Role & Responsibilities

Develop, lead, monitor and evaluate the assigned emergency nutrition project, effectively managing and reporting on the projects in line with the objectives, timeframe and budget with a focus on response to new crises requiring assessments and short-term interventions. Manage and oversee the nutrition team to meet international quality standards in nutrition programming. Encourage beneficiary participation, liaise with other stakeholders, and anticipate, plan, and contribute to the development of new nutrition project proposals and reports.

Project Overview

Medair delivers life-saving health interventions to emergency affected populations in eastern DRC in difficult to access areas and despite security challenges. Attacks by armed groups and intercommunal violence in eastern DRC continue to threaten vulnerable populations, despite the efforts of the government’s armed forces (FARDC) and assistance from the UN Mission in DRC (MONUSCO). On August 1st, 2018, an Ebola outbreak was declared in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. By October 2019, there had been more than 3000 Ebola cases. Before the outbreak was declared, Medair was working in 47 health facilities in Eastern DRC with Health, Nutrition, and WASH related interventions.

This role will also oversee the nutrition activities within the OFDA Ebola Wraparound proposal based out of Beni. Nutrition is integrated into primary health care facilities also supported by the Medair Primary Health Care team. The Nutrition PM will oversee the case management in the 11 integrated OTPs and the relevant stabilization centers used for referrals. She will also work closely with the Community Engagement Manager to help develop and streamline key messages related to nutrition and infant and young child feeding. Take a look at Medair’s Health & Nutrition work.

Workplace & Conditions

Field based position in Beni, D.R. Congo. Additional support to other field bases with integrated nutrition may also be possible. Interventions may be in remote and difficult to access areas for which the environment is physically challenging (accessible on foot). The security context is complex and also requires constant monitoring. Visits to emergency locations will be expected. Take a look at Medair’s work in D.R. Congo.

Starting Date / Initial Contract Details

As soon as possible. Full time, 12 to 24 months.

Key Activity Areas

Nutrition Project Management

• Manage the project in order to meet the project objectives within budget and within the allotted time frame.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of an appropriate nutrition strategy for new proposals and for implementing acute emergency interventions. Work with the Health Project Manager to ensure integration of activities.
• Help to cross cover the Health Project Manager if needed for short periods (R&R coverage).
• Continuously monitor and supervise nutrition activities, evaluating progress through outputs and impact.
• Provide input into the integration of beneficiary participation and accountability.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of activities to OFDA according to applicable timeframes and formats.
• Participate in the development of new proposals, linked to the assessed needs and gaps.

Staff Management

• Line-manage nutrition team staff, including day-to-day management, development, etc.
• Facilitate regular meetings to assist information sharing between project staff, to ensure awareness of project objectives and current work plans and to provide the opportunity for feedback.
• Provide coaching and technical supervision to nutrition managers, nutrition supervisors, M&E assistants, and Logistics warehouse staff to develop nutrition technical knowledge and promote ownership within the nutrition team staff.

Financial Management

• Manage budget and ensure that all expenses are coded appropriately and according to budget and meet Medair and donor standards with regard to financial management, including accountability and good governance.
• Approve all project expenditures and expense coding; ensure proper financial procedures are followed.
• Monitor budget versus actual expenditures on a monthly or quarterly basis to ensure appropriate spending and raise alerts when there are major account overspends or underspends.
• Review all PDFs and programme expenses for accuracy, appropriateness, and completeness prior to signing.

Communication and Coordination

• Develop and maintain appropriate communication with the team and other relevant stakeholders.
• Participate in nutrition coordination meetings, Medair internal trainings, and other working meetings.
• Proactively network and coordinate with the nutrition cluster and nutrition agencies to seek out opportunities.
• Review and update PC Agreements, Memoranda of Understanding for programme implementation.
• Ensure clear internal coordination within the Medair team especially with Health and WASH teams and with advisors.

Logistics

• Ensure stock, purchase requests, cash forecasts and movement requests are submitted appropriately to Goma
• Ensure nutrition teams are adequately supported in the field – food, water, supplies, cash, etc.
• Support the logistics activities of nutrition staff, particularly in relation to the purchasing of supplies, etc.
• Liaise with the nutrition and logistics staff to ensure that quality items are procured, transported, stored, etc.

Quality Management/Project Design

• Ensure project implementation is according to Medair, donor, DRC and international guidelines.
• Set objectives for nutrition assessments and interventions, monitoring progress, etc.
• Improve the quality of the nutrition project, to improve the quality of the assessments, monitoring and evaluation, implementation of Core Humanitarian Standards and protection mainstreaming.
• Monitor monthly project data, carry out analysis of quality and analysis of project implementation based on data.
• Support the M&E assistants to ensure accurate and appropriate data is collected and tabulated appropriately.

Security Management:

• Monitoring security situation for teams in the field and working with the Project Coordinator and Beni Security Focal Point.
• Ensure field team compliance with security procedures; ensure teams are equipped.

Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Work, live, and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings. Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• Clinical degree or diploma (nutritionist), or Public Health degree.
• Strong working knowledge of English and French (spoken and written) or Swahili.

Experience / Competencies

• 2 years’ post-qualification medicine/nursing/medical professional experience.
• At least 1 year management experience in a health context.
• At least 1-2 years’ in nutrition in a developing country. Experience working in an acute outbreak beneficial.
• Aptitude for community mobilisation and capacity-building. Experience in training/mentoring/ coaching staff.
• Good numerical, report writing and administration skills. Knowledge of humanitarian principles, Sphere and HAP Standards.
• Ability and willingness to manage project implementation; able to take the initiative.