Contract VAS Program Officer at Helen Keller International

Duration: 4 months (renewable, based on availability of funding)

Vitamin A Supplementation (VAS)

HKI works closely with the government of Nigeria to ensure high coverage of more than 80% of the target population with vitamin A. HKI also supports the training of health workers, program monitoring, community education and the delivery of vitamin A capsules. In 2001, HKI integrated vitamin A supplementation into Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) as a cost-effective, sustainable strategy and a strong platform for community mobilization. Vulnerable groups, including children 6-59 months old and post-partum women within 8 weeks of delivery, were targeted.  However, since 2009, HKI aligned with the Federal Government of Nigeria and adopted the bi-annual Maternal Newborn and Child Health Weeks (MNCH Weeks) as a high impact strategy to distribute Vitamin A capsules alongside other low-cost interventions that have been proven to be highly effective in reducing mortality rates and improving maternal and child health. HKI Nigeria currently supports the implementation of the MNCH Week in 2 states of the federation (Cross River and Kano) with funding from Nutrition International (formerly, Micronutrient Initiative).

Job Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Nutrition Program Manager, the Contract VAS Program Officer implements, monitors and evaluate HKI Nigeria’s nutrition programs and projects in accordance with national protocols and policies.

Technical Capacity:

• Oversee and supervise the two (2) contract VAS state officers in providing technical support to Cross River and Kano states during the planning and implementation of the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Weeks
• Liaise with the nutrition unit of the State Ministry of Health (SMOH) or State Primary Health Care Development Agencies (SPHCDA) to develop costed nutrition strategic work-plans
• Provide technical assistance to and support implementation of bi-annual VAS in Cross River and Kano states through Maternal Newborn and Child Health Weeks
• Maintain regular communication with other state nutrition program partners
• Facilitate program planning, micro-planning and post-MNCHW review meetings on vitamin A supplementation
• Collaborate with partners to develop /roll out social mobilization strategies and tools to create demand for and increase uptake of nutrition services at community / health facility level
• Actively participate in key relevant national and state level nutrition technical forums and meetings
• Analyze, interpret and present VAS program data in useful formats to promote timely decision making and course correction
• Work closely with State Nutrition Officers to strengthen technical reporting in accordance with defined reporting schedule and program indicators
• Track program progress using mutually agreed indicators, targets, and recommend remedial action to keep programs on course
• Contribute to and support the maintenance of an updated data base of technical program reports including site visits, monthly reports, quarterly and annual reports
• Participate in research to increase VAS coverage and other nutrition interventions
• Support the capacity building of nutrition program officers on relevant nutrition interventions
• Support the implementation of other relevant nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive activities such as healthy lifestyle project, infant and young child feeding, community-based management of acute malnutrition e.t.c.
• Perform any other duty as assigned

Competencies Required:

• Demonstrates technical knowledge pertaining to job requirements
• Prior experience working in the field of VAS will be an added advantage
• Able to work under pressure minimal supervision and able to meet up deadlines
• Ability to use computer software such as Microsoft office, internet
• Ability to analyze and interpret program data using SPSS statistical software
• Must possess good interpersonal skills and a good team player
• Demonstrated excellent personal integrity and confidentially

Qualifications Required:

• Minimum of Masters’ degree in Nutrition or Food and Dietetics
• Or Bachelors’ degree in Nutrition plus a Master’s in Public Health or similar related field
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience