Niger: Health and Nutrition Coordinator

Job Title: Health and Nutrition Coordinator

Location: 50% Niamey and 50% Zinder & Diffa, Niger

Contract Duration: 1 year

Start Date: June 2016

General Description of the Programme

GOAL has been present in Niger since 2005 mainly responding to the food crises and humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable communities. GOAL is scaling up and expanding its programme in Zinder and Diffa Regions in Niger and is looking for a highly competent and committed individual to be an integral part of the GOAL team in Niger.

Since the food security crises of 2005, GOAL has been operational in Zinder Region through the implementation of community-based programmes mainly in the field of nutrition, food security and WASH (Water, Hygiene and Sanitation). GOAL’s current programme in Zinder is based in Mirriah, Gourre and Tanout districts and has a strong food security and nutrition focus. In November 2015, in light of the escalating humanitarian situation in Diffa region as a result of the ongoing insecurity, GOAL Niger expanded its area of operation to Diffa. GOAL’s initial programme in Diffa consisted of NFI and Health System Strengthening and it is planned to scale the response from July 2016 and include food security and market sectors.

Overview of the role

The Health/Nutrition Coordinator takes overall responsibility for the implementation of the health and nutrition component of GOAL Niger’s programme, including some WASH activities. The Health and Nutrition Coordinator will supervise the current nutrition team.

GOAL is looking for an enthusiastic Health/Nutrition Coordinator with a strong background in community health who will be able to develop and implement a community health programme which addresses both under-nutrition as well as other community health problems which lead to poor health for children in particular. The Health/Nutrition Coordinator will take the lead on the implementation of GOALs community health programme; will be responsible for documentation of activities, as well as in the support and training of Nigerien staff and local partners. A key component of this role will be in developing strong relations with the MoH, UNICEF and other key stakeholders in Niger as well as developing donor proposals for health and nutrition.

The Health/Nutrition Coordinator is a member of the Senior Management team in country and will work closely with the Zinder Area Coordinator, Nutrition Manager and will report directly to the Assistant Country Director Programmes.

Main responsibilities

• Assume overall management for the development of an integrated community health and nutrition programme, within GOAL’s Niger programme.

• Responsible for the design and oversight of GOAL's community health programme including:

• Liaison with prospective donors, proposal development/writing, budget preparation, procurement planning and recruitment of requisite staff

• Oversight of the design of any new program materials/ toolkits required

• Oversight and implementation of adequate monitoring and evaluation systems to assess the quality and outcomes of health/nutrition interventions, including requisite surveys/ assessments (planning to be conducted in strict collaboration with GOAL S&A / Health and Nutrition Advisors), in line with proposals

• Ensure that there is an adequate monitoring and technical support plan in place for any working being done with local partners

• Responsible for ensuring a training plan is in place for both GOAL/partners health and nutrition staff who are involved in the implementation of the programme

• Responsible for the recruitment, management and technical support of GOAL Health staff

• Responsible for regular reporting to Donors and health/ nutrition coordination mechanisms

• Ensure close coordination with local partners (Ministries, national NGOs/INGOs, etc.) to assess outcomes, evaluate efficacy of complementary health and nutrition activities funded by GOAL and determine whether these are aligned to GOAL Niger’s overall country strategy.

• Verify that any new health and nutrition activities look to support priority health and nutritional needs but also ensure that longer-term development issues in particular sustainability and capacity building of local partners are also being fully addressed.

• Ensure that GOAL’s health and nutrition programing is tightly coordinated with other sectors to ensure a multi-sectoral approach is provided, thus maximising potential outcomes

• Ensure that the implementation of programme activities is in line with the Government of Niger’s national protocols for health/nutrition.

• Representation of GOAL (as viable) at national and regional health and nutrition meetings, cultivating close relationships with donors, ministries and other key national stakeholders.

• Closely monitor in-country / regional developments through the Système d’alerte Précoce (SAP), FAOs Global Information & Early Warning System on Food & Ag’ (GIEWS), FAOSAT, AQUASAT, national / regional Surveys & Assessments, plus Ministry, UN and donor response plans.

• Ensure that the issues of gender are fully addressed in the programme and that the needs of vulnerable groups in particular those living with HIV and disabilities are fully considered in the design and implementation of the programme.

• To be fully conversant with GOAL policies and guidelines, including HR, logistics, finance, administration and security protocols.

• Responsible for regularly liaising with the relevant Technical Advisors

• Any other related tasks at the request by the ACDP, CD or GOAL HQ.

Requirements (Person Specification)

• Qualified Health Professional such as; Nutritionist, Nurse or Medical Doctor.
• Relevant MSc course in Public Health /Nutrition preferred.
• Minimum 4 years’ experience in community health programming with proven management/coordination experience with international organisations/agencies.
• Proven track record in developing the technical aspects of large scope health and nutrition proposal
• Experience of community nutrition programming
• Strong interpersonal and skills and ability to effectively work in a multi-cultural context.
• Experience in liaising with government officials, other NGOs, donors and UN agencies.
• Willingness to travel to rural/volatile areas of Niger.
• Proven training and capacity building skills.
• Very enthusiastic and able to work extra hours to achieve the objectives of the programme.
• Fluency in French essential with excellent written and spoken English (essential for proposal writing / reporting).
• Appreciation of the aims and objectives of GOAL.

GOAL has Standards of Integrity and a Child Protection Policy, which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants and children from exploitation. GOAL also has a confidentiality policy ensuring the non-disclosure of any information whatsoever relating to the practices and business of GOAL, acquired in the course of duty, to any other person or organisation without authority, except in the normal execution of duty. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to these policies any job offer made is also subject to police clearance. GOAL is an equal opportunities employer.

This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available. GOAL reserves the right to change this document. Any published closing dates are estimated. Due to the nature of GOAL’s work we aim to fill vacancies as quickly as possible. This means that we will close adverts as soon as we have found the right candidate and this may be before the published closing date. We would therefore advise interested applicants to submit an application as early as possible

https://www.goalglobal.org/careers?gh_jid=215996