I.     JOB SUMMARY

The purpose of the Health and Nutrition Officer position is to provide technical and professional support in the target woredas and kebeles in the area of Reproductive Health (RH), Primary Health Care (PHC) and Nutrition. S/he also works with and provides technical support and guidance to Health Action Committees (HACs) and Community Health Agents (CHAs). The Health and Nutrition Officer is also responsible to document and share good practices within the organization, stakeholders and its partners. Furthermore, the position holder will assist in refining the implementation of all components of the project related to health and nutrition in the target communities. The Health and Nutrition Officer will work closely with other program staff to ensure program quality and impact in line with the goals and objectives of the program. 

The Health and Nutrition Officer will act as the key technical support person supporting the implementation and accomplishment of all Health and Nutrition activities to the DFAP program in the DFAP Zones and woredas with supervision and direction from the Project Manager and Health, Nutrition and WASH Advisor. The position holder will also be responsible for capacity-building of field staff and government partners using relevant tools and technical approach. S/he will work closely with and support the woreda team leaders and community based health and nutrition and committees/clubs, etc. to ensure that all activities related to health and nutrition are implemented in a coordinated and harmonized manner.

The key activities under this component are as follows:

• Train men and women in optimal IYCF practices
• Train men and women in adolescent nutrition
• Facilitate increased awareness and knowledge of maternal nutrition
• Facilitate increased access to diversified nutritious foods
• Promote healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies
• Utilize IEC/BCC to increase knowledge of MCH and FH/RH service access
• Train HDS on improved service delivery

Two Officers will be hired, one for East Hararghe and one in the West Hararghe. 

II RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

1. Provide Technical Assistance/ Program planning and implementation (30%)

Provide quality Technical Support to communities on the following:

• Lead in the implementation of activities in the target woredas and kebeles focused on the intersection of health, nutrition and WASH. The key activities are as follows:
• Train men and women in optimal IYCF practices
• Train men and women in adolescent nutrition
• Facilitate increased awareness and knowledge of maternal nutrition
• Facilitate increased access to diversified nutritious foods
• Promote healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies
• Utilize IEC/BCC to increase knowledge of MCH and FH/RH service access
• Train HDS on improved service delivery
• Facilitate the supply and administration of logistical needs for project implementation;
• Ensure effective implementation of the project activities as per the set plan of action;
• Ensure measurable impact of health and nutrition activities and a robust M&E system is in place;
• Ensure quality of health and nutrition activities designed to reduce the vulnerability of women in food insecure households/communities;
• Monitor progress and provide ongoing feedback and recommendations to the project management;
• Participate, as required, in the health and nutrition assessments carried out in project operational areas

Responsibility #2 Training and Technical Support (20%)

• Provides technical and professional support in the area of health and nutrition in the target woredas and kebeles;
• Provides support for all trainings, workshops, and meetings conducted at woreda and kebele levels, which includes preparing training plan in organizing and facilitating events;
• Assists with the preparation of required training materials;
• Conduct training need assessments to identify knowledge gaps/needs in government line offices.

Responsibility #3 Planning and Supervision (20%)

• Conducts baseline information related access to health and nutrition in collaboration with other staff members and prepares plan of action for respective woredas/kebeles;
• Conducts joint, supportive and facilitative supervision with woreda and kebele staff on the activities of community health and nutrition agents;
• Supervises project activities and budgets, which includes tracking of project activities;

Job Responsibility #4: Networking and Learning (15%)

• Works closely with communities, health facilities and Woreda Health Office and other government partners and community-level institutions to promote quality health and nutrition interventions with targeted households; 
• Keeps updated with developments in the health and nutrition sectors, including best practice examples and ensure ongoing personal development and learning;
• Participates in the documentation and dissemination of lessons learned in available forums.

Responsibility #4 Reporting (10%)

• Prepares monthly/quarterly progress reports and submits to Project Manager;
• Coordinates quarterly review meetings;

Responsibility #5 Perform other duties as assigned (5%)

III.          PROBLEM SOLVING (Thinking Environment)

While the incumbent will face all three levels of problem-solving, the biggest challenges belong to category number three. The incumbent must use interpersonal skills to pick and choose the right strategy to address a given problem and also has to deal with variable solutions, which need analysis, problem definition and development of alternative solutions. The incumbent must use of different tools and programming approaches for identifying, analyzing, prioritizing, implementing and evaluating the health and nutrition needs in the communities and how to best meet those needs.

IV.            GENDER EQUALITY

• Understanding and demonstrated commitment to the importance of gender, youth and social inclusion issues.
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of Gender Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and PSEAH (safeguarding), as evidenced in previous positions / programming

Job Requirements

V. QUALIFICATION

A. EDUCATION/TRAINING

Required:  

• College Diploma in Public/Health, Nutrition, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.              

Desired:     

• BSc Degree in Public/Health Science/Nutrition.

B. EXPERIENCE:

Required: 

• 3-5 years of experience in Public Health and Nutrition programs in rural communities affected by food insecurity.

Desired:      

•  NGO experience

C. TECHNICAL SKILLS:

Required:

• Knowledge of local language;
• Community organizing capacity;
• Experience in organizing and conducting trainings for community members on health and nutrition;
• Proven training and facilitation skills;
• Proficiency in computer (Word, Excel);
• Expertise in gender and women’s empowerment program design and management;
• Good knowledge of written and spoken English;
• Project design, monitoring and evaluation skill;
• Effective interpersonal skills, maturity, initiative, tact and a high sense of responsibility, 
• Ability to work harmoniously with people of different educational and cultural backgrounds;
• Ability to write clear and concise reports and make effective oral presentations;
• Good analytical, communication and organizational skills.

Desired:

 D. COMPETENCIES

Respect, accountability, courage, excellence, adaptability, communicating with impart, contributing to team success, planning and organizing, proactive problem solving, technical and professional knowledge, stress tolerance and customer focus.

V. CONTACTS/KEY RELATIONSHIPS

The Health and Nutrition Officer is expected to establish and maintain open and cordial relations with government counterparts, the community, and other partners. S/he is also expected to establish good relation with the Project Manager and Extension Agents, and other staff in order to provide technical and professional support in the areas of health and nutrition.

VI. WORKING CONDITIONS

There are 2 Health and Nutrition Officers, one in East Hararghe and one in West Hararghe. 

How to Apply

CARE Ethiopia is committed to preventing all unwanted behavior at work. This includes sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, and child abuse. We expect everyone who works for us to share this commitment by understanding and working within the CARE Safeguarding Policy and related framework. CARE Ethiopia has a zero-tolerance approach to any harm to, or exploitation of, a vulnerable adult or child by any of our staff, representatives or partners.

CARE Ethiopia reserves the right to seek information from job applicants’ current and/or previous employers about incidents of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment the applicant may have been found guilty to have committed or about which an investigation was in the process of being carried out at the time of the termination of the applicant’s employment with that employer.

By submitting the application, the job applicant confirms that s/he has no objection to CARE Ethiopia requesting the information specified above. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.

HOW TO APPLY

If you are interested to be part of our dynamic team, exciting work environment and contribute to CARE Ethiopia’s mission and vision, please send your CV (not more than 3 pages) and cover letter (not more than one page) through Ethio Jobs 

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Passionate and dedicated candidates who meet the requirement are strongly encouraged to apply, especially women!

CARE seeks to improve the lives of the most marginalized, particularly women and girls. Our diversity is our strength. We encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply.