NUTRITION PROGRAM MANAGER( 2 POSITIONS)

JOB DESCRIPTION**

Name of the position: NUTRITION PROGRAM MANAGER( 2 POSITIONS)**

Country: Kenya

Base: WEST POKOT & ISIOLO

Line Manager: Head of Region Technical Line Manager: Head of Health and Nutrition

Line management of: Nutrition Program

Officer

Start Date:

As soon as possible

Contract

Duration:

8 months

Donors:

UNICEF

Founded in 1979, Action Against Hunger is an international humanitarian organization that delivers programs in over 44 countries. Recognized worldwide as a leader in the fight against hunger, our mission is to save lives through the prevention, detection, and treatment of malnutrition, especially during and after emergency situations and conflicts. From crisis to sustainability, Action Against Hunger tackles the underlying causes of malnutrition and its effects. By integrating our programs with local and national systems, we further ensure that short-term interventions become long-term solutions. With head offices in France, the United Kingdom, Spain, the United States and Canada, our international network shares its combined resources, breadth of experience and technical expertise in pursuit of a world without hunger.

Action Against Hunger has been present in Kenya since 2001 and is a transformative leader in nutrition security for improved quality of life among vulnerable communities. Action Against Hunger wants to contribute to the optimal functional performance of National, County, and Community systems through strategic partnerships for innovative nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific interventions to achieve its impact. Action Against Hunger is currently implementing activities in West Pokot, Mandera, Samburu, Isiolo, Trans Nzoia, Kakamega, Bungoma and Busia counties.

To achieve this, Action Against Hunger will;

1. Intervene on the Health and Nutrition sector: evolving from direct service provision to strengthening the health system- focusing on ‘strengthening’ the system more than**

‘supporting’ the system**

ACF-Kenya health and nutrition program has considerably evolved from direct service provision, to scaling up the relationship and partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH) by recognizing them as the primary health and nutrition service providers and working at building their technical capacity to reach a higher level in the quality of services provided. Strengthening the health system will not happen by indiscriminately working on the six (6) HSS pillar alone but through a critical and holistic review of the health system processes. This critical and holistic diagnostic approach requires having developed a trustful relationship to be able to work together with the health departments, at national, County and sub-county levels

2. Bringing the Community Health Strategy (CHS) onboard**

Within the HSS approach, Action Against Hunger Kenya will focus on community health strategy (CHS) as CHS has the potential to have a huge impact on addressing under-nutrition and is, unfortunately, under-utilized. Through this system, Action Against Hunger Kenya will work with the MoH to create demand and accountability for services offered. This will be achieved through

1. Applying SBCC approach at community level




2. Strengthen referral and counter referral system

3. Scaling up community/citizen engagement**

If the system on which Action Against Hunger is supporting is not properly connected to people and there is inadequate engagement with people themselves then results will not be achieved. Deciders

are still making crucial decisions on behalf of their citizen and on what they think should be the

strategies and the priorities. The most vulnerable groups lack strong voice to advocate for their priorities thus the requirement for an engagement platform.

4. Sustainability of WASH services to strengthen nutrition sensitive programming** Nutrition sensitive programming remains key to achieving better nutrition impact and reaching targets. WASH is a vital element but the main problem in Kenya is about sustainable access to safe water and sanitation services to withstand the recurrent shocks in ASAL regions. Findings clearly demonstrate critical role of WASH in good nutrition require long-term sustainable solutions for the vulnerable communities embedded in the existing systems and communities

5. Partnerships**

The position holder Will aim to work closely with the Ministry of Health both at National and County levels to support in the implementation of the National and County level strategies related to improving maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) and building relationships with key stakeholders including within government institutions, the donor community, NGOs and the private sector.

6. Research**

Research will be aimed at informing program action by building rigorous high quality evidence. Thus, Action Against Hunger will seek to contextualize research findings within the larger health and

Nutrition strategy. Research will always be of high quality in order to produce knowledge that is

applicable outside of the research setting. Results of the research will also be used to improve programming and inform policy and strategies at the National and County level.

Roles and Responsibilities

1: Program implementation and oversight**

· Ensure adherence of all Action Against Hunger activities to County, National and international guidelines

· Ensure and supervise directly the technical work of the ACF nutrition team in the County

· Supervise and manage the implementation of capacity building activities through OJT in HINI and trainings in close liaison with the County health management teams.

· Ensure integration of MIYCN activities to the component of the nutrition program in the camps.

· Ensure monthly meetings with the staff based in the field to review implementation progress.

