About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.

In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. We help people overcome poverty and conflict. Working with communities, we leverage local logic to help people transform their lives. To grow more food, earn higher incomes and ultimately advocate for their needs. We see global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable solutions. During our 34-year history, our work has improved more than 170 million lives in more than 115 countries around the world. Mercy Corps Ethiopia invites motivated and qualified candidates to apply for the following vacant position.

Position Title:  Nutrition Officer

Duty Station: Jigjiga, Somali Region, Semera, Afar Region and Dire Dawa

Open Position: Three

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004, and acts on behalf of people who have become disenfranchised and poor. We stand with Ethiopia to find and access opportunities, and to be part of lasting and meaningful transformation in the country. Mercy Corps seeks to be influential with government and development actors towards a more resilient country where poverty is tackled through the eyes of those who understand it best. This translates into ensuring that the population is financially stable, healthy & nourished, educated & unformed, and that natural resources are accessible, shared and utilized sustainably. 

Mercy Corps anticipates a multi-year, multi-million dollar USAID funded initiative focused on stimulating increased production, productivity and marketing through more competitive livestock and livestock products markets; increasing communities’ resilience; diversifying livelihood economic opportunities and options through essential skills transfer; improving food security and nutrition, and contributing to the wider knowledge on pastoral development. The program will operate in multiple pastoral regions across Ethiopia.

Mercy Corps is seeking three (3) full-time Nutrition Officers to work on Nutrition and activities on the USAID funded Resilience in Pastoral Areas Project.

There are 3 vacant Nutrition Officer positions are one in each of the following offices: Jigjiga, Dire Dawa, Semera Afar). The position entails a lot of field travel to RIPA project operational areas in the targeted woredas of Somali, Afar regions and Borena zone of Oromiya region.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Under the leadership of the Nutrition and WASH Coordinator, the Nutrition officer will be on the frontline to implement, manage and monitor the RIPA Nutrition and WASH activities at community level in a way that results in greater progress and synergies for nutrition and WASH impact.
• The Nutrition officer is responsible for establishing or strengthening community level nutrition groups like Mother to Mother support Groups; School Health Clubs and Male Champion groups
• The nutrition officer is in charge of supporting the functionality of these groups; Mother to Mother support Groups; School Health Clubs and Male Champion groups
• The Nutrition officer will technically support the Mother to Mother support Groups; School Health Clubs and Male Champion group facilitators to deliver quality services
• With support of the Nutrition and WASH Coordinator, the Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) activities at woreda and Kebele level in effectively delivering the “first 1000 day” approach
• Collaborate with Agricultural extension workers in implementation of home gardening through perma gardening or keyhole gardening of fruits and vegetables.
• Work closely with the Nutrition Coordinator and Bureau of Agriculture in documentation and promoting scaling up of food storage, and preservation
• Work closely with Mother to Mother support Groups and School Health Clubs in food preparation food demonstrations
• Support the roll out Community Led Total Sanitation and Hygiene (CLTSH) in targeted woredas
• Strengthen health extension workers/ ‘development army’ to promote latrine construction and disseminate essential promotion packages or household sanitation and hygiene. 
• Promote construction of household upgradable latrines in targeted woredas.
• Promote Sanitation and hygiene practices (raw water treatment, safe water storage and handling hand washing and installation of hand washing facilities by the latrines)
• Facilitate community level dialogue sessions on personal, food/water hygiene and sanitation problems and social and gender norms that influence nutrition through Social Analysis and Action (SAA) approach
• Actively participate in the development of tools behavior change communication (BCC) materials and approaches for Nutrition and WASH

REPRESENTATION AND COORDINATION

In consultation with the Nutrition and WASH Coordinator, represent RIPA nutrition at Woreda level (Somali/Oromiya/Afar) technical coordination meetings and forums, as needed e.g. Health, WASH and Nutrition clusters General Position Summary

GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

• Understand and aware GDI related priorities of the country office and contribute for the realization of priorities (continually work to understand and be aware of the gender diversity and inclusion priorities of the country office and contribute in the execution)
• Promote gender equal and inclusive workplace culture in a day-to-day interaction with a team member, partners and program participants.

SECURITY

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING 

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Job Requirements

• BSc Degree or diploma in nutrition, public health, nursing, midwifery, health promotion, or related international development field and at least 3 years of relevant work in nutrition and/or food security programs development
• Have extensive knowledge on the “first 1000 day” approach
• Extensive knowledge on WASH approaches for development settings
• Extensive knowledge on MIYCN approaches for development settings
• Experience working with mother support peer groups
• Good writing skills
• Strong, team player, well demonstrated organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Experience working with multi-disciplinary technical specialists
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple activities. 
• English fluency is essential, plus at least one other local language spoken in pastoral Ethiopia (Somali, Oromiya and Afar regions)

How to Apply

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the position advertised. All applications submitted to the Mercy Corps office include a CV, three references, and all relevant official documents. Applications will not be returned and will not be retained for future recruitment efforts. In order to ensure fairness to all applicant’s personal inquiries are not permitted.

Only candidates that are short listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and   diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.”         

DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 24 May 2021/4:00 PM

Please send non-returnable applications and credentials to one of the following address:  et-recruitment@mercycorps.org OR: Mercy Corps Recruiter Addis Ababa: P.O. Box 14319 Arbaminch: P.O. Box 33 , Jijiga: P.O. Box 225    Negelle Borena: P.O. Box 116 Dire Dawa: P.O. Box 974

Note: Please make sure that you mention the position title in the subject line of your email application.