Officer, Health and Nutrition

Country: Kenya

Organization: Concern Worldwide

Closing date: 6 Apr 2023

Job Title: Officer Health and Nutrition

Reports to: Manager, Health and Nutrition

Direct Reports: Ward Development Assistants

Job Location: Moyale- Marsabit (Candidates must be legally entitled to work in Kenya at the time of application - National Position)

Contract Details: Fixed Term , Seven (7) Months Contract, renewable subject to availability of funds.

Job Summary:

The incumbent will provide technical guidance as well as hands on support to the Sub County Health Management Team to strengthen their capacity and skills in the implementation of High Impact Nutrition interventions (HINI) through the integrated health systems strengthening approach and work with community groups to build their resilience and strengthen their knowledge and capacity in health and nutrition services and appropriate care taking.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the Sub county level in implementing the High Impact Nutrition Interventions (HINI) in the respective Sub County(s).


• Support implementation of integrated / community management of acute malnutrition (IMAM/CMAM) at facility and community levels within respective Sub-County


• Provide technical assistance to Sub County in the implementation of Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) and Baby Friendly Community Initiative(BFCI)


• Support facilities and community units with technical assistance to implement a sustainable, Social and Behavior Change (SBC) approach using BFCI model for advocacy.


• Support the Sub- County, facility and Community Capacity building activities on Baby Friendly Community Initiatives.


• Support the county to conduct monthly pipeline and order management for facilities and ensure that there are no stock outs of any nutrition commodities


• Conducting joint facility supervision visits with county nutrition coordinator on inventory management and nutrition service data transcription and reporting practices


• Assist community units conduct demonstrations on food preparation at household level, strategies on diet diversity; also conduct health talks to mother to mother support groups and caregivers of children on basic food safety and WASH


• Implement and monitor progress of approved relevant nutrition sensitive activities contextualized to specific communities


• Prepare progress reports for all activities based on indicators identified in the performance monitoring plan


• Assist Sub County Coordination forum secretariat to organize, document and share key outcomes of these meetings


• Provide technical assistance to Sub County on quantification of nutrition commodities to ensure planning and effective management of nutrition commodities


• Work with Concern staff to provide input to work plans, budgets, and quarterly and annual reports


• In consultation with Health and Nutrition Manager, act as a technical resource for county on issues relation to nutrition and respond to requests for technical information and assistance on nutrition


• Represent Concern at key meetings at Sub County level, e.g., Sub County steering group, health stakeholder’s forum, any other forums on nutrition and health, as needed.


• Assist the Project Manager to provide technical support to the SCHMT and other stakeholders in the implementation of the project at all levels.


• Provide periodic reports on the health and nutrition project activities at the community level.


• Ensure programme quality control through implementation of monthly and quarterly M&E.

Others

• Adhere to and promote the standards outlined in the Concern Code of Conduct and associated policies to their team, beneficiaries, and be committed to providing a safe working environment


• Participating and contributing towards Concern’s emergency response, as and when necessary


• Take all possible measures to meet Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS)


• Any other duties as assigned by the Line Manager

Person Specification

Minimum Education, Qualifications & Experience Required:

• A degree in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Nursing or relevant field with KNDI Professional certification


• At least three years (3) experience in implementing Baby friendly Community Initiative (BFCI).


• Experience working with and through local partners in ASAL contexts and knowledge of MOH systems, particularly at Sub County level.


• Good understanding of cross cutting issues- gender, HIV and AIDS, DRR, etc. and how to integrate them into public health and nutrition programmes.


• Fluent in both spoken and written English and Kiswahili. Fluency in local language/s skills is an added advantage


• An understanding of the local context, prior experience working and/or living in the County is highly desirable.

Preference will be given to candidates who possess the following:

• Good computing and report writing skills


• Able to work independently, as well as in a team


• Strong leadership and management skills


• High integrity and demonstrated ability to follow standards and policies


• Ability to work in a systematic and organized manner and to tight deadlines


• Fluent in both spoken and written English and Kiswahili. Fluency in local language/s skills is an added advantage.

Competencies required:

• Takes responsibility for own actions and outputs to ensure quality outcomes


• Willing to challenge or question others constructively when appropriate


• Ready to accept changes as new situations arise


• Ensures decisions are based on accurate information and actively seeks out information as needed

Safeguarding at Concern: Code of Conduct and its Associated Policies

Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organisation, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a consultancy opportunity with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their consultancy contract. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to do consultancy work or volunteer with vulnerable adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Subsequently, being hired as a consultant with Concern is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.

Concern’ is the trading name of ‘Concern Worldwide’, a company limited by guarantee, registered number 39647; registered charity number CHY 5745, registered in Ireland, registered address is 52-55 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Follow Concern online: www.concern.net

How to apply

Interested candidates, who meet the above requirements, should send a detailed CV with three referees and Cover Letter Only to nairobi.hr@concern.net with the subject of the email as "Officer Health and Nutrition - Moyale’ on or before Thursday 6th April 2023 ". Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunity employer and does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (for application, written test, interview, training, medical examination etc.) nor act through recruitment agents. This is applicable for all opportunities including staff and interns.