· Participate and ensure the implementation of sporadic assessments, and actively participate to nutritional surveys and program coverage surveys, according to the needs.

· Ensure frequent visits to the field to monitor activities, supplies, and general running of the programs

· In collaboration with the Nutrition Head of Department; Propose and initiate improvements according the analysis and findings of sporadic assessment that will contribute Action Against

Hunger strategy reviews and advocacy.

· In collaboration with Nutrition Head of Department adjust the program to any change in the context (location of the centres, number of staffs, and communication with the field…)

· Identify and participate in the nutrition and other related meetings with key stakeholders in the

County

· Overall review of program performance as per stipulated standards and development of feasible action points thereafter

2: To coordinate activities within ACF and between partners/stakeholders**

· Oversee the coordination of all the components of the nutrition program in collaboration with the Action Against Hunger team

· Coordinate nutrition activities, with other nutrition sensitive stakeholders in the County

· Plan field movement on a weekly basis and coordinate with logistics and finance department on purchase orders, cash forecast and BFU/PFU on a monthly basis.

· Works closely with logistics and administration to ensure timely delivery of supplies.

· Coordinate the orders and supply of food and non-food items with the organizations in charge of the supplies in collaboration partners if need be.

· Work closely with the Advocacy PM in follow up of relevant advocacy issues in the County

3: Reporting and documentation of all related project activities**

· Work with HoD and M&E manager to develop monitoring and evaluation plan as per Action

Against Hunger guidelines and follow up implementation of the same

· Develop and follow up on activity progress reports, evolution and monthly narrative report.

This will entail monthly review of statistics and changing dynamics at the County level and advise coordination on any specific issues for consideration in West Pokot County

· Write the first draft of the proposals, project procurement plans and donor reports based on donor guidelines and timeframes. This will be shared by line manager for further review and

follow up till the final version is developed

· Review activity reports of staff and provide necessary feedback to the staff in West Pokot

County.

· Actively contribute to surveys and assessments process and report writing

· Participate in the analysis and drafting of activity reports and evaluation of the project.

· Contribute in designing technical strategy and country strategy when required.

· Work closely with Action Against Hunger field team and Nairobi to include advocacy in documentation of key activities, development of lesson learnt documents and other related advocacy issues

4: Budget management**

Directly responsible for monitoring of project activities in the area and will be responsible for the following specific issues with close liaison and authorization where necessary from the Nutrition Head of Department.

· Preparation of budget and budget narrative and project inception phase

· Development of spending plans based on activity plan

· Closely monitor project expenditure against stipulated deliverables and budget agreements/donor guidelines

· Have monthly review meetings based on budget follow up from finance departments and advise where necessary

· Closely liaise with the finance and logistics department to follow up expenses

· Prepare cash forecasts on monthly basis

5: Staff management**

This will be in line with Action Against Hunger HR manual to include:

· Staff management of all line staff in the area of operation to include identification of staff training needs, staff supervision, capacity building and follow up

· Undertaking of staff evaluations

· Launch of staff requests, call for applications and recruitments of nutrition officers

· Staff motivation in close liaison with HR

6: Relations and others**

· Representation of Action Against Hunger in various meetings as stipulated to include creation of awareness of what Action Against Hunger is doing in the region.

· Problem solving of any matters arising in the area related to the project in close liaison with the head of base and national team

· Adherence to Action Against Hunger security guidelines and sensitization of staff on the same as per Action Against Hunger SOP in close liaison with HOR

7: Any other duties**

· Additional duties may be assigned by the supervisors as per project needs

QUALIFICATIONS**

Education

Master of Science or Bachelor of Science (Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics) or a health related field

Skills and Experience

· Fluency in English with good verbal and written communication skills. Ability to communicate and negotiate effectively. Communication skills (written, oral and cross cultural)

· Excellent written and public communication and negotiation skills

· 2 years’ experience in HINI related nutrition programs

· Skills on reporting and data interpretation

· Knowledge on basic computer applications such; excel, word, power point presentation.

· Knowledge on Maternal Infant Young Child Feeding

· Knowledge on surveys and assessments

· Experience working with national, County and local authorities in Kenya

· Previous experience with Action Against Hunger preferred though if not available strong experience with an international humanitarian agency would be acceptable.

What ACF will offer:**

· Start date: As soon as possible

· Duty station: Isiolo/ West Pokot

· Remuneration package: Very Competitive salary package with additional benefits to include:

§ Career development opportunities with Action Against Hunger

§ Training opportunities

§ Comprehensive medical cover for self and dependants

§ Opportunity to work in a good and friendly environment with a dynamic and motivated team