Wednesday, June 06, 2012

Nutrition Coordinator

Action Against Hunger | ACF International was founded in France in 1979 in the context of Afghan crisis and the arrival of thousands of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.  While hunger had been addressed in general campaigns against poverty and poor public health, Action Against Hunger was established specifically to combat hunger worldwide. Action Against Hunger is an non-governmental and non-profit organization. All the members of Action Against Hunger worldwide adheres to the following principles: Independence, Neutrality, Non-Discrimination, Free & Direct Access to Victims, Professionalism, and Transparency.

ACF International is an interdependent international network with headquarters in France, Spain, UK, the USA and Canada. ACF International works over 40 countries on five continents with more than 4,000 field staff to carry out innovative, lifesaving programs in Nutrition, Food Security and Livelihoods, Water and Sanitation, Health and Advocacy. Our programs reach some 5 million people a year, restoring dignity, self-sufficiency, and independence to vulnerable populations around the world.

Action Against Hunger | ACF International began working in Pakistan in 1979. In October 2005, ACF responded in Pakistan on the day following the devastating earthquake. Drawing upon its expertise in the country and the region (with programs in Afghanistan and Tajikistan), ACF has been able to provide effective local relief through distributions of food aid, water & sanitation services, and food security and nutrition programs in areas like Jared, Kaghan Valley and Rashang, Allai Valley, Balakot and Battagram. After the cyclone and floods of July 2007, ACF implemented relief operations in Dadu and Kamber Shahdadkot districts, Sindh Province, assisting 36,000 flood victims with latrines, water trucking, drilling of wells, hygiene promotion, and hygiene kits. The same year ACF conducted Food Security and Nutrition surveys in these areas and in Rawalpindi to document humanitarian needs among the populations. ACF is currently running a three year project called Improving Living Conditions in a Changing Environment – Thatta, Sindh province. In early 2010, ACF-Pakistan has launched a multi-sector assessment targeting the Lower Dir, Upper Dir and Swat Districts, KPK, to assess food security & livelihoods, water and sanitation conditions, and childhood nutrition. Funded by the organization, the assessment aims to provide emergency assistance to populations affected by conflict. 

General Objectives:

This is a Senior Management position expected to develop national nutrition programming,  to coordinate effective technical programs' implementation and to play an active role in ACF strategic engagement with the cluster/working groups at the national and provincial levels in Pakistan.

The Nutrition Coordinator (Nut Co) is the primary focal point i) in providing  technical support and recommendations on program development at all stages of the project cycle to nutrition team members  ii) in designing, monitoring and reporting program activities ; and iii) in representing ACF Pakistan Nutrition department during working group meetings.  The Nut Co ensures a good quality Nut activity implementation in compliance with ACF protocols and national guidelines. He/she works in close collaboration with other sector coordinators (FSL, Wash),  Field Coordinators and M&E staff to ensure mission strategic objectives are achieved; as well as with Logistics, HR, and Finance departments.

Specific Objectives:

Objective 1: To develop national Nutrition programming and to co-ordinate its effective implementation nationally.

Activities:

To technically support the field-based Program Managers (PMs) and Nutrition teams towards planning and implementing program activities in compliance with ACF protocols, national guidelines, and Nutrition cluster recommendations. Program activities include (but are not limited to) CMAM, IYCF approaches, Nutrition surveys, Coverage surveys, rapid nutrition assessments, socio-cultural assessments, KAP surveys, etc.To plan, prepare and, when needed, directly support/execute technical assessments (taking in to account ACF integration approach with other WASH and FSL sectors ), data analysis, and ensure timely results reporting is submitted to line management and findings disseminated.To attend national /provincial/field-level technical forum, working groups, workshops and strategic think tanks relevant to the Nutrition department and ACF program activities.To ensure that all Nutrition programs are designed and managed on the basis of logical frameworks and plans for expenditure and procurement. and to validate technical approaches and methodologies used in the field according to latest ACF and government guidelines.To work with the Field Coordinator and M&E team in identifying needs, gaps, priority areas and appropriate interventions in locations where ACF works and in new locations in the mission country.When possible, to ensure integration of Nutrition program activities with other departments (WASH, FSL).To support the development of the annual mission’s strategy in line with the ACF International Strategic Plan 2010-2015, ACF-USA strategic plan, and context needs.

