Jobs at Unique Care and Support foundation- CASFOD

 Role Purpose:

The Nutrition Project Manager is responsible for the overall planning, implementation, oversight, and evaluation of nutrition-focused programs and initiatives. This role aims to improve the nutritional status and health outcomes of target populations, ensuring projects are delivered effectively, efficiently, and in line with organizational goals, donor requirements, and international standards. The manager provides technical leadership, manages project teams, and fosters strong relationships with stakeholders to achieve sustainable impact.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead the development of comprehensive project proposals, logical frameworks, work plans, and budgets for nutrition interventions.
• Conduct needs assessments, baseline studies, and situation analyses to inform project design and ensure relevance to target communities.
• Ensure project designs integrate gender, protection, and other cross-cutting themes.
• Contribute to the development of an overall nutrition strategy aligned with organizational and national priorities.
• Oversee the day-to-day implementation of nutrition activities, ensuring adherence to work plans, timelines, and quality standards (e.g., CMAM, IYCF, micronutrient supplementation, WASH-nutrition integration).
• Manage project budgets, monitor expenditures, and ensure financial accountability and compliance with donor regulations.
• Lead and supervise the nutrition project team, including recruitment, training, performance management, and capacity building.
• Ensure timely procurement, transportation, storage, and distribution of nutrition supplies and equipment.
• Troubleshoot operational challenges and proactively address issues to keep projects on track.
• Conduct regular monitoring visits to project sites, evaluate progress, and assess impact using both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Facilitate regular data review meetings with the team to analyze trends, identify gaps, and make data-driven adjustments to programming.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of project activities to donors, internal stakeholders, and relevant authorities.
• Promote beneficiary participation and feedback mechanisms to enhance accountability.
• Document lessons learned, best practices, and success stories for organizational learning and external sharing.
• Ensure that all nutrition interventions are evidence-based and culturally appropriate.
• Conduct training and mentorship for staff and partners to enhance their technical capacity in nutrition program delivery.
• Promote innovative approaches and continuous quality improvement in nutrition programming.
• Represent the organization in nutrition cluster meetings, working groups, and other relevant coordination forums at local, national, and sometimes international levels.
• Advocate for nutrition priorities and contribute to policy discussions.

Qualifications and Experience: 

•  Bachelor’s or master’s degree in nutrition, Public Health, Dietetics, International Development, or a related field. A master’s degree is often preferred.
•  (If applicable) Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential or similar professional certification is an advantage.
• Strong understanding of malnutrition (SAM, MAM) and related interventions (CMAM, IYCF).
• Proficiency in project management software and tools.
• Strong report writing and presentation skills.
• Excellent leadership, team management, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal), with the ability to communicate technical information to diverse audiences.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in managing nutrition programs, preferably in humanitarian or development contexts.
•  Proven experience in project cycle management (design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting).
• Demonstrated experience in staff management, coaching, and capacity building.
• Experience with budget management and financial oversight of donor-funded projects.
• Prior experience working in Damboa is often highly desirable.
• Experience in conducting nutrition assessments (e.g., SMART surveys, SQUEAC) is an asset.
• Familiarity with grant writing and donor compliance is often required.

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Role Purpose: 

