Program Officer, Nutrition at Haske Humanitarian Aid Initiative (HHAI) - 3 Openings

Haske Humanitarian Aid Initiative (HHAI) is a women and youth-driven organization established in the year 2022, and since its establishment to date, the organization has striven to continuously interface and engage with key stakeholders at all levels to support in addressing gaps in the health sector, improve nutrition indices, and women’s agency, health, and socio-economic empowerment from the grassroots level which will provide an enabling environment and a robust healthy community. We strive for positive change in the way the community response to the health and socio-economic well-being of women, young adolescents, and children under 5 and to achieve an immediate and lasting change in their lives by providing the enabling environment. Across all our work, we pursue several core values: Honesty. Accountability, ambition, professionalism, collaboration, creativity, and integrity.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Program Officer, Nutrition

Locations: Adamawa, Borno and Yobe

Job Purpose

• The Nutrition officer will work closely and under the supervision of the Programme Coordinator (PC) to design and deliver high quality, innovative programs in Nigeria.
• The nutrition coordinator has a particular focus on driving strategy implementation, leading the nutrition team in designing high quality projects with particular attention to enhance program integration, supporting expansion into newly accessible geographic areas, and increasing HHAI’s work on early recovery across the humanitarian and development nexus. S/he will ensure timely and effective program delivery, coordination and technical coherence and support, monitoring, evaluation and accountability.
• The Nutrition Coordinator will provide a focus on country SAP priority outcomes and client responsiveness, and will represent HHAI Nutrition programme to major stakeholders, relevant government authorities and other program partners.
• S/he will ensure that HHAI Nutrition program will be implemented in accordance with international protocols, guidelines, and best practices. As part of an experienced Nutrition team, you will help coordinate Nutrition activities through the duties outlined below.

Job Description / Principal Accountabilities
Program quality and development:

• The Nutrition officer will be responsible for overall leadership, implementation, and oversight of HHAI nutrition program.
• Provide leadership in the development of a coherent strategy for the implementation of innovative and quality nutrition programming informed by the Nigeria context in line with the HHAI Nigeria Strategic Plan (2022 to 2027).
• Develop strategic frameworks that demonstrate and promote nutrition sensitivity of other sector approaches in both humanitarian and transitional programming in Nigeria.
• Develop and lead in implementing a nutrition capacity-building plan for the Nigeria country team, MoH, volunteers, collaborates etc. including performance planning, on-job training, and coaching.
• Lead the development and use of nutrition intervention-implementation frameworks and Standard Operating Procedures including selection of appropriate modalities, service providers, data collection, targeting criteria, beneficiary selection, activity and product quality assurance and monitoring and evaluation ensuring use and compliance with HHAI standards, international best practices and Ministry of Health and WHO/UNICEF.
• Provide technical and operational guidance for quality and timely implementation of Nutrition interventions against set program objectives, targets, and work plans.
• Coordinate resources and team skills effectively to ensure quality and harmonized implementation of nutrition activities
• Lead in designing and refining the nutrition delivery approaches most appropriate to the Nigeria context and sector standards.
• Coordinate with and support other technical advisors for the inclusion of nutrition-sensitive interventions to address needs across sectors including health, cash, food security and WASH.
• Conduct regular field visits to support and mentor nutrition teams and activities
• Support HR and Program teams in the recruitment and capacity building of nutrition staffs.
• Contribute to the retention and growth of existing nutrition programming for HHAI- Nigeria country program
• Actively design and draft nutrition programme concepts, proposals, and budgets.
• Coordinate the Timely preparation of quality nutrition intervention reports.
• Work collaboratively with MEAL and program teams in the preparation of requisite internal and external donor reports.
• Facilitate systematic/correct supplies requests, distribution plans, consumption reporting from the nutrition programme to the logistics department
• Conduct/Lead/Manage/Oversee nutritional assessment planning, implementation, analysis, interpretation, and reporting, as required.
• Facilitate the development and scheduling of outreach and community activities

Program Implementation:

