LGA Nutrition Officer at Action Against Hunger | ACF-International

Duty Station:     Damaturu, Yobe
Position Overview:
To strengthen the capacity of the Local Government Area (LGA) nutrition focal person or team (as designated by the LGA) in planning, management, delivery, follow-up and advocacy of cost-effective malnutrition prevention and treatment interventions (interventions include – Infant & Young Child Feeding, Community Management of Acute Malnutrition , Maternal & Child Health Weeks).

Specific Objectives: 

• Provide technical support in planning, implementation and monitoring of key nutrittion interventions by working closely with the nutrition focal persons (NFP) and MCH expert at LGA level. This includes micro planning for MNCHWs.
• Work with NFP to support operational researches to identify barriers and facilitators of optimal breastfeeding and complimentary feeding practices as well as linked to access to CMAM and other nutrition interventions.
• Work closely and share experience from the Community nutrition officers in another LGAs to ensure community engagement through systematic community mobilization.
• Ensure that all key messages linked to nutrition interventions are integrated to all maternal, child and newborn health programs and all contacts are used properly and efficiently to deliver the messages.
• Provide coaching, mentorship and on job training  to improve counselling skills  of health workers and community volunteers.
• Plans trainings according to identified gaps for all the nutrition interventions.
• Organize and conduct meetings with CVs and other key community stakeholders on monthly or bi-montly basis or accordingly to agreed work plan.
• Provide technical support in the preparation of annual, quarterly, and monthly plans on IYCF/CMAM/MNCHWs and nutrition in general.
• Support the preparation of supportive supervision plan and follow its implementation.
• Ensure coordination and planning with technical TAs (CMAM, IYCF, advocacy, V+A, M&E, etc.) to respond to support needed for the LGA.
• With the support of the thematic TAs ensure self-learning on all technical aspects of the programme in order to guarantee support to the LGA counterpart.
• Support LGA counterpart to provide mentoring to implementing facilities and communities
• Support LGA counterpart and teams to produce case studies and testimonies as needed
• Provide training and support to ensure evidence based advocacy by the LGA counterpart in order to leverage resources and increase authorities’  commitment.
• Work closely with LGA counterpart and team on development of feedback mechanisms to health facilities and communities.
• Manage the Community Mobilization Assistants to ensure that ACF program objectives are communicated effectively within the communities in order to improve program effectiveness.
• Ensure that the proper performance evaluations are completed for each Community Mobilization Assistants on an annual basis. In case of consultants, ensure that a feedback form is filled and filed on the outputs achieved during the rime period
• Assess the capacities of the team and identifies the training and coaching needs and opportunities.
• Prepare weekly, monthly and annual progress reports.
• Together with the health facility staff, verify and cross check weekly and monthly CMAM and IYCF data.

Qualifications:
Bachelor of Science with a major in Nutrition or Bachelor of Nutrition ; graduate degree in a similar field a plus

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Health / Public Health / Nutrition / diploma or equivalent
• Experience of emergency nutrition work and the design and implementation of feeding programmes (ideally IYCF, CTC/CMAM), including IYCF monitoring and evaluation
• Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff
• Proven experience and ability in report writing
• Computer literacy
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to be respectful, kind, sensitive and empathise with all beneficiaries and their carers
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions
• Prepared to live and work in an uncertain security environment

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Experience in the setup of a IYCF program within CMAM program in an emergency context
• Experience with working with partners, including the government
• Previous experience working with mothers support group and strong negotiation skill for behavior change
• Fluency in local languages (Kanuri, Fulani)
• Training in adult education/learning and effective training approaches