LOCATION: Maiduguri, Borno State
POSITION STATUS: Full time, Regular
QUALIFICATION: MBA/MSC in Nutrition, Health, or other relevant scientific fields.
EXPERIENCE: 5 – 7 years
ABOUT MERCY CORPS
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.
PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY
With the insurgency affecting North-East Nigeria and displacing millions of people, Mercy Corps is to implement a multi-sector response that covers Nutrition, Food assistance, Agriculture, WASH, Shelter and Protection to support the conflict-affected population. The nutrition response supports both nutrition-sensitive and specific interventions that contribute to the prevention, detection and management of malnutrition. These include: a). Promotion of Maternal, Infant, Young Child Nutrition (via support groups, one-to-one counselling and community-wide SBC for IYCF); b). Provision of supplemental Nutrition Assistance i.e. the distribution of Fresh Food Vouchers, backyard gardening and poultry production aiming at improving dietary diversity among targeted households; c). Nutrition surveillance activities i.e. community nutrition screening, nutrition surveys and assessments aiming at monitoring the nutrition situation of targeted vulnerable individuals; d). Management of children with uncomplicated Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) through established Outpatient Therapeutic Program (OTP) services, as well as support referral and follow-up of SAM patients with medical complications to Stabilization Centers(SCs) and children with Moderate Acute malnutrition (MAM) to Targeted Supplementary Feeding Program (TSFP).
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY
The Nutrition Coordinator is responsible for providing technical oversight and coordination of nutrition and agriculture sector activities implemented in five (5) LGAs i.e. Damboa, Gwoza, Dikwa, Ngala & Bama in Borno State. He/she will work closely with the program manager and technical advisor to ensure activities are of quality and at scale. He/ she will monitor technical quality and ensure activities are implemented within agreed timelines and budget, monitor relevance and report on progress. He/ she will also participate in capacity building activities, strategic partnership development with various nutrition stakeholders, and
monitor the context and implementation environment
ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
STRATEGY & VISION
- Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
- Collaborate with other team members for effective integration between other services like Nutrition, WASH, Food Security, Agriculture and protection.
- Collaborate with local authorities and other partners to harmonize different efforts for better impact and sustainability.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
- Support the startup/ on-going nutrition and agriculture activities across five (5) field locations. Activities include Promotion of MIYCN, Fresh Food Vouchers distribution, backyard gardening and poultry production and CMAM services.
- Follow up the activities, evaluate the quality, identify gaps and in liaison with the Technical Advisor develop actions plans to improve service delivery
- Participate in developing nutrition and agriculture sector-specific technical strategies, approaches, tools and detailed implementation plans.
- Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
- Consolidate and follows up nutrition and agriculture program procurements and ensures the process follows MC policy and periodically evaluate and update project procurement and supply needs.
- Consolidates monthly/ quarterly financial forecasts in line with the detailed project activity plan/Monthly activity plans and follows up with Program Manager
- Ensure the timely production/compilation/ consolidation of the monthly activity reports and technical reports from the field and provide feedback when needed. Additionally, provide input to fact sheets, briefers, and other materials on nutrition to expand communication and advocacy.
- Conducts field visits and actively participate in program monitoring and evaluation including baselines, end lines, midterm reviews and lesson learning exercises.
- Closely collaborate with other sector teams to ensure an integrated Nutrition approach internally with MC sectors and externally with complementary activities implemented by other nutrition actors.
- Attend technical workshops and technical working group meetings related to the program.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
- Organize and lead weekly nutrition & agriculture program staff meetings and as well facilitate nutrition sector quarterly review meetings/workshops.
- Support field manager to analyze and control the technical performance of the nutrition team, monitor and follow the individual action plans.
- Develop and Identify training needs and key areas of capacity building of the team members.
- Provide technical inputs during the performance review and objective setting for Nutrition & agriculture program staff.
FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT
- Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION
- Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with local governments and other stakeholders.
- Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
- Upholds the image and values of Mercy Corps at all times,
SECURITY
- Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
- Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING
- As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES
- Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
- Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local
laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country
venues.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
- Senior Program Officers – Nutrition
Accountability
Reports Directly to: Nutrition Advisor.
Works Directly with: Works closely with the Program Manager, Field level Nutrition team, WASH
team, CASH team, MEL team, and operations staff (including finance and operations).
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
- Preferably, a Masters’ degree or any related discipline in Nutrition, Health, or other relevant science field.
- Minimum (5) years’ experience in nutrition programming – CMAM experience is a MUST.
- Hands-on experience in designing, planning, implementing and evaluating nutritional behavioural interventions is highly desirable.
- Knowledge of nutrition and food security issues in North-East Nigeria
- Excellent analytical, written and oral communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team, including cross-cultural teams.
- Able to communicate in English, Kanuri and Hausa
SUCCESS FACTORS
The successful candidate will be capable of multi-tasking, rapid decision-making, have initiative, drive and a lot of energy, as well as high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with capacity building. S/he will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
How to apply
Interested candidates are requested to click HERE to create an account using your email address. Kindly indicate under the source question that you are a Current (or Former) Mercy Corps Team Member. The application closes on 21 March 2021.
