Femi Akindele
Nutrition officer at Jhpiego – John Hopkins University
Location: Ebonyi, Kwara, Kano, Katsina and Kebbi States, Nigeria
Jhpiego is seeking candidates for an upcoming project that implements and provides technical support to nutrition interventions across different health systems and disciplines in addition to communities. The project’s multi-sectoral approach draws on global nutrition experience to design, implement and evaluate programs that address the root causes of malnutrition. Committed to using a systems approach, the project strives to sustain positive outcomes by building local capacity and strengthening the enabling environment to save lives, improve health and build resilience.
The overall purpose of the project in Nigeria is to provide technical support, implement innovative nutrition-specific and sensitive live saving interventions, and generate evidence to enhance nutrition programming toward achieving the overall goal of improving nutrition indices for women of reproductive age, young children and new borns. This activity will support the donor’s effort to strengthen the enabling environment for innovation, commitment, capacity strengthening, coordination, collaboration, and support for multi-sectoral nutrition policies and programs.
The Nutrition Officer will oversee the daily implementation of both nutrition-sensitive and specific live saving interventions that contribute to the prevention, detection, and management of malnutrition in Ebonyi, Kwara, Kano, Katsina and Kebbi State. Activities will include the promotion / supporting adoption of recommended Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) practices and Homestead Food Production (HFP), monitoring and supervision of community-level nutrition screening including the rollout of Mother Led Middle Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) approach, multiple micronutrient supplementation for pregnant women as well participation in planned nutrition assessments.
The Nutrition Officer will also support capacity building for health workers, Nutrition Focal Persons, and food systems actors to enhance the production and consumption of safe, diverse and nutritious foods.
Responsibilities
- Responsible for developing detailed implementation plan and tracking activity progress in collaboration with the M&E team.
- Responsible for monitoring and supervision of the day-to-day implementation of nutrition and related activities and ensuring it is in accordance with the agreed work plan
- Support capacity-building activities for field-level nutrition staff including on-the-job training mentoring and supportive supervision.
- Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
- Supervise activities aimed at promoting appropriate Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) Practices and Homestead Food Production (HFP) to improve household dietary diversity and multiple micronutrient supplementation of pregnant women.
- Regularly monitor and ensure that the nutrition team in the field has the necessary tools (i.e., data collection tools, job aids, IEC materials, etc.) and supplies required for quality implementation of planned nutrition activities.
- Participate in nutrition assessments planned in the catchment area.
- Participate in periodic program monitoring and evaluation activities including baselines, end lines, midterm reviews, lesson learning exercises, and compilation of success stories.
- Ensure timely submission of quality weekly and monthly nutrition activity reports.
- Draft monthly and quarterly financial need forecast in line with the detailed project activity plan/Monthly activity plans and send it to state team lead.
- Ensure sound monitoring and joint supervision of program activities in close collaboration with other programs.
- Participate in the Nutrition Technical Working Group (TWG) and other LGA and State level meetings as appropriate.
- Support the state to plan for special events like World Breast Feeding (WBF) week, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week etc.
- Perform any other duty as required.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in nutrition, Food Security, Agriculture or other related fields, a relevant master’s Degree is a plus.
- Minimum of (5) years experience in nutrition and/or food security and livelihood programming or related sectors
- Demonstrated experience in implementing nutrition programs and initiatives.
- Comfortable working in a matrixed, integrated work environment.
- Skilled in developing and managing new and effective partnerships facilitating meetings, and effectively participating in technical working groups.
- Ability to apply monitoring and evaluation plans to determine activity results and monitor impact.
- Familiarity with local community resources, services, and support networks.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant software applications for documentation and reporting purposes.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with diverse community members.
- Proven experience in community engagement, development, or social work.
- Strong understanding of community dynamics needs assessment, and program development.
- Ability to work effectively in a team and independently, demonstrating initiative and leadership when necessary.
- Empathy, cultural sensitivity, and a genuine interest in serving the needs of the community.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to multitask and prioritize responsibilities effectively.
