NUTRITION AND WASH SPECIALIST (Internal)

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 operating in Ethiopia since 2004. In partnership with civil society organizations, academic institutions, private sector, and the government, Mercy Corps Ethiopia has reached more than five million Ethiopians with interventions to save lives and build secure livelihoods. Our programs emphasize market-driven solutions, reinforce social bonds, and help communities build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Currently in six regional states – Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, and South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR), and in Dire Dawa Administration and the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa – Mercy Corps Ethiopia is driven by the mission to contribute the emergence of a peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Ethiopia which is inclusive of youth and women. Our strategic directions focus in promoting inclusive and dynamic markets; promoting peace and social cohesion through strengthening formal/informal governance structures and citizen engagement; improved natural resource governance; and integrated humanitarian response.

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

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004, and acts on behalf of people who have become disenfranchised and poor. We stand with Ethiopia to find and access opportunities, and to be part of lasting and meaningful transformation in the country. Mercy Corps seeks to be influential with government and development actors towards a more resilient country where poverty is tackled through the eyes of those who understand it best. This translates into ensuring that the population is financially stable, healthy & nourished, educated & unformed, and that natural resources are accessible, shared and utilized sustainably. Mercy Corps anticipates 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 will operate in multiple pastoral regions across Ethiopia.

Mercy Corps is seeking a full-time, in-country Nutrition and WASH Specialist to work on Nutrition and WASH activities USAID funded Resilient in Pastoralist area (RIPA) project. The Nutrition and WASH Specialist is a senior position based in Dire Dawa with travel to RIPA project operational areas in West and East Hararege in Oromia region and Siti Zone in Somali region.

Position Description

Location: Dire Dawa

Position Status: Full-time

Salary Level: As per the organization’s salary scale  

Current Team Member: N/A

Safeguarding Risk Level: Low

Essential Job Responsibilities

• The Nutrition and WASH Specialist will implement, manage and monitor the RIPA Nutrition and WASH components at regional and woreda levels in such a way that program activities result in greater progress, synergies for nutritional and WASH impact.

• Build capacity of government extension agents and water technicians including health extension workers to provide nutrition and gender-sensitive Community Led Total Sanitation and Hygiene (CLTSH)

• Support implementation of Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) activities at regional and woreda level

• Prior experience implementing the Mother Care Group (MCG) model

• Have extensive knowledge on the “first 1000 day” approach

• Collaborate with Agricultural extension workers in implementation of home gardening for fruits and vegetables including food storage and preservation

• Roll out Community Led Total Sanitation and Hygiene (CLTSH) in targeted woredas

• Capacity building of water management committees and other traditional water governance structures.

• Strengthen health extension workers/ ‘development army’ to promote latrine construction and disseminate essential promotion packages or household sanitation and hygiene.  

• Promote construction of household upgradable latrines.

• Ensures all water/sanitation infrastructure and hygiene activities in the targeted cluster are implemented in accordance with the Mercy Corps, donor and government guidelines and policies.

• Promote Sanitation and hygiene practices (raw water treatment, safe water storage and handling hand washing and installation of hand washing facilities by the latrines)

• Facilitate village level dialogue on personal, food/water hygiene and sanitation problems and social and gender norms that influence nutrition through Social Analysis and Action (SAA) approach

• Provide Nutrition and WASH trainings to field staff, government health workers, water technicians etc, as necessary.

• Actively participate in the development of tools behavior change communication (BCC) materials and approaches for Nutrition and WASH

• Regularly design and upload Nutrition and WASH activities concept notes

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

• 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.

• 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

• N/A

FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

• N/A

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• In consultation with the Nutrition and WASH Coordinator, represent RIPA nutrition at Woreda level (in West and east Hararge zones in region technical coordination meetings and forums, as needed eg Health, WASH and Nutrition clusters

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

• N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Cluster Program Coordinator

Technical Line Report To: Nutrition team leader

Works Directly With: works directly with all component teams and coordinators

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

• Degree in nutrition, public health or related international development field and at least 3 years of relevant work in nutrition and/or food security programs development

• Extensive knowledge on WASH approaches for development settings

• Extensive knowledge on MIYCN approaches for development settings.

• Solid research background and good writing skills.

• Strong, team player, well demonstrated organizational and interpersonal skills.

• Experience working with multi-disciplinary technical specialists.

• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple activities.

• English fluency is essential, plus at least one other local language spoken in pastoral Ethiopia (Oromia 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 Nutrition and WASH specialist is expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, and 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 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 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 the 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 adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

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 empowering women and youth.”

DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS:  20 November 2024/ 4:00 PM