Job Description

Country Office: Ethiopia

Work Base: [Wollega- Mendi]

Availability: As Soon As Possible

 Salary Scale: EMS07

Insurance - (Life, Group Personal Accident and Medical Insurances are covered upon the organization policies).

Seniority Allowance – paid depending up the years of service.

 Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply for this position.

About Action Against Hunger

 Action Against Hunger-USA is a global humanitarian organization that takes decisive action against the causes and effects of hunger. We save the lives of malnourished children and we enable entire communities to be free from hunger. With more than 8,000 staff in over 50 countries, our programs reached 17 million people in 2019.

About the Country Program in Ethiopia

Action Against Hunger has been operational in Ethiopia since 1984 responding to both chronic and acute needs through a multi-sectoral strategy where nutrition, Food Security and Livelihoods, WASH, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support activities are integrated to have a meaningful impact on people’s resilience. Action Against Hunger currently operates in 5 different regions (Oromia, Somali, Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, and Gambella) with a portfolio of 20m USD/year of emergency, resilience building, research, and innovation programs. We have a country team of around 600 staff in 17 regional and satellite offices. Our main donors in Ethiopia in 2020/2021 are BHA, ECHO, Europaid, UNHCR, UNICEF, GFFO, BPRM, SIDA, EHF, WFP, CIAA, and others.

I.                   Summary of position

The Deputy Nutrition and Health Program manager under the direct supervision of the Nutrition and Health Program Manger provides technical support and follow- up of the health and nutrition projects. S/he will supervise and train health and nutrition team as well as frontline health workers to ensure delivery of quality CMAM/IMAM, IYCF, IMNCI and other high impact Maternal and Child Health Services in line with FMoH, Donors, Action Against Hunger and Humanitarian standards, protocols and guidelines. S/he is also expected to establish and maintain productive working relationships with line manager, project staff, local government authorities and project beneficiaries to ensure effective coordination, collaboration, integration as well as transparent and accountable mechanism at project operational areas. Additionally, s/he will represent Action Against Hunger in local level Health and Nutrition coordination platforms and fora. 

Objective 1: Ensure compliance to quality standards in Health and Nutrition project activities:

Purpose (The substantive focus of the job encompassing scope, depth and difficulty of work both conceptual and applied)

Key activities & responsibilities to achieve this objective:

• In collaboration and working with the Health and Nutrition PM and other team members, analyze capacity building needs and gaps in the operational areas and propose trainings accordingly.
• Ensuring quality implementation of health and nutritional packages, including CMAM/IMAM, IYCF, IMNCI, RMNCH, DHIS2 and IPLS in project supported health facilities through regular supportive supervision and monitoring activities.
• Ensure the availability of health and nutrition standard protocols/ guidelines in all Action Against Hunger supported health facilities and service delivery sites and assist in strict applications.
• Provide the necessary technical guidance and support to Action Against Hunger field team, including H & N Supervisors in a manner that supports the growth of internal capacity.
• Make sure that all Health and Nutrition interventions are adapted to COVID-19 infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, there is adequate integration of risk communication, and community engagement activities as essential mitigate and control measures in operational areas.
• Coordinate with local health authorities and ensure the availability of essential medicines and supplies requires to render continues health and nutrition services. 
• Observe and support field level activities to determine the team's specific training requirements to improve understanding of care practices and organize the appropriate training in response.
• Analysis and follow up of the health and nutrition situation and health emergencies in operational areas, that could potentially affect the health and nutrition status of the population in the operational areas and provide regular technical insights and updates to the NHPD to help make informed decisions.
• Ensure timely and quality implementation of planned health and nutrition activities within and alerting the Health and Nutrition PM to any challenges faced in project implementation.
• Strengthen, creating and developing service referral linkages and network for the detection and early referral of clients, notably by the use of W/HDAs and community mobilization techniques.

Objective 2: Contribute to the Health & Nutrition country strategy and project development as well as support in direct program operations at base level:

Delivery: (The focus on the execution of the work and the role on the team for supporting business/operational functions in terms of timeliness and quality)

Key activities & responsibilities to achieve this objective:

• Develop annual health and nutrition master beneficiaries and BoQ in close coordination and consultation with line manager as well as local health authorities.
• Identify and propose the development of new innovative health and nutrition programs and projects in collaboration with Health and Nutrition PM and capital based technical advisers.
• Assist and support the NHPM in review the overall project work plans and budgeting for field activities associated with donor requirements and provide guidance to the Health and Nutrition team in their delivery of those requirements.
• Review project reporting schedules, templates, and requirements, and guide the Health and Nutrition team in the field to fulfil requirements and respect reporting deadlines in line with Action Against Hunger and donor standards.
• Make close follow up of project budget utilization status through close monitoring of BFUs and specific grants spending status and addressing challenges on timely manner in close consultation with line manager.
• Prepare Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) and APRs for health and nutrition projects in close consultation with line manager and other team members. 
• Ensure and support the implementation of activities according to the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP).
• Participate in regular base level BFU and APR meetings, provide inputs that would enhance the timely and effective project implementation and completion.
• Support the line manager in preparing quality grant (Narrative and Qualitative), including APR narrative and quantitative reports, both for internal and external purposes in line with agreed timeframes and standards.
• Ensure quality monthly nutrition and health cluster updates are developed and shared with Health and Nutrition Program Manager and capital based TAs.
• Coordinate with other sectors and thematic areas in Action Against hunger such as WASH, FSL and MHPSS/Protection program managers and ensure effective integration of interventions at different levels of engagements.
• Check the team’s Procurement Requests according to the needs, available stock and budget availability, and submit to Health and Nutrition PM for validation
• Coordinate and ensure timely delivery of health and nutrition supplies to the health facilities in coordination with zonal and woreda authorities and Health and Nutrition PM

