Nutrition Assistant x3

Job Description

NUTRITION ASSISTANT | x3 | 12 Months | Mutoko, Mudzi, Mbire, | Mastercard Project
Project operational wards, Mutoko, Mudzi, Mbire, Mbire, Mutoko, Mudzi, Zimbabwe
Contract

Nutrition Action Zimbabwe is a local registered PVO operating in Zimbabwe since 2014. The organization’s primary focus is combating malnutrition in all its forms, through effective implementation of quality programming for both nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programming.

Nutrition Action Zimbabwe (NAZ) is priming a consortium of BOOST Fellowship as the core technical partner and SNV as the strategic knowledge management consultant to implement a locally led, integrated, systems-strengthening approach. Combining community health, nutrition, and youth economic empowerment, the programme addresses poor maternal and child nutrition alongside youth unemployment in three districts (Mudzi, Mutoko, and Mbire). It targets young people, particularly women aged 18-35. Aligned with UNICEF Community Health Systems Strengthening, UPSHIFT, NDS2, and the Zimbabwe National Nutrition Strategy, this innovative model transforms nutrition challenges into youth-led enterprises, reinforcing improved diets with accessible, affordable nutritious foods.
Job Description
Position summary:

The Nutrition Assistant will provide technical expertise on climate smart, integrated intervention to address access and availability for quality nutritious diets, adoption of key behaviours on maternal infant and young child feeding and support for strategic coordination of interventions across multiple sectors. S/he in collaboration with the MoHCC, Government of Zimbabwe line ministries, Food and Nutrition Security Committee will be responsible for coordinating the implementation of entrepreneurship, Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition components at community level and Health Facilities that contribute to the overall success of the project.

The Nutrition Assistant will work with the existing sub-national committees (District/Ward Food and Nutrition Security Committees), local government agencies, community-based organizations, private sector and other stakeholders to enhance project coordination and collaboration. This will help to ensure that the project is well-integrated into the local context and contributes to broader development efforts.

S/he will identify and utilize the established networks to advocate for policies and practices that support improved nutrition outcomes and climate resilience in crisis-affected areas. This includes participating in relevant forums, sharing project lessons learned, and promoting evidence-based decision-making. S/he will work with the climate change adaptation experts in the GoZ line ministries and sub-national committees, who will support integration of the climate-smart approaches into nutrition programming. This includes promoting climate-resilient food production, promoting drought-resistant crops, value chain and entrepreneurial skills development.

The position requires an individual with a strong understanding of resilience-nutrition linkages and shows evidence of maturity and experience of working in a rural community in developmental programmes. The ideal candidate must demonstrate strong facilitation and negotiation skills to achieve results within multi-sector teams and understanding of mainstreaming principles, gender, governance, social behaviour change; child protection, entrepreneurship, adolescent nutrition and nutrition sensitive agriculture.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

include but are not limited to:

Objective 1: Ensure implementation of project activities as defined in the project document

Technical Support:

Demonstrates strong understanding of and facilitate roll out of (care group approach, cIYCF, Healthy Harvest)
Demonstrate strong understanding of and facilitate roll out of community visioning, training for transformation and participatory score card.
Serve as the lead nutrition resource person for the project
Organize and lead sensitization sessions for District FNSCs and other district stakeholders on outcomes of community visioning sessions
Roll out technical trainings (Care Group Methodology, SAA and Male Engagement) for sub district resource persons including Village Health Workers (VHWs) and Care Group leaders
Conduct SAA sessions with FNSCs, Care Groups, Male Advocates and VHWs
Organize and lead sensitization meetings with the local leaders on the Care Group methodology, SAA and male engagement
Utilize the Care group approach and peer-to-peer learning to influence the adoption and practicing of the nutrition, health and WaSH behaviours.
Promote production and consumption of locally available nutritious foods, neglected traditional nutritious foods and biofortified crops.
Promote the food forest concept using regenerative agriculture techniques to improve production at household level.
Utilize market-based approaches to improve local diets through product development/food formulation of enriched porridges using locally available foods.
Improve food quality by educating caregivers and learners in schools on safe food handling and storage practices.
Promoting consumption of nutrient-dense foods through utilization of innovative multi-ingredient recipes that reduce cooking time.
Conducting cooking demonstrations and evidence-based SBC interventions to improve consumption of nutritious food.
Conduct a mapping of community-based psychosocial support structures within wards.
Lead demand creation and triggering sessions for care groups in partnership with FNSCs and sub-district stakeholders in project wards.
Organize and lead sensitization sessions for District FNSCs and other district stakeholders on the care group integration
Support district and sub-district FNSC members in rolling out the care group approach
Implement SBC activities
Monitor community trainings and develop a strategy to improve and maintain quality in the implementation of nutrition activities
Ensure access to food and a quality diet through the creation of community gardens and a food programme in schools based on self-production, benefiting children and families.
Ensure the creation of water reserves, the use of local seeds, and agroecological production methods to mitigate drought periods.
Collaborating with MOHCC and other govt line-ministries and sub-national structures in preventing and combating malnutrition
Strengthen of institutional committee officials to improve community practices and behaviours.
Enhance income access for farmers through organized participation in agricultural cooperatives (Commodities associations) in sustainable value chains, selected through an analysis of the same.
Enhance and strengthen cultural heritage and the local seed system, access to inputs and professional training based on agroecology principles, and the creation of centres for processing and marketing.
Facilitate creation of a climate weather analysis system that will guide the choices of associations and the policies of local authorities
Experience and expertise in Knowledge Products development
Strengthening women's groups and their access to structured dialogues with local authorities to ensure women's agency.
Lead the community level recruitment of programs participants
Develop workplan, implement activities and conduct regular technical review meetings for consistency and compliance to agreed standards.
Actively contribute to the development of different tools needed for proper implementation of the project.
Produce timely reports for internal use and contribute to donor reports on the status of on-going programming.
Comply with NAZ policies and regulations with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures
Objective 2: Ensure timely routine reporting of the project activities.

