Nutrition and SBCC Advisor Highland Resilience Activity: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

About Mercy Corps

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Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector, and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. Our vision is to enhance the resilience of climate and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. Our strategy focuses on the four outcome areas: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently, we operate in the regional states of Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, Tigray, and Addis Ababa city administration working with a diverse base of donors that includes the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations.

The USAID-funded Highland Resilience Activity (HRA) - will contribute to the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) 5s Big Push initiative and has the overarching goal of strengthening resilience among vulnerable households in Ethiopias Highlands, resulting in 120,000 PSNP households reaching the graduation threshold. HRA will support these households in moving above the graduation threshold where they no longer require social safety net programming for household food security and have the capabilities and assets to withstand regular and predictable shocks. The Activity will achieve this goal by directly supporting households in increasing their on-farm, off-farm, and employment incomes while facilitating improvements in the market systems required to increase demand for goods and services in PSNP communities. HRA is a five-year program that starts in October 2023.

General Position Summary

The Nutrition and SBCC Advisor is a key member of the Highland Resilience Activity Technical leadership team who will focus on improving the developmental nutrition and behavior outcomes of women and children and use innovative social behavior change and communication approaches to reach desired outcomes. The Nutrition and SBCC Advisor will lead the developing strategy and provide concrete input into ensuring nutritional sensitive components of the program. The Nutrition and SBCC Advisors' primary responsibility is to work with the HRA technical team and partners to provide reliable and timely technical input, contribute to the development of relevant knowledge/structures to inform the underlying causes of malnutrition and support the implementation of evidence-based interventions. The Senior Nutrition and SBCC Advisor will provide leadership to the HRA field nutrition team to deliver a harmonized approach, and efficient, and high-impact activities for improved nutrition and outcomes. He/she will also work closely in capacitating the HRA local partners in implementing nutrition activities. The Nutrition and SBCC Advisor will be based in the Addis Ababa office with frequent travel to the field.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Major Responsibility

• Technical Direction, Program Quality, and Implementation

• Nutrition and SBCC Advisor will implement, manage, and monitor the HRA nutrition intermediate result in such a way that program activities result in greater progress, and synergies for nutritional and resilience impact.
• Design, roll out, and monitor Nutrition specific and nutrition-sensitive activities targeted at under five children and women.
• Capacitate the team on the first 1000 days approach and oversee the implementation of the Essential Nutrition Actions (ENA)
• Contribute to and guide integrated assessments to understand existing implementation approaches and modalities on nutrition, results, and ongoing needs in line with HRAs goal of supporting the graduation of PSNP households through market-based approaches.
• Facilitates the ability of technical advisors to effectively operate at the Zonal level.
• Facilitate regular context monitoring to support updating and adapting activities for the greatest impact in relation to Nutrition.
• Collect and compile evidence-based information to influence evidence-based innovative programming approaches to chronic malnutrition, maternal, infant, and young child nutrition, and micronutrient deficiency in highland settings including youth.
• Using behavior change approaches, supporting the Nutrition Team lead to address barriers to the effective adoption of appropriate nutrition and WASH behaviors being promoted by the HRA project for PSNP households.
• Contribute to the development of technical resource materials for nutrition and WASH, including guidelines, manuals, and curricula. Provide training to field staff, government health workers, development agents, etc., as necessary.
• Support Nutrition team Leads in designing Nutrition strategies and activities that address systemic level challenges that undermine long-term development goals for Nutrition and WASH.
• Lead in the development of Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) materials, tools, and approaches for Nutrition/WASH, Livestock/crop production and productivity, alternative livelihood, natural resource management, and gender.
• Support the Nutrition Team Leader in the development of assessment tools for WASH, nutrition, and SBCC.
• Ensure the HRA project conforms to and utilizes evidence-based program global gold standards/ tools (e.g., maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN), and essential hygiene actions to implement high-impact activities.
• Work closely with the Nutrition team leader and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEAL) teams to monitor performance against set indicators and document best practices.
• In collaboration with the Nutrition team leader develop comprehensive nutrition program implementation documents, work plans, recruitment plans, procurement plans, etc.
• Supervise and provide technical guidance and mentorship/coaching to the field nutrition technical team.
• Support the preparation of relevant sections of the ad-hoc program reports and quarterly, interim, and annual programmatic reports. Contribute to other reports of project progress and performance as required.
• Closely work with other HRA project components for higher-level integrations that ensure nutrition and WASH are positioned as cross-cutting issues across all HRA program components to meet its overall project goal.
• Technically support the nutrition implementing partners and sub-grantees in their nutrition, WASH, and SBCC implementations to contribute to a higher impact of the program.
• Work closely with the HRA team to put a system in place for practical and sustainable Community conversations/ Social Analysis and Action dialogues at the community and school levels as mediums for spreading appropriate WASH and Nutrition messages.
• Regularly review and approve the concept notes uploaded by field teams in the Program Activity online system.
• Closely support the regional teams on WASH, Nutrition, and SBCC activities being implemented by HRA partners both remotely and through frequent travels as required.

REPRESENTATION AND COORDINATION

• In consultation with the Nutrition team leader represent HRA nutrition in technical coordination meetings and forums, as needed (Nutrition sensitive agriculture technical working groups, ECSC SUN technical working groups, home garden network steering committee, etc.) Nutrition/WASH clusters as appropriate.)
• Liaise with local government officials, local NGOs and civil society organizations, local religious leaders, and other notables to ensure support for and acceptance of Mercy Corps programs.
• Maintain close working relationships with donors, other humanitarian and development organizations, and local partners, including representing Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings as assigned.
• Play a liaising role with the governments at federal and regional levels for the issues related to nutrition, WASH, SBCC, and health in general.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Closely work with the Field Level Technical Nutrition and WASH Coordinators in monitoring and follow-up of Nutrition, WASH, and SBCC activity implementations providing timely feedback for real-time decision-making for improved HRA project performance.
• Foster close working relationships for project over-project interaction that fosters easy sequencing and layering of project activities across the Livestock/crop production and productivity, nutrition, gender, and WASH components.
• Assist team members with information, tools, and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Support orientation of field team members with a focus on MSD.
• Play a program leadership role for employment, financial inclusion, or energy-specific programming.

Supervisory Responsibility N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Regional HRA Technical and Implementation Director.

Works Directly with HRA regional program team, Addis Ababa HRA team

• BA/BSc in a relevant field, or equivalent experience
• At least 4 years in a middle or position
• Strong knowledge and working understanding of PSNP and USAID (United States Agency for International Development) Food Security and Resilience programs.
• Strong understanding of nutrition concepts and interventions and proven experience in sequencing, layering, and integrating into other interventions in livelihoods, market systems, and financial services.
• Excellent partnership, communication, and advocacy skills and the ability to interact effectively with donors, collaborating agencies, and local and government partners.
• Excellent organization and planning skills and ability to resolve problems constructively.
• Computer literate, with strong knowledge of MS Office applications,
• Flexibility, persistence, and ability to work well in a multi-sectoral team.
• Ability and willingness to travel to areas with fragile security situations.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members and other stakeholders of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem-solving. This position requires thinking creatively about civic engagement to strengthen inclusive, peaceful, and responsive governance. They will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem-solve, work within a complex and sensitive setting, and follow laws and security protocols. The most successful HRA team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments, and prioritize effective written and verbal communication in all situations.

Living /Environmental Conditions

The position will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs, and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the worlds most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal-opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills to be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination based on race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status, or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere toMercy Corps Code of Conduct Policiesand values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.