Objective 3: Participate and supervise Health and Nutrition Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) activities:

Key activities & responsibilities to achieve this objective:

• Participate in various health and nutrition assessments, including annual needs assessments, SQUEAC, SLEAC, BNA and SMART nutrition surveys as required in collaboration with other AAH sectors.
• Ensure that project staff are adhering to the reporting and recording system of Action Against Hunger and Project MEAL plan as well as donor visibility/communication policies.
• Support and contribute to providing quality health and nutrition data for monitoring and evaluation purposes.
• Ensure Health and Nutrition activities are running with recommended Indicators, put recommended action plans for improvement, and suggest any other solution toward program target achievements.
• Participate in the evaluation of recommended Health and Nutrition interventions in view of the key findings of health and nutrition assessments, operational contexts and needs.
• Provide the necessary health and nutrition data for MEAL team whenever requested. 
• Ensure and contribute to capitalisation of good practice, experience, lessons and evidence generation as well as proper documentation exercises.

Objective 4: External coordination, representation and communication in the field of Health and Nutrition at regional and local level.

Engagement: (The focus of interaction both internally and externally needed to deliver a service seek collaboration and build effective partnerships)

Key activities & responsibilities to achieve this objective:

• Participate in the different external coordination mechanisms at woreda and zonal level when required in collaboration with Health and Nutrition PM.
• Provide updates on Action Against Hunger health and nutrition activities in the different external coordination meetings when required in collaboration with Health and Nutrition PM-
• Liaison with international and local partners regarding health and nutrition activities
• Provide support to health and nutrition team on external partners’ (including donor visits) field visits - represent Action Against Hunger, development of briefing papers etc. when required in collaboration with Health and Nutrition PM.
• Share minutes of meetings attended including summary of action points.

Objective 5: Human Resource Management and staff development

• The Deputy Health and Nutrition Program Manager is responsible for:
• Support evaluation of the skill level and technical competence of team members, usually under direct supervision. 
• Identify training needs of health and nutrition staff and organize oriented trainings on the basis of skills assessments and observation in collaboration with Health and Nutrition PM.
• Management of his/her teams motivation, inspiration, commitment and wellness from leadership, capacity and other competency perspectives.
• Taking part in the recruitment of staff in line with HR procedures and in consultation with Health and Nutrition PM and Base Admin/HR
• Conduct staff appraisals and development of work/action plans for your team (supervisors, officers, nurses)
• Organise (in collaboration with PM) monthly team meetings to identify challenges and track progress in the Program implementation at the different centers and develop action plan and follow up accordingly
• Identify and report any issues in the team to Health and Nutrition PM and propose a way forward to address the issues
• Follow up on staff leave planning, absence, late coming in collaboration with Health and Nutrition PM and HR
• Take the responsibilities and tasks assigned by PM/FC during PMs absence

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Acting as the direct technical supervisor for Health and Nutrition Supervisors based in woreda/district levels

Gender Equality Commitments  

• Be strongly committed to Gender Equality and the Humanitarian Principals; Promote Gender Equality within the humanitarian and/or development work.
• Foster an environment that supports values of women and men, and equal access to information and career growth opportunities
• Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion. race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status. 
• Value and respect all cultures. 

Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA):

• Beware of minimum operating standards of SEA
• Protect and prevent others from SEA.
• Report SEA.
• Strictly compile with AAH child protection and SEA policies.

Fiscal Responsibility

• Ensure timely budget utilization of health and nutrition programs and project activities in liaison with base level finance colleagues and line manager etc. to ensure budget expenditure is in line with program/ project objectives, timeframe, within project tolerance level. 
• Provide regular follow and support to health and nutrition staff, including nutrition and health supervisors and officers on ways to efficiently and timely utilize project resources, including project committed budget while ensuring the quality of expected deliverables.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions. Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week in Action Against Hunger Operational areas. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.
• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases. 

Job Requirements

Required Qualifications and Professional Experience

• Academic Background: Bachelor degree in Public Health, Nursing, Nutrition and other related field. Advanced degree is desirable.
•  Experience: At least 5-to-7years of practical and proven experience in managing Health and Nutrition relief and development programs and staff
• Exposure and participation in national and subnational health and nutrition coordination platforms and TWGs.
• Having a better understanding of the global and national humanitarian and development landscape and dynamics
• Experience in and exposure to INGOs setting is preferred
• Experience in leading program development, including needs assessment, program design, and proposal development
• Familiarity with donor funded projects requirements and procedures.

Required Skills & Competencies:

• Strong interpersonal communication skill
• Networking and representation skill
• Good strategic and analytical abilities
• Embracing Diversity, Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation
• Good experience in staff management and capacity building
• Strong flexibility in terms of mobility and working hours
• Well trained on high impact health and nutrition interventions; Desirable project management skill, quality report writing skill and capable of working in team. Knowledge and practical skill on applicable computer software (Epi info, SPSS, Stata, ENA, MS Offices); Fluent in English and one or more local language both in written and spoken forms is desirable.

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

• English (fluent)
• Fluency in the local language (Oromiffa) advantageous

How to Apply

If you are interested, please send your application composed of none returnable CV, a Covering Letter with “Deputy Protection and Gender Program Manager-Mendi” written in the subject line, and three references, applicants to the following addresses: Through www.ethiojobs.net

NB: Only shortlisted applicants will be communicated and the selection process includes a technical test and an interview.