• Provide leadership to Nutrition staffs in ensuring effective grant start-up, implementation review and closeout meetings are planned and conducted in a timely manner with full participation of all relevant stakeholders from programs and support teams, and that actions are taken as a result.
• Provide leadership for Nutrition managers in the timely and high-quality implementation of nutrition programming and promote regular reviews - both internal and external - and other learning events.
• Provide support to the Country Emergency Team during the scale up of a sudden onset humanitarian response and during the deployment phase
• Ensure program coordination, with other technical coordinators for crosscutting themes work together effectively according to program work plans.
• Conduct frequent field visits to all nutrition sites for monitoring, quality control and program staff mentoring and coaching.
• Coordinate high-level reporting on country-level indicators such as beneficiary numbers, design for impact indicators, cluster data and other information as needed.
• Ensure that donor reports produced by the programs team effectively demonstrate the impact of HHAI’s interventions.
• Ensure program design and implementation is in line with Nigeria SAP strategy and country’s commitments

HR and Staff Management:

• Help to drive a culture of ambitious, responsible, and committed leadership amongst nutrition staffs.
• Enhance the performance management for nutrition staffs both direct and indirect line management
• Support nutrition program staff through close attention to staff care, mentoring, and development.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options, and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Representation and Advocacy:

• In coordination with the other technical leads develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders in Nigeria including local communities, donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors.
• Ensure HHAI active representation and participation in the relevant clusters/sectors coordination
• Develop strategic partnerships with local organizations.
• In coordination with the PC and other technical leads assist in organizing donor visits by supporting staff in the smooth design and running of field visits.

Job Holder Entry Requirements
Knowledge (Education & Related Experience):
Essential:

• Bachelor's Degree preferably in Health, Nutrition, with extensive experience in Nutrition programming. A master’s degree is an added advantage
• At least 2 years continuous experience with technical design and implementation of nutrition programming, 1 year must be in a humanitarian response in a complex context
• Experience managing humanitarian relief and/or transitional programs in areas affected by large scale displacements due to conflict and chronic food and nutritional insecurity
• Demonstrated experience in program management, project design and use of project design tools
• Experience of CMAM surge programming

Skills (Special Training or Competence):

• Commitment to women’s rights and HHAI’s vision, mission, and values, including sensitivity to cultural settings
• Proven technical competence in MIYCN, CMAM, MAMI, IYCF-E and Surge approaches in complex humanitarian emergencies
• Demonstrated theoretical knowledge and applied experience using integrated approaches and systems thinking.
• Demonstrated experience of capacity strengthening for improved nutrition-specific and nutrition- sensitive programming.
• Experience with use of relevant sector assessment tools (e.g., SMART, SQUEAC, rapid needs assessments - including IYCF-E -, KAP and Barrier Analysis)
• Experience in negotiating and establishing partnerships for implementing nutrition interventions.
• Demonstrated competence in finding solutions to complex problems and delivering results Strong influencing and representation skills with multiple stakeholders
• Strong program/technical and budget management skills, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties.
• Aptitude to adapt to a different context regarding security, culture, climate, or health issue, demonstrated by experience outside of country of origin
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Fluency in English required. Hausa and Kanuri are an asset.
• Female candidates with local understanding of the context and culture are highly encouraged to apply
• Willingness to travel in the field at least 50% of your time
• Ability to build strong working relationships for partnerships
• Standards of Professional Conduct especially on integrity, service, and accountability

Key Behaviors:

• Interpersonal and intercultural sensitivity.
• Social and receptive (active listener).
• High degree of integrity.
• Ability to work independently and as a part of the team, as the situation dictates.
• Pro-active and ready to take initiative.
• Ability to assimilate and handle a wide range of information efficiently and effectively.
• High level of stress tolerance and ability to work under pressure with minimum supervision.
• Willingness to undertake extensive field trips
• within PCO working area.

Internal:

• Program Coordinator
• Other thematic area Coordinators
• Finance and Support Services team
• Various staff based in all HHAI core departments, as and when necessary (e.g. funding, PDA, NUTRITION, finance, PPA)

External:

• Partners
• Consultants
• Service Providers/Stakeholders (Other NGOs)
• Government agencies
• Community leaders/CBOs.

Application Closing Date
22nd December, 2023.