Nutrition Specialist - Mercy Corps (Dhegaxbuur)

[Admin]

Closing date: 21 Jun 2009
Location: Ethiopia - Degehabur

Reference: 208680-927

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

* Coordinate and discuss with relevant nutrition program actors in Ethiopia in order to identify partnership and programming opportunities. Liaise closely with the Regional Bureau of Health and UNICEF.* Coordinate, manage and successfully oversee the implementation of Mercy Corps’ nutrition intervention in the Somali Region.* Write the nutrition components of project proposals.* Provide training to Mercy Corps staff on nutritional programming and CTC.* Source and request the necessary nutritional program inputs – especially Plumpynut, MUAC tape, weight for height boards, etc.* Provide technical advice and recommendations to the Program Manager, Country Director and Senior Management Staff on issues of nutrition in the project area.* Recruit the necessary staff required to implement Mercy Corps nutrition interventions.* Determine the necessary criteria for diagnosis, recruitment of the malnourished into the program, discharge and follow up.* Identify all the necessary equipment and supplies needed to implement a CTC program and present it to the Mercy Corps logistics department.* In close cooperation with the Ministry of Health and UNICEF, establish the necessary procedure guidelines and protocols to be used for screening, grading and managing malnourished mothers and children and ensure that these will be followed.* Identify and recommend training, nutrition messages, monitoring and supervision instruments and materials to be used by the staff at the field level.* Identify the appropriate mechanisms and instruments for information gathering and reporting on the nutrition program which will address the indicators as outlined in the project proposals and as may be required by Mercy Corps. * Design the necessary registers and cards to be used in the process of screening and managing malnourished mothers and children. These should include the registers for the received nutritional food supplies as well as the food supplied out to clients. * Identify and promote linkages between the nutritional component and Mercy Corps animal health focused interventions.* Provide recommendations for longer term nutritional programming and interventions in Ethiopia as well as potential opportunities for Mercy Corps involvement with RUTF production.* Carry out any other tasks as may be requested by the Country Director or Program Manager.

Accountability: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards 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.

Organizational Learning: As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Ethiopia Country Director
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH:

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

* MPH or MSc in Public Health with a focus on Nutrition is highly desired.* At least five years experience in Primary Health Care and therapeutic and supplementary feeding projects required. * Previous experience in setting up and implementing a CTC program.* Strong organizational and supervisory skills.* Excellent interpersonal skills. * Ability to work within different cultural environments. * Ability to analyze and prioritize needs.* Prior experience in Ethiopia strongly preferred.

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

This position is primarily based in Degehabur, with 30% of the time in Jijiga and occasional travel to Addis Ababa. The nutrition specialist may also be requested to spend time in parts of Oromiya. Whilst performing the duties of this job, the nutrition specialist may work in a precarious security environment and will regularly work in outdoor weather conditions. The nutrition specialist must be able to perform effectively and efficiently in this environment.

Mercy Corps is an AA/EOE.

How to apply
Apply online at our website:
http://hostedjobs.openhire.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjob&jobid=208680&company_id=15927&jobboardid=479

Reference Code: RW_7RCCA2-7
Source: ReliefWeb