Technical Officer, Nutrition
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OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
To reduce nutrition-related mortality and morbidity among mothers, newborns, children, and adolescents by promoting healthy nutrition practices for all Afghans and by preventing chronic malnutrition and associated micronutrient deficiency disorders. To improve, strengthen and sustain effective, data- driven, and integrated nutrition and RMNCAH interventions through improved program quality, coverage and impact of interventions.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
1- Coordinate and collaborate with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), other National Action Framework (NAF) Ministries and UN organizations to embed nutrition interventions within RMNCAH programs, ensuring alignment with national strategies.
2- Provide technical support in implementing and following up on nutrition-related country activities supported by WHO and drawing up the technical expertise of WHO to the local adaptation of to relevant norms, standards, tools, protocols, guidelines, training packages, technologies and interventions necessary to improve the country's nutrition situation in line with the national nutrition policy and strategy.
3-Support BPHS/EPHS implementers in scaling up integrated nutrition-RMNCAH interventions, including antenatal nutrition counseling, IYCF, adolescent nutrition, maternal supplementation, and SAM management.
4-With coordination and support of WHO - WHE, improve quality of therapeutic feeding unites services through providing of milk preparation kits and medical equipment.
5-Liaise and collaborate with government counterparts in Ministry of Public Health(including public nutrition, reproductive health, child and adolescent, Afghanistan Public Health Institute (APHI), Health Management Information System (HMIS), Disease Early Warning System (DEWS), UNICEF and relevant international agencies that support nutrition and health intervention programs in the country to maintain existing data reporting systems , and include nutrition surveillance indicators in those systems appropriately.
6-Support data triangulation, integrated analysis, and evidence dissemination across RMNCAH and nutrition sectors to enhance decision-making 7-In collaboration with the MoPH-PND surveillance focal person and the data manager and the nutrition surveillance field team train relevant local personnel in the collection, analysis and reporting of the nutrition surveillance data.
8-Provide a technical input in evaluating and refining the Nutrition Surveillance System (NSS), with a lens on integrating it into RMNCAH monitoring frameworks.
9-Revise the current road map including: data collection tools, data flow, data processing, and the training packages after piloting the implementation Expand the NSSS to other provinces and train health staff.
10-Support the surveillance focal person to convene the monthly taskforce meetings.
11-Work closely with the quality assurance group/agency to cross-check the data produced by sentinel sites.
12-Provide timely and succinct reports on the status of the NSSS to the technical taskforce and the project advisory group.
13-Advocate with relevant departments in MoPH on the use and ownership of the data generated by the nutrition surveillance system.
14-Provide technical support for the development of the guidelines for dissemination, analysis, and use of nutrition data.
15- Work closely with the MoPH-PND surveillance focal person and the data manager, and coach them. o Support MOPH nutrition team in monitoring the project implementation.
16-Mobilize additional resources from donors' communities to support the nutrition activities.
17-Activelyparticipate and contribute to the Nutrition Cluster, RMNCAH coordination platforms, Surveillance Taskforces, and technical working groups
Education
Essential: University Degree in Medicine with specialization in Nutrition.
Desirable: Postgraduate studies in Public Health.
Experience
Essential: At least 2 years of relevant experience in the field of nutrition and food security.
Desirable: Working experience with UN organizations.
Skills
Good knowledge and understanding of nutrition and RMNCAH programmatic interlinkage, activities particularly in fragile and conflict- affected settings in management of acute malnutrition, growth monitoring, antenatal, adolescent and child, and nutrition surveillance system
Sound knowledge in planning, training, monitoring of interventions and development of locally adapted tools and instruments
Strong inter personal and communication skills with a proven ability to engage health professionals, policy makers, and communities
WHO Competencies
Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Moving forward in a changing environment
Use of Language Skills
Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Dari. Expert knowledge of Pashto.
Desirable:
REMUNERATION
Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 45,101 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level
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- A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.
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- This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.
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