Health and Nutrition Specialist

Position:- Health and Nutrition Specialist

Location:- Aba’ala MC Office (Zone 2/Kilbet Rasu, Afar region)

Position Status:Full Time

About Mercy Corps

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. Our vision is 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. Our strategy focuses on the four outcome areas of: 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 the regional states of Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, Tigray and Addis Ababa city administration 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.

Program Summary

Mercy Corps Ethiopia currently secured USAID/BHA funded multisectoral response program entitled ‘Humanitarian Assistance for Conflict-Affected Populations (HACAP)” in Oromia and Afar regions. The goal of the proposed program is to increase access to Life-saving Services for Conflict-affected IDPs, Returnees, and Vulnerable Populations through provision of integrated Multi-Sectoral Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Promotion (WASH), Nutrition and Protection support and, Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) in five Woredas of Oromia and Afar regions.

 

Position Summary

Under the guidance of the Emergency Program Coordinator based in the Aba’ala MC Office, the Health and Nutrition Specialist will provide technical support to the Mobile Health and Nutrition Team (MHNT), which delivers outreach services to five Kebeles in Erebti Woreda. This role includes coordinating, supporting, monitoring, and reporting of health and nutrition activities in the MC Aba’ala Program intervention areas. The specialist will ensure program quality by supervising MHNT functions and liaising with other technical advisors or specialists. Additionally, the specialist will facilitate the timely delivery of health and nutrition supplies and other logistical support required for the program, ensuring smooth internal coordination at the Aba’ala Office level. This position also involves representing Mercy Corps at regional and zonal health and nutrition clusters, actively participating, and sharing updates with the Program Coordinator and Country Office team. Moreover, the position holder will be responsible to prepare and submit 4W and 5W reports for the regional health cluster including ENCU and contributing to health and nutrition capacity strengthening efforts.

Essential Job Functions

• Oversee Mercy Corps’ emergency nutrition and health responses on the ground, providing technical support to MHNT, health extension workers (HEWs), and health workers.
• Work closely with field program coordinator, humanitarian programs managers, and technical advisors to ensure timely and high-quality emergency responses.
• Lead and support health and nutrition teams to improve their technical skills for better service quality.
• Manage task flows, assign responsibilities among team members, and harmonize activities to integrate health and nutrition components with other subsectors.
• Prepare and follow up on implementation plans with project coordinators and team members.
• Provide supervision, technical assistance, and capacity building to community volunteers, HEWs, and health workers to ensure quality health and nutrition services.
• Integrate with protection and GBV-related services into all health and nutrition responses and support field teams to ensure gender-sensitive humanitarian services.
• Liaise with Mercy Corps support staff for procurement, transportation, and logistical support at the community level.
• Strengthen relationships with government and sector bureaus and collaborate with UN agencies and other partners to facilitate humanitarian information exchange and manage health and nutrition supplies.
• Conduct regular monitoring to ensure services meet national and regional standards, and compile and submit progress reports.
• Support capacity-building efforts, document and disseminate evidence on case stories, performance, and lessons learned.
• Respond to requests from emergency coordinators for project progress updates, changes, challenges, and actions taken.
• Represent Mercy Corps in regional health and nutrition clusters, participate in relevant meetings and workshops, and share updates and achievements.

Team Management

• Support and liaise with the mobile health and nutrition team members and provide on the job training and capacity building or technical support.
• Providing technical assistance for regional and target Woreda Health Office staffs in relation to Nutrition and related primary health care services.

 

Representation

• Ensure timely and regular communication and information sharing is in place with Line manager and other Aba’ala office team members.
• Represent MC in the respective Zonal and Woreda levels Health and Nutrition coordination and cluster meetings.
• Build smooth functional relationship with relevant Zonal and Woreda level health and Nutrition offices in Zone 2 Afar region.
• Promote the basic values and principles of the organization in the process of the relation building with the stakeholders.

 

Security

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

Education and Experience

Education: BSc in Public Health or Nutrition, Nursing, or other health sciences.

Experience: Over four years of relevant experience in emergency health and nutrition responses, particularly in pastoralist and semi-pastoralist areas.

Skills: Strong analytical ability, report writing skills, and the ability to manage and work in a diverse team.

Communication: Fluency in Amharic and English is essential. Speaking Afarigna is a plus.

Organizational Learning:

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and 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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination. We actively seek diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills to build a strong, impactful organization. We are committed to providing a respectful and psychologically safe environment with equal employment opportunities for all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination based on race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, military veteran status, or any other protected group.

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.

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: 31 May2024/ 4:00 PM