Nutrition Officer | Hargelle

BACKGROUND: 

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. The IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict, and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. We began work in Ethiopia since 2000 and currently implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as an equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview:

The nutrition officer oversees the targeted supplementary feeding program (TSFP) and ensures the effective implementation of the Emergency Nutrition response project at the woreda (district) level. Their focus is on both the host community and IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) sites. They coordinate and implements the TSFP program in align with organizational and international standards. Furthermore, the officer provides ongoing technical support to government health care providers, including nurses, midwives, public health officers, and Health Extension Workers. This position will be based at different districts/woredas under our field office and will directly report to the Senior nutrition officer.

Major Responsibilities:

• Take charge of planning and coordinating field-level TSFP activities, which include tasks such as preparing and estimating administrative costs for direct distributions. Additionally, submit operational requests to the program manager.
• Prepare distribution plans providing estimates of the proposed number of beneficiaries and how distribution shall be affected.
• Timely submission of the Food Distribution Plans to WFP for approval.
• Lead the scoping/distribution planning community sensitization missions.
• Prepare all TSFP tools required prior to each distribution and alert volunteers and ensure they are trained to undertake distributions.
• Prepare food returns documentation from direct distributions- explained and documented.
• Collaborate with the MHNT in Woreda to create joint work plans that connect the TSFP with the HMNT Community Case Management of Malnutrition (CMAM) activities.
• Act as the link between the TSP team and the zonal/woreda administrations, WoHo and service recipient community.
• As and when required actively represent IRC nutrition coordination cluster.
• Verify, compile, and share complete timely reports of the TSFP activities to Woreda and, IRC Health and manager nutrition managers.
• Prepare and submit on time to the WFP Shire office the weekly, monthly TSFP beneficiary reports, monthly distribution report including the waybill tracking sheets, and the monthly report invoice.
• Participate in the preparation of the weekly Nutrition cluster 5Ws report on TSFP.
• Develop TSFP process monitoring checklist in collaboration with M&E
• Undertake regular TSFP monitoring field visits to provide on-the-job training, identify capacity gaps, material needs and collect TSFP activity reports from the field.
• Review existing TSFP training packages and adapt (as required)
• Mentor and coach, the Nutrition Assistants and Screeners.
• Conduct TSFP and other nutrition-related training for HEWs and Health Development Army (HDAs) and Health workers in the Woredas.
• Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs.

Safeguarding Responsibilities:

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion, and cohesion in IRC [team/office].
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.