Project Assistant Nutrition at Concern for Women and Children Development Foundation (COWACDI)

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

• Support the implementation of nutrition activities in target LGAs, ensuring integration of protection principles in all interventions.
• Conduct community sensitization, IYCF counseling, MUAC screening, and referral of malnutrition cases.
• Ensure that nutrition programming adheres to COWACDI and donor standards, focusing on inclusion, safety, and dignity.
• Coordinate with field staff, health facilities, and protection officers to ensure a holistic approach to service delivery
• Write and contribute to reporting including monthly, quarterly and annual reports as required by the project, and case studies, and lessons learned etc.
• Ensure quality health and nutrition promotion sessions are provided at the supported Health Facilities and during Support group meetings.
• Support the Maternal Newborn Child Health and Nutrition training for Health Workers and Community Volunteers.
• Support Project level assessment/surveys as approved by Donor.
• Support quality data collection of activities conducted in the Communities.
• Promote increasing awareness of appropriate health and nutrition behaviours in project communities and ensure behaviour change materials are visible in Project supported communities and health facilities.
• Support the development of case studies and success stories from programme implementation.
• With support from the Health and Nutrition Officer, ensure programme activities are conducted in Project supported Communities and are in line with the local law and international standards, laws, and policies.
• Collaborate, coordinate and exchange best practices and lessons learned with other Civil Society organizations in relation to health and Nutrition projects in the state.

Desirable Skills:

• Strong knowledge of CMAM, IYCF, and protection mainstreaming principles.
• Excellent interpersonal and community engagement skills.
• Strong reporting and documentation abilities.
• Experience in Nutrition and community-based programming
• Experience in behaviour change programming.
• Good communication skills (verbal and written) and a willingness to be respectful, kind, sensitive and empathize with all beneficiaries and their careers.
• Experience in community-based interventions in Northern Nigeria
• Demonstrable ability at report writing
• Computer literate
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and in humanitarian contexts.
• Good command of English, Hausa, and Kanuri languages is an advantage.
• Team player, proactive, and committed to gender equality and inclusion.

Tasks:

• Conduct regular field visits to monitor project activities and provide technical guidance to FLWs.
• Support data collection, entry, and timely reporting on nutrition and protection activities.
• Facilitate awareness sessions on healthy feeding practices and protection from exploitation and abuse.
• Participate in coordination meetings with partners, LGAs, and community stakeholders.
• Support in identifying and addressing protection concerns during nutrition service delivery.

Other:

• Perform any other related duties assigned by the Nutrition Officer or Project Manager.
• Support in organizing capacity-building sessions for FLWs and community volunteers.
• Assist in the distribution of nutritional commodities and ensure accountability mechanisms are in place.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Educational Qualification & Experience Requirements

• B.Sc./HND in Nutrition, Public Health, Food Science, Nursing, or related field.
• Must be a graduate with at least one year of experience in Nutrition or Health-related humanitarian programming.
• Proven experience in integrating protection into nutrition or health projects.
• Resident or willing to be based in Ngala, Bama, or Gwoza LGA.
• Familiarity with COWACDI’s operational areas and community structures is an added advantage.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English (and local language where applicable).