Health and Nutrition Specialist

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: Health and Nutrition Specialist

Duty Station: Negele

Open Position: 1

Position Duration: June 30,2024

Program / Department Summary

The project is intended to improve the well-being and meet the immediate needs of conflict and drought-affected and displaced populations through integrated health, nutrition, and WASH response in Oromia region.

General Position Summary

The position holder shall be in charge of leading, technical quality implementation and delivery of the mobile health and Nutrition services in the assigned woreda. S/He will mainly be responsible for the daily implementation of medical consultation and treatment, management of SAM cases, outreach EPI, health education, sanitation, Maternal health services and child health as per the existing guideline. She/He will be responsible for the daily implementation of mobile health and Nutrition services package as per the standard, supporting health facilities assigned as integrated mobile health & Nutrition modality and daily dispensary and drug supply management. S/He will also be responsible for day-to-day documentation of children and adults treated, people receiving health education, vaccinated children, screened children and mothers, children admitted to OTP, and all services provided accordingly and compile weekly and monthly reports and share with health and nutrition coordinator

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Collaborate with other team member for effective integration between other services like Nutrition and health services
• Collaborate with Local authorities and other partners to harmonize different efforts for better impact and sustainability.
• Able to learn and update his/ her information or knowledge to adapt the changing situation and context

Program Management

• Provide basic health and nutrition services including Medical consultation and treatment, community IMNCI/ICCM, safe motherhood, emergency services, referral, health education, EPI as per Somali RHB Mobile health and nutrition guideline
• Responsible for overall planning, implementation and M&E of mobile Health and nutrition activities in the assigned woreda.
• Coordinate and facilitate implementation of mobile health and Nutrition activities, site selection and prepare weekly movement plan.
• Facilitate essential drugs, supplies and therapeutic products for the team and the selected health facilities
• Facilitate training, closely work with MOH staffs at Health posts, Health center and hospital and district level.
• Organize daily, weekly and monthly over view and reports of common cause of morbidity, mortality, EPI, health education and consultations through using mobile Health and nutrition standards.
• Ensure referral system and linkage between services and with the health facilities
• Adherence to medical and nutritional treatment protocols and procedures for children and infants.
• Provide onsite training to HEW and nurses.
• Ensure Job aids are available in Health posts (HEW quick reference, Look up table, report format, tally sheet, Plumpnut and drug stock control balance form)
• Mentoring and assist HEW in decision of patients who are at severe risks and need to be transferred to nearby hospital
• Receive weekly reports from HEW at weekly basis, cross check the completeness and accuracy and submit to Woreda Project officers.
• Participate in capacity building training, in health education sessions and BCC application
• Follow up absentees/defaulters and keep current record of both beneficiaries and the staff (CHAs, volunteers).
• Work any tasks assigned by the line manager and the organization.

Team Management

• Be directly responsible for the technical guidance for Midwifery and clinical nurse to provide standardized mobile health services.
• Providing technical support for MC mobile and zonal/ woreda government health staffs on the provision of comprehensive primary health care services and support the coordination between the mobile health team with the static services providers through strong communication and referral linkage and follow up.
• Closely work with midwifery nurses, clinical nurse and other nutrition teams in planning the implementation of the local capacity building activities
• Provided formal and on job training and supportive supervision for Mercy corps woreda level staffs and government health workers.

Influence & Representation

• Liaise with concerned government authorities and ensure the programme strategy, objectives and activities are understood, agreed and appropriate communication channel is in place
• Participating in the Zonal/ Regional health and Nutrition Technical Working Group meetings, develop meeting agendas, documentation and dissemination of the technical working group meetings action point and recommendations.
• Liaise and coordinate with local stakeholders and MoH personnel regularly, reporting to them and giving them updates on activities.
• Collaborate with the potential partners on the field (health centres, health posts, committee leaders) to improve the coverage and the efficiency of the programs.
• Collaborate with partners where possible (e.g. UNICEF and WHO in nutrition/health assessments in the area that may have an impact on our programs).

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Knowledge and Experience

• BSC in Public health or Nursing, with Minimum four years working experience in NGOs environment as MHNT out of which two years in clinical setup.
• Solid technical skill on case management of childhood and adult illness, safe motherhood
• Knowledge and experience in management of medical complications of severely malnourished children and IMNCI/ICCM.
• Demonstrated skills in program planning, implementation and monitoring.
• Ability to lead mobile teams and able to create good team sprit among the group.
• Strong computer (Microsoft skills), and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Good command in written and spoken English and Local language.
• Good human relation skills.
• Willingness to work under pressure and extra hours

Success Factors

• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions like long distance
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience in closely working with regional, Zonal and Woreda Health
• Ability to prepare program reports Knowledge in local language;
• Communication skill, good human relations
• Firm belief in teamwork, gender equality

GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

• Be a thought partner in the recruitment of diverse team and promoting inclusive and safe work environment including supporting early career team members to fulfil their professional goals)
• Lead by example to promote gender equal and inclusive workplace culture in a day-to-day interaction with team members, partners and program participants.

Organizational Learning

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

• 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.

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 IASCand have signed on to theInteragency 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 toMercy Corps Code of Conduct Policiesandvalues at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.