Mercy Corps is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization operating in the sectors of Emergency Response, Sustainable Peace and Development, and Economic and Markets Development. Mercy Corps currently has programs in the Regions of Afar, Somali, Oromia, Addis Ababa, and SNNP, and works through the principles of Accountability, Participation, and Peaceful Change. Mercy Corps employs a community-led, market-driven approach as it works with partners at the community, government, private, and research institution levels.

 POSITION SUMMARY:

 The position holder is responsible for the four IYCF component implementation in the woreda and working closely with the woreda, Kebele, community, and religious leaders, and Health Development Army for the effective implementation and linkage of IYCF program with the community and facility. In addition, the position holder is also expected to provide consistent and high-quality technical support in relation to IYCF implementation and will assist OTP officers, TFU officers, and TSFP officers in the woreda to build a strong IYCF implementation package.

 Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Manages the project unit's implementation of the nutrition program in agreement with the overall IYCF Program activities according to SCI and national standards.
• Makes sure that IYCF program is implemented according to the National protocol i.e. application of the admission and discharge criteria, closely monitors, and strictly follows anthropometry measurement
• Facilitates the training under the project regarding IYCF
• Supports and liaise with the health center staff and provides on-the-job training and capacity building.
• Select and establish counselors from the health facilities and the community.
• Establishment and strengthening of MTM support groups, train them, and close follow-up for supporting IYCF_E promotion activities.
• Assess and diagnose for difficulties of feeding for all PLW coming for other services, for screening, and at the community.
• Provide day-to-day one-to-one and group counseling for PLW regarding IYCF practices.
• Makes sure that the health staff have adequate training on providing proper IYCF counseling
• Conduct formative assessment for key behaviors and skills for IYCF and develop culturally appropriate and effective IEC materials and adapt it to the day-to-day counseling.
• Ensures the availability of job aids, reporting formats, and all other supplies for IYCF.
• Creates and maintain a relationship with local health and other authorities and try to link the IYCF program with the existing health structure smoothly,
• Makes sure that health professionals from the health facilities participate in the daily routine work for sustainability and smooth phase-out strategy,
• Provides technical support and training where required to all team members, outreach team including health extension workers and community volunteers,
• Works and liaise with any local health workers to integrate the IYCF program from the start,
• Organizes monthly report of community mobilization, IYCF, and report on time to the Project Manager, Nutrition, and provides updates when needed.
• Reports any problems in a timely manner to the Health& Nutrition Manager,
• Coaches and supervises the CMAM officer, OTP/SC Nurses, Mobile health and nutrition team for integrating IYCF practice promotion activities into their daily health and nutrition works.
• Upholds the image and values of SC at all times,
• Performs other related tasks as required and tasks assigned by the organization

Job Requirements

Knowledge and Experience

• BSc Nurse, Public Health Officer, Nutritionist, or equivalent, preferable with Public Health background.
• More than 4 years Nutrition-Health activities related experience in Humanitarian Organization. Expertise in IYCF programming
• Fluent in both spoken and written Afaan Oromo languages with good knowledge of English.
• Previous experience working on donor-funded programs preferred
• Relevant experience in field survey/data collection techniques, data entry, data verification, and analysis
• Good understanding and skills in data management.
• Strong computer literacy with full knowledge of MS Office applications.
• Strong team coordination, listening, and consensus-building skills
• Ability and willingness to frequently travel to villages and willingness to reside in rural areas
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience in closely working with Woreda level Office of HealthAgriculture
• Previous experience working in NGOs is an asset
• Ability to prepare program and activity reports
• Communication skills, good human relations
• Firm belief in teamwork, gender equality
• Familiarity of working in pastoral areas of Oromia regional state

Success Factors

• A successful candidate will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with a capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, with an ability and willingness to remain mobile for short-term and/or long-term as necessary within the program implementation area, based on programmatic needs. An ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions like long distance
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience in closely working with regional, Zonal, and Woreda Agricultural Offices
• Ability to prepare program reports Knowledge in the local language.
• Communication skills, good human relations
• Firm belief in teamwork, gender equality

Accountability:

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards 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.

 Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development, and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future-orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members, and external partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• honest encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
• Excellent spoken and written English languages and local languages of the project area is a plus.
• Ability and willingness to frequently travel to villages and willingness to reside in rural areas
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions like long distance
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience in closely working with regional, Zonal and Woreda Health
• Ability to prepare program reports Knowledge in the local language;
• Communication skills, good human relations

Firm belief in teamwork, gender equality

 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 learn activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves. 

How to Apply

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the position advertised. All applications submitted to the Mercy Corps office or electronically 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, 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 empowering women and youth.”

      DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 20 February 2022/ 4:00 PM

 Please send non-returnable applications and credentials to one of the following addresses: et-recruitment@mercycorps.org

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