Community Initiative for Self-Reliance
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Organisational Background
Community Initiative for Self-Reliance is a local NGO registered in Malawi in 2011. The organisation works in various thematic areas including education, health, agriculture, environment and climate change and advocacy. CISER in partnership with KUSAMALA institute of Agriculture with funding from Welthungerhilfe and Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is implementing the Nutritional Smart Community project in Mangochi District. The project aims at applying lessons learned and methods that have emerged from many nutrition projects around the world and provides a framework for influencing multiple sectors in a cost-effective and easily replicable and adaptable manner. The combination of systemic interventions links four strategies:
Promoting behavior change at the household level,
strengthening and supporting local institutions,
Activating and improving community nutrition-related services; and
The development and activation of a community-based model to implement the right to adequate food.
The project will implement the following pillars and activities
LANN+ (Linking Agriculture and Natural Resource Management towards Nutrition Security). Linking agriculture, nutrition, natural resource management + WASH (LANN+). LANN+ implemented primarily through
Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) cycles to initiate behavior change.
Nutrition camps (Targeted communication for mothers of moderately and acutely malnourished children). The project will employ the care group model to improve the nutirition status of children in the project area. Households with under five childred will be targeted to learn how to make nutritious food from local resources, follow hygiene standards in food preparation, use clean drinking water, or follow breastfeeding practices. Depending on need, children will be referred to appropriate institution local health facilities for medical care.
Nutritionally sensitive agriculture. Central to promoting food diversity and resilience is the development of Sustainable Integrated Farming Systems (SIFS). SIFS prioritizes healthy nutrition and aims to ensure year-round availability and accessibility of diverse foods for smallholder farmers
Microplanning focused on nutrition. The goal of microplanning is to enable communities to work with local authorities to develop, implement, and monitor both nutrition- and climate-sensitive community development plans and individual plans for severely affected households.
e)Institutional strengthening
In order to guarantee long-term behavioral and structural change, community-based institutions are assigned an important role. In particular, existing self-help groups, farmers’ organizations and committees/commissions (WASH, nutrition, youth, etc.) established under various government programs will be strengthened and trained.
Community Initiative for Self Reliance therefore seeks to fill the following positions:
Project Title:
Nutritional Smart Community
Job Title:
Nutrition Specialist
Reports To:
Programs Manager
Job Purpose
The Nutrition Specialist will lead in implementation of the Nutrition Smart Community Project. He/she will lead in planning, organising, supervising, and implementation of the project. The Nutrition Specialist will mentor, and supervise the Nutrition team to promote high quality nutrition implementation approaches.
They will conduct various trainings on nutrition and supportive supervision activities.
Technical
Ensure quality and timely field level implementation of the Nutrition Smart Community Project against set objectives, targets, work plans.
Draft supervision guidelines to ensure quality delivery of nutrition program
Conduct field assessments, identifying potential needs, designing and implementing response plans
Mentor and coach the nutrition teams in treatment protocols, conducting supportive supervision, and provide refresher trainings on CMAM and care group model
Coordinate with the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer on trainings and implementation for Nutrition Surveys
Support regular nutrition programme evaluations, rapid assessments identifying needs and making practical recommendations on to address them
Coordinate referrals and establish mechanism for tracking referrals
Enhance integration of nutrition activities with other key health programs and nutritional sensitive agriculture
Facilitate the conducting of focus group discussions with relevant communities for feedback on programme activities
Project management
Lead the nutrition team, and working with the Programs Manager supervise nutrition programme implementation
Develop nutrition activity work plans based on the program annual work plan and implement activities in a timely manner
Ensure that implementation of nutrition activities is well coordinated
Coordinate with the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer in compiling monthly nutrition reports quarterly analysis trends and how to improve quality of reporting
Person specification
Qualifications and Experience:
Essential:
A candidate with an Advanced degree in Nutrition, Agriculture or related discipline preferred.
Demonstrated 10 years of work experience implementing nutrition related activities
Experience working with donor-funded project
Knowledge and experience in the care group model
Excellent interpersonal and teambuilding skills
Excellent organisational skills
Excellent written and spoken communication in English
Patience and flexibility when working with communities
Desirable:
Previous experience working with care groups, youth groups and community structures
Positive attitude
Interest in capacity building
Other Key Information
Project duration: 2022 to 2026
Contract duration: 1 year contract with possible extension based on performance Travel involved: Yes, to field site in Mangochi
How to Apply
Interested applicants are invited to forward a CV and covering letter expressing their motivation and experience related to this position not later than Wednesday 7th December, 2022.
Community Initiative for Self Reliance (CISER) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, colour, religion, gender, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, factors, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit
The executive Director
Community Initiative for Self-Reliance (CISER)
P.O. Box 95
Mangochi
Or
Email: ciserapplications@gmail.com