Nutrition Officer-Mandera at Save the Children

ROLE PURPOSE: 

The Nutrition Officer will be responsible for day-to-day implementation of the nutrition components in the UKAM ACCEPT project. ACCEPT will increase the quality and availability of essential maternal, newborn and child health & nutrition services in Mandera and Turkana counties, Kenya. It will benefit over 200,000 vulnerable people, including pregnant and lactating women, children under 5 and their caregivers. The combined prevention and treatment approach will be delivered in away that is tailored to the needs of nomadic populations. It will support local healthcare provision and promote gender

equality and inclusion. He/ She will play a critical role in promoting delivery of quality life-saving interventions in collaboration with health and nutrition teams within Save the Children and with key stakeholders. In close liaison with MEAL, support in collection, processing and verification of reports/forms and maintains programme/projects databases.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to: Health Coordinator

Dimensions: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners. Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH. In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined the programmes of SC UK, SC Canada and SC Finland to create a single operation in Kenya. In Feb 2014, we completed a second transition, which saw us join forces with the British INGO, Merlin, and merge their health and nutrition programmes with our own. Save the Children now has an operational presence in Bungoma, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Turkana and Wajir and a footprint in Kakamega, Kisumu, Migori and Kitui. In 2016, Save the Children established a new project office in Madagascar whose operations are managed by the Kenya CO. 

Staff directly reporting to this post: None

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Programme.

• Provide technical assistance to MoH towards implementation of integrated community case management and integration with uncomplicated acute malnutrition.
• Support training and mentorship for Community Health Volunteers on Integrated Community Case management implementation (ICCM).
• Support water, sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) related activities in the ACCEPT project
• Organize and coordinate trainings in consultation with County health authorities.
• Consolidate activity reports and ensure timely submission to supervisor for onward submission.
• Work with MOH to strengthen Community Health Service delivery and the community – facility linkage.

Monitoring and Evaluation.

• Participate in the design, development and implementation of an M&E framework for health related activities.
• Document the process of implementation, lessons learnt, case studies and good practice to ensure information is widely disseminated.
• With the support of MEAL team ensure project performance is tracked and quality standards adhered to.
• Coordinate regular project monitoring and supervision in liaison with the SCHMTs to ensure quality project implementation according to agreed standards.
• Ensure the compilation of quality and timely activity and monthly reports for the project.
• Collect and manage complaints and feedback in close coordination with MEAL team.

Supervision

• Develop a comprehensive plan for supervision of all the field health activities to ensure implementation adheres to develop monthly work plans. 
• Support regular review meetings with the Sub County community strategy focal person and community health assistants. 

Development of health education training and counselling materials.

• Participate in the design/adaptation of appropriate health education and promotion methods and tools, and pre- testing them with the team and community members.
• Liaise with the health education department at the Ministry of health to adapt and produce appropriate health education materials

Network and coordinate with the relevant sectors and agencies implementing health activities at national and community level.

• Identify areas of synergy in the field with the Ministry of Health and other implementing agencies working with communities. 
• Come up with a comprehensive plan of activities within the identified areas of synergy with the actors named above.

Implement Community Mobilization Activities.

• Liaise and establish strong links with existing community structures including mother to mother support groups, community units, youth groups, village elders and religious leaders.
• Support community dialogue and action days.

Strengthen Community – Health Facility Referral system and Linkage.

• Work with Ministry of Health to strengthen a referral system at community level and implement activities to strengthen the community –facility linkage.  

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 their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

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; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

COMPETENCIES:

LEADING

• Delivering Results: Takes personal responsibility and holds others to account to deliver our ambitious goals for children, continually improving own performance or that of the team/organisation.
• Developing Self and Others: Invests time and energy to actively develop self and others to help realise their full potential, and to build the organization's capability for the future.
• Leading and Inspiring Others: Demonstrates leadership in all our work, role models our values and articulates a compelling vision to inspire others to achieve goals for our children.

THINKING

• Problem Solving and Decision Making: Takes effective, considered and timely decisions by gathering and evaluating relevant information from within or outside the organisation and making appropriate judgements. 
• Applying Technical Expertise: Applies the required technical and professional expertise to the highest standards, promotes and shares best practices within and outside the organisation.
• Innovating and Adapting: Develops and implements innovative solutions to adapt and succeed in an ever – changing, uncertain work and global environment.

ENGAGING

• Working Effectively with others:  Works collaboratively to achieve shared goals and thrives on diversity of people and perspectives. Knows when to lead, when to follow, and how to ensure effective cross- boundary working.
• Communicating with Impact: Communicates clearly and confidently with others to engage and Influence, Promotes dialogue and ensures timely and appropriate messages, building confidence and trust with others.
• Networking: Builds and uses sustainable relationships and networks to support the work of Save the Children.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree health sciences (Nutrition, Nursing, Public health) or equivalent.
• At least two (3) years’ work experience in health programming including monitoring and evaluation. 
• Experience in community mobilization within the development context. 
• Experience working with the Kenya Community Health Strategy is an added advantage.
• Good understanding and experience working with MOH and county health departments, health stakeholders, opinion leaders and integration of donor funded programmes into county plans.
• Experience in training and capacity building.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide array of organizations.
• Experience of and commitment to utilizing participatory approaches. 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and a willingness to be respectful, kind, sensitive and empathize with children.
• Good knowledge of the nutrition and health field.
• Good presentation and persuasion skills.
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions.
• Prepared to live and work in an uncertain security environment.
• Ability and willingness to frequently travel and stay at the field
• Strong research and data analysis skills
• Strong report writing and computer skills 
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles