Health and Nutrition Officer at Save the Children

ROLE PURPOSE: 

• Under the general guidance and direction of the Field Health and Nutrition Coordinator, the health and Nutrition Officer will support implementation and monitoring of all health and nutrition activities in the project sites including case management for all the anchor groups, Coordinate and work closely with County departments responsible for both health & nutrition specific and sensitive interventions, local partners, and communities, prepare reports and build capacity of the County/Sub-county staff and respective local communities, Promote best practices in health and nutrition programmes and contribute to the overall success of the USAID Nawiri project.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

Strategic Planning and Programme Development

• Familiarize with USAID Nawiri’s implementation strategy as informed by phase 1 (Learning and research phase). Specifically, support implementation of the Health and Nutrition component of the USAID Nawiri strategy and ensure that nutrition-sensitive strategies and approaches are integrated into other thematic strategies.
• Build on technical knowledge and understanding of the operations related to nutrition policy and services in Kenya, and how these policies can best work for the needs and peculiarities of Samburu County.
• Ensure that programme activities support and demonstrate good practice in Child Safeguarding
• Using a Child Rights Programming lens, ensure that USAID Nawiri health and nutrition programme is built around the Theory of Change and is regularly monitored.

Advocacy and Policy Development

• Actively participate in the development, review, dissemination and operationalization of County level policies, legislation, strategies and other initiatives and developments by government and other stakeholders relating to nutrition, health, WASH and/or food security issues.
• Regularly assess and update management about any changes in the operating environment relevant to USAID Nawiri project and Save the Children’s priorities.
• Support development of the County health and nutrition strategy and implementation plan including dissemination of nutrition advocacy messages for the USAID Nawiri project.
• Monitor implementation of nutrition – related components of the advocacy strategy in the County.
• Ensure visibility of the project in the field through participation and sharing of evidence, learning and recommendations from USAID Nawiri work in technical forums and meetings held at Sub – County level. H/She will also pro- actively engage with other implementing partners during coordination meetings.

Programme Quality & Implementation 

• Monitor and provide timely, relevant, accurate input on overall technical aspects of USAID Nawiri Health and nutrition programme work in Samburu and Turkana.
• Work closely with other programme staff and consortium partners to ensure effective sequencing, layering and integration.
• Provide relevant technical training and support to the County staff on IMAM, MIYCN, C4D, SMART & KAP and monitoring and evaluation as required.
• Prepare quality reports to the Health and Nutrition Coordinator to facilitate timely submission of technical progress performance reports acceptable to the Health and Nutrition Lead.
• Provide input during selection of partners and training of partners on health and nutrition.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• In collaboration with field – based M&E staff, ensure there is adherence to the project M&E framework.
• Participate in collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) activities of the programme to ensure all USAID Nawiri interventions are working towards addressing persistent acute malnutrition.
• Routinely monitor child safeguarding issues in the programme and take corrective actions such as modifying programme activities and/or report incidents, when required
• Support timely dissemination of programme  findings  and lessons learned to key stakeholders at Sub– County level
• Collect complaints, feedback during field activities, and ensure that these are shared with MEAL officers for updating of the CFRM database.

Other

• Participate actively in PDQ programme meetings, planning and review activities, providing enhanced insight into nutrition programming.
• Actively participate in key relevant internal meetings such as programme review meetings or area- based meetings as required.
• Participate in any donor visit to project(s) within the country office portfolio, as required.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice) 

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, Clinical Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, or a related field.
• At least 4 years of demonstrated experience in implementing health and nutrition programs, with preference given to programming in arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) settings.
• Strong understanding and experience in implementing programs through the community health system.
• Excellent understanding of the health and nutrition sector in Kenya, particularly maternal, newborn, and child nutrition issues, including a system approach to ending persistent acute malnutrition.
• Clear understanding of nutrition resilience, hunger, and food security issues in Kenya, particularly in the context of Samburu and Turkana counties.
• Strong commitment to capacity building of county staff and partners, with a willingness to adopt participatory and consultative approaches.
• Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively with county government, local partners, and community members while considering cultural and language difficulties.
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to take initiative and challenge existing practices.
• Excellent written and verbal skills in English, with the ability to draft quality reports.
• Excellent verbal skills in local languages, including Swahili, Samburu, or Ng’aturkana, are required to converse effectively with community members.
• Attention to detail, accuracy, and timeliness are crucial in executing assigned responsibilities.
• The ability to work in challenging and changing environments, and to persevere through challenges to find solutions is essential.
• Candidates must be willing and able to dramatically change work practices and hours, and to work with incoming surge teams during emergencies.
• Qualified candidates from Samburu and Turkana counties are strongly encouraged to apply.
• A commitment to Save the Children values, including the willingness to abide by and enforce Child Safeguarding policies, is mandatory.