Mercy Corps Nigeria · Borno, Nigeria · via HotNigerianJobs

With the insurgency affecting North East Nigeria and displacing millions of people, Mercy Corps is to implement a multi-sector response that covers Nutrition and WASH, to support the conflict-affected population.

The nutrition response supports both nutrition sensitive and specific interventions that contribute to prevention, detection and management of malnutrition.

• Promotion of Maternal, Infant, Young Child Nutrition (via support groups, one-to-one counselling and community wide SBC for IYCF);
• Provision of supplemental Nutrition Assistance i.e. distribution of Fresh Food Vouchers, backyard gardening and poultry production aiming at improving dietary diversity among targeted households;
• Nutrition surveillance activities i.e. community nutrition screening, nutrition surveys and assessments aiming at monitoring the nutrition situation of targeted vulnerable individuals;
• Management of children with uncomplicated Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) through established Outpatient Therapeutic Program (OTP) services, as well as support referral and follow-up of SAM patients with medical complications to Stabilization Centers (SCs) and children with Moderate Acute malnutrition (MAM) to Targeted Supplementary Feeding Program (TSFP).

The Nutrition Assistants will directly implement nutrition program activities in the areas of intervention. The activities will include supporting recommended maternal and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices through appropriate Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) using CNMs, peer-to-peer support groups (Care group & Male Engagement), General Nutrition Sensitization during the distribution of fresh food vouchers.

He/ She will also support the roll out of the Mother Led MUAC approach aimed at enhancing mothers’ knowledge on malnutrition, improving coverage, increasing timely case identification and referral of malnourished children below 5year and supporting the OTP/TSFP activities.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Collaborate with other team members for effective integration between other services like Nutrition and health services
• Collaborate with Local authorities and other partners to harmonize different efforts for better impact and sustainability.
• Able to learn and update his/ her information or knowledge to adapt the changing situation and context
• Directly implement the activities defined in the program in close collaboration with the nutrition
• Facilitate community mobilization and sensitization meetings during community led nutrition
• Implement awareness and sensitization activities on optimal IYCF practices, promotion of dietary diversification, malnutrition and its causes and including available CMAM services.
• Support establishment and functionality of Peer to Peer Support Groups e. Care groups & Male Engagement.
• Provide technical support to nutrition promoters and follow-up their day-to-day
• Support implementation of Mother Led MUAC i.e. coordination with community structures and any other key stakeholder, organize necessary materials/ tools required for the trainings, participate/ lead the training sessions.
• Follow-up with CMNs to ensure periodic active case finding at community level and identified malnourished cases referred for nutrition treatment at nearby health facilities.

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