The Nutrition Project Coordinator plays a vital role in supporting the effective implementation and management of nutrition programs. This position ensures that project activities are executed efficiently, adhere to established guidelines, and contribute to improved nutritional outcomes for the target population. The coordinator often acts as a crucial link between field teams, management, and partners, helping to ensure smooth operations and timely reporting.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Assist in the day-to-day planning and execution of nutrition activities, ensuring they align with project work plans, budgets, and quality standards.
• Support the mobilization and supervision of community health workers or volunteers involved in nutrition interventions.
• Help organize and facilitate training sessions for staff and community members on nutrition topics (e.g., Infant and Young Child Feeding, Community Management of Acute Malnutrition).
• Oversee the proper handling, storage, and distribution of nutrition supplies and equipment at the field level.
• Collect, compile, and verify nutrition program data from various sources, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Maintain comprehensive project documentation, including activity reports, beneficiary lists, and meeting minutes.
• Contribute to the preparation of regular project reports for internal review and submission to donors.
• Support monitoring visits to project sites to track progress and identify challenges.
• Act as a key point of contact for field teams, addressing operational issues and escalating complex problems to the Project Manager.
• Liaise with local government authorities, community leaders, and partner organizations as directed.
• Facilitate internal communication within the project team to ensure consistent understanding of objectives and activities.
• Participate in relevant cluster or working group meetings when required, representing the project.
• Monitor project expenditures against approved budgets, flagging any discrepancies or potential overruns.
• Assist in the preparation of procurement requests for project supplies and services.
• Ensure efficient utilization of project resources.
• Provide basic technical guidance to field staff on nutrition protocols and best practices under the supervision of the Project Manager.
• Stay informed about current national and international guidelines on nutrition programming.

Qualifications and Experience:   

• Bachelor’s degree in nutrition, Public Health, Food Science, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of proven experience in implementing or coordinating nutrition programs, preferably in a non-governmental organization (NGO) setting.
• Demonstrated experience in data collection, management, and basic reporting.
• Familiarity with community-based programming and working with vulnerable populations.
• Experience in staff supervision or team coordination is an asset.
• Prior experience in Damboa, Borno, Nigeria or similar humanitarian contexts is highly desirable.

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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.

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Role Purpose: 

MEAL Officer is a specialized role combining expertise in nutrition programming with strong skills in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL). This individual is crucial for ensuring that nutrition interventions are not only implemented but also tracked, assessed for effectiveness, and continuously improved based on data and feedback. and implementing a MEAL system in accordance with CASFOD’s standards. 

The position holder lead or support evaluations/assessments, monitor program progress and quality, document lessons learnt and contribute to periodic monitoring and reporting. Ensuring gender-sensitive, inclusive and participatory MEAL processes. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Develop robust MEAL plans, systems, processes and tools for the project in line with CASFOD and donor requirements. 
• Take the lead in data collection efforts, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. 
• Conduct in-depth data analysis to derive actionable insights and recommendations. 
• To enhance project performance, execute quarterly monitoring, evaluation, and accountability activities, including quality benchmarks, data quality assessments, and/or data quality assessments. 
• Document data collection and analysis findings, contributing to comprehensive and informative reports. 
• Support in ensuring the project is implementing the 3 pillars of Accountability – Information sharing, participation and feedback & reporting and providing relevant documentation. 
• Assist in establishing robust accountability mechanisms, ensuring the voices of project participants are considered in project adaptation/design and implementation. 
• Knowledge Management & Learning 
• Actively engage in program learning initiatives, facilitating discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions among project teams. 
• Ensure project MEAL documents are adequately stored in CASFOD’s resource center. 
• Support in the development of case studies and success stories. 

Qualifications and Experience:   

• Minimum of BSc or equivalent qualification in, Economics, Statistics, Development Planning, Social Work or Demography, Computer Science, or any related courses. 
• At least 3 years of experience working in MEAL for Humanitarian/developmental organizations. 
• Experience in implementing education and protection programs in humanitarian contexts program is an added advantage. 
• Experience in the use of analytical and visualization tools/software. 
• Very good communication and interpersonal skills, including ability to communicate technical issues effectively and persuasively. 
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal. 
• Good Knowledge of local area and local language. 

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 Role Purpose

The MIYCN Counsellor is a frontline position responsible for providing specialized, one-on-one, and group counselling on optimal nutrition practices for pregnant and lactating women, mothers, caregivers, and their children. This role is crucial for promoting healthy feeding practices, preventing malnutrition, and supporting positive health outcomes within the community, adhering to national and international guidelines.

