Nutrition Program Manager Northern Nigeria

Job Objectives:

Objective 1: Overall planning and assessment for start up of the nutrition activities in Northern Nigeria
• Establish strong relation with SMOH and Local Government for identification of LGAs where CMAM support is to take place.
• Sensitize main stakeholders on CMAM and need for support and commitment for long term access to life saving activities for children; at this stage the overall entry/exit strategy can be shared emphasizing the vital role of the stakeholders to make this happen.
• Identify 2-3 LGAs where stakeholders are willing and motivated to integrate CMAM into the health system.
• Work closely with LGA authorities in identification of wards and CMAM network to be established in the identified LGAs.
• Assess the needs of identified locations with local authorities and health personnel (HR, material/training needs, rehabilitation, etc.)
• Define overall CMAM implementation plan in collaboration with LGA/Ward personnel and with participation of Community PM to ensure the full package is planned.
• Plan, develop and conduct trainings and start up according to final implementation plan and in line with national protocols.

Objective 2: General management of the nutrition activities in Northern Nigeria
Treatment:
• Ensure the support and the supervision by ACF of CMAM integration activities in area of intervention. The program includes therapeutic units within the hospitals and Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities.
• Provide technical support to the hospital staff in the ITC and to the health facilities staffs for the running of the OTC activities.
• Provide formal training session to health facility and/or SMOH/LGA staff on the management of acute malnutrition whenever necessary, including refresher training.
• Provide provision equipment, and drugs as necessary for start up.
• Ensure communication and coordination between the OTC, the ITC, and community mobilization in the frame of a CMAM approach.

Community approach:
• Work closely with Community PM in ensuring community mobilization activities that select and train community volunteers in the detection and referral of malnutrition in the area of intervention.
• Integrate technical support to be provided to the community volunteers once the Community PM has completed his/her 4-month support to the program.
• Follow-up on development of community awareness strategy with Community PM.
• Once the launching phase for Community Mobilization is finalized, ensure appropriate integration of activities into regular CMAM follow-up package.

Capacity Building:
• Conducts formal training session for SMOH/LGA nutrition focal persons/technical team and health facilities staff in area of intervention and for NGO partners (upon request) in all aspects of the management of acute malnutrition
• Ensures support to the SMOH/LGA PHC office staff in supervision of the nutrition programs, reporting, management of orders and supplies.
• Ensures that on the job training is delivered adequately with quality coaching and mentoring skills of nutrition team.

Monitoring:
• Ensure close follow-up of reporting and program performance rates together with SMOH/LGA nutrition focal persons.
• Provide training on overall management of monitoring of nutritional activities.
• Plan and conduct Semi Quantitative Evaluation and Assessment of Coverage (SQUEAC) surveys with SMOH/LGAs in each LGA where ACF supports CMAM integration.

Objective 3: Coordination
• Ensures at least weekly communication with the Tech Co for program update
• Follows up program budget with the administration department and prepares monthly cash forecasts
• Ensures timely 3-months logistics order in respect with the procedures and follows up the supplies and orders with the logistics department.
• Coordinates on a regular basis with the other technical departments of ACF
• Coordinates with the health and nutrition authorities at state and LGA level. At least one meeting should be ensured per month with the SMOH, and any time necessary.
• Participates to the monthly nutrition cluster meeting at district level.
• Coordinates with the other nutritional NGOs, UNICEF, Health System Strengthening Programs, NPHCDA and other stakeholders at state/regional level. Calls for specific meeting when necessary.
• Keep update on the evolution of the health and nutrition situation in Northern Nigeria, and on the evolution of the humanitarian responses in the areas.
• Prepares and implements ad hoc assessments when necessary.

Objective 4: Management of Human resources
• Recruits and trains program staff with the support of the Head of Base for the running of the nutrition activities.
• Proposes training to the nutrition staff whenever necessary and relevant and coach/training ACF staff
• Manages the program staff in order to ensure the smooth running of nutrition programs, in respect with all HR procedures.
• Ensures at least two evaluations per year for each staff of the nutrition department.
• In collaboration with the HR department, ensures the support to the field teams for all matters concerning human resources for the nutrition department.
• Proposes adjustments in the organization for the nutrition department in Karamoja according to the needs

Objective 5: Supply Pipeline
• Oversees the partnership with the organizations in charge of the supplies (drugs and therapeutic feeding supplies from UNICEF), facilitate timely renewal of the MoU’s between SMOH and these partners and timely orders of products. Coordinates with the logistics department/SMOH/LGA for the management of therapeutic feeding supplies from UNICEF
• Ensures regular communication with the logistics department for local, national orders, and international orders and timely logistics orders submitted to the logistics department. A detailed procurement plan is to be defined prior to implementation of activities to prevent small and numerous logistics’ orders.

Objective 6: Reporting
• Is responsible for the elaboration, in partnership with the Tech Co, of the nutrition program donor reports (proposal, quarterly, final reports), with respect of the formats and deadlines.
• Prepares monthly activity reports with a qualitative look at the programs (sent to Tech Co). Internal reports should include the activity progress report in respect with the mission format. Monthly reports should also integrate all indicators to be reported to donors.
• Finalizes the monthly activities reports presented to the medical authorities (SMOH/LGA) and ensures validation by the Tech Co before dissemination.
• Validates all documents and reports in collaboration with Tech Co before dissemination to partners, including supplies orders ad hoc assessment reports, etc.

Objective 7: Representation
• Represents ACF programs in nutrition/health coordination meetings in Northern Nigeria. The Nutrition PM should be known by all the main actors at state and regional level (MoH, UNICEF, NGOs) even when there is no direct partnership with them. The definition of the main actors to communicate with will be done with the Head of Base and Tech Co.
• Represents ACF nutrition programs when and if necessary vis-a-vis donors during their field visits. Such representation will be discussed the CD whenever necessary and with the Tech Co and Head of Base.

Qualifications:

Education / Specific Degrees / Special Skills :
- Necessary experience of CMAM nutrition programs at Program Manager level or above.
- Experience with working in integrating CMAM into local health systems
- Strong capacity building and training skills.
- Strong capacity for relations with state and local stakeholders.
- Minimum Bachelor in medical sciences Masters Degree considered.
- Significant experience in recovery and development project management.
- Excellent human resource management skills.
- Advanced knowledge of donors’ guidelines/procedures in humanitarian and recovery settings.
- Experienced in working with private funding and foundations.
- Excellent organizational, leadership and motivation/training skills.
- Must be disciplined and able to work autonomously and arrive at decisions and conclusions with minimal guidance.
- The person must be able to set own deadlines and meet them consistently.
- Fluent in English (professional English required); Knowledge of Hausa a plus.
Humanitarian field experience requested: YES