Nutrition Assistant at Christian Aid

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Type of contract: Fixed Term
Contracted hours: 35
Contract length: 7 months
Department: International
Reports to: Programme Coordinator

Role Purpose

• The Nutrition Assistants will be responsible for implementation of nutrition activities and support Community Nutrition Workers in the Project Implementation Communities under the Christian Aid NHF Project.
• He / She will ensure comprehensive mobilisation of the community for nutrition screening of children under five, forming and monitoring champion mothers support groups and oversee community nutrition education and counselling Sessions.
• Throughout the intervention the Nutrition Assistant will work towards ensuring quality delivery of Nutrition Interventions in the Project Location.

Role Context

• The role is under Food Security and Nutrition Programme and reports to the Nutrition Officer.
• The Nutrition Assistant will provide supervision to the field Support Casual Workers / Community Nutrition Workers in the Project’s Communities in implementing the nutrition interventions (Infant and Young Child Feeding IYCF) while integrating with other sectoral interventions.
• The job role will include coordinating Monthly Food Demonstration to groups of Care-givers and pregnant and lactating women, active case finding, supervision of OTP activities as well as ensuring the implementation of the SBCC component of the nutrition programme.

Key Outcome

• Under the direct supervision of the Nutrition Officer and in collaboration with the project Manager and other team members of the project, the Nutrition Assistant will:
• Plan and implement the Monthly Food Demonstration to Care givers and as well as Pregnant and Lactating Women.
• Conduct distribution of Vitamin A, Micronutrient powder supplementation and deworming to School Children.
• Ensure weight, height and MUAC measurements and check for presence of oedema of the beneficiaries in line with the training received. Record the measurements accurately on the beneficiary’s card.
• Supervise OTP activities and Christian-Aid Nutrition Community Workers on active case findings and implementing a comprehensive follow-up of referred SAM cases. Follow up with the new admission of malnourished children.
• Distribution of Iron-folic supplements to women, including PLW and the OTP.
• Working with the Community workers to provide counselling on nutrition and hygiene practices to beneficiaries
• Ensure escort services for all severely malnourished children to the OTP centres
• Participate in field work of the nutrition survey (impact assessment)
• Ensure liaison with Primary Health Care and existing community structures, (groups and individuals, women groups, religious leaders where possible.)
• Create awareness and sensitize the community on malnutrition, and the causes of malnutrition and treatment of malnutrition.
• Ensure timely submission of weekly reports, monthly reports and MUAC screening data & reports to Primary Health Care for compilation.
• Submit Monthly nutrition report to the Nutrition Officer for onward sharing with MEAL and NHF Project Manager
• Co-chair the Nutrition Coordination with relevant Stakeholders at LGA level.

Relationships
External:

• Build strong relationships with partners, networks, donors, stakeholders and community beneficiaries.

Internal:

• Build strong relationship with program departments, FSL/WASH Staff, MEAL officers, program managers, M&E units and all in-country and global staff.

Decision Making

• Make decisions in order to manage team effectively, from recruitment of volunteers and program staff to day to day management of team members. Also providing technical input and overall leadership to field workers.
• Day to day decision to ensure projects are running effectively and higher levels decisions on supporting the projects informed by Christian Aid's strategy and strategic focus areas.
• Contribute to decisions around project proposals, ensuring they are prepared and comply with reporting requirements. Make policy decisions that support standing and emergency issues. Contribute to shaping and implementing WASH/FSL strategy, making sound decisions to support this.

Analytical skills:

• Works on complex specialist/ technical issues. Problems and issue, risks and benefits may have implications across a number of departments.
• Required to develop new ways of doing things to better meet program goals requiring substantial creative or analytical ability.

Developing self and others:

• Has direct responsibility for developing, coaching and motivating a team or teams of colleagues / project team members.

Applied Skills / Knowledge and Expertise
Essential:

• The post holder should have a First Degree in Nutrition or Health related field with 1-2 years’ experience of working in emergency response with local and/international partner organizations and exposure to field operations.
• Strong positive attitude and ability to manage a wide range of issues of complicated procedures, indicated by 1-2 years learning period.
• Be proficient in the use of computer software (Microsoft Office – Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Have the capacity to be flexible and supervise and coach community workers.
• Excellent coordination skills, good understanding of principles of effective planning, appropriate time management
• Strong report writing skills

Desirable:

• Familiar Clinical Nutrition context in the northeast Nigeria.
• Ability to communicate fluently in the local languages.

IT competency required:

• Intermediate

Competency Profile
LEVEL 1: You are expected to be able to:

Build partnerships:

• Work in a collaborative way that develops positive relationships and proactively provide help to others
• Proactively participate in team work and contribute ideas, including those that may be beyond your own or your team’s role.
• Keep others informed about what is going on in your own work area.
• Treat everyone with courteousness, dignity and respect, recognising that people are different and have different views.
• Act and behave consistently with what you say.

Communicate effectively

• Communicate clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing.
• Pass on messages or information promptly and accurately, ensuring clarity and understanding.
• Proactively question to clarify when needed.
• Explain things simply and in a different way if someone appears not to have understood.
• Be sensitive to and take responsibility for how your actions and words impact on others and adapt if necessary.

Steward resources:

• Be responsible for using resources economically, whether these are Christian Aid resources or wider environmental resources.
• Recognise that time is a resource and take responsibility and proactive measures for managing your time effectively

Deliver Results:

• Agree your work plan and priorities, keep track of your own progress and keep others informed.
• Check the quality of your own work and deliver to expectations.
• Seek clarification and support from your manager when needed, ensuring appropriate sign-off.
• Respond promptly to the requests of others, handling competing priorities and seeking guidance on these where appropriate.
• Consider the consequences of your actions, and take responsibility for the impact on your work, your colleagues and team objectives.
• Be accountable for your actions

Realise potential:

• Acknowledge gaps in your own knowledge and skills and seek out information and advice in order to learn
• Regularly ask for and act on feedback on own performance.
• Assist others by showing how to complete tasks and sharing knowledge.

Strive for improvement:

• Demonstrate openness and willingness to embrace change, be flexible and adapt to new methods of working.
• Respond quickly and positively to new initiatives.
• Find ways to make improvements in your work and ways of working.
• Show initiative when faced with problems and proactively seek solutions.
• Willingly share knowledge and information that may help others.