KEN - Programs - Nutrition Officer

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 28 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 52 countries, our 7,122 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Action Against Hunger USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network. As an independent NGO, Action Against Hunger USA currently manages operations in 8 countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia and Haiti though its Regional Office (Horn and Eastern Regional Office) based in Nairobi, Kenya.

In Kenya, Action Against Hunger has been present since 2006 and is a transformative leader in nutrition security for improved quality of life among vulnerable communities. Action Against Hunger wants to contribute to the optimal functional performance of national, county and community systems through strategic partnerships for innovative nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific interventions to achieve its impact. The organization recognizes gender equality as central to its core strategy towards effective and sustainable outcomes in nutrition, WASH and surveillance interventions. Action Against Hunger is currently implementing activities in West Pokot, Samburu, Tana River, Baringo and Isiolo Counties.

1. Job Summary

The Nutrition Officer works closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and other stakeholders to implement nutrition programs that improve maternal and child nutrition in deprived communities through strengthened nutrition resilience, enhanced health systems capacity and improved evidence-based advocacy, and provides technical support to the county department of health to implement nutrition emergency response actions.

The incumbent works closely with line ministries (Health, Agriculture and Water), the National Drought Management Authority, and health and nutrition partners in the county to scale up nutrition interventions that improve health and nutrition status. The Nutrition Officer works with the Nutrition Program Manager, program staff and the S/CHMT members to ensure that program activities are delivered on time, within scope and within the budgets stipulated in the program documents.

Purpose: Support the implementation of nutrition project interventions in the target counties, geared towards improving nutrition outcomes through a multi-sector integrated approach.

Engagement: Work with program staff, the Nutrition Program Manager, field coordinators and program officers to ensure project activities are implemented according to plans and specifications. Participate in county-level coordination meetings with the MOH and partners, including NITWG, CNTF and CSG; coordinate with other NGOs, UNICEF, WFP and the MOH at county and sub-county levels; and represent the organization in county coordination forums and Multisector Platforms (MSPs) to build synergies with Action Against Hunger programming.

Delivery:  Participate in developing project work plans and spending plans and share them with the Program Manager or Field Coordinator for review. Ensure the project is implemented within the stipulated timeline and to county, national and international standards, with the procurement plan developed on time at project inception and procurement requisitions raised as needed. Develop first drafts of qualitative and quantitative monthly, quarterly and annual project reports for internal and donor use, and participate in monitoring and surveillance activities such as joint supportive supervision, Routine Data Quality Assessments (RDQA), coverage surveys and SMART surveys.

2. Essential Job Duties

1.                   Support to Health System Strengthening at county level

• In liaison with the county MOH and partners, develop joint work plans for key activities as stipulated in the project document.
• In liaison with the MOH, undertake periodic capacity assessments of health facility staff and structure on-the-job training (OJT) and mentorship sessions based on specific needs.
• Work closely with the MOH to deliver classroom training to county teams on aspects of the nutrition program to enhance implementation.
• Participate in county-level coordination meetings with the MOH and partners, including NITWG, CNTF and CSG.
• Coordinate with other NGOs, UNICEF, WFP, other partners and the MOH at county and sub-county levels.
• Support development of county work plans with the S/CHMTs and schedule joint supervisions to enhance quality programming.

2.                   Support to the Community Health Strategy and community resilience activities

• In liaison with Community Strategy focal persons at county and sub-county levels, support Community Health Strategy activities at community level, including community dialogue and action days and sensitization sessions.
• Work closely with the MOH to provide technical support to, and sustain, mother-to-mother support groups for improved MIYCN practices.
• Support the MOH to develop, implement and monitor Social Behavior Change Communication strategies in the county.
• Support the MOH to develop a practical community feedback mechanism to improve service delivery at county level.
• Support the nutrition team in implementing the community approach through regular contact and exchange with community leaders.

3.                   Reporting and program development

• Compile program reports on time in liaison with other program staff: weekly SitReps, monthly (statistical and narrative) and quarterly reports.
• In collaboration with the Nutrition Program Manager, prepare progress reports, quarterly donor reports, proposals and the project procurement plan, and contribute to survey reports.
• In collaboration with the Program Manager and coordination team, contribute to defining technical strategy when required.
• Participate in the analysis and drafting of activity reports and in project evaluations.
• In liaison with the Program Manager, develop project proposals to address county-specific gaps.
• Support MOH focal persons on information, data management and reporting through DHIS.
• Participate in planning, organizing and implementing surveys, assessments and research studies, including post-distribution monitoring.

4.                   Information exchange and cooperation with Action Against Hunger interventions and external stakeholders

• Collaborate with all other Action Against Hunger departments and sectors to ensure projects are integrated.
• Collaborate with partners, the MOH (S/CHMT), INGOs, NGOs, CBOs and UN agencies working in the area to ensure smooth running of projects.
• Work with communities and local leaders at all stages of project implementation.

5.                   Finance and logistics

• Prepare cash forecasts in liaison with other program staff, in line with work plans.
• Ensure expenditure follows the budget lines and adheres strictly to budget limits.
• Propose anticipated budget realignments in line with field realities.
• Participate in the review of Budget Follow-Ups (BFUs) to ensure budget expenditure is as per the work plan and that forecasts reflect the work plans.
• In liaison with the Program Manager, monitor budget spending against the spending plan and ensure diligence in grant utilization, including timely spending and value for money.
• Support the Program Manager in monthly budget reviews and suggest amendments to Finance.

6.                   Other duties as required

III.   Supervisory Responsibilities

No direct supervisory responsibilities.

IV. Fiscal Responsibility

Ensure all payment requests have clear supporting documents before they are submitted to the Finance Officer or Base Admin for payment.

V. 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 interruptions.
• To travel to the field, the employee must attest to a level of physical fitness capable of enduring physically difficult, highly stressful situations which may include the necessity to walk long distances, to eat a limited diet and/or to reside in potentially uncomfortable housing or tents.
• 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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

VI. Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance of at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on weekends as required by contact with the missions, mission security, or other obligations.
• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business travel as well as to the missions if appropriate. Based on country office needs, time spent on field trips is expected to be a minimum of 60% of working time. While visiting 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 infectious diseases.

VII.     Gender Equality Commitments

• Foster an environment that reinforces values of people of all genders equal access to information.
• Provide a work environment where people of all genders must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
• Value and respect all cultures.

8. Commitment to Safeguarding and Code of Conduct
   Action Against Hunger is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with are treated with dignity, respect and in accordance with the principle of do no harm. We have zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, child abuse, modern slavery/trafficking in persons, discrimination, harassment, or other forms of misconduct. All staff members are expected to uphold the organization's Safeguarding Commitments, Code of Conduct and relevant policies, and to conduct themselves professionally and ethically at all times. Candidates may be subject to safeguarding screening and reference checks as part of the recruitment process. All staff members are required to complete mandatory safeguarding training and to promptly report any safeguarding concerns or suspected misconduct through established reporting channels.

IX. Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (BSc) in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics (Public Health Nutrition option), Nursing or another related course.
• Registered with the Kenya Nutrition and Dietetics Institute.

X. Required Skills & Experience

• At least 2–3 years of experience in a similar position.
• Conversant with the HiNi package and with health system strengthening approaches.
• Experience training health workers and Community Health Volunteers on nutrition modules.
• Experience implementing Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition programs (BFCI, BFHI, MIYCN-E) and the IMAM program.
• Experience working with community health systems.
• Excellent computer skills, good communication skills and a team player.
• Fluent in English and Kiswahili.