Key Responsibilities: 

Counselling and Education:

• Provide comprehensive and accurate counselling on MIYCN practices, including:
  • Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.
  • Introduction of appropriate complementary feeding from six months onwards while continuing breastfeeding up to two years or beyond.
  • Dietary diversity for pregnant and lactating women and young children.
  • Maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.
  • Hygiene practices related to food preparation and child feeding.
  • Responding to common feeding difficulties and myths.
  • Conduct both individual and group counselling sessions at health facilities, community centres, or through home visits, adapting messages to cultural contexts.
  • Use participatory and interactive methods to engage beneficiaries and ensure understanding.

Screening, Referral, and Follow-up:

• Conduct basic nutrition screening for pregnant and lactating women and children (e.g., MUAC measurements for children and pregnant women).
• Identify cases of malnutrition (e.g., SAM, MAM) or other health issues and refer them promptly to appropriate health or nutrition services (e.g., CMAM programs, health facilities).
• Conduct follow-up visits or calls to monitor adherence to feeding recommendations and assess progress.

Community Mobilization and Engagement:

• Support the formation and facilitation of Mother-to-Mother Support Groups or similar community groups to foster peer learning and support for MIYCN practices.
• Participate in community sensitization activities and campaigns to raise awareness about MIYCN.
• Build trust and rapport with community members, local leaders, and traditional birth attendants.

Data Collection and Reporting:

• Maintain accurate records of counselling sessions, attendance, referrals, and follow-up activities.
• Collect and compile routine program data related to MIYCN indicators.
• Submit regular activity reports to the supervisor (e.g., Nutrition Officer or Project Coordinator) detailing progress, challenges, and lessons learned.

Technical Adherence and Quality Assurance:

• Ensure all counselling messages and practices align with national MIYCN guidelines and international standards (e.g., WHO, UNICEF recommendations).
• Participate in training and refresher courses to continuously update MIYCN knowledge and counselling skills.
• Identify and report any operational challenges or barriers to optimal MIYCN practices in the community.

Qualifications and Experience:   

• Diploma or Certificate in Nutrition, Public Health, Nursing, Midwifery, Community Health Extension Work (CHEW), or a related health-focused field. A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is an added advantage.
• Minimum of 1-2 years of direct experience in providing MIYCN counselling, health education, or community-based nutrition programs.
• Proven experience in conducting one-on-one and group counselling sessions.
• Familiarity with the local context and cultural feeding practices in Maiduguri, Borno, or similar settings.
• Experience in data collection and basic record-keeping.
• Prior experience working with vulnerable populations, pregnant and lactating women, and young children.
• Training certification in MIYCN, IYCF, or CMAM is a significant asset.
• Supports and advises colleagues.
• Adapt communication to the intercultural environment.
• Respect for others
• Aware of the community of good and bad practices including the context of working and adopting oneself to the community norms.
• Experience in applying Behaviour Change Communication models.

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Role Purpose: 

The Nutrition Assistant provides crucial support to the nutrition team in the implementation of various nutrition program activities at the community or facility level. This role involves assisting with direct service delivery, data collection, community mobilization, and ensuring the smooth day-to-day operations of nutrition interventions, contributing directly to improved nutritional outcomes for beneficiaries.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Implementation Support:

• Assist in conducting nutrition screenings (e.g., Mid-Upper Arm Circumference - MUAC measurements) for children under five, pregnant, and lactating women.
• Support the identification and referral of malnourished individuals (SAM/MAM cases) to appropriate treatment centers (e.g., Outpatient Therapeutic Program - OTP, Stabilization Centre - SC).
• Help with the distribution of nutrition commodities such as Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food (RUSF), and micronutrient supplements, ensuring accurate record-keeping.
• Assist in organizing and facilitating health and nutrition education sessions for caregivers, focusing on topics like Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices, hygiene, and disease prevention.
• Support community-level awareness campaigns and sensitization activities.

Data Collection and Reporting:

• Accurately record beneficiary data, including admissions, discharges, referrals, and daily attendance at nutrition sites or during outreach activities.
• Assist in compiling and summarizing routine program data from the field.
• Ensure all reporting forms are correctly filled out and submitted in a timely manner to the supervisor.
• Help maintain proper records and filing systems for nutrition program documentation.

