Nutrition Officer at Life at Best Development Initiative

Location: MMC, Jere and Kwaya-Kusar LGAs of Borno Potiskum LGA of Yobe State Northeast Nigeria.
Contract Duration – 12 months (with possible extension).

General Objective

• Under the direct supervisor of the nutrition advisor, the nutrition officer will help organize and undertake nutrition education/sensitization and community screening activities at community level.
• The nutrition officer will be responsible to ensure that educational messages are delivered to beneficiaries as per set targets and with the upmost quality regarding accuracy, efficiency and culturally sensitivity to optimize the adoption of healthier behaviour among mothers of children under five.

Responsibilities and Tasks

Implementation and monitoring of the nutrition activities:

• Responsible for day-to-day management of nutrition activities at Outpatient Therapeutic Program (OTP) or IYCF project sites according to the standardized protocols, policies and guidelines outlined by the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and/or Global nutrition standards.
• Participate in the identification of eligible project beneficiaries and Community Focal persons including Community Nutrition Mobilisers, Lead Mothers according to assignment.
• Participate in organising Project beneficiaries and Volunteers into groups and other Fora for dissemination of nutrition messages.
• With the support of CMAM or IYCF Supervisors, participate in the planning and in the implementation of trainings for the beneficiaries, volunteers, and community focal persons.  
• Participate in planning and conducting community/household surveys or assessments according to need.
• Ensure OTP beneficiary absentee or defaulter tracing and other forms of beneficiary follow-ups at community level.
• Ensure appropriate and consistent education messaging/Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) to mothers and other carers at OTP or IYCF project sites.
• In liaison with supervisor, disseminate any relevant Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials and reporting tools to Lead Mothers, volunteers or health facility staff as may be required.
• Implement outpatient therapeutic feeding of severely malnourished under-fives, and community outreach integrated with IYCF activities according to the stipulated protocols, train and mentor Nutrition project staff and community nutrition mobilisers (CNM) through identification of capacity gaps and carrying out refresher and on-the-job trainings.
• Disseminate key messages on nutrition to the targeted beneficiaries, and ensure it is delivered appropriately.
• Participate in surveillance activities including MUAC screening of the under-fives/pregnant and lactating women based on project needs.
• Enhance close collaboration with Health, Food Security and Livelihoods, and Protection at project level.
• Ensure nurture good collaboration between LABDI and local community leaders.
• Act as a liaison with the local population and authorities to identify the needs, grievances and major events that could have potential consequences for LABDI activities.
• Participate in ensuring that OTP or IYCF beneficiaries and local populations both understand the project goals and actively participate in their implementation.

Communication and Reporting:

• Pass on any information or problems to his/her direct and/or indirect supervisor concerning his/her task, LABDI programs, or safety aspects.
• Address any issues on the field with the beneficiaries or the community members and tell the line supervisor.
• Represent LABDI at anytime and anywhere when s/he is in duty.
• Collect and compile data, pictures, and information from the field to present accurate weekly internal reports to the supervisor.
• Present weekly achievements, problems encountered and suggestion to improve the project implementation.
• Assist in strengthening the LABDI community Feedback and Complains system.
• Keep monitoring tools and files archived at the LABDI office, ensuring their availability to his/her supervisor.

Logistic and Administration:

• Contribute to logistical and administrative organization of the activities related to Nutrition Program.
• Contribute to the definition of the needs in materials and tools regarding the program and the planning of interventions.
• Ensure the safety and good condition of nutrition material provided by LABDI.

Priorities of the Department:

• To follow up the sensitization sessions delivered to the mother care groups participants.
• To ensure the quality of the messages delivered to the mother care participants.
• To report any issue face with the mother care group participants
• To contribute to the qualitative reporting of activities, especially data entry
• To contribute to the proper filling and archiving of all the sources of verification
• Quality implementation of CMAM and IYCF programs according to global and national guidelines
• Quality data management and reporting of CMAM and IYCF activities.
• Support the integrated approach through effective referral within the nutrition components and with the other programs internally.
• Build the capacity of the nutrition team on thematic areas related to nutrition.

Qualifications

Mandatory Requirements:

• Language skills: good command in English (speaking, reading & writing), Fluent in local languages – Hausa, Kanuri and Bura etc.  
• Education Degree: Diploma in Nutrition / Health related discipline
• Work experience: Proven nutritional experience working in NGOs.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Conversant with community screening for Malnutrition.
• Demonstrated understanding of infant and young child feeding (nutrition SBCC / IYCF education programs).
• Community Volunteer supervision.

Computer Skills

• Excellent knowledge of the MS office software including Word, excel and Outlook.

Assets:

Interests:

• Working in humanitarian relief, interest for social issues

Transversals Skills:

• Excellent Field work Skills.
• Commitment to the NGO values and principles.
• Teamwork.
• Stress Management and Flexibility.
• Strong Negotiator.
• Capacity to mobilize community.
• Rigor and organization.
• Honesty.
• Understanding of the context of the area.
• Reliability.