Ethiopia: Nutrition Officer

OPERATIONAL CONTEXT

Current Situation

This is an operation with a mix of emergency with large daily influxes of refugees and protracted refugee camp situations; Emphasis on livelihoods and self-reliance as restrictive legislation prevents refugees from obtaining work permits.

Desirable Attributes

Training and capacity building of implementing and governmental partners; Consensus teambuilding and cultural sensitivity needed as the team is diverse; On-the-job coaching and mentoring of national staff; Multi-agency co-ordination.

Working and Living Conditions

There is a UN clinic as well as local health facilities available; There are international standard hotels and good banking facilities as well as international schools; The position requires frequent mission travel to the deep field locations;

Security Considerations

Addis Ababa is a category B duty station in UN security Level 1 with relatively calm environment with minimal reported crimes within the city. However, a sense of vigilance and alertness is required.

DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:

Direct supervision and guidance is received from the Senior Programme Officer and overall supervision from the Head of Sub-office. Close functional linkages and technical guidance will be established with the Health and Nutrition Officer at BO, Senior Regional Nutrition and Food Security Officer.
In order to ensure wider reach out to the refugee and ensure their close involvement in the delivery and management of Food and nutrition services, the incumbent will need to establish an appropriate consultative and monitoring framework which would draw the experience and expertise of a wide range of actors both internally and externally.

The incumbent of the position will oversee and supervise the nutrition and food security programmes in all camps of Dollo Ado, and provide strong technical guidance to partners, monitor and evaluate the programme, actively participate in Health coordination meetings and play leading role on issues related to nutrition and food security. The incumbent will demonstrate strong representational, networking and negotiation skills with internal and external stakeholders such as the Government counterparts, UN Agencies and implementing partners in the operational area.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT:

Accountability (key results that will be achieved)

UNHCR's country operation has sufficient technical support in the field of Nutrition thus better able to meet the needs of persons of concern.
Responsibility (process and functions undertaken to achieve results)Monitor and evaluate country-level Nutrition programmes against standard UNHCR and international indicators to ensure that programmes are evidence-based and implemented in a comprehensive and cost-effective manner.Ensure UNHCR's active involvement in all aspects of programme monitoring and evaluation with emphasis on checking levels of implementation and impact vis-à-vis resource inputs to measure cost-effectiveness and re-orient the programmes as appropriate.Monitor nutrition programme with emphasis on:
o Application of standard guidelines and protocols;
o Comprehensiveness of nutrition programme.
o Apply various mechanisms and tools to ensure proper monitoring including:Site visitsRegular flow of information (reporting)Conventional/non-conventional surveys and evaluation studiesCoordination meetings with health implementing partners
o Providing technical support and guidance to implementing/operational partners where required;
o Undertake Data analysis and interpretation;
o Support periodic nutrition surveys;
o Regularly update on the nutrition situation in the three camps.Support capacity building initiatives so that refugees and other persons of concern UNHCR and its partners acquire the needed knowledge, skills, and sense of responsibility and ownership of programmes.Support nutrition focal points and coordinators to develop training plan, organise and act as resource persons in workshops and training both in-service (formal) and on the job (coaching)Provide on the job training of IP health staff on nutrition, RH and HIV.Share with local and international partners on the ground relevant guidelines and information materials on nutrition.Support the existing Outbreak Response Team (ORT).Provide regular feedback on nutrition performance in the camps.Support the establishment of Refugee Health, HIV and Nutrition Committees to enable their active participation in process of nutrition planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.Advocate, inform, and communicate amongst stakeholders to ensure that refugee nutrition issues are addressed and that their nutritional needs and status of refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR are appropriately documented and disseminated.Ensure regular updates and share information within UNHCR as well as with relevant government, UN and implementing and operational partners¿ counterparts and donor communities in the host country on their nutritional status and needs.Perform other duties as required
Authority (decisions made in executing responsibilities and to achieve results)Make recommendations to Senior Management on nutrition issues concerning refugees.Enforce UNHCR¿s standards and guidelines in the field of Nutrition.Represent UNHCR in meetings and for a related to the function.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Bachelors Degree in Human Nutrition or related scientific field.Minimum 6 years of progressive relevant field experience in a humanitarian operation.Good written and spoken English language skills.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES:

Masters Degree in Nutrition is desirable;Experience in Nutrition surveys, implementation of micro-nutrients programme.