Nutrition Advisor

Status: Contract

Duration : Until October 14,2027

Reports to: Medical Coordinator

Required No. :1

Travel required: Yes

 Context of the mission

Since 1980, Médecins du Monde (MdM) has worked independently in France and internationally to ensure universal and sustainable access to healthcare. Engaged in Ethiopia since 1986, MdM addresses urgent humanitarian needs through a multisectoral response, integrating Primary Healthcare (PHC), Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), Nutrition, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS). The organization ensures survivors receive medical, psychological, and social care. MdM also prioritizes harm reduction initiatives, particularly for improving the well-being of sex workers and reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Additionally, the organization extends its support to refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by violence, ensuring they have access to essential medical care, psychosocial support, and protection services. MdM’s holistic approach aims to address both the immediate health needs and the broader determinants of health in the communities it serves.

As an international humanitarian medical NGO, MdM is committed to promoting inclusivity, equality, and sustainability in its emergency and humanitarian responses. MdM ensures equitable access to healthcare for people with disabilities, who often face heightened barriers during crises, by making healthcare facilities accessible, offering specialized care, and advocating for their inclusion in humanitarian programs. MdM also integrates gender perspectives into its interventions, striving for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. This includes addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV), ensuring equitable access to healthcare and opportunities, establishing safe spaces, and providing gender-sensitive training for staff, fostering a more inclusive and equitable approach in its humanitarian efforts.

Job Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Medical Coordinator the Nutrition Technical Advisor’s role is to lead and provide technical support for planning and smooth operation of nutrition activities in any defined context in Ethiopia. The Nutrition Technical Advisor in close coordination with the medical coordinator, GBV, MHPSS and MEAL technical team is responsible for the success of the mission’s Nutrition strategy and the quality of current and future Nutrition programs at the definition, implementation and evaluation phases.

Essential duties and responsibilities.

Program management and partner’s support

• Contribute to the development of MdM-F strategy with the coordination team (needs assessment and adjustment of the Nutrition activities);
• Ensure the achievement of outcomes and implementation of activities, the quality and the consistence of the Nutrition component of the program with partners and MdM-F coordination team;
• Propose and lead lesson-learning and evaluation dynamics, including development of tools and methodologies, in collaboration with the MEAL team and the partners of the project;
• Develop, update and design Nutrition standards, protocols and good practices, internally with the MdM-F Health Advisor in HQ and in coordination with partners;
• Ensure that Nutrition components of the program are consistent with MDM-F strategy and the national Nutrition strategy and suggest any corrective measures to adapt the program if necessary
• Follow up on the current data collection system for Nutrition activities and systematize the analysis system;
• Co-operate with the different departments of the mission to ensure timely and quality supply of the program’s needs in terms of finance, HR and logistics:
• Prepare detailed work plan and budget plan for nutrition activities and ensure implementation of planned activities according to the work plan adhering to the budget according to MdM –F standards and oversee program spending per budgets and pipelines
• Coordinate very closely with logistics to ensure that there is no break in nutrition program supplies.
• Participate in the development, implementation and follow-up of research in link with universities/relevant institutions in Ethiopia and/or abroad, and the Research and Advocacy pole in HQ.
• Ensure that MdM-F implementation of the CMAM (OTP and SC) and IYCF activities conform to internationally accepted standards and country guidelines.
• Coordinate and follow-up on nutrition programs implementation to review progress towards objectives through organizing regular review meetings, update and experience sharing meetings among staffs.
• In collaboration with the team, identify existing project implementation gaps and new opportunities for nutrition and nutrition-related projects and lead on the concept note or proposal development while liaising with interested partners and stakeholders to ensure that proposed activities and programs align with best practice in the nutrition sector
• Lead, plan and conduct nutritional assessments and surveys in existing and in potential new areas following the nationally approved survey protocol, for program expansion and feed assessments results into proposals if needed.
• Lead the development of a referral mechanism and communication strategies and train nutrition staff (MdM-F, MOH, CHVs) in case detection and referrals between health facilities adapted to the local context.

