Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) MANAGER

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT**

Name of the position**:** Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) MANAGER**

Country: Kenya**

Base:** NAIROBI(Seconded to the Ministry of Health)

Direct line manager: Head of Dept.( Health

& Nutrition)

Starting date:

ASAP

Founded in 1979, Action Against Hunger (AAH) is an international humanitarian organization that delivers programs in over 44 countries. Recognized worldwide as a leader in the fight against hunger, our mission is to save lives through the prevention, detection, and treatment of malnutrition, especially during and after emergency situations and conflicts. From crisis to sustainability, Action Against Hunger tackles the underlying causes of malnutrition and its effects. By integrating our programs with local and national systems, we further ensure that short-term interventions become long-term solutions. With head offices in France, the United Kingdom, Spain, the United States and Canada, our international network shares its combined resources, breadth of experience and technical expertise in pursuit of a world without hunger.

Action Against Hunger has been present in Kenya since 2001 and is a transformative leader in nutrition security for improved quality of life among vulnerable communities. Action Against Hunger wants to contribute to the optimal functional performance of National, County, and Community systems through strategic partnerships for innovative nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific interventions to achieve its impact. Action Against Hunger is currently implementing activities in West Pokot, Mandera, Samburu, Isiolo, Trans Nzoia, Kakamega, Bungoma and Busia counties.

To achieve this, Action Against Hunger will;

1. Intervene on the Health and Nutrition sector: evolving from direct service provision to strengthening the health system- focusing on ‘strengthening’ the system more than ‘supporting’ the system**

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

2. Bringing the Community Health Strategy (CHS) onboard**

Within the HSS approach, ACF-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, ACF- Kenya will work with the MoH to create demand and accountability for services offered. This will be achieved through

1. Applying SBCC approach at community level

2. Strengthen referral and counter referral system

3. Scaling up community/citizen engagement**

If the system on which ACF 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. Research**

Research will be aimed at informing program action by building rigorous high quality evidence. Thus, Action

Against Hunger will seek to contextualise 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

A. Functional Responsibility

Under the Technical and overall guidance from the Head of Department Health and Nutrition, the MIYCN Manager will be responsible for providing technical contribution to project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation for various Nutrition projects with specific focus in maternal, infant and young child Nutrition (MIYCN) interventions.

B. Programmatic Support**

The MIYCN Manager will ensure overall efficiency and effectiveness of the project management, delivery and accomplishment of project goals and objectives. The Manager will also be accountable for integrating MIYCN and

SBC strategies at the national and county levels

C. Specific Responsibility

1. Technical expertise /Capacity building

2. Provide technical leadership and capacity support to Ministry of Health, partners and other key stakeholders in the development and formulation of maternal, infant and young child Nutrition (MIYCN) policies, guidelines, training curriculums, job aids among other materials.

3. Support the application/ implementation and adherence to existing policies, strategies, standards and guidelines and ensure their availability and understanding in all ACF project areas.

4. Provide technical and implementation support to the ACF field sites in relation to MIYCN program implementation

5. Support capacity development efforts for all ACF staff on MIYCN and support streamlined capacity

development and system strengthening strategies at the county level.

• Support implementation of community resilience and SBCC strategies in collaboration with the

CHMT.

1. Program/project design

2. Participate in project development including planning, development of innovative MIYCN strategies, communication, monitoring and evaluation strategies.

3. Support the field teams in the development of project documents to include the concepts, proposals, work plans, implementation and monitoring plans to enhance program implementation as per the set donor timelines and regulations.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation

5. Ensure adequate monitoring, monthly and donor reporting, documentation and lessons learning of MIYCN

related actions.

• Support collation, review, validation and analysis of MIYCN related information from the field sites and other sectors to inform better programming, implementation and monitoring.

• Ensure timely flow of project-related information between the MOH, project partners and field staff as is relevant to successful project implementation.

• Conduct field visits to ensure that project progress is on track and to design and implement risk mitigation plans if required and conduct periodic programme reviews with government counterparts and other partners, employing qualitative as well as quantitative gender sensitive monitoring methods.

• Coordination:

• Provide technical leadership for the National MIYCN coordination mechanisms including the MIYCN TWG, MIYCN Steering committee.

• Provides representation and advocacy support in other Nutrition MIYCN program at national and county level.

• Support the ACF field teams to secure commitments from the CHMTs, partners for collective sector work, ensuring the complementarities of the various stake holders’ actions in responding to nutrition priorities at the county level.

• Network with donors and other partners including governments for support of MIYCN related activities

• Staff management

• Working with field nutrition managers & officers assigned to various projects i. Agree on project objectives, work plans, and outputs

ii. Monthly review of Budget follow up (BFU) Vs Workplans

iii. Provide guidance to staff on technical issues

iv. Provide capacity development for field staff on MIYCN related issues.

1. Other roles as assigned by the HOD Nutrition and Health

QUALIFICATIONS

· Master’s degree in Social Science, Public Health & Nutrition, Health Sciences, International Health & Nutrition, Family Health & Nutrition, Nutritional Epidemiology, Health & Nutrition Education, Health & Nutrition Promotion and Disease Prevention, Public Health, Health Emergency Preparedness, or other relevant discipline(s).

· Must have 8 years supporting the national MIYCN Working Group

· 5 years supporting implementation of IYCF and BFHI

· Experience in MIYCN//SBC programming will be an added advantage

· Experience in program or project design

· Previous experience participating in developing country strategies

· Experience from both private and INGO sectors is an advantage

· Knowledge of main donor requirements including UNICEF, ECHO, EU donors, etc.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

· Excellent interpersonal, writing and communication skills.

· Superior analytical and writing skills

· Extensive ICT proficiency with knowledge computer applications and data analysis software such as excel, SPSS, MS Access, STATA and Epi info etc.

· Excellent influencing and negotiation skills

· Demonstrated capacity to provide strategic vision

· Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines;

· Skills on developing M&E systems, data collection, data analysis, documentation, data interpretation and reporting.

· Ability to train, mentor and coach a team.

· Team player

· Knowledge designing and delivering capacity building for field technical teams

· Ability and openness to learn from the technical team.

· Knowledge in assessment, monitoring and evaluation

· Familiarity with AAH and acceptance of AAH’s principles an advantage

What ACF will offer:**

ü Start date: As soon as Possible

ü Duty station: Nairobi Office.

ü Remuneration package: Very Competitive salary package with additional benefits to include:

§ Career development opportunities with AAH

§ Comprehensive medical cover for self and dependents

§ Opportunity to work in a good and friendly environment with a dynamic and motivated team

Closing Date : 22n**d** November 2017 by Close of Business 5pm. Applications sent after the closing date and time will not be considered.

Interested candidates should submit their applications through www.myjobsinkenya.com/action

Position opened to Kenyan Nationals only.