Project Officer - Maternity Leave Replacement- Enrich at Nutrition International

BACKGROUND

The ENRICH project takes a comprehensive approach to improve the delivery of essential nutrition services that targets the first 1000 days of life, including health systems strengthening, promotion of the consumption and production of nutrient-rich and fortified foods, micronutrient supplementation, infant and young child feeding (IYCF), hygiene promotion, and maternal nutrition. The project is expected to increase the access to basic nutrition and health services of a total of 2.09 million people – 800,000 women and 740,000 children. In Kenya, the ENRICH project is implemented in Elgeyo Marakwet and is expected to directly benefit 288,209 people, of which 80 per cent are children under the age two years and pregnant and lactating women.

The key NI areas of interventions are as follows:

1. Health system strengthening through capacity development of healthcare providers in delivery of nutrition services, commodity management, data collection and reporting, analysis and use of nutrition data and information.
2. Behaviour Change Interventions (BCI) informed by formative research in the project area to develop a context-specific behaviour change strategies for improving the nutrition status of women and children.
3. Food fortification to increase the demand and consumption of fortified foods as well as promote optimal feeding practices of infants and young children.
4. Policy engagement and advocacy to support the creation of an enabling environment for implementation of the ENRICH project and to use project evidence to advocate with key decision-makers in government for the scale-up of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions.

OVERALL PURPOSE/BROAD FUNCTION OF THE POSITION

To provide programmatic, financial and administrative support to NI’s ENRICH Project Director in the implementation and coordination of the project in Kenya.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Development and Planning:

• Provide specific inputs as directed by the ENRICH Project Director in developing implementation strategies, quarterly/annual workplans, including drafting financial budgets or plans.
• Support the review of policies, guidelines and programme frameworks related to micronutrients and development of an advocacy plan.
• Develop drafts of, and provide inputs to, implementation plans, training schedules and other planning documents to ensure the successful implementation of the project in Kenya.

Project Implementation:

• Coordinate communication between NI and other ENRICH consortium members on the implementation of project activities.
• Consult with Ministry of Health at county and national level on the design and planning of NI -managed activities.
• Coordinate technical assistance required from all NI units in support of project activities.
• Liaise with other Project Officers to ensure alignment of activities with NI programs in Kenya
• Develop terms of reference for subcontracted national and international consultants.
• Prepare contracts and contract approval sheets, follow-up and review invoices, prepare payments, payment requisitions and submission of reports.
• Ensure appropriate entries in the contracts database are made.

Project Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation:

• Support the ENRICH Project Director in the development of a project monitoring plan and regularly monitor its implementation.
• Conduct regular monitoring of project activities in coordination with ENRICH consortium members.
• Ensure that a system is set up and maintained to properly document all project information, and to generate draft reports as needed.
• Prepare all necessary documentation as required by the ENRICH Project Director related to program activities.
• Support the ENRICH Project Director in the management and tracking of program budgets, milestones and reports.
• Compile and draft narrative and financial reports to the donor.
• Ensure that the contracts database is regularly updated, and regular relevant reports are generated.

Other duties and responsibilities as may be required.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• A Master’s degree is essential. A discipline related to international development, nutrition and/or public health is highly desirable.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in project management in Public Health, Nutrition or related field
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in grant management
• Experience in the provision of technical assistance an asset.
• Field experience in a developing country and/or experience in a cross-cultural environment an asset.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

MNP Programme Coordinator, based in Elgeyo Marakwet.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Fluency in English.
• Knowledge of Kiswahili (and/or other languages) is desirable.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• Up to 30 percent international and local travel will be required (e.g. participation in ENRICH Project Steering Committee meetings and County coordination meetings).

OTHER SPECIFIC SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to plan and organize work to meet deadlines
• Ability to multi-task and work under pressure
• Strong numeracy, data manipulation and analytical skills
• Strong financial management/administration skills
• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• Strong and effective interpersonal skills, tact and discretion
• Excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing
• Strong judgment and attention to details

CONTRACT LENGTH

The duration of the contract will be 7.5 months (01 November 2018 to 17 May 2019).