Project Officer at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Ref Code: PTR171019
Location: Abuja
Reports To: Program Manager, Vitamin A supplementation Project.
Department: HSS
Band: 7

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 primary responsibility of the Program Officer is to coordinate the planning, implementation and review of the MNCH Week activities in Bauchi, Delta and Gombe states from November 2019 -March 2022.

Job Responsibilities
Program Quality:

• Monitor and coordinate the state level planning, delivery, monitoring and reporting of MNCH Weeks in Gombe and Plateau states.
• Support the state PHCDAs to plan and implement the VAS-SBCC strategy and training of frontline health workers at state level on how to use the materials.
• Actively participate in the state level training.
• Provide technical support to State PHCDA in LGA level training including orientation of town announcers using the key messages developed
• Planning for MNCHW in Bauchi, Delta and Gombe states. This will involve:
• Support the project states to initiate early planning for all the round of MNCH week from 2019 to 2022.
• MNCHW including advocacies and preparation of detailed work plan and budgets to facilitate early release of funds by the government
• Support state to align implementation dates with national date through early planning and identifying reasons for shortfalls
• Participate and provide technical support in the development of micro-plans at state level
• Facilitate and participate in post MNCHW review meetings in the project states after each round of MNCHW
• Quality MNCHW monitoring and supervision during the November 2017 MNCHW.
• Support the M&E Consultant to refine the e-based monitoring platform.
• Recruit, train, and manage NYSC Youth Corpers as independent monitors to conduct monitoring of MNCHW activities in the project states.
• Participate in monitoring and supervision of MNCHW activities in project states and selected LGAs
• Support the M&E consultant to train independent monitors on use of the electronic platform and the development of a harmonized monitoring report.

Financial & Operational:

• Manage program budgets, including tracking of financial and material resources for project in the states.

Representation, Coordination and Advocacy:

• Develop strong relationships with state stakeholders in key government ministries and agencies – SMoH and SPHCDAs.
• Represent CRS at all MNCH Week technical review meetings at the states.

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

• University degree or its equivalent in Health, Nutrition, Public Health or related field.
• Minimum of 4 years of work experience in project support.in Health and Nutrition programs.
• Demonstrated experience in VAS Programming, Nutrition and/or Public Health programs including VAS, USI, child survival and maternal health and nutrition programs.
• Experience working with an international NGO and at the community level, will be an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively under pressure and to prioritize competing demands Strategic, analytical and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Professional proficiency in English oral and written communication skills; strong demonstrated writing skills required (reports, evaluations).
• Must be domiciled in or willing to work in the project states and selected LGAs for the project implementation.
• Must be personable, tactful, culture sensitive, respectful, confidential and trustworthy.

Work Arrangement:

• This assignment is State based. The Program officer will be based in Abuja, or Bauchi or Delta or Gombe State

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results:

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship.