Senior Nutrition and SBCC Advisor

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

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. With the launch of Mercy Corps Global Strategy, Pathway to Possibility, the country office is poised to operationalize its three-year strategy with a vision 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. In Ethiopia, our strategy focuses in 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 six regional states – Afar, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Amhara and South Ethiopia. Working with a diverse base of donors that includes United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations, Mercy Corps Ethiopia empowers people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good. 

Position Title: Senior Nutrition and SBCC Advisor

Duty Station: Abala

Open Position:  1

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps is implementing a multi-year, multi-million-dollar USAID funded initiative focused on: stimulating increased production, productivity and marketing through more competitive livestock and livestock products markets; increasing communities’ resilience; diversifying livelihood economic opportunities and options through essential skills transfer; improving food security and nutrition and contributing to the wider knowledge on pastoral development. The program operates in multiple pastoral regions, Somali, Afar and Oromia regions in Ethiopia.

General Position Summary

The Senior Nutrition and SBCC Advisor focuses on Nutrition/WASH/SBCC sector to improve the developmental nutrition and WASH outcomes of women and children and uses innovative social behavior change and communication approaches to reach desired outcomes. The Team is comprised of technical expertise in the areas of Nutrition, WASH and SBCC at national and regional levels. The Senior Nutrition and SBCC Advisors’ primary responsibility is to work with RIPA Nutrition Team Leader to provide reliable and timely technical input, contribute to development of relevant knowledge/structures to inform the underlying causes of malnutrition. The Senior Nutrition and SBCC Advisor will provide leadership to the RIPA field nutrition and WASH teams to deliver sound, harmonized approach, efficient and high impact activities for improved nutrition and WASH outcomes. He/she will also work closely in capacity building the RIPA local partners implementing nutrition activities. The Senior Nutrition and SBCC Advisor will be based in Addis Ababa office with frequent travel to RIPA operational areas in Somali, Afar and Oromia region.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Under the leadership of the Nutrition team leader, the Senior Nutrition and SBCC Advisor will implement, manage and monitor the RIPA nutrition and WASH component in such a way that program activities result in greater progress, synergies for nutritional and WASH impact.
• Capacitate the team on the first 1000 days approach and oversee the implementation of the Essential Nutrition Actions (ENA)
• Using behavior change approaches, support the Nutrition Team lead to address barriers to effective adoption of appropriate nutrition and WASH behaviors being promoted by RIPA project for pastoral and agro pastoral 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, developments agents etc, as necessary.
• Support Nutrition team Lead in designing Nutrition and WASH strategies and activities that address systemic level challenges that undermine long-term development goals for Nutrition and WASH.
• Actively participate 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 RIPA 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.
• Collect and compile evidence-based information’s to influence evidence based innovative programming approaches to chronic malnutrition, maternal, infant and young child nutrition, and micronutrient deficiency in pastoral settings including Pastoralist transitioning out of pastoralism (TOPS).
• 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, quarterly, interim and annual programmatic reports. Contribute to other reports of project progress and performance as required.
• Closely work with other RIPA project components for higher level integrations that ensure nutrition and WASH are positioned as a cross-cutting issues across all RIPA 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 for higher impact of the program.
• Work closely with RIPA team to put system in place for practical and sustainable Community conversations/ Social Analysis and Action dialogues at community and schools level as mediums for spreading appropriate WASH and Nutrition messages
• Regularly review and approve the concepts notes uploaded by field teams in Program Activity online system
• Closely support the Regional teams on WASH, Nutrition and SBCC activities being implemented by RIPA partners both remotely and through frequent travels as required.

STRATEGY & VISION

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
• Design, roll out and monitor Nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive activities targeted at under five children and women.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Oversee program startup and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and within budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards

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 RIPA project performance.
• Foster close working relationship 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.

FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

• Closely work with the Nutrition team lead and grant manager to review the BVA regularly and prepare the quarterly budget forecast.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• In consultation with the Nutrition team leader represent RIPA 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 appropriately.)
• 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 to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

• Adherence of gender minimum standards
• Make sure GESI issues are properly reflected during program management
• Support the organization’s commitment to age and gender inclusive team building process
• Promote an inclusive and equitable workplace culture
• Support Staff Capacity Building on Increase staff knowledge of GEDSI

Supervisory Responsibility

The Senior Nutrition and SBCC advisor is expected to oversee the Nutrition WASH coordinators and closely work with advisors from other components.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Nutrition team leader

Technical Line Report To: Nutrition team leader

Works Directly With: works directly with all nutrition teams at the field offices and other component advisors in Addis

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Knowledge and Experience

• Advanced degree in nutrition, public health or related international development field and at least 5 years of relevant work in nutrition and/or food security programs development
• Extensive knowledge of programmatic approaches and models used in development nutrition and SBCC
• Experience in both nutrition sensitive and specific activities
• Experience implementing the first 1000 days
• Experience in setting up, supervising and supporting mother support groups, male champion groups and school health clubs
• Extensive Knowledge on WASH approaches for development settings
• Solid research background and good writing skills.
• Strong well-demonstrated organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Experience working with multi-disciplinary technical specialists.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple activities.
• English fluency is essential and at least one other local language spoken in pastoral Ethiopia
• Knowledge and experience working in Ethiopia pastoral areas
• Experience with the development, implementation & compliance of donor funded programs including USAID agreements and strong understanding of USAID rules, regulations and compliance issues
• Established ability to manage and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles.
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving
• Experience working with host governments, national and international NGOs.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.
• Willingness to extensive support and support field teams in Afar, Oromiya and Somali regions

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. S/he 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 solving, work within a complex and sensitive setting and to follow laws and security protocols. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

The senior Nutrition and SBCC advisor is expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

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 world’s 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 so that we can be collectively stronger and have 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 on the basis of 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 and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. 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 to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

How To Apply

All qualified individuals are invited to apply for the advertised position. All applications, including a CV, three references, and all applicable official papers, must be sent electronically.

Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and    diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.”

DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 15 August 2024/ 4:00 PM