Nutrition Officer | Dire Dawa

Job Description

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. With the launch of Mercy Corps Global Strategy, Pathway to Possibility, the country office is poised to operationalize its three-year strategy with a vision to enhance the resilience of climate- and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. In Ethiopia, our strategy focuses in the four outcome areas: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently, we operate in six regional states – Afar, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Amhara and South Ethiopia. Working with a diverse base of donors that includes United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations, Mercy Corps Ethiopia empowers people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps is implementing a multi-year, multi-million-dollar USAID funded Project focused on stimulating increased production, productivity and marketing through more competitive livestock and livestock products markets; increasing communities’ resilience; diversifying livelihood economic opportunities and options through essential skills transfer; improving food security and nutrition and contributing to the wider knowledge on pastoral development.  Mercy Corps is seeking services of one (1) full-time Nutrition Officer for maternity cover for six months to work on Nutrition activities on the USAID funded Resilience In Pastoral Areas Project (RIPA).

Position Title: Nutrition Officer

Duty Station: Dire Dawa

Open Position:  1

General Position Summary

Mercy Corps is looking for one (1) full-time Nutrition Officer for maternity cover for six months to work on development nutrition activities as clearly outlined in the responsibility section below.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Under the leadership of the Nutrition and WASH Coordinator, the Nutrition officer will be on the frontline to implement, manage and monitor the RIPA Nutrition and WASH activities at community level in a way that results in greater progress and synergies for nutrition and WASH impact.
• The Nutrition officer is responsible for establishing or strengthening community level nutrition groups like Mother-to-Mother support Groups; School Health Clubs and Male Champion groups.
• The nutrition officer is in charge of supporting the functionality of these groups; Mother to Mother support Groups; School Health Clubs and Male Champion groups.
• The Nutrition officer will technically support the Mother to Mother support Groups; School Health Clubs and Male Champion group facilitators to deliver quality services
• With support of the Nutrition and WASH Coordinator, the Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) activities at woreda and Kebele level in effectively delivering the “first 1000 day” approach
• Collaborate with Agricultural extension workers and Development Agents in implementation of home gardening through perma gardening or keyhole gardening of fruits and vegetables.
• Work closely with the Nutrition Coordinator and Bureau of Agriculture in documentation and promoting scaling up of food storage, and preservation techniques at community level.
• Support community level supervision of RIPA’s biofortification initiatives
• Work closely with Mother-to-Mother support Groups, Male Champion Groups and School Health Clubs and supervise regular group counselling sessions and cooking demonstrations.
• Support the roll out Community Led Total Sanitation and Hygiene (CLTSH) in targeted woredas.
• Promote construction of household upgradable latrines in targeted woredas.
• Promote Sanitation and hygiene practices (raw water treatment, safe water storage and handling hand washing and installation of hand washing facilities by the latrines)
• Facilitate community level dialogue sessions on personal, food/water hygiene and sanitation problems and social and gender norms that influence nutrition through Social Analysis and Action (SAA) approach.
• Actively participate in the development of tools behavior change communication (BCC) materials and approaches for Nutrition and WASH

Strategy & Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.

Program Management

• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure activities are implemented based on the scope of work and adhere to Mercy Corps standards and procedures.

Influence & Representation

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with local government sectors offices and other stakeholders closely working with the RIPA project.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

• Understand and aware GDI related priorities of the country office and contribute for the realization of priorities (continually work to understand and be aware of the gender diversity and inclusion priorities of the country office and contribute in the execution)
• Promote gender equal and inclusive workplace culture in a day-to-day interaction with a team member, partners and program participants.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Organizational Learning 

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward 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.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility

• N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Nutrition and WASH coordinator.

Works Directly With: All the RIPA team in Components 1–3, Finance, Logistics, Human Resources, and Administration

Knowledge and Experience

• Degree or diploma in nutrition, public health, nursing, midwifery, health promotion, or related international development field and at least 3-4 years of relevant work in nutrition and/or food security programs development
• Have extensive knowledge on the “first 1000 days” approach.
• Extensive knowledge on WASH approaches for development settings
• Extensive knowledge on AMIYCN approaches for development settings.
• Experience working with mother support peer groups.
• Good writing skills
• Strong, team player, well demonstrated organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Experience working with multi-disciplinary technical specialists.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple activities.
• English fluency is essential, plus Somali language is mandatary.

HOW TO APPLY

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the position advertised. All applications must be submitted electronically, including a CV, three references, and all relevant official documents.

Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity, and    diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.”

DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 09 January / 4:00 PM