Nutrition Program Officer at Helen Keller International - 5 Openings

Helen Keller International is a global health organization dedicated to eliminating preventable vision loss, malnutrition and diseases of poverty. Cofounded by Helen Keller – and guided by her fierce optimism and belief in human potential – the organization delivers life-changing health solutions to vulnerable families where the need is great but access to care is limited. In the US, Africa, and Asia, Helen Keller’s proven, science-based programs empower people to create opportunities in their own lives and build lasting change

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Nutrition Program Officer

Locations: Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Katsina, Nassarawa and Taraba
Reports to: VAS Coordinator

Background

• Helen Keller International is a global health organization dedicated to eliminating preventable vision loss, malnutrition and diseases of poverty. Cofounded by Helen Keller - and guided by her fierce optimism and belief in human potential - the organization delivers life-changing health solutions to vulnerable families where the need is great but access to care is limited.
• In the US, Africa, and Asia, Helen Keller’s proven, science-based programs empower people to create opportunities in their own lives and build lasting change.

Vitamin A Supplementation (VAS)

• Helen Keller works closely with the Government of Nigeria to ensure high coverage of more than 80% of the target population of children aged 6 to 59 months old with Vitamin A. Helen Keller also supports the national and state-level advocacy, planning, training of health workers, community sensitization and demand creation, delivery of Vitamin A capsules, program monitoring and evaluation. In 2001, Helen Keller integrated Vitamin A supplementation into Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) as a cost-effective, sustainable strategy and a strong platform for community mobilization. Vulnerable groups, including children 6-59 months old and post-partum women within 8 weeks of delivery, were targeted.
• However, since 2009, Helen Keller aligned with the Federal Government of Nigeria and adopted the bi-annual Maternal Newborn and Child Health Weeks (MNCHW) as a high-impact strategy to distribute Vitamin A capsules alongside other low-cost interventions that have been proven to be highly effective in reducing mortality rates and improving maternal and child health. Helen Keller currently supports Vitamin A Supplementation in Nassarawa and Benue states and has received additional funding from GiveWell to expand the implementation of its VAS program and conduct yearly post event coverage evaluation surveys across four new states in Nigeria (Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Katsina and Taraba).

Job Responsibilities

• Under the supervision of the VAS Coordinator, the Nutrition Program Officer implements, monitors and evaluate Helen Keller Nigeria’s nutrition programs and projects in accordance with national protocols and policies.

Technical Capacity:

• Liaise with the nutrition unit of the State Ministry of Health (SMOH) or State Primary Health Care Development Agencies (SPHCDA) to develop costed nutrition strategic work-plans.
• Support the state in advocating for timely allocation and release of funds to implement the bi-annual Maternal Newborn and Child Health Weeks.
• Support the state in assessing personnel, logistic and commodity needs towards effective microplanning
• Support training of health personnel at State, LGA and Ward levels and facilitate training of independent monitors prior to the VAS campaign
• Provide technical assistance to the state and support implementation of nationwide bi-annual VAS through Maternal Newborn and Child Health Weeks.
• Analyze, interpret and present program data in useful formats and disseminate findings to relevant stakeholders to promote timely decision making and course correction
• Work closely with the State to conduct yearly Post Events Coverage Surveys after the VAS campaign, analyze results and share findings with relevant stakeholders for course correction during subsequent campaigns
• Maintain regular communication with other state nutrition program partners
• Facilitate program planning and review meetings on Vitamin A supplementation
• Collaborate with the state and partners to develop /roll out IEC / SBCC strategies and tools to support nutrition programs
• Actively participate in key relevant national and state level nutrition technical forums
• Work closely with State Nutrition Officers to strengthen technical reporting in accordance with defined reporting schedule and program indicators
• Track program progress using mutually agreed indicators, targets, and recommend remedial action to keep programs on course
• Contribute to and support the maintenance of an updated database of technical program reports including site visits, monthly reports, quarterly and annual reports
• Participate in research to increase VAS coverage and other nutrition interventions
• Support the capacity building of nutrition program officers on relevant nutrition interventions
• Support the implementation of other relevant nutrition activities beyond the Vitamin A Supplementation project such as healthy lifestyle project, infant and young child feeding, community management of acute malnutrition, food fortification, food security e.t.c.
• Perform any other duty as assigned

Qualifications Required

• Minimum of Master's Degree in Nutrition or Food and Dietetics
• Or Bachelors’ in Nutrition plus a Master’s in Public Health or similar related field
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience

Competencies Required:

• Demonstrates technical knowledge pertaining to job requirements
• Prior experience working in the field of VAS will be an added advantage
• Able to work under pressure minimal supervision and able to meet up deadlines
• Ability to use the Internet and computer software such as Microsoft office
• Must possess good interpersonal skills and be a good team player
• Ability to analyze and interpret program data using SPSS or STATA statistical software
• Demonstrated excellent personal integrity and confidentiality
• Ability to speak the local language is highly desirable and an added advantage

Application Closing Date
7th July, 2021.