Objective 2: To develop technical reports (internal and external) and proposals reflective of government, organization and donor guidelines and ensure timely submission to line management.

Activities:

Lead the process (including delegation to PMs) of i) Nutrition program design and concept papers/proposals for prospective donors, ii) production of contractually required donor and internal reports.To coordinate with  Logistics Field, Administration, and Logistics Coordinators, in finalizing and validating proposals and reports before submitting to line management.To ensure all reports and proposals submitted to  in country line management have been technically validated by the relevant Technical Advisor(s) in HQ.To ensure technical work plans are coherent with financial and procurement plans based on context and experience.To coordinate with other Technical Coordinators for integrated projects and, with the Field Coordinator to ensure technical field staff (PMs) are supported in coordinating with other technical department as well.To continuously compile and improve mission technical documentation (maps, reports, evaluations, meeting minutes, guidelines) and proactively disseminate it to the field staff, Field Coordinators and M&E staff.In conjunction with the M&E Manager, ensure roll out of monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning initiatives involving the Nutrition department.To submit all required and requested reports and adhoc updates (Technical monthly report, Activity Progress Report, Nutrition program indicators evolution file, M&E support information, government reporting, etc, timely to line management.To provide before end of mission, a substantial handover report to replacement, in country line management, and HQ Technical Advisor and to ensure a field handover visit is made.

Objective 3: To support proper and adequate resource management: HR, Finance and assets.

Activities:

To support in the recruitment of Nutrition  staff:Technical validation of Job Descriptions, ensuring national coherence of Job Descriptions in the mission, ensuring Job Descriptions are reflective of the major national technical context changesSupport  recruitment (written test and oral interviews)Direct recruitment in the field in absence of a Program Manager (for example for new or emergency interventions)To ensure timely, accurate and complete technical feedback and objectives are submitted to Field Coordinators and other line managers of field staff as required by mission career development guidelines.To foster the career development of national and international technical staff and to carry out relevant technical training for the staff as evidenced by appraisal or directed by management.To support PMs in conducting performance appraisals of the national departmental staff as required.In collaboration with  Field Co to support, PMs in creating field-level departmental organigrams.In collaboration with Logistics, Admin and Field Coordinators to support,  PMs in creating programmatic Procurement Plans, in financial forecasting and budget follow ups.To support the Logistics department in ensuring timely delivery of equipments and materials by making sure supplies have the required technical validation on time nationally and in the field.

Objective 4: To represent the department and the organization at national, regional, or international levels and promote ACF’s technical viewpoints, guidelines and methods of work.

Activities:

To represent ACF within national co-ordination groups and actively seek out high-level groups in which to advocate for ACF and its beneficiaries.’To represent ACF at any relevant forum as required/requested by the CD.As necessary, to liaise with donor technical staff in relations to ACF’s programming.To proactively collaborate with national authorities, ACF counterparts and staff, partner agencies and consortia/Alliances/partnerships.To ensure ACF Pakistan and the Pakistani context is adequately represented at specific ACF regional undertakings in matters of departmental significance.

QUALIFICATIONS

Advanced University degree (Masters) preferably in medical sciences, nursing or social sciences.Minimum three years experience of nutrition programs at national coordination level (with at least 2 years experience in program implementation). Experience with capacity building of health systems in developing contexts.Experience with nutrition and coverage surveys, and rapid nutrition assessments.Clear understanding of child and gender protection issues in the field.Ability to work in a mainstreamed manner and analyze/capitalize institutionalized information.Good diplomatic and negotiation skills.Mindful and respectful towards local cultural specificities.Disciplined and able to work and arrive at decisions autonomously and with minimal guidance.Fluent in EnglishExcellent drafting and written skills.Significant experience with INGOs in recovery and complex emergencies.  Previous experience with partnerships and alliances is an asset.Proven management and coordination skills (HR, projects, and stress management).Proven ability to translate analysis and evaluation into operational planning and strategy.Experience with evaluations and monitoring as well as Program Cycle Management.Experience with donor communications.Advanced knowledge of donors’ guidelines and procedures (ECHO, UNICEF, OCHA, CIDA, EU, DFID, USAID, etc.)

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