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Job
Title:         Nutrition
Specialist (Health System Strengthening)

Organization: AVSI
Foundation

Duty Station: 
Uganda

About US:

AVSI Foundation is
an international not-for-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in
Italy in 1972. Its mission is to promote the dignity of the person through
development cooperation activities, with special attention to education,
according to the social teaching of the Catholic Church. AVSI has been present
in Uganda since 1984, first supporting hospitals and agriculture projects in
Gulu and Kitgum districts, and later expanding around 1990 to establish the
present-day headquarters in Kampala, offices in Pader, Gulu and Kitgum, and
project activities in 12 other districts.

About Project:

UNICEF and AVSI
entered into a partnership under the project entitled District Health System
Strengthening on RMNCAH, HIV, and Nutrition in the districts of Arua, Adjumani,
Koboko, Maracha, Moyo, Nebbi, Pakwach, Yumbe, Zombo, Lamwo and Kiryandongo –
ALIVE.

The projects aim to
“Support and keep children and mothers ALIVE through the provision of a
comprehensive Health, Nutrition, and HIV/AIDS Package” under which AVSI
contributes to efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality and improve the
quality of life of children and women in Northern Uganda, Acholi and West Nile
sub-regions.

The project also
will support and build synergies with other implementing partners and AVSI
existing projects; ‘Maximizing impact against HIV, TB, and Malaria in Acholi
Sub-Region’ funded by Italian Cooperation, Resilient Learners, Teachers and
Education Systems in South Sudan and Uganda (RICE) in Lamwo and Arua districts,
funded by EU.

Job Summary:   The Nutrition Specialist (Health System
Strengthening) will provide both strategic and technical direction to nutrition
programming in the integrated district health system. The successful candidate
will be responsible for the development and implementation of nutrition
Activities at the district, in close working collaboration with the DHTs and
the child survival development officers based at the districts. The Specialist
will liaise with the nutrition division of the Ministry of Health, UNICEF,
District nutrition lead, UNHCR nutritionist District Nutrition Coordination
Committees, District Health Teams and health facility in-charges/ facility
nutrition focal persons in the supported districts to establish and/ or
strengthen health facilities and community capacity for management of Moderate
Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and Severe Acute Malnutrition, as well as promotion of
appropriate MIYCF and WASH practices and behaviours. .

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Participate in AVSI/UNICEF Activity periodic work planning,
  reporting and strategy development based on evidence, as necessary.
• Participate in development of training packages at national and
  sub-regional level, and training of various services providers at
  community and facility levels using various training approaches i.e.
  MIYCF, IMAM and NACs.
• Lead the planning and preparation of nutrition packages (protocols,
  guidelines, equipment and related materials) for nutrition capacity
  building at the districts of operations.
• Provide technical support to multi-sectorial nutrition programming
  through establishing and/or strengthening capacity of District Nutrition
  Coordination Committees.
• Establish a program for community-based rehabilitation of malnourished
  children and promotion of Essential Nutrition Actions (ENAs) targeting the
  first 1,000 days of life. This involves initiating pilot sites, evaluating
  the results, and then scaling up the program to other communities.
• Act as a link between the AVSI/UNICEF Activity and National
  Nutrition Division of the MoH and represent the UNICEF/AVSI Activity in
  the nutrition Technical Working Group.
• Participate in national, district and community level nutrition
  meetings with other nutrition stakeholders as requested
• Coordinate and conduct periodic stakeholder meetings aimed at
  promoting Collaboration, Learning and Adaptation among stakeholders in the
  region i.e. IMAM sharing sessions, coordination meetings
• Provide technical support to other technical personnel, including
  reviewing documents and presentations, developing strategies, approaches
  as requested.
• Work with the Ministry of Health, implementing partners, nutrition
  committees, working groups to establish priorities, work plans and provide
  technical assistance to implement nutrition activities/tasks in west Nile
• In collaboration with MoH/UNICEF oversee the improvement and
  scale-up of nutrition services integration into all health services at
  health facility levels through conducting health systems strengthening
  performance assessment, and rapid assessment identifying gaps.
• Strengthen capacities of Health facilities and districts to
  effectively use IMAM/ NACS tools through capacity building and supporting
  district mentor’s/coaches mentorship to ensure quality improvement
• Facilitate and participate in operational research related to
  Nutrition and share results for program and policy planning and decision
  making
• Contribute towards AVSI monitoring, Evaluation Learning, Adapting
  and knowledge management activities, specifically ensuring quality data
  capture into DHIS2.
• Perform other job-related activities as assigned by the
  supervisor(s).
• Work with the regional referral nutritionist, regional and district
  national mentors/coaches, district nutritionists, district nutrition focal
  persons, CSDs, the DHMTs and health in-charges of the selected facilities
  to.
• Develop a system for planning and management of nutrition supplies,
  equipment and tools and ensure timely ordering and delivery;
• Ensure adherence to guidelines and protocols for management various
  forms of malnutrition.
• Ensure establishment and functionality of Nutrition Work Improvement
  Teams as well as integration of nutrition in facility Quality Improvement
  approaches.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 

• The applicant must hold a Basic Degree in Nutrition with
  Postgraduate Training or Master in related health and social sciences;
  nutrition, public health or related field.
• Seven years of demonstrated experience in developing, implementing,
  and monitoring successful district nutrition programs, managing
  malnutrition among vulnerable groups especially refuges settings, and
  promoting behavioural change for prevention of malnutrition.
• Familiarity with UNICEF funded nutrition initiatives and the
  positive deviance methodology is an added advantage.
• Experience in technical and programming in IYCF, IMAM/CMAM
  approaches, with additional expertise in community health and nutrition
  activities, including IMCI, essential nutrition actions, nutrition
  assessments, monitoring and evaluation, and behaviour change
  communication.
• Experience with UNICEF-funded programs required
• Ability to write effectively for a range of audiences and purposes,
  including policy-makers, program managers and service providers
• Ability to translate technical information into practical guidance
  and tools and effectively communicate these using print, electronic, and
  presentation media
• Fluency in English relevant computer software skills (including, at
  a minimum, the standard applications in MS Office)
• Excellent presentation, organizational, interpersonal skills,
  Initiative and ability to work independently and as a team
• Ability to facilitate relationships and interact smoothly and
  effectively with stakeholders and colleagues.
• Ability to solve problems creatively, multi-task and work as a
  member of a team.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail; ability to
  establish priorities, meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and coordinate with a variety of
  collaborators, including DHMTs, national level managers, donors, NGOs and
  community-based organizations.
• Strong and demonstrated supervisory skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Strong report writing skills and computer skills.
• Fluent English is required with excellent speaking and writing skills.

How to Apply:

All candidates
should send their application letters, accompanied with updated Curriculum
Vitae indicating 3 work-related referees, plus copies of relevant certificates,
should be addressed to:

The AVSI Country
Representative,

AVSI Foundation,

P. O. Box 6785,
Kampala, Uganda

Email to: hr.kampala@avsi.org (Please indicate
the e-mail subject as ‘Application for Nutrition Specialist.’)

Deadline: 18^th July 2019 (5.00 pm)

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