Health and Nutrition Project

Job Title: Nutrition Project Officer

Number of positions: 1

Location: Based in Burao with regular travels to project location sites, mainly in Togdheer and Sool.

Reports to: Health and Nutrition Project Coordinator and Programme Manager

Project Duration: 11 Months including 3months probation period

Organizational Background:

Candlelight for Environment, Education & Health was founded in 1995 as a non-governmental organization dedicated to development issues in underserved and/or marginalized communities. Candlelight quickly grew from a small institution with limited coverage to one of the biggest charities in Somaliland. From its inception to date Candlelight has been working hard to implement and manage high quality, contextually appropriate and effective programs to serve the most vulnerable communities in Somaliland.

Project Background:

Candlelight in partnership with Acted and with funding from the French Embassy will undertake a 12-months project aimed to restore resilience though improved food security and nutrition outcomes for vulnerable displaced and rural population in crisis affected areas in Somalia to a total of 5,120 households (30,720 individuals). This will be achieved through the provision of nutrition and health services in 18 IDP sites and rural villages within Caynaba and Laas Canood Districts in Sool Region and Burco District in Togdheer Region (SO1), in particular for Pregnant and Lactating Women and Children under two years of age that lack regular and vital access to Mother and Child Health Units in the first 1,000 days of life. To achieve this, Candlelight will establish Mobile Health and Nutrition Mobile Teams (MHNT) that have the capacity to target at least 21,000 individuals (80 patients/day) with nutrition screening and treatment, referral pathway for severe cases, vaccination, and awareness on key topics related to good nutrition, child health, and hygiene practices for better community development.

Position Summary:

The Nutrition Project Officer is responsible for overseeing and implementing of the Health & Nutrition programs in target areas mainly Togdheer and Sool regions; working in close collaboration with partners including the Ministry of Health.

The position holder working under the direct supervision of the Project coordinator is expected to collaborate with other stakeholders towards delivering integrated Health & Nutrition interventions in target areas, carry out active case surveillance and response, assess and continuously monitor nutrition needs, report on nutrition situations, and support project design, writing of reports. S/he will also be responsible for meeting quality standards during project implementation, nutrition care delivery, encouraging beneficiary participation, liaising with other stakeholders such as Community Health Worker / Community Nutrition Workers (CHW/CNWs), Ministry of Health and Nutrition and related clusters or working groups, provide training and mentorship to the nutrition staff in the targeted districts.

Job Description

Role & Responsibilities

• Identify training needs, plan and organize training for MHNTs and community volunteers.
• Lead/support in the planning, quantification and selection of nutrition services sites establishment, and operations.
• Support and supervise the MHNTs at the nutrition services sites.
• Assist the MHNTs in developing movement plans.
• Ensure proper management supplies, monitor and report on the stock levels.

·         Support the implementation of an effective nutrition response program in target areas in close collaboration with the Project Coordinator and where needed The Ministry of Health and other partners.

• Collect and compile SAM, MAM reports for submission to relevant authorities and provide feedback to the MHNTs.
• Timely compilation of nutrition data and fulfilling nutrition data entry in online databases.
• Regular submission of weekly, biweekly, and monthly nutrition reports according to the stipulated deadlines.
• Guide nutrition staff to conduct food demonstration, formation, and facilitation of MUAC screening.
• Ensure that the nutritional protocols are respected: admission and discharge criteria, frequency of measurement, distribution of nutrition products and systematic treatment protocols are followed.
• Ensure proper filling of OPD SAM and MAM registers and referral forms and that anthropometric and nutritional data are collected and entered correctly.
• Ensure that the MHNTs keep an updated stock of all essential nutrition supplies and requisitions of nutrition supplies are made in a timely manner.
• Represent Candlelight in all nutrition meetings with different partners within the district and regional level.
• Monitor nutrition trends and update the manager/coordinator on areas of concern.
• Identify nutrition procurement needs and raise procurement requests on time.
• Manage nutrition commodities (drugs, micronutrient supplements, nutrition commodities,).
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the line manager