1. Position Purpose:
The Nutrition Officer is responsible for providing technical coordination and supervision of nutrition-related activities under the Child Nutrition Project. The position will ensure quality implementation of IYCF/MIYCN counselling, nutrition awareness and SBCC activities, community-based nutrition interventions, first-food initiatives, and nutrition-related WASH activities in accordance with donor guidance, national nutrition standards, approved project plans, and SADA policies.
2. Responsibilities and Tasks
- The Nutrition Officer is responsible for providing technical coordination and supervision of nutrition-related activities under the Child Nutrition Project. The position will ensure quality implementation of IYCF/MIYCN counselling, nutrition awareness and SBCC activities, community-based nutrition interventions, first-food initiatives, and nutrition-related WASH activities in accordance with donor guidance, national nutrition standards, approved project plans, and SADA policies.
- Provide technical leadership and coordination for the implementation of all nutrition activities, in accordance with the approved project document, workplan, donor technical guidance, Ministry of Public Health protocols, and national nutrition standards.
- Develop detailed technical implementation plans, training schedules, session plans, and field-level activity calendars for MIYCN/IYCF, Social and Behavior Change (SBC), First Foods, Mother-to-Mother First Food Circles, Madar Innovation Kitchens, Baby WASH, and other nutrition interventions.
- Provide regular technical supervision, coaching, and guidance to nutrition counsellors, Community Health Workers (CHWs), Community Health Supervisors (CHSs), community mobilizers, and other field staff to ensure accurate, standardized, and high-quality nutrition service delivery.
- Assess the technical capacity and training needs of nutrition counsellors, CHWs, CHSs, community mobilizers, SME members, and other project participants and develop appropriate capacity-building and refresher-training plans based on identified gaps.
- Lead the development, review, adaptation, translation, and field-testing of nutrition training packages, facilitator guides, counselling tools, session plans, job aids, recipe-demonstration materials, IEC/SBC materials, pre- and post-tests, and other technical resources in coordination with the Project Manager, donor, the Department of Public Health, and relevant technical stakeholders.
- Organize and facilitate training, orientation, coaching, mentoring, and refresher sessions on gender-responsive MIYCN/IYCF, complementary feeding, dietary diversity, responsive feeding, First Foods on a budget, food safety, safe processing, hygiene, Baby WASH, SBC, counselling techniques, and the standardized use of complementary-feeding recipe books.
- Ensure all training arrangements are completed effectively, including participant identification, coordination with facilitators and authorities, preparation of agendas and materials, venue and logistical arrangements, pre- and post-assessments, attendance documentation, participant feedback, training reports, and post-training follow-up.
- Provide technical leadership for the implementation of integrated facility-, community-, and household-based SBC interventions aimed at improving breastfeeding, complementary feeding, dietary diversity, responsive feeding, hygiene, food safety, and care practices for mothers and children.
- Support the SBC team and community staff in developing appropriate messages, selecting communication channels, organizing community dialogues and household counselling, and ensuring that all messages are technically accurate, culturally appropriate, gender-responsive, and consistent with approved donor and Ministry of Public Health guidance.
- Lead the smooth establishment and implementation of Mother-to-Mother First Food Circles, including participant selection, session scheduling, facilitator preparation, materials and logistical arrangements, quality assurance, attendance monitoring, documentation, and follow-up with participating mothers and caregivers.
- Provide technical support to Madar Innovation Kitchens, cooking and recipe demonstrations, and other practical community-learning activities to ensure that locally available, affordable, safe, and nutrient-dense foods are promoted for children aged 6–23 months.
- Support the distribution and effective use of complementary-feeding recipe books and ensure that trained CHWs, CHSs, nutrition counsellors, and community mobilizers apply them consistently during facility-, community-, and household-level counselling.
- Provide technical nutrition support to selected women- and youth-led SMEs and microenterprises, particularly in relation to the nutritional quality of First Food products, appropriate ingredients, food safety, hygienic production and processing, portioning, preparation instructions, labelling, storage, and suitability for children aged 6–23 months.
- Work closely with the Enterprise Development Officer and Project Manager to connect supported SMEs and microenterprises with health facilities, CHWs, nutrition counsellors, Mother-to-Mother First Food Circles, Madar Innovation Kitchens, caregivers, community groups, and local markets to improve access to and appropriate use of safe, affordable, and nutrient-dense First Food products.
- Monitor whether supported First Food products and nutrition interventions are contributing to improved dietary diversity, complementary-feeding practices, and access to nutritious foods, and provide practical technical recommendations to strengthen their contribution to preventing and reducing malnutrition among young children.
- Coordinate with health facilities, CHWs, CHSs, nutrition counsellors, and relevant health authorities to strengthen referral linkages between community nutrition activities and available health and nutrition services, particularly for children and caregivers requiring specialized support.
- Support the identification and referral of children at risk of malnutrition through approved community-based screening and referral mechanisms, while ensuring confidentiality, informed consent, accurate documentation, and compliance with Ministry of Public Health and donor protocols.
- Ensure the effective integration of Baby WASH and One Health messages into nutrition counselling, household outreach, recipe demonstrations, Mother-to-Mother sessions, and community activities, with particular attention to handwashing, safe water, sanitation, hygienic food preparation, storage, and child feeding.
- Conduct regular field monitoring and supportive-supervision visits to assess the quality of counselling, training, SBC sessions, Mother-to-Mother Circles, recipe demonstrations, Madar Innovation Kitchens, SME-related nutrition support, and other community interventions, and prepare clear recommendations and follow-up actions.
- Coordinate closely with the MEAL team to define and monitor nutrition indicators, verify data quality, review progress against targets, analyze training and SBC results, identify implementation gaps, and use findings to improve the quality and effectiveness of nutrition programming.
- Maintain complete and accurate technical documentation, including training materials, participant records, pre- and post-test results, counselling records, session reports, monitoring checklists, referral records, activity evidence, and follow-up reports.
- Prepare timely and high-quality technical updates and nutrition-related contributions to project reports, donor reports, presentations, success stories, case studies, lessons learned, and other project documentation.
- Establish and maintain effective technical coordination with the Project Manager, donor, Provincial Public Health Department, health facilities, nutrition partners, community structures, and other relevant stakeholders, and participate in coordination meetings, assessments, monitoring visits, and technical reviews.
- Ensure that nutrition services and activities prioritize vulnerable households, children at risk of malnutrition, pregnant and lactating women, caregivers with limited access to nutritious foods, and communities experiencing poor dietary diversity or inadequate WASH conditions.
- Ensure that all nutrition activities are implemented in a gender-responsive, inclusive, child-safe, accountable, culturally appropriate, and conflict-sensitive manner and comply with SADA’s Code of Conduct, Child Safeguarding, PSEA, gender, disability inclusion, and Accountability to Affected Populations requirements.
- Perform any other nutrition-related responsibilities assigned by the Project Manager or SADA management to support the effective implementation and achievement of the project’s nutrition results.
Highly Required:
- Recognize and report any concerns related to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA).
- Share PSEA key messages with beneficiaries, vendors, and contractors.
- Report SEA allegations through established SADA reporting mechanisms.
- Maintain confidentiality and respect the dignity of survivors.
- Refer SEA survivors to available support services in accordance with SADA procedures.
- Adhere to SADA's Code of Conduct, Child Safeguarding, and PSEA policies.