Community Engagement:

• Work closely with community health volunteers (CHVs) and community leaders to facilitate program acceptance and participation.
• Assist in mobilizing community members for nutrition activities, screenings, and awareness sessions.
• Build a good rapport with beneficiaries and ensure respectful interaction.

Supply Chain Support:

• Assist in monitoring the stock levels of nutrition supplies and equipment at the field level.
• Support the proper storage and handling of nutrition commodities to prevent damage or spoilage.
• Help in preparing supply requests for needed materials.

Monitoring and Quality Assurance:

• Support the supervisor during field visits and monitoring activities.
• Identify and report any operational challenges or bottlenecks affecting program implementation to the Nutrition Officer or Coordinator.
• Adhere to all established nutrition program protocols and guidelines.

Qualifications and Experience:   

• Diploma or Certificate in Nutrition, Community Health, Nursing, Social Work, or a related field. A bachelor’s degree is a plus.
• Minimum of 1 year of practical experience working in community-based programs, preferably within the health or nutrition sector.
• Familiarity with basic nutrition concepts, including malnutrition screening and IYCF practices.
• Experience in data collection and record-keeping.
• Prior experience in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria or similar humanitarian/community settings is often highly valued.
• Ability to work effectively with vulnerable populations and diverse communities.

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Role Purpose:

The CMAM Screener is responsible for actively finding and screening children under five, and often pregnant and lactating women, for acute malnutrition at the community level. By accurately conducting anthropometric measurements and identifying danger signs, the screener plays a vital role in early detection, ensuring that malnourished individuals are quickly referred to the appropriate CMAM treatment components (Outpatient Therapeutic Program - OTP, Supplementary Feeding Program - SFP, or Stabilization Centre - SC), thereby contributing to reduced morbidity and mortality due to malnutrition.

Key Responsibilities

Active Case Finding and Screening:

• Conduct systematic active case finding for acute malnutrition within communities through door-to-door visits, community gatherings, and routine screenings at designated sites (e.g., health posts, mobile clinics, community centers).
• Perform accurate anthropometric measurements, primarily Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) for children aged 6-59 months and sometimes for pregnant/lactating women.
• Check for the presence of bilateral pitting edema in both children and adults.
• Identify other danger signs of severe acute malnutrition (e.g., poor appetite, vomiting, fever, lethargy) and medical complications.
• Ensure all measurements are taken correctly and according to established protocols and guidelines.

Referral and Follow-up:

• Refer identified cases of acute malnutrition (SAM or MAM) and those with medical complications to the appropriate CMAM component (OTP, SFP, or SC) based on established admission and referral criteria.
• Clearly explain the referral process to caregivers, emphasizing the urgency and importance of seeking immediate treatment.
• Document all referrals and assist with follow-up to ensure referred individuals reach the designated treatment sites.
• Participate in defaulter tracing and follow-up visits for children who miss appointments at the OTP/SFP.

Health Education and Community Mobilization:

• Provide basic health and nutrition education messages to caregivers and community members, focusing on the importance of early detection of malnutrition, proper feeding practices (e.g., IYCF), hygiene, and seeking timely medical care.
• Mobilize community members to participate in screening campaigns and nutrition awareness sessions.
• Address common misconceptions or cultural barriers related to malnutrition and its treatment.
• Maintain a respectful and empathetic attitude towards beneficiaries.

Data Collection and Reporting:

• Accurately record all screening results, referrals, and follow-up actions in designated registers or tools.
• Compile and summarize daily or weekly data on screening activities.
• Submit regular, accurate reports to the immediate supervisor (e.g., Nutrition Assistant or Nutrition Officer).
• Ensure confidentiality of beneficiary information.

Supplies and Equipment Management:

• Ensure the proper use, maintenance, and safekeeping of screening equipment (e.g., MUAC tapes, weighing scales if applicable).
• Monitor the availability of screening materials and report any needs to the supervisor.

