Islamic Relief Nutrition Coordinator Job in Wajir Kenya

Islamic Relief - Kenya 

Job Title: Nutrition Coordinator
 

Base Location: Wajir
 

Background: Established in 1984 in the UK, Islamic Relief (IR) is an International NGO seeking to promote sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities through relief and development activities. We aim to help the needy regardless of race, religion or gender.
 

Job Summary: This position demands both the technical knowledge and the work experience, needed to coordinate a nutrition programme. 

The Nutrition Coordinator is responsible for leading the Wajir nutrition team and providing technical support and capacity building of IRK nutrition team and MOH staff for successful planning and implementation of the High Impact Nutrition Interventions (HINI).

The position requires working closely with MOH, WFP, UNICEF and other partners working in Wajir. 

The Nutrition Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring management of the nutrition programme is in line with international and national humanitarian standards and donor guidelines with the assistance of the Nutrition Advisor and the Head of Programmes.

Key Accountabilities
 

Project Planning

• Support the management of the health and nutrition programmes including the provision of technical support, training and capacity building for the field teams and MOH staff.
• Ensure that the implementation of the nutrition programmes conforms to internationally accepted standards; country and county guidelines. In addition, ensure that the projects are implemented within budget and timelines
• Ensure effective start up, management, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of the project.
• Support the development of project annual work plans in coordination with the project teams and review project activities at key intervals to enable participatory feedback mechanism to project plan and implementation.
• Ensure intervention strategies are inclusive and address the needs of the most vulnerable groups.
• Provide technical leadership and support for conducting nutrition surveys and coverage assessments.

Project Implementation and Monitoring

• Providing support and guidance to the IRK Nutrition team, MOH and other implementing partners on the planning and implementation of activities according to the project document.
• Conduct training (on-job trainings and classroom) for MOH staff and community health workers on need basis.
• Representing IRK in Nutrition coordination meetings and other relevant meetings at the county level
• Participating in and/or leading nutrition, and/or multi-sectoral assessments as required.
• Lead, supervise and guide the project field team to Identify inputs required for implementation of project activities and follow up on timely delivery with program support in the field and country office.
• Responsible for maintaining the strategic direction of the health and nutrition programme. This includes ensuring that a coherent and consistent implementation strategy is developed, that activities are implemented in accordance with this, and that regular monitoring and evaluation takes place.
• Budget formulation, tracking and monitoring
• Maintain close working relationships with other projects within IRK, to ensure a more comprehensive and harmonized approach towards programme implementation to maximize impact

Staff management

• To assess the training needs of nutrition staff and develop a training programme to meet these needs.
• Conduct training on community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) and IYCF for project staff and MOH counterparts
• Provide support and supervision on nutrition activities to the staff implementing health and nutrition programme in Wajir
• Provide leadership, guidance and supervision on project budgets and work plans
• Representing IRK in Nutrition coordination meetings and other relevant meetings at the county/ sub county level.
• Ensure that all information on Nutrition and health implementation, policy networking or other communications with IR staff, management and external actors is passed in a complete, accurate and timely manner

Report Preparation & Submission

• Developing fact sheets as needed on relevant health and nutrition issues affecting children and women to be used for advocacy and fundraising
• Participate in project proposal development
• To compile the nutrition activities inputs to donor project reports and monthly reports with assistance from the appropriate staff.
• Maintain proper systems of filing and ensure that the field office has all relevant technical material on site.
• Ensure the establishment and strengthening of nutrition monitoring activities within the organization.
• To report properly and in an appropriate time, all relevant nutritional information required for the comprehensive development of the nutrition programmes
• Document and share best practice models and lessons learned from the programme/ projects implemented within the organization and with partners/ other stakeholders
• Provide regular and timely updates to Area manager, Nutrition Advisor and the project team on progress, priorities and constraints both verbally and in writing.
• Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Security

• Full adherence to Islamic Relief Kenya security procedures and standard operating procedures
• To behave at all times in a manner which positively promotes Islamic Relief and its work.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Degree level qualification in public, health nutrition or related disciplines.
• At least 3+ years of experience in managing nutrition treatment and prevention programs in ASAL areas or underdeveloped/crisis contexts.
• Significant experience/knowledge of MoH systems and CMAM, IYCF and micronutrient interventions.
• Experience in health/ nutrition programming including monitoring and evaluation, ability to manage projects including human, material resources and budgets
• Experience in conducting nutrition assessments and an understanding of nutritional surveillance and information systems
• Understanding of rights based approaches and participatory concepts
• Ability to produce analytical and well-presented project reports and proposals
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels, taking into account cultural and language difficulties
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to lead, train/ coach/ mentor and motivate a team.
• Highly organized, detail oriented and able to work under pressure
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Kiswahili
• Willingness to travel to field sites

Please send us your cover letter and detailed CV including your qualifications and experience. 

Your application should also include names and addresses of three referees, a working e-mail address and daytime telephone contacts. 

The forwarding e-mail and cover letter must clearly indicate the position title on the subject line.

Send your applications to HR.Kenya@islamic-relief.or.ke, by Friday 19th December, 2014.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.