in Ethiopia in 2004. Islamic Relief Ethiopia (IRE) is operational in the Somali Regional State with a base office in Hargelle, Elkere, Bare, Dekasuftu, Jigjiga, Afar Regional State; Ewa & Gulina and an additional operational office in Addis Ababa. For more information please visit our website: http://www.islamic-relief.org/work-with-us

Job Summary 

The Health and Nutrition Officer  undertakes  Nutrition component of the project titled Promoting Resilient Livelihood and   will lead the nutrition section  towards quality implementation to  improve   assess of nutrition services by maternal and children, strengthening nutrition service delivery sites, re-instating/establishing Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Coordination/linkages, planning and facilitation of training workshops, coaching and mentoring, and influence and facilitate change through high level interpersonal and communication skills.

Health and Nutrition Officer will also lead the planning, implementation and coordination of food preparation demonstration by using Village Saving Loan Association (VSLA)/ Self-Help Group (SHG) Platform. He/She will monitor the VSLA /SHG to do Nutrition and Health promotion, supporting behaviour change and food preparation – demonstration using locally available food groups. It is envisioned that this will first be achieved through a hands on approach that will require outstanding skills in planning and facilitation of training workshops, coaching and mentoring, and an ability to influence and facilitate change through high level interpersonal and communication skills.

Description of Major Roles and Responsibilities

·         Participates in the projects detailed implementation plans (DIP), at the start-up and reviews, to ensure nutrition responsive project planning

·         Lead the planning, implementation and coordination key nutrition messaging for pregnant and lactating women (PLW) through VSLA/SHG Platform and to equitably reach a critical mass PLWs.

·         Expand target participants beyond PLW to include young adolescent girls by using schools as a platform.

·         Using   interactive training modules, support  the continued improvements in nutrition  in maternal, adolescent, infant, and young child nutrition with a focus on improving dietary diversity; essential care to mothers during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum; reproductive health and family planning; and prevention and care-seeking health actions

·         Lead and coordinate the capacity building supports for the staff on Nutrition components of the project.

·         Participate in the development and facilitation of training for partner and staff development on nutrition specific initiatives.

·         Support the preparation of learning materials and  IEC materials/ training modules tailored with nutrition key messages for  dietary diversity  practice and promotion

·         Counseling and sensitization activities on malnutrition prevention

·          Ensure the compilation of attendance lists and project documentation when required.

·          Support monitoring activities by providing the supervisor with data and updated information from the field.

·         Implement the agricultural inputs distribution, with a specific focus on the Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture kits,

·         Works with the relevant government structures to facilitate nutrition-related activities and monitoring in the operational areas

·         Participate in the designs of nutrition assessments, analyze results and write reports in the field office.

·         Advises and helps promote appropriate community mobilization strategies around nutrition.

·         Field visits and provision of nutritional and technical support to project beneficiaries.

·         Documents and shares lessons/results of nutrition work and strategies within  Promoting Resilient Livelihood  project in the operational Woredas

·         Leads implementation of Child care pilots to enable women to participate in income-generation and marketing activities.

·         Enhance the awareness and knowledge of traditional leaders/influential on women empowerment.

·         Support development facilitators to promote Basic nutrition education.

·         Support development facilitators to roll out nutrition messaging

·         Perform other duties assigned by the  Field supervisor or Health and Nutrition Program Coordinator

Education, Competencies and Experience Requirements

·         Bachelor’s degree in Human Nutrition, Public Health, Nursing or similar fields

·         Minimum of 4 years field level  NGO  experience in development and  humanitarian settings, including significant experience in managing CMAM, IYCF programs and other nutrition project including Nutrition Sensitive and other Nutrition Specific interventions

·         Substantial experience of community-based nutrition projects and familiarity of the area is  desirable

·         Ability to plan, implement  and organize work independently with appropriate follow through while paying close attention to detail and show initiative in completing tasks and projects in a timely manner

·         Excellent writing skills with the ability to produce project reports

·         Demonstrated ability for leadership and independent decision making

·         Strong interpersonal skills & excellent team player.

·         Fluency oral and written communications in English.  Local language (Afan Oromo) is an asset

·         Previous NGO experience in related position.

·         Nutrition  analysis, training and mainstreaming experience

·         Computer skills (Excel, Word, power point  Office Package)

·         Firm belief in teamwork, participatory approach and sustainable development.

·         Committed to work with rural poor and willing to work under pressure

·         Experience in working in a team environment and in training delivery in nutrition projects

Additional Responsibilities

·         This job description is not intended to be all inclusive and the employee will also perform other related tasks as required and communicate  progress and achievement of the specific assigned task

·         Inform the Health and Nutrition Program Coordinator of any professional problems encountered

·         Conduct all duties in a professional manner following Islamic Relief staff regulations

·         Handle multiple tasks on an on-going basis, and adapt to a shift or change in priorities, including the ability to work a flexible work schedule as needed to meet deliverable deadlines

·         Draft agendas and record minutes of staffs meetings and answer office correspondence

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunity

Islamic Relief and Islamic Relief staff considers the welfare and protection of children, young people and people at risk to be paramount to the organization. And must adhere the principle of ‘do no harm and leave no one behind.’ It is critical we do not expose communities or staff we work with to the risk of harm through our interventions.  With a zero tolerance approach Islamic Relief have a number of related policies which also describe standards in behavior expected from the organization, its staff and representatives towards each other and those we serve. Islamic Relief is committed to responding swiftly, appropriately and constructively to any and all information children, young people and people at risk have disclosed.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. We participate in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and child abuse during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment before signing the contract agreement.

Islamic Relief believes everyone has the right to be safe, respected and valued regardless of who they are or their circumstances, and an equal employment opportunity  to all candidates and qualified applicants, we do not discriminate on the base of age, sex, race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability status and diversity.