Nutrition Coordinator at Mercy Corps

Program / Department Summary 
The MAIDA programme will directly support the recovery of at least 70,000 women, men, girls and boys who are returnees, IDPs and members of

host communities affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in southern and central Borno State. The objective of MAIDA is to increase the social cohesion and resilience to economic, social and climate related shocks in Borno State in an environmentally-conscious way. Four interrelated and mutually reinforcing intermediate outcomes will contribute to achieving this objective.

First, MAIDA will restore and improve rural livelihoods in an ecologically sustainable manner by enabling households to take advantage of existing and new agricultural market opportunities. In parallel, adolescents and youth will be empowered as economic actors in their communities through access to employment, diversified livelihood opportunities, vocational training and business development initiatives. These outcomes will be reinforced by improved access to social protection and community-based services for women, youth, adolescent breadwinners and other at-risk groups.

Finally, overall social cohesion will be strengthened within and between conflict-affected communities and environmental resource management will be improved in areas of displacement and return. Sectors of intervention will include market-led and climate-smart livelihood and employment opportunities, vocational training for youth, social and economic protection and community reintegration and peacebuilding. Economic recovery activities will build resilience through Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) market systems-based models, reducing poverty by enhancing the ways that poor and vulnerable households interact with markets.

General Position Summary

• The Nutrition Coordinator oversees nutrition sensitization programming on the food security and agriculture components of the MAIDA program.
• S/he provides an inclusive forum for sharing, adapting, refining and disseminating information on nutrition methodologies, tools and promising practices.
• The Nutrition Coordinator works closely with Mercy Corps, partner, BOSADP and government staff, as appropriate, on adopting and adapting materials and methodologies.

Essential Job Responsibilities 

• Coordinate and oversee the implementation of nutrition activities with responsibility for ensuring quality program delivery.
• Coordinate with other food security, nutrition and health teams, both internal and external to Mercy Corps, to ensure complementary approaches.
• Provide technical guidance for nutrition-related projects and activities under the programme.
• Collaborate on the monitoring of activity performance including providing relevant performance indicators and conducting field visits to project locations.
• Develop, lead and evaluate initiatives to build capacity of Mercy Corps, partner and government staff on nutrition, including carrying out long-term integrated strategies and activities.
• Facilitate the sharing of nutrition materials and best practices across beneficiary communities through knowledge management and communication strategies.
• Participate in developing recommendations for new areas of nutrition research and programming. Promote innovation in behavioral interventions and communication.
• Provide teams and implementing partners with expertise and technical support to ensure best practices in social and behavioral interventions and communication campaigns.
• Provide technical advice and support to facilitate learning related to nutrition and social and behavioral change programming.
• Collaborate with strategic communications experts and to develop and coordinate nutrition-related communications for communities.
• Lead the preparation of technical communication pieces related to nutrition sensitization as it relates to public health, gender, poverty, private sector engagement, food security and nutrition policy, and present findings to relevant audiences.
• Develop fact sheets, briefs and other materials to expand communication and advocacy.
• Seek the latest developments in the fields of communication platforms, channels and other tools.
• Carry out any other duties as required or assigned.

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.

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.
• Work closely with Mercy Corps Nigeria country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its implementation process.

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.

Knowledge and Experience

• Four years of experience in nutrition and/or public health programming, policy and/or research.
• A university Degree (preferably a Master's Degree) in Nutrition, Communications, Public Health, Social Psychology or other relevant field.
• Two years of experience with a non-governmental organization or in a resource-challenged setting.
• Experience working on behavioral change programming and/or strategic communications.
• Knowledge of nutrition and food security issues in North East Nigeria. Experience designing, planning, implementing and evaluation nutritional behavioral change interventions.
• Knowledge of theories and frameworks relevant to individual behavioral change.
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel and Word.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, Hausa and Kanuri is required.

Success Factors

• The ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel is required.
• A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary.
• The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
• Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours.
• 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.

Applicants should send their CV's and Cover Letter in one document, addressing the position requirements to: ng-recruitment.nigeria@mercycorps.org All applications must include the position title in the subject line. 

Note: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview and we are an equal opportunity organization so women are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.