Health and Nutrition Officer (USAID Nawiri)

Title: Health and Nutrition Officer (USAID Nawiri)

Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners. Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH. In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined the programmes of SC UK, SC Canada and SC Finland to create a single operation in Kenya. In Feb 2014, we completed a second transition, which saw us join forces with the British INGO, Merlin, and merge their health and nutrition programmes with our own. Save the Children now has an operational presence in Bungoma, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Turkana and Wajir and a footprint in Kakamega, Kisumu, Migori and Kitui. In 2016, Save the Children established a new project office in Madagascar whose operations are managed by the Kenya CO. In total, we employ around 250 staff in both countries and had an operating annual budget in 2017 of approximately US$22million.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The USAID Nawiri project aims to sustainably reduce persistent acute malnutrition in Turkana and Samburu counties. The project is led by the Mercy Corps with other consortium partners including Save the Children. USAID Nawiri will generate evidence on feasible and scalable approaches (what works) in Turkana and Samburu to reduce malnutrition both in the short and long-term. The specific focus of USAID Nawiri is to understand the complex causality of malnutrition, develop homegrown solutions and align the evidence thereof generated to the counties plans through a multi-sectoral approach.

Under the general guidance and direction of the Field Health and Nutrition Advisor, the health and nutrition officer will support implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all health and nutrition activities in the field of the USAID Nawiri project at the County and Sub-County levels. Coordinate and work closely with County departments responsible for both health/nutrition specific and sensitive interventions, local partners, and communities. Lead implementation of all health and nutrition activities of the project, prepare reports and build capacity of the County staff and respective local communities. Promote best practices in health and nutrition programs and contribute to the overall success of the USAID Nawiri project. The role will also involve close working collaborations and linkages with the other components of the project including Community Health Systems Strengthening; Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health; SBCC; and Health Policy and Advocacy.

Contract Duration: 12 Months

Location: Turkana: Lokichar

Reports to: Health and Nutrition Lead

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

SCOPE OF ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY

• Support implementation of health and nutrition activities, with a view to strategically learn and adapt USAID NAWIRI projects in Turkana / Samburu
• Provide technical support to County government, local partners and communities
• Liaise with other consortium partners to ensure sequencing, layering and integration
• Continuously monitor activities during implementation to ensure that project objectives are met
• Ensure timely follow – up on data collection and feedback to relevant County government staff and partners
• Support all procurement and supply chain related functions through proper management of health and nutrition supplies received and provision of timely and accurate information during ordering, when required.
• Provide input into the integration of beneficiary participation and accountability in the project.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

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.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics/Nursing/Clinical medicine/Public health.
• At least 2 years demonstrated experience in implementation of health and nutrition programmes with preference given to nutrition programming in arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) settings.
• Excellent understanding of the nutrition sector within the Kenyan context, particularly maternal, newborn and child nutrition issues including system approach to ending persistent acute malnutrition.
• Clear understanding of nutrition resilience, hunger and food security issues in Kenya, particularly in the context of Turkana County.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels with County government, local partners and community members while taking into consideration cultural and language difficulties.
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to take initiative and challenge existing mindsets.
• Excellent written and verbal skills in English, with ability to draft quality reports. Excellent verbal skills in Swahili; ability to converse effectively with community members
• Attention to detail, accuracy and timeliness in execution of assigned responsibilities
• Ability to work in challenging and changing environment, and to see through challenges to find solutions.
• Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies.
• Qualified candidate from Turkana counties are encouraged to apply.
• Commitment to Save the Children values, including willingness to abide by and enforce the Child Safeguarding policy..
• Demonstrates Save the Children’s core values of accountability, collaboration, integrity, ambition, and creativity.
• Self-starter who is willing to go the extra mile to get the job done.
• Understanding of Save the Children’s vision, mission, and a commitment to its objectives and values.
• Written and verbal fluency in English

THE ORGANIZATION

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday.
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply in English saving your CV and covering letter as a single document, including your salary expectations for this role. To see a full a job description, please visit our website at

We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse. Employment is subject to our Child protection standards including background checks and adherence to our Child Safeguarding Policy.

Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ and assign the best-qualified talent.

Female Candidates are encouraged to apply.

Disclaimer: Save the Children International does not charge any kind of fee at whichever stage of the recruitment process and does not act through recruitment agents.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.