Graduate Nutrition Assistant at Christian Aid (CA) - 6 Positions

Christian Aid (CA) is a UK-based international NGO, partnering with others to end poverty in Africa. At the heart of this vision is the transformation of the lives of people who live in poverty, empowering them to have a brighter future. Christian Aid works in more than 30 countries and has been operating in Nigeria since 2003. The Nigeria Country programme focuses on Community Health and HIV, Accountable Governance including humanitarian response and Gender.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Nutrition Assistant

Locations: Maiduguri, Dikwa, Magumeri, Mongunu & Shani
Type of contract: Fixed Term
Department: International
Reports to (Job Title): Nutrition Project Officer
Expected travel per annum: No travel
Contracted hours: 35
Contract length: 5 months
Slot: 6

Role purpose

• The Nutrition Assistants will be responsible for planning and implementation of nutrition and hygiene education activities on Christian Aid WFP Project.
• They will ensure comprehensive mobilisation of the community for nutrition screening of children under five, forming and monitoring champion mothers support group and oversee community nutrition education, counselling.

Role Context

• The role is in the Food security and livelihood program family and reports to the Nutrition Project Officer.
• The nutrition Assistants will support in the delivery of the nutrition component of the project and will focus on in each location (Maiduguri, Dikwa, Magumeri, Shani and Mongonu).
• Their job role will include coordinating distribution of supplementary feeds to children under 2 and pregnant and lactating women, active case finding, supervision of the N-CORPS as well as ensuring the implementation of the SBCC component of the nutrition programme.

Key Outcomes
Under the direct supervision of the Nutrition Officer and in collaboration with the field officer and other team members of the project and of the base, the Nutrition Assistant will:

• Plan and implement the Blanket Supplementary Feeding Programme for Children Under 2 as well as Pregnant and Lactating Women.
• Conduct monthly distribution of Supplementary
• Perform weight, height and MUAC measurements and check for presence of oedema of the beneficiaries in line with the training received. Record the measurements accurately on the beneficiary’s card.
• Coordinate and collaborate with Christian-Aid Nutrition Community Oriented Resource Persons (N-CORPS) for active case find and implementing a comprehensive follow-up of referred SAM cases. Follow up with the new admission of malnourished children.
• Working with the N-CORPS to provide counselling on nutrition and hygiene practices to beneficiaries
• Ensure escort services for all severely malnourished children to the OTP centres
• Participate in field work of the nutrition survey (impact assessment)
• Ensure liaison with existing community structures, (groups and individuals, women groups, religious leaders where possible.
• Create awareness and sensitize the community on malnutrition, and the causes of malnutrition and treatment of malnutrition.
• Ensure timely submission of weekly reports, monthly reports and MUAC screening data & reports to nutrition nurses for compilation.
• Submit weekly nutrition and health report to the Nutrition Officer for onward sharing with the MEAL Coordinator and WFP Project Manager

Role Requirements
Relationships:

• External: Build strong relationships with partners, networks, donors, stakeholders and community beneficiaries.
• Internal: Build strong relationship with program departments, FSL/WASH Staff, MEAL officers, program managers, M&E units and all in-country and global staff.

Decision making:

• Make decisions in order to manage team effectively, from recruitment of volunteers and program staff to day to day management of team members.
• Also providing technical input and overall leadership to WASH/Food security and livelihood team.
• Day to day decision to ensure partner portfolio projects are running effectively and higher levels decisions on supporting the projects informed by Christian Aid's strategy and strategic focus areas.
• Makes decisions around project proposals, ensuring they are prepared and comply with reporting requirements.
• Make policy decisions that support standing and emergency issues.
• Contribute to shaping and implementing WASH/FSL strategy, making sound decisions to support this.

Analytical Skills:

• Works on complex specialist/ technical issues. Problems and issue, risks and benefits may have implications across a number of departments.
• Required to develop new ways of doing things to better meet program goals requiring substantial creative or analytical ability.
• Developing self and others
• Has direct responsibility for developing, coaching and motivating a team or teams of colleagues/project team members. Focus will be on advising and guiding senior management on policy issues/high level procedures and direct line management responsibility may be limited.

Person Specification (Applied skills/knowledge and expertise)
Essential:

• The post holder should have a First degree in Nutrition or related field with 1-2 years’ experience of working in emergency response with local and/international partner organizations and exposure to field operations.
• Strong positive attitude and ability to manage a wide range of issues of complicated procedures, indicated by 1-2 years learning period.
• Be proficient in the use of computer software (Microsoft Office – Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Have the capacity to be flexible and supervise and coach community workers.
• Excellent coordination skills, good understanding of principles of effective planning, appropriate time management
• Strong report writing skills

Desirable:

• Familiar Food Security and Livelihood context in the northeast Nigeria.
• Ability to communicate fluently in the local languages.

IT competency required:

• Intermediate

Competency Profile
LEVEL 1: You are expected to be able to:

Build partnerships:

• Work in a collaborative way that develops positive relationships and proactively provide help to others
• Proactively participate in team work and contribute ideas, including those that may be beyond your own or your team’s role.
• Keep others informed about what is going on in your own work area.
• Treat everyone with courteousness, dignity and respect, recognising that people are different and have different views.
• Act and behave consistently with what you say.

Communicate effectively:

• Communicate clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing.
• Pass on messages or information promptly and accurately, ensuring clarity and understanding.
• Proactively question to clarify when needed.
• Explain things simply and in a different way if someone appears not to have understood.
• Be sensitive to and take responsibility for how your actions and words impact on others and adapt if necessary.

Steward resources:

• Be responsible for using resources economically, whether these are Christian Aid resources or wider environmental resources.
• Recognise that time is a resource and take responsibility and proactive measures for managing your time effectively

Deliver results:

• Agree your work plan and priorities, keep track of your own progress and keep others informed.
• Check the quality of your own work and deliver to expectations.
• Seek clarification and support from your manager when needed, ensuring appropriate sign-off.
• Respond promptly to the requests of others, handling competing priorities and seeking guidance on these where appropriate.
• Consider the consequences of your actions, and take responsibility for the impact on your work, your colleagues and team objectives.
• Be accountable for your actions

Realise potential:

• Acknowledge gaps in your own knowledge and skills and seek out information and advice in order to learn
• Regularly ask for and act on feedback on own performance.
• Assist others by showing how to complete tasks and sharing knowledge.

Strive for improvement:

• Demonstrate openness and willingness to embrace change, be flexible and adapt to new methods of working.
• Respond quickly and positively to new initiatives.
• Find ways to make improvements in your work and ways of working.
• Show initiative when faced with problems and proactively seek solutions.
• Willingly share knowledge and information that may help others.

Remuneration
N2,740,866

Interview Date
16th February, 2018.

Application Closing Date
9th February, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Click here to view more information (pdf)

Note

• Further details of specific tasks and duties will be agreed with the line manager as part of the performance agreement. Any reasonable duty may be assigned that is consistent with the nature of the job and its level of responsibility.
• This role profile is not prescriptive; it merely outlines the key behaviours the role-holder requires to be successful in the role; the key behaviours and responsibilities are subject to change. Any changes will be made in consultation with the role-holder.
• You will be expected to abide by the Code of Conduct, policies and procedures within Christian Aid which may be updated from time to time.
• You must be in sympathy with the aims, beliefs and values of Christian Aid as it seeks to work on relief, development and advocacy for poverty eradication.