Assistant Technical Officer, Nutrition, IYCF

Position Title:            Assistant Technical Officer, Nutrition, IYCF

Location:                    Mafa, Borno State

Supervisor:                Project Coordinator

Project Description:

Northeast Nigeria is currently facing a growing humanitarian crisis with a vast number of Internally Displaced Persons in need of emergency assistance. These IDPs are living among host communities, lacking access to livelihoods and resources, ultimately leading to unprecedented levels of malnutrition and food insecurity. FHI 360 has been working in Nigeria for over 30 years and responded to the humanitarian crisis in the NE for five years. In anticipation of a new project, and in support of ongoing ones, FHI360 seeks an experienced Assistant Technical Officer, Nutrition – IYCF to support our response to the humanitarian crisis in NE Nigeria.

Basic Function:

She/He reports to the Technical Officer Health and Nutrition. Position is responsible for providing quality Infant & Young Child Feeding in emergency (IYCF – E) services at community and facility levels. The incumbent will engage in and will work with other team members in the delivery of optimal infant and young child feeding in emergency.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Lead and coordinate the facilitation of community IYCF support group activities
• Identify training needs and build technical capacity of IYCF Assistants, support group promoters, community nutrition mobilizers, and Lead persons.
• Direct skilled IYCF support services including Growth Promotion and Monitoring at IYCF corners/spaces and other contact points
• Organize and participate in food demonstration sessions periodically
• Lead micronutrient supplementation including micro-nutrient powder distribution.
• Conduct regular focus group discussions with beneficiaries to assess barriers to optimal IYCF uptake
• Support the development of IYCF multimedia messages including radio jingles
• Ensure Gender mainstreaming in nutrition, and integration of other sectors
• Collaborate, campaign and build community awareness during IYCF celebration days
• Support the development of case studies and success stories from program implementation.
• Develop network with other actors in the operational area as well as community leaders/representatives
• Engage in community dialogue, sensitize stakeholders/community on IYCF-E activities and specific humanitarian programs implemented by FHI 360.
• Take monthly physical inventory of all nutrition supplies ensuring stock levels are accounted for and adequate.
• Support M & E unit during surveys, assessments, focus group discussions, preparation and submission of timely reports.
• Support other nutrition activities as necessary.
• Other duties as assigned.

Additional Responsibilities:

• This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and the employee will also perform other related tasks as required and responsible for reporting and communication of progress and achievement of the specific assigned task.
• Inform TO IYCF of any professional problems encountered.

Knowledge, Skills & Attributes:

• Ability and willingness to stay at the LGA is required.
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions like long distance walking to implementation sites.
• Excellent spoken and written Local dialects and English languages.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to prepare weekly and monthly program reports.
• Be flexible and adaptable with regards to the implementation of the daily work

Qualifications and Requirements:

• BSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Public Health, Nursing, or closely related field with at least 1-3 years’ experience.
• MBBS with 1-3 years’ experience can also apply
• Experience working with a humanitarian organization
• Extensive knowledge of IYCF in humanitarian context.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Proven experience in working with IDPs or refugees, returnees, and host communities.
• Familiarity with Nigerian law enforcement systems and NGOs and CBOs is highly desirable.

Safeguarding:

FHI 360 is committed to providing a safe environment for all employees, beneficiaries and anyone contracted by FHI 360. This Includes taking measures to protect vulnerable people from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) by either FHI 360 employees or associated personnel. FHI 360 abides by child safeguarding principles. FHI 360’s Safeguarding Policies apply and flow out to all FHI 360 staff, board members, volunteers, and partner staff (subcontractors, consultants, vendors, and subrecipients), regardless of the funding mechanism or amount of contract, agreement, or purchase order.