Nutrition Coordinator

Kabul

Organization: IRC - International Rescue Committee
Location: Kabul
Grade: Mid level - Mid level
Occupational Groups:
- Nutrition
- Managerial positions
Closing Date: Closed

For years, Afghanistan has struggled with a declining economy and dwindling security. Violent conflict continues to disrupt the lives of millions who increasingly must fend for themselves, while the COVID-19 pandemic, and drought and other climate-related disasters, also exacerbate needs for Afghans. Even before the latest escalation in violence, half the population required humanitarian assistance. Forty years of war, chronic poverty, climate change-driven natural disasters, and now COVID-19 are a deadly combination for people in Afghanistan. Fifty percent of those in need in Afghanistan are women and girls. Currently, the RC implements education, economic recovery and development, child protection programs, Environmental Health, community health, Cash programming, Protection Rule of Law and works to respond to and prevent gender-based violence (GBV) in Pakitya, Logar, Helmand, Nangarhar, Laghman, Khost, Badghis, Herat and Kabul.

The IRC is scaling up its health response to support health facilities continue with essential services as well as Nutrition.

Scope of Work:

The Nutrition Coordinator will provide leadership, strategic vision and technical support to all aspects of the future Nutrition programs in Afghanistan. The Nutrition Coordinator will contribute to the identification of programmatic priorities, design and direction of the program. In addition, will ensure that the Nutrition program will be implemented in accordance with international protocols, guidelines and best practices.

Responsibilities:

Program Quality & Implementation;

• The Nutrition Coordinator will be responsible for overall strategy, leadership, implementation and oversight of nutrition program.

• Provide leadership in the development of a coherent strategy for the implementation of innovative and quality nutrition programming informed by the Afghanistan context in line with the Country Office and Resilience strategies.

• Develop strategic frameworks that demonstrate and promote nutrition sensitivity of other sector approaches in both humanitarian and transitional programming in Afghanistan.

• Develop a strategy that harmonizes structures and practices for nutrition interventions across International Rescue Committee Afghanistan projects and programmes.

• Develop and lead in implementing a nutrition capacity building plan for the International Rescue Committee Afghanistan Country team, MoH, volunteers, partners etc. including performance planning, on-job training and coaching.

• Lead the development and use of nutrition intervention implementation frameworks and Standard Operating Procedures including selection of appropriate modalities, service providers, data collection, targeting criteria, beneficiary selection, activity and product quality assurance and monitoring and evaluation ensuring use and compliance with International Rescue Committee standards, international best practices and Ministry of Health and WHO/UNICEF.

• Provide technical and operational guidance for quality and timely implementation of Nutrition interventions against set program objectives, targets and work plans

• Coordinate resources and team skills effectively to ensure quality and harmonized implementation of nutrition activities

• Lead in designing and refining the nutrition delivery approaches most appropriate to the Afghanistan context and sector standards.

• Coordinate with and support other technical advisors for the inclusion of nutrition-sensitive interventions to address needs across sectors including health, cash, food security and WASH.

• Conduct regular field visits to support and mentor nutrition teams and activities

• Support field coordinator and Nutrition Managers in the recruitment and capacity building of nutrition staff

• Contribute to the retention and growth of existing nutrition programming for IRC-A.

• Actively design and draft nutrition programme concepts, proposals and budgets.

• Coordinate the Timely preparation of quality nutrition intervention reports.

• Work collaboratively with MEAL in the preparation of requisite internal and external reports including our contributions to regular interagency reporting.

• Facilitate systematic/correct supplies requests, distribution plans, consumption reporting from the nutrition programme to the logistics department

• Conduct/Lead/Manage/Oversee nutritional assessment planning, implementation, analysis, interpretation and reporting, as required

• Facilitate the development and scheduling of outreach and community activities

• Managing nutrition portfolio and budgets, and ensuring spending within timelines.

Partner Management

• Identify implementing partners when necessary and oversee the IRC – partner relation.

• Ensure the development of regular performance monitoring plan of partners to achieve the set project’s objectives; provide technical support and guidance.

• Conduct partner’s assessment to understand and plan for the technical capacity building support.

• Development of capacity building plan for partner organizations along with close monitoring of performance improvement and training uptake.

• Arrange regular meetings with implementing partners to discuss the future program implementation cycle and understand the challenges and barriers that might delay the progress.

Coordination & Representation

• Develops and maintains effective coordination and long-term relationships with external stakeholders in the Nutrition sector, representing IRC positions, promoting the program strategy and resolving problems/conflicts.

• Coordinate regularly with the Senior Program Coordinator and Field focal staff regarding program risk and issue, develop contingency planning, and identify new program opportunities and coordination mechanisms.

• Maintain coordination and collaboration with finance, operations to ensure coordination of procurement and supplies and that purchases are made within budget targets.

• Undertake local and national level advocacy targeting other humanitarian actors, local authorities, ministries and the military as appropriate, on assessment and appropriate response to support infant and young child feeding

• Actively participate and coordinate representation of IRC-A in external UN, INGO and Government sector platforms including national and field hub-level Nutrition cluster and associated sub-groups that are set-up as required.

• Represent International Rescue Committee Afghanistan in sector processes coordinated through the Regional and Global Technical Support Unit on nutrition programming.

• Identify and build strategic relations with partners for implementation, research and resource mobilization for nutrition interventions in Afghanistan

• Guide nutrition teams on effective practices and approaches to field level coordination with other IRC-A sectors and partners.

Other

• Contributes to the development of country program strategy and plans

• Leads sector specific strategy development and technical proposal design.

• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Senior Health and Nutrtion Coordinator cc’ng Deputy Director of Operations

Internal: close collaboration with other program Coordinators and Managers, other IRC Afghanistan programs (Protection/Rule of Law, Livelihoods, Health, Environmental Health, Economic Recovery and Development), Grants, Supply Chain, HR and Finance Departments

S/he will work with external: close collaboration with other humanitarian actors, local implementing partners, UN agencies, government, and service providers.

Requirements:

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree and technical certifications in a field related to the nutrition. A Master’s degree will be a definite added advantage.

• At least 5 years continuous experience with technical design and implementation of nutrition programming, 2 years must be in a humanitarian response in a complex context with international NGOs

• Proven technical competence in CMAM, MAMI, IYCF-E and SBC approaches.

• Demonstrated theoretical knowledge and applied experience using integrated approaches and systems thinking.

• Demonstrated experience of capacity strengthening for improved nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programming.

• Experience with use of relevant sector assessment tools (e.g. SMART, SQUEAC, rapid needs assessments - including IYCF-E -, KAP and Barrier Analysis)

• Experience in negotiating and establishing partnerships for implementing nutrition interventions.

• Demonstrated competence in finding solutions to complex problems and delivering resultsStrong influencing and representation skills with multiple stakeholders

• Strong program/technical and budget management skills, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills.

• Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties.

• Must be capable of applying their skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including direct implementation, advisory functions, training and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to others.

• Personal qualities: Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.

• Fluency in English required. Farsi is an asset but not required.

Work Environment

The position will be based in Kabul, Afghanistan with frequent field travels to IRCs field offices. Shared housing will be provided.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

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