Team management

• Ensure direct technical support to the HPM, Medical Supervisors and Health and Nutrition officer;
• Support the Nutrition program officers in the supervision of the Nutrition team
• Provide technical support to the different departments of the mission when needed (Human Resource, medical and MHPSS team);
• Identify the needs of Nutrition staff for the program, draft their job profiles and organize their recruitment;
• Participate in the briefing and debriefings, annual reviews for Nutrition team members;
• Participating in regular meetings with the other technical programs including Consortium staff
• Maintain good inter-team communications engender good team dynamics.

Capacity Building

In coordination with the human resources department and the program managers :

• Identify the needs for training/support of the MdM-F and consortium team and facilitate the implementation of a global training plan for the nutrition staff;
• Ensure the technical supervision of all MdM field technical team
• Participate in the design of training curriculum for mobile clinic workers, field workers on nutrition
• Organize capacity building to staff working for organizations and partners to ensure the integration of Nutrition into primary healthcare and implement efficient referral system between actors;
• Ensure the training is properly delivered by the team members, and contribute to it if necessary;
• Provide the team with planning and organization tools.

Coordination with national and international partners

• Represent MdM -F in coordination meetings with local authorities and national/international health and mental health partners (Ministry of Public Health, Regional Health Bureau UN agencies, NGOs, clusters, working groups/task force, etc.);
• Participate in other strategic and coordination meetings relevant to the Nutrition program and facilitate coordination between MdM-F and other relevant actors when needed including consortium partner
• Actively participate in technical meetings with the consortium partners of the project to design key standardized documents and tools for Nutrition reporting and data collection and consolidate a legal and strategic framework ensuring access to quality Nutrition services for all.
• Participate in internal coordination meetings

Reporting

• Provide monthly reporting about Nutrition activities for clusters and UN agency (activity info);
• Participate in fundraising and proposal writing to potential donors when requested;
• Participate in donor’s reporting when requested
• Ensure the production of summaries and analysis of the data collected and compiled;
• Write field visits report whenever s/he conducts field visits

QUALIFICATION REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s degree in nutrition or related field. Master’s degree in public health nutrition or equivalent in Nutrition / Public Health

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• At least 4 years’ work experience in similar positions in international NGO, preferably in the health sector.
• Proven experience in managing emergency nutrition programs including CMAM (Out-patient Therapeutic Program and Stabilization Centers), IYCF, in multiple location.
• Experience in facilitation of training and workshops.
• Experience in budget management, logistics and Human Resources management.
• Experience in writing / developing project proposals and project reports
• Strong skills in technical proposal writing and donor reporting, designing and implementing nutrition programs.
• Ability to provide technical support for MdM-F staff and government staff on proper implementation of CMAM, IYCF, and other nutrition activities.
• Familiarity with design and programming processes of different donors
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret data and familiarity with nutrition surveys (Coverage, SMART and KAP surveys).
• Ability to work effectively with government, community leaders, international/national organizations, donors, partners and other Medecins du Monde relationships.
• Strong communication skills, able to effectively present information clearly and respond appropriately to questions coordination/senior management Team and headquarters staff, counterparts, senior government leaders and donors
• Strong supervisory and organizational skills.
• Advanced proficiency in the use of MS Office, and other computer applications.
• Ability to cope with stress; hardship; patience and flexibility and willingness to work additional hours to meet tight deadlines;
• Ability and willingness to travel to field sites and nutrition facilities.
• Ability to take effective decisions according to the context
• Ability to work in a volatile security context and to apply strict security rules
• Ability to manage a team and work with partners in a multi-cultural setting
• Ability to have a global overview of a program and long-term strategy

Required personal skills

• Reactivity, anticipation, adaptability, ability to take initiatives to changing requirements
• Ability to take quick decisions according to the context in coordination with the team
• Ability to listen and to be diplomatic
• Team spirit and willingness to cooperate.
• Good organizational skills, including time management, and rigor
• Ability to manage priorities and to meet deadlines as well as work under pressure
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Languages

• Fluent Both English and Amharic /Speaking and writing skills.
• Another local language is an asset