Nutrition Officer at Unique Care and Support Foundation (CASFOD)

The Nutrition Officer is responsible for the direct implementation, monitoring, and reporting of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions at the field level. This role ensures the effective delivery of programs aimed at improving the nutritional status of vulnerable populations, adhering to established protocols, quality standards, and community engagement principles. The Nutrition Officer works closely with communities, local health structures, and project teams to achieve measurable impact.

Key Responsibilities:   

• Directly implement nutrition activities such as Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM - including screening, referral, admission, treatment, and follow-up for SAM and MAM cases), Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) counseling, and micronutrient supplementation programs.
• Conduct nutrition screenings (e.g., MUAC, edema checks) and facilitate referrals to appropriate services.
• Organize and conduct community-based awareness sessions on good nutrition practices, hygiene, and disease prevention.
• Ensure the proper storage, distribution, and rational use of nutrition commodities (e.g., RUTF, RUSF, micronutrient supplements).
• Integrate nutrition interventions with other sectors like WASH, health, and food security where appropriate.
• Collect accurate and timely program data from the field using approved tools and methodologies.
• Maintain detailed records of beneficiaries, services provided, and supplies distributed.
• Compile and summarize daily, weekly, or monthly data for reporting to the Nutrition Project Coordinator or Manager.
• Identify data quality issues and work to resolve them.
• Contribute to routine program reports, highlighting achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Establish and maintain positive relationships with community leaders, beneficiaries, and local health authorities.
• Facilitate the formation and training of community-level support groups (e.g., Mother-to-Mother support groups for IYCF).
• Provide on-the-job training and mentorship to community health volunteers or peer educators.
• Ensure respectful and culturally sensitive communication with all stakeholders.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor program activities, identify gaps, and provide constructive feedback to community workers.
• Ensure adherence to national and international nutrition guidelines, protocols, and quality standards (e.g., Sphere Standards).
• Participate in program reviews and provide input for activity adjustments based on monitoring findings.
• Identify and report any challenges or bottlenecks in program implementation to the supervisor promptly.
• Coordinate with local health facility staff and other implementing partners to ensure seamless service delivery and referrals.
• Participate in relevant local-level coordination meetings as required.
• Collaborate closely with other program staff within the organization to promote integrated approaches.

Qualifications and Experience:   

• Bachelor\'s degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) in Nutrition & Dietetics, Public Health, Food Science, Nursing, Clinical Medicine, or a related medical/health field.
• Minimum of 1-3 years of practical experience in implementing community-based nutrition programs, preferably within an NGO, UN agency, or government health setting.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with CMAM (Community Management of Acute Malnutrition) and IYCF (Infant and Young Child Feeding) programming.
• Experience in collecting, compiling, and managing program data.
• Proven ability to conduct community training and sensitization sessions.
• Familiarity with humanitarian principles and working in emergency or development contexts.
• Experience working in Damboa, Borno State, Nigeria or similar challenging environments is often a strong advantage.