Project Assistant at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Ref Code: PTT171019
Location: Abuja
Department: HSS
Reports To: Program Manager, Vitamin A supplementation Project.
Band: 4

Project Background

• CRS has received funding from Micronutrient Initiative (MI), an international not for profit NGO with its headquarter in Ottawa, Canada and a country office in Abuja Nigeria. MI supports and promotes food fortification and micronutrient supplementation program in developing countries including Nigeria. MI program focus in Nigeria include promotion of vitamin A supplementation, salt iodization, iron and folic acid supplementation for pregnant women and use of Zinc and low-osmolarity ORS in the management of childhood diarrhea.
• Since 1997, MI provided more than 75% of the vitamin A required for supplementation programs in developing countries–more than 8 billion capsules and oral doses of vitamin A. MI in collaboration with CCPN have developed a robust VAS SBCC strategy to improve VAS using the MNCH Week as the delivery platform.
• In addition, although recent monitoring reports suggest that health personnel have been trained to provide MNCH-Week in most of the 14 MI priority states, it is difficult to ascertain content of training. Moreover, training is not standardized across states and local government areas and may not be provided in accordance with the MNCHWs guidelines. CRS in collaboration with MI will supported the production and distribution of job-aids for VAS as well as the planning, delivery, monitoring and reporting of VAS during the November 2017 MNCH Weeks in Gombe and Plateau states. In 2018 and 2019, they provided technical support to Gombe and Plateau State to implement the MNCH week.

Objective
The Vitamin A Supplement project has three (3) specific objectives. These include:

• Support the state and LGA teams in Bauchi, Delta and Gombe States to effectively plan and implement the two rounds of optimized MNCHW from 2019 to 2022.
• Support the state and LGA teams in Bauchi, Delta and Gombe States to effective implementation of the optimized MNCHW microplans in the 3 states from 2019 to 2022.
• Support the state to provide high quality and effective monitoring and supportive supervision during the two rounds of optimized MNCH week from 2019 to 2022.

Job Summary

• The Program assistant primary responsibility is to support the coordination and knowledge flow of the program’s unit. In addition to that function, the Program Assistant will provide logistical support to meetings and trainings, manage the program’s data bank and will perform other administrative duties in support of grant activities and the Health System Strengthening (HSS) unit as required.

Job Responsibilities
Support the organizing of workshops and trainings:

• Work closely with Program Staff to organize workshops, in terms of logistics, venue arrangement, provision of materials,
• Take responsibility for the transportation of supplies, equipment etc. to and from the workshop/training venue
• Confirming participant travel dates and needs and communicating these in a synthesized and timely manner to Administration.
• Communicating material and cash needs to Finance and/or Administration in a timely manner.
• Tracking submission of participant Learning Needs and Resource Assessments
• Assembling of workshop materials.

Assisting during workshops and trainings:

• Recording workshop proceedings when possible as well as collating and storing workshop outputs
• Following up on daily activities with the venue
• Handling the movement of supplies and equipment to and from workshop venues.

Perform grant-level administrative duties as required:

• Procurement: Coordinate all office procurement for staff.
• Assist with correspondence, letters, and invitations. Act as liaison between programs staff and dispatcher.

Maintain all project files and databases in collaboration with program staff:

• Work closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer in supporting learning events and research activities.
• Liaise with the IT department on hard and software questions to ensure functionality to meet ongoing and ad hoc needs

State Program Monitoring:

• Serve as the State focal officer for Bauchi Program.
• Support the State Primary Health Care Development Agency to implement high quality activities ensuring project objectives are achieved as planned annually.
• Attend state activities as required.

Key Working Relationships

• HoU, Program Manager, Technical Advisor, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Heads of Programming Units, Grants and Compliance Manager and other MQ staff, partner staff.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of HND/ University degree in Administration a plus. Experience with a local or international NGO a plus.
• Minimum of 2 years work experience in administrative support
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and computers in general
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Ability to work with church-based organizations.
• Demonstrated willingness to work in a team.
• Demonstrated initiative and problem-solving skills.

Work Arrangement:

• The Assistant will be based in Abuja but will require frequent travel to project states.