JOB DESCRIPTION
Base: WEST POKOT & ISIOLO
Line Manager: Head of Region Technical Line Manager: Head of Health and Nutrition
Line management of: Nutrition Program
Start Date:
As soon as possible
Contract Duration: 8 months
Donors:UNICEF
To achieve this, Action Against Hunger will;
Intervene on the Health and Nutrition sector: evolving from direct service provision to strengthening the health system- focusing on ‘strengthening’ the system more than.
ACF-Kenya health and nutrition program has considerably evolved from direct service provision, to scaling up the relationship and partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH) by recognizing them as the primary health and nutrition service providers and working at building their technical capacity to reach a higher level in the quality of services provided. Strengthening the health system will not happen by indiscriminately working on the six (6) HSS pillar alone but through a critical and holistic review of the health system processes. This critical and holistic diagnostic approach requires having developed a trustful relationship to be able to work together with the health departments, at national, County and sub-county levels
Bringing the Community Health Strategy (CHS) onboard
Within the HSS approach, Action Against Hunger Kenya will focus on community health strategy (CHS) as CHS has the potential to have a huge impact on addressing under-nutrition and is, unfortunately, under-utilized. Through this system, Action Against Hunger Kenya will work with the MoH to create demand and accountability for services offered. This will be achieved through
Applying SBCC approach at community level
Strengthen referral and counter referral system
Scaling up community/citizen engagement**
If the system on which Action Against Hunger is supporting is not properly connected to people and there is inadequate engagement with people themselves then results will not be achieved. Deciders
are still making crucial decisions on behalf of their citizen and on what they think should be the
strategies and the priorities. The most vulnerable groups lack strong voice to advocate for their priorities thus the requirement for an engagement platform.
Sustainability of WASH services to strengthen nutrition sensitive programming** Nutrition sensitive programming remains key to achieving better nutrition impact and reaching targets. WASH is a vital element but the main problem in Kenya is about sustainable access to safe water and sanitation services to withstand the recurrent shocks in ASAL regions. Findings clearly demonstrate critical role of WASH in good nutrition require long-term sustainable solutions for the vulnerable communities embedded in the existing systems and communities
Partnerships
The position holder Will aim to work closely with the Ministry of Health both at National and County levels to support in the implementation of the National and County level strategies related to improving maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) and building relationships with key stakeholders including within government institutions, the donor community, NGOs and the private sector.
Research
Research will be aimed at informing program action by building rigorous high quality evidence. Thus, Action Against Hunger will seek to contextualize research findings within the larger health and
Nutrition strategy. Research will always be of high quality in order to produce knowledge that is applicable outside of the research setting. Results of the research will also be used to improve programming and inform policy and strategies at the National and County level.
Roles and Responsibilities
Program implementation and oversight
Ensure adherence of all Action Against Hunger activities to County, National and international guidelines
Ensure and supervise directly the technical work of the ACF nutrition team in the County
Supervise and manage the implementation of capacity building activities through OJT in HINI and trainings in close liaison with the County health management teams.
Ensure integration of MIYCN activities to the component of the nutrition program in the camps.
Ensure monthly meetings with the staff based in the field to review implementation progress.
Participate and ensure the implementation of sporadic assessments, and actively participate to nutritional surveys and program coverage surveys, according to the needs.
Ensure frequent visits to the field to monitor activities, supplies, and general running of the programs
In collaboration with the Nutrition Head of Department; Propose and initiate improvements according the analysis and findings of sporadic assessment that will contribute Action Against
Hunger strategy reviews and advocacy.
In collaboration with Nutrition Head of Department adjust the program to any change in the context (location of the centres, number of staffs, and communication with the field…)
Identify and participate in the nutrition and other related meetings with key stakeholders in the County
Overall review of program performance as per stipulated standards and development of feasible action points thereafter
To coordinate activities within ACF and between partners/stakeholders
Oversee the coordination of all the components of the nutrition program in collaboration with the Action Against Hunger team
Coordinate nutrition activities, with other nutrition sensitive stakeholders in the County
Plan field movement on a weekly basis and coordinate with logistics and finance department on purchase orders, cash forecast and BFU/PFU on a monthly basis.
Works closely with logistics and administration to ensure timely delivery of supplies.
Coordinate the orders and supply of food and non-food items with the organizations in charge of the supplies in collaboration partners if need be.
Work closely with the Advocacy PM in follow up of relevant advocacy issues in the County
Reporting and documentation of all related project activities
Work with HoD and M&E manager to develop monitoring and evaluation plan as per Action
Against Hunger guidelines and follow up implementation of the same
Develop and follow up on activity progress reports, evolution and monthly narrative report.
This will entail monthly review of statistics and changing dynamics at the County level and advise coordination on any specific issues for consideration in West Pokot County
Write the first draft of the proposals, project procurement plans and donor reports based on donor guidelines and timeframes. This will be shared by line manager for further review and
follow up till the final version is developed
Review activity reports of staff and provide necessary feedback to the staff in West Pokot
County.
Actively contribute to surveys and assessments process and report writing
Participate in the analysis and drafting of activity reports and evaluation of the project.
Contribute in designing technical strategy and country strategy when required.
Work closely with Action Against Hunger field team and Nairobi to include advocacy in documentation of key activities, development of lesson learnt documents and other related advocacy issues
Budget management
Directly responsible for monitoring of project activities in the area and will be responsible for the following specific issues with close liaison and authorization where necessary from the Nutrition Head of Department.
Preparation of budget and budget narrative and project inception phase
Development of spending plans based on activity plan
Closely monitor project expenditure against stipulated deliverables and budget agreements/donor guidelines
Have monthly review meetings based on budget follow up from finance departments and advise where necessary
Closely liaise with the finance and logistics department to follow up expenses
Prepare cash forecasts on monthly basis
Staff management
This will be in line with Action Against Hunger HR manual to include:
Staff management of all line staff in the area of operation to include identification of staff training needs, staff supervision, capacity building and follow up
Undertaking of staff evaluations
Launch of staff requests, call for applications and recruitments of nutrition officers
Staff motivation in close liaison with HR
Relations and others
Representation of Action Against Hunger in various meetings as stipulated to include creation of awareness of what Action Against Hunger is doing in the region.
Problem solving of any matters arising in the area related to the project in close liaison with the head of base and national team
Adherence to Action Against Hunger security guidelines and sensitization of staff on the same as per Action Against Hunger SOP in close liaison with HOR
Any other duties
Additional duties may be assigned by the supervisors as per project needs
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Master of Science or Bachelor of Science (Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics) or a health related field
Skills and Experience
Fluency in English with good verbal and written communication skills. Ability to communicate and negotiate effectively. Communication skills (written, oral and cross cultural)
Excellent written and public communication and negotiation skills
2 years’ experience in HINI related nutrition programs
Skills on reporting and data interpretation
Knowledge on basic computer applications such; excel, word, power point presentation.
Knowledge on Maternal Infant Young Child Feeding
Knowledge on surveys and assessments
Experience working with national, County and local authorities in Kenya
Previous experience with Action Against Hunger preferred though if not available strong experience with an international humanitarian agency would be acceptable.
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