Produce timely reports for internal use and sharing with relevant external stakeholders on the status of on-going programming.
Participate in weekly/ monthly district meetings
Generate weekly, monthly and quarterly reports (narrative and quantitative)
Ensure that activity and training reports are compiled
Compile statistical data and draft appropriate reports on activities
Analyse nutrition situation and prevailing trends and provide constructive written feedback
Participate during project assessments as may be determined by the project
Documentation of best and emerging practices for learning purposes and increase project visibility
Objective 3: Administrative support functions.

Aid the Admin and support functions in:

Documentation & Reporting:
Maintain records of supplies, beneficiary lists, and training logs.
Prepare monthly/quarterly progress reports
Logistics Coordination:
Arrange field visits, meetings, and training sessions.
Manage inventory of programmatic supplies.
Office Management:
Ensure proper filing (digital/physical) of project documents.
Supply Chain Management:
Liaise with the project admin or logistics teams for timely procurement of program supplies.
Track stock levels and prevent shortages
Asset Management:
Maintain records of project equipment
Finance-Related Duties

Budget Tracking:
Monitor project expenditures against approved budgets.
Ensure compliance with NAZ and project financial guidelines.
Payment Processing:
Follow up payment requests for vendors, trainers, field staff, stakeholder allowances etc.
verify receipts and financial documents for audits.
Financial Reporting:
Assist in preparing fund utilization reports.
Support audits by maintaining proper documentation.
Policy compliance – Mandatory Reporting Policy (MRP):

Comply with all NAZ policies.
Assist where necessary in undertaking activities that aim to prevent the occurrence of sexual abuse and exploitation of beneficiaries by NAZ, consortium staff, and other humanitarian workers.
Confidentiality:

Ensuring the non-disclosure of any information whatsoever relating to the practices and business of the project and NAZ acquired in the course of duty, to any other person or organization without authority, except in the normal execution of duty.
Note: The role of Nutrition Assistant cannot be limited to the specific duties and tasks detailed herein and may be adjusted in accordance with the needs and operational circumstances of the organization. The success of the NAZ’s mission is the highest priority and all issues which arise must be addressed accordingly. Therefore, the Nutrition Assistant will be required to manage all unforeseen issues and circumstances and remain flexible to perform other duties, as and when required.

Qualifications and Experience

Qualifications
Qualifications and requirements:

The following may be acquired through a combination of formal or self-education, prior experience or on-the-job training.

Education Qualifications and Experience

Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in: Nutrition & Dietetics | Public Health Nutrition | Food Science & Technology (with a focus on community nutrition) | Global Health / Maternal & Child Health (with nutrition components)
Additional training in humanitarian nutrition, emergency response, is a plus.
Minimum 3–5 years of experience in nutrition programs, preferably in humanitarian or remote settings.
Technical Skills:

Demonstrated experience in mentorship, coaching and capacity building
Community Engagement & Behaviour Change Communication (BCC)
Proficiency in requisite and relevant computer applications (Microsoft word and excel, data collection & analysis tools,).
M&E (Monitoring & Evaluation) for nutrition programs | Data collection & nutrition surveys
Cross-cultural sensitivity & gender awareness
Fluency in local languages (if applicable)
Soft Skills:

Excellent communication skills and good presentation skills. – both written and verbal
Good negotiation skills
Should be able to work with minimal supervision.
Ability to work in a remote area | Adaptability & Resilience (for remote/harsh conditions)
Team player