JOB ADVERT 

 Health and Nutrition Specialist

 (National Status)

Action Against Hunger is an equal opportunity employer

Women are strongly encouraged to apply

ABOUT US

International Non-governmental organization, Action Against Hunger has been working to fight undernutrition and support communities affected by crisis across the globe for almost 40 years and across nearly 50 countries. Action Against Hunger established its presence in both Liberia and Sierra Leone in 1991 during the Civil War and since then has been operational in the two countries by implementing various humanitarian and development programs related to health, nutrition, food security/livelihoods and advocacy geared towards the reduction of the prevalence rates of under-nutrition in both countries. The Sierra Leone Coordination office is based in Freetown, Sierra Leone overseeing the operations in Bonthe and Moyamba.

Action Against Hunger is recruiting a suitably qualified Sierra Leonean as the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Specialist that will mainly be responsible to ensure the operationalization of the mission’s MEAL system and provide support to the program team in the monitoring of projects implemented by ACF in its bases of assignment.

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

• With support from the HOD Nutrition/Health, contribute to the definition and orientation of the country strategy, focusing on Nutrition and Health positioning, and support funding initiatives

• In liaison with the HOD Nutrition/Health, continuously analyze the context and situation related to Health and Nutrition, evolving humanitarian needs, and provide timely advice to the country team.
• Collaborate with the HOD Nutrition/Health to contribute to technical assessments, identify program needs, and identify fundraising concepts at the national level. Provide technical direction and guidance to the Health and Nutrition program in its design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
• In support of the HoD H&N, participate in the country’s strategic planning process, contribute to sectoral strategy development (Health and Nutrition), and oversee its implementation.
• Ensure the Health and Nutrition sector is integrated with other ACF sectors (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene; Food Security and Livelihood; Mental Health and Care Practices; Gender; Protection; Advocacy projects, etc.).
• Identify existing gaps in Health and Nutrition needs at the district level and collaborate with the HOD Nutrition/Health to formulate appropriate intervention strategies.

• Provide program guidance, direction, and oversight for quality implementation at the country level

• Ensure timely inception of Nutrition and Health programs, with standardized program kick-offs internally and with the Ministry of Health and district health authorities.
• Oversee that program activities are implemented according to approved program documents (proposals, log frames, budgets, MEAL plans, etc.).
• Provide quality monitoring, supervision, and oversight of program activities implemented by partners.
• Ensure programs adhere to high-quality standards in alignment with ACF global guidelines, Ministry of Health strategies, protocols, and donor requirements.
• In collaboration with partner sector leads, develop MOUs and TORs with the Ministry of Health at the district level or specific departments for program implementation.
• Train program teams on Nutrition and Health strategies, IMAM guidelines/ protocols, and project-specific documents to enhance program quality.
• Lead the development, supervision, and management of program assessments and surveys, including reporting at field level
• Support timely implementation of partner activities, track program expenditures, review budgets, and facilitate necessary project amendments.
• Ensure the involvement of communities, local authorities, and implementing partners in program design, development, implementation, monitoring, and learning.
• Work with the MEAL department to establish a beneficiary accountability system, ensure timely feedback on Nutrition and Health issues, and address programmatic concerns in collaboration with the HOD Nutrition/Health.
• Facilitate inter-program coordination with other sectors (FSL, WASH, MHCP, Advocacy, etc.) and ensure Nutrition and Health activities are integrated into other sectors throughout program cycle management.

• Manage the Nutrition and Health team using ACF’s Partnership Approach

• Collaborate with the HOD to lead timely recruitment and training of sector program teams for project implementation.
• Anticipate future funding needs and, in liaison with the HOD, revise the sector organogram as required.
• Ensure ACF and partner project staff are well-oriented on new projects.
• Ensure staff have clear job descriptions and individual Plans of Action (POAs).
• Conduct staff performance reviews, provide regular feedback and update the HOD Nutrition/Health as per ACF human resources policies.
• Identify training needs for the team based on assessments and recommend training programs in collaboration with the HOD.
• Organize and deliver technical training sessions tailored to team profiles and cultural contexts.
• Conduct regular and ad hoc meetings with teams and individual staff members.
• Develop and supervise action plans for individual team members in alignment with detailed implementation plans.
• Support teams in organizing and coordinating their work 
• Resolve team-related issues with support from supervisors and consult the HR Manager or Field Manager when necessary.

