Regional Nutritionist at International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

Job Role description

The ICRC defines Economic Security as the status of an individual, household or community that is able to cover its life and livelihoods obligatory expenditures in a sustainable manner, consistent with its environment, culture and customs. Within its global Economic Security approach in conflict affected countries, the ICRC implements Relief, Livelihood and Rehabilitation Programs in order to improve, restore or maintain food and economic security at household level. To achieve this objective Economic Security uses a combination of different interventions and modalities, such as cash and voucher programs, microeconomic initiatives, agricultural and livestock programs, and relief items distributions.

The Regional EcoSec Nutritionist is the reference person for all nutrition-related capacity building and training, analysis and support to implementation for the countries of the Region(s) covered. S/he makes the liaison with the Nutritionists and the Capacity Building Focal Point at Headquarters, as well as with the Regional EcoSec Advanced Trainers, in order to ensure consistency across Delegations. S/he ensures that capacities of EcoSec staff and partners are built on nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programming, which are priorities identified in the EcoSec 2015-2018 Strategy, and required for the effective and efficient implementation of EcoSec activities in the field. S/he also directly conducts nutrition assessments and supports the formulation of nutrition programmes.

Main Responsibilities

• Direct technical support

The Regional Nutritionist provides advice and/or direct nutrition-related support to Delegations:

• Link the economic security situation and vulnerability of households or individuals to the prevailing food consumption patterns and nutritional situation;
• Specifically in places of detention, support the analysis of the food system and of factors influencing the nutritional status of detainees;
• Design, implement and analyse the results of a nutritional survey when needed, both in communities and in places of detention, using standard methods;
• Identify how EcoSec interventions can best take into account the food consumption and nutritional situation in their design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation;
• Design or review the design of general food distributions, in particular the composition of food rations, and food quality and safety criteria;
• Design and support the implementation and evaluation of nutrition rehabilitation programmes, including in communities, primary health care centres and hospitals (under the supervision of the Health Department), places of detention and other institutions;
• Recommend ways to integrate some nutrition aspects into existing and planned economic security monitoring systems, including which nutrition indicators should be monitored and how they should be interpreted to adjust interventions;
• Proactively identify situations where nutritionist support is required, and arrange for such support in consultation with the Nutritionists in Geneva;
• Contribute to the preparation of the Planning for Results (PfR) document;
• When needed in Delegations, help screen candidates/recruiting resident staff or consultants (together with the Administration Department), to assist with nutrition analysis and/or programming;
• Review and provide feedback to messages and reports following field missions in the Delegations
• Capacity building of Field staff
  • Organise the Nutrition in Detention training help once a year in Nairobi and contribute to the Abidjan or ad hoc ones;
  • Guide and give support to Delegations to assess the nutrition training needs of ICRC Staff as well as partners (e.g. National Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies and partners engaged in remote management operations);
  • Together with EcoSec Coordinators, follow-up and assist trained staff in the application of their new skills, through regular contacts and field visits whenever feasible;
  • Liaise with the Regional EcoSec Advanced Trainers to develop country-adapted training materials and guidance on nutrition programming and delivery of EcoSec trainings;
  • Disseminate practical information on nutrition programming;
  • If appropriate and based on demand, set-up and animate a peer-to-peer forum of exchange on EcoSec nutrition programming in order to share experience and tools;
  • If appropriate, organize a Workshop of trained staff and partners in nutrition programming in the Regions, for stock-taking on the main challenges and identification of ways forward.
• Thematic/specialist support
  • Contribute global Nutrition files such as Nutrition and Cash Based Intervention, Nutrition and Wash...
  • Contribute to the development of Nutrition database and dashboard for CMAM, civilians or detainies;
  • Establish linkages with agencies, networks and other mechanisms at global and regional levels.

Specific regional responsabilities 2018

The regional support is dedicated to nutrition in detention and for civilian population in: Somalia, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroun, Yemen, and South-Sudan. These countries could change depending on the needs of the delegations.

Unplanned Nutrition requests for civil and detained populations are expected.

Desired profile and skills

• Master’s degree in nutrition or public health or equivalent professional experience
• Minimum 5 years experience in nutrition;
• Professional experience in international humanitarian work and field missions abroad, especially in emergencies;
• Sound understanding of the project cycle, establishing appropriate (SMART) objectives and indicators is required;
• Possessing good capacity to analyze and summarize complex situations;
• Ability to take relevant decisions within a given framework;
• Strong capacities to recruit, manage, coach and motivate a team of nutritionists;
• Good organizational, managerial, planning, reporting skills;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Fully conversant with word processing, spreadsheet software and basic nutrition computer programs;
• Open-minded and adaptable, empathic and diplomatic;
• Readiness and capacity to work in a multidisciplinary team involving other sectors linked to the economic security, and collaborating with Red Cross and Red Crescent movement' members.
• Fluent in English and French; Any other language knowledge (e.g. Arabic, Spanish, Russian) is an asset;

Our operational & field constraints

• In line with the principle of neutrality, the ICRC does not assign personnel to a country of which they are nationals
• Candidates must be in good health and will have to do a medical check-up prior to departure in the field
• Candidates must possess a driving license (for manual transmission vehicles)
• Candidates must be prepared to accept unaccompanied postings (i.e. no spouse, partner, children or dependents) for at least the first 24 months

What we offer

• Rewarding work in a humanitarian and multicultural environment
• A two-week orientation course and other opportunities for further in-house training
• Generous social benefits
• Opportunity to join the Nutitionist talent pool and be considered for future assignments elsewhere

Additional information

• Type of role: Regional
• Length of assignment : 24 months
• Working rate: 100%
• Starting date: November 2018 (flexible)