Qualifications and Experience:   

• Typically, a secondary school certificate is required.
• A certificate or diploma in Community Health Extension Work (CHEW), Community Nutrition, or a related field is a significant advantage.
• Minimum of 6 months to 1 year of experience in community mobilization, health education, or a similar role, preferably within a health or nutrition program.
• Practical experience in conducting MUAC measurements is often preferred.
• Familiarity with the local context, community structures, and cultural practices in Damboa, Borno State, Nigeria or similar humanitarian settings.
• Experience in basic data recording and reporting.
• Prior training in CMAM guidelines is a strong asset.

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Role Purpose:

The CMAM Service Provider is responsible for the direct and effective implementation of the Outpatient Therapeutic Program (OTP) and/or Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) components of CMAM. This role involves the accurate assessment, treatment, monitoring, and counselling of children (and sometimes pregnant/lactating women) suffering from acute malnutrition, ensuring adherence to national and international protocols to achieve successful recovery and prevent relapse. The provider is a key link between the community and the formal health system for malnutrition treatment.

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical Assessment and Admission:

• Conduct thorough anthropometric assessments (weight, height/length, MUAC, bilateral pitting edema) for all children and relevant individuals presenting for CMAM services.
• Assess for medical complications and danger signs, and evaluate appetite using the appetite test.
• Accurately apply admission and discharge criteria for OTP and SFP based on national guidelines.
• Ensure proper registration and documentation of all beneficiaries in relevant registers and individual treatment cards.

Treatment and Management:

Outpatient Therapeutic Program (OTP):

• Provide Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) without complications, based on their weight and age.
• Administer routine medications (e.g., broad-spectrum antibiotics, deworming, Vitamin A, measles vaccination if needed) according to protocol.
• Monitor the child\'s progress weekly, identifying improvements, deterioration, or non-response.
• Provide clear instructions to caregivers on RUTF administration, hygiene, and danger signs requiring immediate return.
• Refer complicated cases or those failing to respond to a Stabilization Centre (SC) or higher-level care.

Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP):

• Provide Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food (RUSF) or other fortified blended foods to children with Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM).
• Conduct regular anthropometric monitoring to ensure progress and prevent deterioration to SAM.
• Provide targeted nutrition and hygiene education.

Counselling and Education:

• Provide comprehensive Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) counselling, emphasizing exclusive breastfeeding, appropriate complementary feeding practices, and dietary diversity.
• Counsel caregivers on hygiene practices, safe water, and sanitation.
• Educate caregivers on danger signs of malnutrition and other illnesses, and the importance of timely follow-up.
• Address misconceptions and cultural barriers related to feeding and treatment.

Data Management and Reporting:

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date, and confidential records of all beneficiaries, including admission details, weekly progress, RUTF/RUSF consumption, and discharge outcomes.
• Compile and summarize daily, weekly, and monthly program data (e.g., admissions, discharges, defaulters, recoveries) for reporting to the Nutrition Officer/Coordinator.
• Ensure data quality and consistency.

Supply Chain Management:

• Monitor stock levels of nutrition commodities (RUTF, RUSF, therapeutic milk, routine medications) at the site level.
• Ensure proper storage conditions to prevent spoilage or damage.
• Prepare accurate requests for resupply to avoid stock-outs.

Coordination and Referral:

• Coordinate closely with CMAM Screeners, Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), and local health facility staff.
• Facilitate timely and appropriate internal and external referrals (e.g., from community to OTP/SFP, from OTP to SC, to WASH, health, or protection services).
• Participate in review meetings and contribute to program adjustments based on field observations.

Qualifications and Experience:   

• Bachelor\'s degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) in Nutrition & Dietetics, Public Health, Nursing, Community Health Extension Work (CHEW), Clinical Medicine, or a related medical/health field.
• Minimum of 1-3 years of proven experience in direct implementation of Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) programs.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with anthropometric measurements, appetite testing, and administering routine medications within a CMAM context.
• Strong experience in providing Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) counselling.
• Proficient in data collection, record-keeping, and basic reporting for nutrition programs.
• Experience working in community settings and with vulnerable populations.
• Prior experience in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria, or similar humanitarian/emergency contexts, is a significant advantage.