• Represent ACF and develop local partnerships

• Position ACF as a strong Health and Nutrition partner in the country by actively participating in and presenting program outcomes and study results at coordination forums at district and national levels, as required by the HOD Nutrition/Health.
• Attend external meetings with partners and actors involved in Health and Nutrition.
• Collaborate with the HOD Nutrition/Health to advocate for support to address gaps in Health and Nutrition (e.g., funding, supply chain breakdowns, poor service conditions at facilities).
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with government line ministries involved in Health and Nutrition multi-sectoral platforms at the district level.
• Ensure partnerships adhere to ACF’s principles and values as outlined in its partnership policy.
• Consolidate lessons learned to ensure long-term sustainability and the spread of best practices.

• Document program learning

• In collaboration with MEAL and partners’ PMs, ensure projects have clear MEAL plans, and detailed implementation plans and that monthly Activity Progress Reports (APRs) generate required data.
• Implement recommendations from program assessments and evaluations in subsequent programming stages.
• Document and widely share program learnings and best practices within ACF’s country program and through partner forums, the Ministry of Health, and other relevant platforms.
• Lead regular program review workshops and document outcomes (mid-reviews, end-of-project reviews, and lessons learned).
• Work with the HOD Nutrition/Health and technical advisors to develop and undertake research and evidence-generation activities from program implementation.
• Contribute to the country program’s newsletter by highlighting key achievements and lessons learned.
• Compile bi-annual and annual sector program reports, including total reach statistics.
• Ensure learning from beneficiary feedback and accountability systems is well documented and shared appropriately.

Gender Action and Safeguarding

Activities:

• Ensure the inclusion of youth and women in the project in all project implementation especially in AAH supported communities;
• Ensure that gender considerations are made with participants of projects to have clear statistics on gender inclusion
• Comply with Action Against Hunger Safeguarding policy

Others

• Help ensure all aspects of Action Against Hunger activities adhere to program quality standards and policies (accountability and mainstreaming) in a coherent and integrated manner.
• Work closely with other MEAL and project staff to enhance synergy
• Ensure that gender considerations are made with participants of projects to have clear statistics on gender inclusion.
• Ensure the highest stands of accountability through ensuring good communication and information sharing within the organization.
• Be aware of, understand, and comply with all of Action Against Hunger’s policies and procedures.
• Actively participate in any emergency response if called upon to do so (within the existing programme area or in a new one).
• Undertake other related duties as may reasonably be assigned by your supervisor

QUALIFICATIONS

• A bachelor’s in science, nutrition &dietetics, or Public health with a medical background is preferable with 7 years of field-level project  management experience  
• Master in Nutrition and Dietetics or Public Health is an added advantage.  
• Five years of experience in Health and nutrition programs with UN/international INGOs or GOSL 
• At least 5 years of experience in managing teams/ programs
• Experience in managing partners’ activities in different districts across SL

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Knowledgeable in national IMAM and MIYCF  Guideline 
• Experience in Working with Health and Nutrition project 
• Experience in working with local partners and in consortium 
• Good in internal and donor reporting skill  
• Solid knowledge and experience in the use of MS Word, Excel and powerpoint
• Knowledge of data visualization 
• Excellent planning, communication and analytical skills
• Ability to work with and support different teams
• Experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection methods
• Willingness and ability to travel to remote project areas

WORK CONDITIONS

STARTING DATE: January 2025   

DURATION OF CONTRACT: Twelve (12) Months, with possible  extension

LOCATION: Mattru Jong – Bonthe, with possible travels to Moyamba, Falaba and other field areas

Send Motivation Letter, CV saved in your name – for example (Joe Blue CV) for your CV, and (Joe Blue Motivation Letter) for your motivation letter, with names of three (3) referees by EMAIL, under the Subject  “ Health Nutrition Specialist ”  to

recruitment@sl-actionagainsthunger.org

Deadline for the receipt of applications is Wednesday, 18th December 2024. 

Due to the urgency of this position, applications may be sorted on a rolling basis.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for a written test and oral interview.

Please state the position applied for on the subject line of your email.

Action Against Hunger is committed to Safeguarding Policy and safer recruitment.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply