VAC-11818 Nutrition Technical Extenders

Reach and scope of nutrition service delivery to women and children have both widened dramatically during the last four years. For instance, the number of SAM sites has increased from 900 to almost 1400 in 2019, the introduction of weekly iron folic acid supplementation for school going girls has scaled up to almost 10,000 schools, the introduction of the community-based nutrition program and expansion of the program to 3200 health posts in seven provinces, the nationwide implementation of Vit A supplementation for almost 8 million children under five years old, and the increased availability of female nutrition counsellors in all 34 provinces to provide growth monitoring and counselling services in almost 1300 health facilities. Therefore, extenders are deployed through service providers to extend UNICEF programming initiatives to the lowest level possible, particularly to inaccessible communities controlled by non-government elements. Extenders are central to how ACO fulfils the UNICEF and UN principle of “Stay and Deliver”. The extenders are deployed to undertake a defined set of duties. The RWP reference # is Sub-act 1.11.4 in output # 883/006.

1. Support nutrition program/project development and planning

• Coordinate and work closely with internal (under leadership of UNICEF ACO Nutrition Officers and Outpost Programme Officers) and external stakeholders BPHS/EPHS, PND, DoPH/PNO and other field partners to ensure skilled counselling is provided to set annual targets based on PND agreed list of indicators 

• Analyse and exchange information with provincial partners/stakeholders (provincial nutrition team, DoE, other) using evidence such as monitoring findings, nutrition database, national nutrition surveillance system (NNSS) reports, etc. to assess Regular monthly follows up of the recommended action points for implementation by the until action has been addressed and can be closed.

2. Provide technical support program management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Monitor and supervise nutrition services at health facilities (HFs), health posts, communities, and schools and provide feedback to nutrition provincial team 

• Conduct data verification session for Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS), Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM), Community Based Nutrition Program (CBNP) and  Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) indicators using agreed tools such as national management information system (MIS) including HMIS, nutrition online database and WIFS online database.

• Support BPHS partners to monitor and report Community Based Nutrition Program (CBNP) implementation.

• Support and follow-up on the progress of AFSeN provincial platform functioning and multi sector programming, as well as USI committee and other coordination platforms as required.

3. Provide operational support to nutrition program implementation:

·Monitor and follow up key activities related to nutrition supply with IPs, HFs, DoE and REMT to ensure that supply (i.e. RUTF, TMs, IFA, Albendazole, Anthropometric equipment, CBNP kits, Vit-A) are properly handled and used for the intended purpose including:

o   Make sure that the IP has proper quarterly and/or monthly distribution plan in place and ensure early release of supply from main warehouse to avoid stockout at HFs and service delivery point. Also, ensure the IP submits their supply request within due time frame to PND/UNICEF. 

o   Ensure that all IPs record all incoming supply (from UNICEF) and outgoing supply (to HFs) using stock management tool to track supply status promptly

o   Ensure rational use of RUTF through regular monitoring using end user monitoring checklists and provide feedback through nutrition online database.

o   Ensure safety, security, proper handling and storage of supply including proper documentation in all HFs including main warehouses (IP, DoE, REMT) to avoid wastage, damage, misuse and expiry of supply.

·        Support convergence activities with other programs (health, WASH etc.) during supervisions, monitoring and other occasions and other activities as needed

Deliverables:

• Annual nutrition provincial plan, monitoring and work plans developed 

• # of NPC meeting held and data discussed with actions defined.

• # of recommended actions completed 

• # of field visits conducted (health facilities, health posts, communities, and schools) per month

• # of capacity building sessions contributed including training, workshop, annual planning and performance review meetings

• # of data verifications done per month

• # of meetings attended per month and key points 

• # of supply requests submitted on time per quarter

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• Excellent analytical skills, including the ability to analyze diverse and complex information from a wide range of sources to make analytical statements to inform decision-making.

• Capacity to work in an emergency context under stressful conditions and strict deadlines.

•  Good computer skills, including experience with various software applications.

• Flexible to travel anywhere in the region based on need.

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