Nutrition Technical Advisor (National) at Medecins du Monde (MdM)

Medecins du Monde (MdM) is an international humanitarian organization whose mission is to provide medical care for the most vulnerable populations, the world over, including France. It seeks to stimulate voluntary commitment from doctors, other health care providers, and from those whose expertise in other fields is needed for its activities, to enlist all competent support required for the achievement of its projects, and to seek at all times to encourage close working relationships with populations in its care. MdM operating in Nigeria, Borno state since October 2016.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Nutrition Technical Advisor (National)

Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full-time

Main Responsibilities 
Program Support:

• In line with MdM overall strategy, design and suggest adjustments to MdM strategy on Nutrition – under the overall supervision of the Medical Coordinator - in close collaboration with the program managers in the different bases.
• Advise the field team (specific focus on OTP team) on ensuring the implementation of Nutrition related activities, and appropriate referral mechanisms following guidelines and strategy, through medical Coordinator. 
• Support the medical team, through the Medical Coordinator, to ensure smooth incorporation of Nutrition component with training and implementation / follow up of internal referral pathway.
• Identify needs of trainings (focus on nurses, nutrition staff, community mobilisers), develop / review Nutrition training packages and ensure formal and on job / informal trainings to address identified gaps in capacity.
• Carry out and update a mapping of all actors responding to malnutrition and develop a strong network to foster information exchange and synergies.
• Lead on coordination with other actors at country level to ensure safe referral for Nutrition patients to stabilisation centers.
• Actively participate to coordination efforts with Nutrition actors (ex: nutrition cluster).
• Support and follow-up the community mobilization activities in close collaboration with MdM team as well as other stakeholders (ex: community leaders …)
• Ensure appropriate treatment protocols are followed at Health Facilities. This includes correct anthropometrical measurements and follow-up of the MUAC, Weight and Oedema ensuring accurate patient database management, admissions and exit criteria etc is respected.

Capacity Building:

• Identify the capacity building needs of MdM related to nutrition cares Organize and/or facilitate trainings on the response to Nutrition, in line with MdM training materials available.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of training programs for MdM staff, MoH, community health workers, and partners.
• Participate in the recruitment of nutrition staff, ensuring they meet the required competencies.

Advocacy:

• Participate in the development of external and internal communication tools in order to promote MdM operational model for the response to nutrition in humanitarian settings.
• Take part, if necessary, with the MdM team, partners or other actors to advocacy activities.
• Participate in the dissemination of MdM’s approach, results and lessons learnt.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Ensure the quality of Outreach Therapeutic Program (nutrition) activities through regular monitoring and technical support of clinic team, data collection and management, and provide guidance in case of difficulties.
• Develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework for MdM Nutrition activities.
• Analyze data and feedback from the field to identify gaps and areas for improvement in Nutrition service delivery.
• Ensure regular reporting on the quality and impact of Nutrition interventions.

Supervision and Reporting:

• Make sure the nutrition data collection system is in place, respect confidentiality and safety and that nutrition data collection tools are properly used and indicators monitored;
• Share with Medical Coordinator and Deputy Genco- in charge of programs any difficulties met in the field and propose solutions or adjustments.
• Participate to the nutrition cluster meetings and actively contribute to coordination and common reporting efforts.
• If needed, participate to meetings with the State Ministry of Health or other stakeholders involved in nutrition.
• Contribute to the preparation of new proposals or reports to donors.
• This list of activities is not exhaustive and may change depending on the situation.  

Skills Required

• B.Sc in Nutrition, Nursing, Public health, Medicine or any related field.
• At least 5 years of professional experience as nutritionist or advisory function on emergency nutrition programming;
• At least 1 previous experience with an INGO is required (with MdM is an asset);
• Ability to provide quality training;
• Relevant qualifications in Emergency Nutrition, IYCF, screening and treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition is required
• Ability to create tools and monitoring process
• Working Experience in insecure environments is an advantage
• Excellent English is mandatory (oral and written)

Personal Skills Required:

• Excellent organizational, training and coaching skills is required;
• Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills;
• Capacity to create relationships with the communities, government authorities, INGO and UN agencies.
• Able to prioritize; Be flexible;
• Ability to work under stressful situation;
• Has a good team spirit;
• Able to work and live in specific security context.
• Because of the emergency relief nature of MdM’s work, working hours may be irregular and employees are expected to be flexible in their approach to working hours under emergency conditions.

Background of the candidate:

• Sex: Indifferent
• Humanitarian experience: Yes  
• Nationality: Nigerian   
• Emergency experience: Yes       
• Cultural experience: Yes
• Language: English (Fluent)     

Computer skills: 

• Windows environment   
•  Ms word: Yes  
• Ms Excel: Yes      
• Power point: Yes

  Others:

• Hausa: An asset   
• Kanuri: An asset   

Links:

• Hierarchical link: Medical Coordinator
• Collaboration: Other technical advisors, Grant Manager, Program Managers

Important Notice:

• Only successful applicants will be called for the next steps and are obligated to disclose any information about family member(s) currently in the employment with MDM-France in any location. 
• No monetary transactions, neither demands of favors in kind, nor other types of favoritism will be tolerated in the MDM recruitment process.
• MDM reserves the right to refuse hiring a candidate having benefitted from any such acts. All illicit demands may be pursued through the judicial system.
• MDM is an equal opportunity employer and encourages any Nigerian citizen to apply irrespective of race, gender, religion, creed, political affiliation.
• Dual Employment is considered gross misconduct and hence not acceptable.
• MDM reserves the right to cancel any step or whole of the recruitment process at any stage.
• MDM France takes this opportunity to thank all potential candidates for their application.
• Candidates are required to submit references upon application.

Salary
N500,000 - N750,000 Monthly.

Application Closing Date
21st January, 2025.