Nutrition Assistant at Albarka Health Spring Foundation (AHSF)

Albarka Health Spring Foundation (AHSF) is a non-governmental organization dully registered with Nigerian government through Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC/IT NO: 91613). Existing since October 2016, AHSF focuses on improving the quality of life of vulnerable population across communities in North East Nigeria. AHSF operates both in emergency and developmental context and have its program principally rooted in identifying gaps that affects population or increases vulnerability of population and bridging those gaps through resource base planning and implementation.

AHSF has experience working with various partners in the Northeast, Northcentral and Northwest of Nigeria implementing Nutrition, WASH, Protection / GBV and Health. In the Northwest region of Nigeria, we have worked with NAVANTI Group, a US research-based Non-Profit Organization, on Food Security and Nutrition, to determine food availability, affordability and accessibility within conflict clocked areas, in the northwest states: Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states respectively.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Nutrition Assistant

Location: Pulka, Borno
Employment Type: Contract
Contract Duration: 12 Months
Expected Start Date: As soon as possible.

Project Objective

• Enhance the resilience and well being of conflict-affected communities in Pulka, Borno State, through comprehensive and sustainable health, nutrition and protection interventions aimed at reducing mortality and morbidity, improving access to quality health care and nutrition services, and strengthening protective environments for vulnerable population.

Specific Objective

• Enhance and sustain safe, dignified and barrier free access to comprehensive Primary Health Care (PHC) services, including SRH, Nutrition, MHPSS and protection, for all conflict-affected individuals in Pulka.

Job Summary

• The Nutrition Assistant will be responsible for planning and implementation of nutrition activities in AHSF food security and nutrition operation area in Borno LGA’S focusing on IDPs and vulnerable host communities.
• They will ensure comprehensive mobilisation of the community for nutrition screening of children under five, forming and monitoring care support groups and IYCF training.

Main Duties & Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Nutrition Officer and in collaboration with the project coordinator, and other collaborators of the projects and of the Base, they will:

• Perform screening of the nutritional status of children under five in their designated locations and refer SAM cases to SC/MAM centres.
• Coordinate and collaborate with community mobilisers’ team leaders and lead mothers of care groups in implementing follow-up of referred SAM cases.
• Follow up with the new admission of malnourished children.
• Ensure liaison with existing community structures, (groups and individuals, women groups, religious leaders where possible.
• Daily reporting.
• Weekly reporting and compilation of monthly reporting.
• Collect and track weekly data at community level, including the results of MUAC screening during house-to-house visits, in accordance with AHSF standard nutrition statistical reporting forms
• Submit weekly nutrition and health report to the Nutrition Officer for onward sharing with the Monitoring & Evaluation Officer.
• Carry out the day-to-day Nutrition activities.
• Respond to inquiries regarding the technical aspects of the program admission.
• Training of Community Nutrition Mobilisers (CNMs) training on how to conduct MUAC screening, counsel caregivers and conduct follow-up monitoring visits to beneficiary households.
• Provide training on nutrition (IYCF) and hygiene practices
• Follow referrals of all severely malnourished children to the stabilization center.
• Keep defaulter tracing for malnourished children.
• Documents lessons learned in specific technical areas.
• Report any problems in a timely manner to the Nutrition Officer or the Monitoring & Evaluation Officer.
• Participate in the field work of the nutrition survey (impact assessment).

Additional Responsibilities
This job description is not intended to be all inclusive and the employee will also perform other related tasks as required and assigned by his/her supervisor.

Minimum Requirements

• Nutrition and Health qualifications (B.Sc, & HND)
• Good communication skills
• Ability to communicate with vulnerable populations
• Proven experience in related field.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Accuracy and promptness in performing duties.
• English writing and speaking skill.

Desired Competencies / Skills:
Essential:

• Professional, motivated, open, creative, mature, responsible, flexible and culturally sensitive.
• Good understanding of cultural context.

Preferred:

• Previous experience in similar roles in a humanitarian set up
• Good knowledge of the intervention area/s and local context
• Treat beneficiaries with dignity and apply AHSF Code of Ethics and Conduct, the UN Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in the field, including sensitizing Field Staffs and vendors/agents on such principles

Position Requirements:

• The Nutrition Assistant WILL be based in community assigned.
• Borno indigene, fluent in Hausa.
• Minimum of bachelor’s degree / HND in Nutrition, Public Health, community health or other relevant field.
• 3 years work experience in implementing CMAM, IYCF, and other community-based nutrition activities.
• Be proficient in the use of computer applications (Microsoft Office Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Have excellent team, project management and representation competencies.
• Ability to speak local languages in will be an added advantage.
• Have previous NGO experience managing mobilization in different interventions (i.e TSFP, BSFP, WASH, Nutrition) preferably.
• Be committed to Action the AHSF’s mission, values, and policies.

Application Closing Date
1st June, 2024.