Nutrition & Health Officer at Action Against Hunger | ACF-International - 4 Openings

Action Against Hunger works to save lives by combating hunger and diseases that threaten the lives of vulnerable communities, through nutrition, food security, water and sanitation, health and advocacy.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Nutrition & Health Officer

Location:  (Country & Base): Damaturu, Yobe State
Start date: As Soon As Possible
Direct Line Manager: Program Manager
Slot: 4 

Objective 1

• Implementation of Health and Nutrition activities at the facility and community level

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Participate in the development of joint activity work plans with key stakeholders in the LGA and within ACF
• Ensure that all services are fully integrated, scaled-up and implemented as per national protocols
• Establish and foster linkage between the health facility and the community in the respective catchment areas
• Plan and participate in training of HF staff on IMAM and IYCF and other health packages
• Building the capacity of the Health Facility staff and community volunteers (CVs) attached to the health facilities on CMAM, IYCF and other health interventions in the LGA
• Support and build capacity of HF and LGA health department in the compilation, preparation and submission of accurate and timely Health and Nutrition reports
• Implement, organize, follow-up and report on capacity building, training and nutrition screening activities
• Improve on the linkages between the beneficiaries in the CMAM, IYCF and other Health program and the health facilities.
• Participate in surveillance activities to monitor Health and Nutrition situation in the LGAs.
• Provide updates to HF staff, LGA health workers and community leaders and Health & Nutrition Assistants on Health and Nutrition situation analysis in the LGA in collaboration with the DPM and surveillance specialist
• Assess and report the drugs and other major supplies in the HF on a monthly basis and share report with H&N Sector Manager.
• Build the capacity of HF staff and CVs and monitor for accurate timely and quality reporting and management of stocks.

Objective 2

• Scale up and functionality of Care Groups (CGs) and Fathers Group (FGs) at LGA level

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Provide monthly updates on PLW and Neighbour Women (NW) grouping at LGA level with specific details on those that newly join the groups monthly.
• Orientation and training of community based health promoters and H&N packages.
• Build capacity of CHIPPS, care group facilitators and CGV leaders on Health and Nutrition packages
• Monitor the knowledge levels of CHIPPS, Care group and CGV leaders and close the knowledge gaps for quality results.
• Conduct monthly reviews with CHIPPS, Care group leaders on reporting and data accuracy and completeness.
• Ensure proper maintenance of Health and Nutrition records in HFs and community groups, verified using checklists (QIVCs) and are easily accessible
• Conduct hands on supervision of HWs in selected HF in the LGA for quality health and nutrition services and closing gaps in the Facility.
• Supervise the Care group and fathers group meetings for quality discussions and dissemination of reports.
• Conduct and monitoring the referral mechanism in Care groups and HFs

Objective 3

• Project Management

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Facilitate the implementation of Health and Nutrition activities in line with activity timeline
• Ensure budget utilization for H&N interventions in line with the financial forecast  and within timelines
• Ensure compliance to logistic and finance during planning of workshops, trainings and/or meeting that requires financial advances and/or logistical procurement etc.
• Ensure the Health and Nutrition activity targets for care groups, CGV groups, and other core health and nutrition targets is met monthly in selected wards.
• Monitor the project activities and output targets are achieved on a monthly basis
• Maintain close collaboration with LGA Health and Nutrition department and political leadership on health and nutrition issues in the supported LGAs
• Build relationships with INGOs and local NGOs for synergies in nutrition and health service delivery to avoid duplication of efforts in the targeted LGAs.

Objective 4

• Community based assessments, community profiling and community based interventions

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Conduct community mobilization and sensitization for public health and nutrition in targeted LGAs.
• Share health and nutrition gaps with key leaders, community groups and community members during ongoing meetings in community and LGA.
• In collaboration with the DPM, develop messages to pass to the community members and other target groups according to the needs identified from the dialogues and sensitization sessions
• Ensure case-finding and referral mechanisms are functional in HF and communities.
• In collaboration with the DPM and HF Health workers, ensure community health and nutrition screening is functional and linked to the health facilities.
• Document the functionality of community structures and models and share with Health and Nutrition Sector manager for action.
• Conduct situational analysis of multisector issues for further actions quarterly

Objective 5

• Information management, reporting and coordination:

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Ensure that all training and meeting records are dully in place for all activities (attendance sheet, on-job coaching sessions, workshop/meeting reports)
• Monthly reports submitted by 28th monthly in agreed standards
• Submit issues log report to H&N Sector Manager with updates on specific actions taken so far and the further actions required.
• Share success stories on system strengthening and any other Nutrition and health interventions in the LGAs.
• Organize and lead the LGA based monthly coordination meetings and support LGA teams on health and nutrition issues including reporting and service gaps
• Participate in the relevant cluster meetings and other related forum at district or governorate level as and when requested by the PM or in absence of PM.
• Support the health facility staff in completing health and nutrition reports (beneficiary statistics, stock report and requests among others)
• Support preparation of care group monthly report using the information provided by nutrition assistants and health promoters
• Participate in writing situation reports with information on food security, WASH or security information at the community as needed and/or requested

Objective 6

• Performance Management

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Communicate Action Against Hunger performance standards and expectations to team members which includes;
• 10 minutes monthly conversation for Health and Nutrition Assistant completed, discussed and submitted by 30th monthly
• 3 months/end of probation performance appraisal and annual/ end of contract appraisal completed, discussed and submitted by end of month.
• Staff development needs, capacity gaps highlighted in performance management document and key issues highlighted for Sector Manager attention

Internal & External Relationship
Internal:

• Health and Nutrition Sector Manager: Line Manager
• WASH, SP, HSS Sector Manager: Information Sharing
• Health and Nutrition Officer : Exchange of information and coordination of activities
• M&E Officers/Manager; regular collaboration and coordination; exchange of information
• Logistic/HR/Finance Managers: functional collaboration and exchange of information

External:

• LGA Health and Nutrition Department, Health Facilities: direct technical and facilitation support, close collaboration, training and workshop facilitation support.
• LGA Team/Health facility team: Training, supportive supervision, exchange of information, coordination.

Position Requirements
Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Medicine/Public Health/Nursing/or related field
• Certificate in project management for development will be an added advantage

Skills & Experience
Essential:

• 3 years’ experience in primary health and nutrition
• Good understanding of Nigeria health system structure
• Previous role of development facilitation and supervisory level is required
• Fluency in spoken and written English language. Hausa language will be added advantage
• Working knowledge of MS office

Preferred:

• Work experience in humanitarian settings
• Work experience with government health care system is an added advantage
• Experience of working in partnership with or directly with health department is preferable
• Ability to plan and organize work Independent with appropriate follow through while paying close attention to detail and can read and abstract information from a variety of formats.
• Ability to delegate and follow up of task among teams
• Ability to manage wide range of stakeholders for collaboration, coordination and consultation

Gross Basic Salary
NGN 236,585 - NGN 379,904

Application Closing Date
29th May, 2019.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online