Senior Nutritionist Coordinator - IMC (Somalia)

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International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs.

Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.

POSITION BACKGROUND

International Medical Corps started providing primary health care services in South Central Somalia following the collapse of the Siad Barre regime in 1991 and since then has been funded by a number of donors including ECHO, DFID, OFDA and UNICEF, among others. This long term presence has enabled the organization to establish a strong presence in Somalia. International Medical Corps started implementation of health, nutrition and WASH program in Somaliland (Sanaag Region) with funding from ECHO and OFDA in April 2010. The ECHO-funded components ended in November 2010, while the OFDA funded intervention ended in March 2011. Currently International Medical Corps is implementing an emergency nutrition in Sool and Sanaag regions of Somaliland funded by UNICEF Somalia.

International Medical Corps is now returning to Central Somalia in order to implement an OFDA emergency WASH and Nutrition program in Abudwak District, Galgaduud Region in response to ongoing drought and its effects in the area. The aim of this project is to mitigate the effects of the current drought through WASH and Nutrition programs, and to build the capacity of the local population and IDPs to be able to more effectively deal with natural and man-made disaster in the future.

The Nutrition Coordinator will be responsible for managing all of International Medical Corps’ nutrition programs in Somalia.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Nutrition Coordinator is responsible for leading the nutrition team and providing technical support and capacity building of the team to successfully plan, implement and monitor International Medical Corps Somalia nutrition program activities. The Senior Nutrition Coordinator must have the ability to manage, organize and support all aspects of the nutrition program including liaising with the Ministry of Health, other international and national agencies, and donors.

The Nutrition Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring that the nutrition programs in Somalia are implemented in line with international humanitarian standards and donor guidelines. Additionally, the Senior Nutrition Coordinator will work closely with the Country Director, Program Coordinator and WASH Coordinator to provide input into proposal development and country level strategies as required.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

This position demands technical knowledge, management experience, and work experience in difficult circumstances and in conflict areas.

Program development and management: • Ensure that the implementation of the nutrition programs conform to internationally accepted standards and country guidelines • Provide technical support and supervision on nutrition activities to those staff implementing nutrition programs in Somalia. • Monitor program impact and ensure that program data is valid and relevant, and used to inform program development. • Provide guidance to staff implementing the International Medical Corps Somalia program on the integration of a nutrition component into other sectors as appropriate • Provide technical leadership and support for conducting nutrition and coverage surveys, prepare reports and generate discussion within the nutrition coordination forums for any issues which needs to be addressed jointly. • In collaboration with partners (MoH, WFP and UNICEF) support field sites with the organization of the logistics of food commodities. • Assist in compiling the nutrition activities inputs to donor project reports and proposals • Participate in the development and expansion of international medical corps nutrition programming in Somalia.

Training and capacity building: • Assess the training needs of nutrition staff and develop a training program to meet these needs. • Conduct nutrition training for project nutrition staff and MOH counterparts implementing nutrition programs in Somalia, focusing on all aspects of community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM). • Ensure the establishment and strengthening of nutrition monitoring activities and train health staff (IMC, MOH, and local NGO) in case detection and referral mechanisms. • Conduct and train health staff on surveys including nutrition and coverage surveys, causal analysis, and other assessments of nutritional status of target groups.

Coordination: • Liaise, with the Ministry of Health and other agencies (UNICEF, WHO, and WFP) to ensure appropriate provision of service and use of resources • Keep the Country Director informed of all nutrition activities and any challenges that may arise • Report properly and in a appropriate time all relevant nutritional information required for the comprehensive development of the nutrition programs • Represent International Medical Corps in Nutrition Cluster and other relevant Nutrition related meetings

Security: • Fully adhere to International Medical Corps Somalia Security procedures. • Fully adhere to International Medical Corps Somalia field communication protocols and standard operating procedures, informing fellow team members and the Country Director immediately of any security incident. • Behave at all times in a manner which positively promotes International Medical Corps and its work in IMC operational areas

LANGUAGES

• Ability to read, write, analyze and interpret, technical and non-technical in the English language. • Ability to effectively present information and respond appropriately to questions from senior managers in the field and HQ, counterparts, senior government and rebel leaders and other related regional players • Knowledge of Somali language a plus

CONDITIONS

• Accommodation, food and transportation provided by International Medical Corps • Medical Evacuation service and competitive benefits provided by International Medical Corps • Further information regarding security and situation on the field available during the interview process

HOW TO APPLY

To officially begin the application process, please visit our website and go to our “Careers” page. Find your desired position, click on the position title and complete the application at the bottom of the job description.