Health and Nutrition Manager at Action Against Hunger | ACF-International

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Starting date: As Soon as Possible
Direct Line Manager: Emergency Coordinator

Tasks & Responsibilities
Objective 1 - General Management of the Emergency Health and  nutrition activities in Borno State:

• Ensure strong linkages with State, LGA authorities and RRM partners in planning, and decision making in all that concerns nutritional activities (training, assessments, rehabilitation, etc.) in collaboration with the Nut Co.
• Apply IMNCI, MNCH and Primary Health care guideline and tools for training, implementation and in support of M and E.
• Ensure the joint support supervision with LGA Nutrition Focal Persons (NFPs) of CMAM integration activities in the area of intervention. The program includes therapeutic units within the hospitals and OTPs integrated health facilities.
• Provide joint formal training session (with NFPs/SNO) to response team on the management of acute malnutrition whenever necessary.
• Jointly identify needs and plan the provision of equipment, nutrition consumables and drugs as necessary for running of nutrition and health activities in areas with emergency needs.
• To supervise the response team in strengthening and ensuring communication and coordination between the OTP, the SC, and community mobilization in the frame of a CMAM approach.
• Work closely with the Nutrition/Health Officer, nutrition Assistants and identified community focal persons at LGA level in ensuring community mobilization activities. Select and train community volunteers appropriately in the detection and referral of malnutrition in the area of intervention.
• Ensure that communication materials (such as posters, banners, pamphlets, radio messaging, etc.) are used to support activities implementation.
• Contribute to the implementation strategy for community IYCF/Infant feeding in Emergency (IFE) activities jointly with Action Against Hunger team and key nutrition stakeholders in a determined area of emergency response.
• Ensure harmonization of IYCF tools between SIDA emergency response and the national IYCF strategy.
• To ensure support/coaching to the SMOH/LGA PHC office staff in supervision of the health and nutrition programs, reporting, management of orders and supplies.
• Ensure that on the job training is delivered adequately with quality coaching and mentoring skills of the emergency response team.
• In collaboration with the Action Against Hunger Nutrition team, ensure close follow-up of reporting and program performance rates together with SMOH/LGA nutrition focal persons. Provide training on the overall management of monitoring of nutritional activities.
• Ensure the team possess printed copies of all the project proposals and related guidelines/tools for implementation (CMAM, IYCF, IMNCI, MNCH and PHC).

Objective 2 - Overall management of  Health and Nutrition programs (CMAM, IYCF, PHC...):

• Follows up program budget with the administration department and prepares monthly cash forecasts
• Ensures timely 3-months logistics order with respect to the procedures and follows up the supplies and orders with the logistics department.
• Coordinates on a regular basis with the other technical departments of Action Against Hunger.
• Ensure compilation of need/feasibility assessments and related reports. These reports must be written and transmitted to the Emergency coordinator, regional nut and health coordinator, NUT-DHOD and HOD.
• Participates to the monthly nutrition /health technical meetings at the state level (can be led by SPHCDA or State Food and Nutrition Committee).
• Coordinates with the other nutritional NGOs, UNICEF, Health System Strengthening Programs, NPHCDA and other stakeholders at the state/regional level.
• Keep updated on the evolution of the health and nutrition situation and on the evolution of the humanitarian responses in the areas.
• Prepares and implements ad hoc assessments when necessary.
• As needed, assist with the organization of rapid Nutrition assessments in newly liberated and accessible areas.

Objective 3 - Overall planning and assessment for the startup of emergency health and  nutrition activities in Borno State as needed:

• Establish strong relationships with SMOH, SPHCDA, state emergency director and Local Government for identification of LGAs where CMAM support is to take place as identified.
• Jointly with authorities, sensitize main stakeholders on CMAM and PHC services as well as the need for support and commitment for increased access to emergency health and nutrition services as well as to life-saving activities for all population at risk.
• Assess the needs of identified locations with local authorities and health personnel (HR, material/training needs, rehabilitation, etc.)
• Define overall CMAM and PHC implementation plan in collaboration with LGA/Ward/health facility personnel for all components of CMAM.
• Plan, develop and conduct training and start-up according to the final implementation plan and in line with national protocols. Where capacity is existing, conduct joint training with nutrition focal persons and other authorities.

Objective 4 - Management of Human resources (HR):

• Recruits and trains program staff with the support of the HRM/Emergency coordinator for the running of the emergency response activities.
• Manages the program staff in order to ensure the smooth running of program activities(health and nutrition), in respect to all HR procedures and where staff are increasingly autonomous in managing activities. 
• Proposes adjustments in the organization for the nutrition and health department in Borno State according to the needs.

Objective 5 - Supply Pipeline in collaboration with Nutrition/health  team:

• Supports planning and management of pipeline and LGA level authorities to ensure transport of commodities from State to LGA and from LGAs to health facilities. This will involve jointly defining and facilitating projection capacity at health facility level and communication between the different levels to prevent stock-outs at the health facility level.
• Closely coordinates the partnership with the organizations in charge of the supplies (drugs and therapeutic feeding supplies from SMOH via UNICEF), facilitate/supports timely renewal of the MoU’s between SMOH and these partners and timely orders of products. Coordinates with the logistics department/SMOH/LGA for the management of therapeutic feeding supplies from UNICEF as needed.
• Ensures regular communication with the logistics department for local, national orders, and international orders and timely logistics orders submitted to the logistics department. A detailed procurement plan is to be defined prior to the implementation of activities to prevent small and numerous logistics’ orders.

Objective 6 - Reporting:

• Represents Action Against Hunger health and nutrition programs when and if necessary vis-a-vis donors during their field visits. Such representation will be discussed with the Field Co and Multi-Sectoral PM whenever necessary. Represent Action Against Hunger externally and collaborate/coordinate with local authorities, counterparts, partners and stakeholders.
• Represent Action Against Hunger Nigeria in important national or regional Nut meetings, particularly with regards to potential regional crises
• Identify Nut calls for proposals, interested donors, and opportunities for Nut and/or integrated program development, including emergency response.
• As required support the Regional Nut/health regional Co in donor representation and technical issues.
• Undertake additional activities as may be requested by the coordination team

Internal & External Relationship
Internal:

• Abuja and Regional Coordination team: technical support and exchange of information, collaboration, coordination
• Field/Emergency Coordinator: hierarchical relationship, exchange of information, reporting, collaboration, coordination
• Program Managers: exchange of information, collaboration

External:

• Governmental and non-governmental partners: exchange of information, coordination, training, supervision, influence on the choice of technical options
• Representatives of international aid organisations: exchange of information
• Representatives of donors: exchange of information, technical discussions, project related exchanges

Qualifications

• Minimum of Bachelor's degree in Medical Sciences, preferably in Nutrition or Public Health.
• Master's degree preferred.

Skills & Experience:
Essential:

• 4 years of relevant work experience in managing Health/ nutrition programs.
• Fluent English.
• Ability to analyze and synthesize information.
• Professional, motivated, open, creative, mature, responsible, flexible, culturally sensitive.
• Excellent human resource management, leadership and motivation/training skills.
• Excellent organization, attention to detail, and time management.
• Must be disciplined and able to work autonomously and arrive at decisions and conclusions with minimal guidance.
• Strong capacity to represent Action Against Hunger and sustain relations with state and local stakeholders.

Preferred:

• Previous experience with Action Against Hunger.
• Knowledge of Hausa.
• Advanced knowledge of donors’ guidelines/procedures in humanitarian and recovery settings.
• Significant experience in recovery and development project management.

Gross Basic Salary
NGN 424,310 -  NGN 681,350 per month.