Madagascar: Nutrition Advisor

Overview

Management Sciences for Health (MSH) seeks a Nutrition Advisor for a 5-year USAID-funded Accessible Continuum of Care and Essential Services Sustained (ACCESS) program in Madagascar. The purpose of the program is to build the capacity of Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) actors at the district level and below in all districts in the implementation regions, to design, develop, manage, deliver, monitor and evaluate health services and programs in their catchment areas. The activity will also engage with regional health authorities with limited interventions to ensure coordination, planning and effective management of health activities in their districts. Work at the national level will focus on informing policy, guideline development, as well as advocacy on key health service delivery issues. ACCESS will work to improve the clinical skills and health governance skills of primary health care providers to deliver high quality, accessible preventive and curative health services. To expand the reach of the public health system, the activity will work to improve the skills and motivation of community health volunteers to deliver quality health services and ensure they work under the supervision of their respective CSB. Finally, ACCESS will promote positive health behaviors, including care seeking behaviors in the target communities through a comprehensive and contextualized social and behavior change (SBC) approach and improve the capacity of the MOPH and local institutions to design, implement, and monitor and evaluate SBC activities.

The nutrition advisor is responsible for the design, development and implementation of the ACCESS nutrition policy, strategy and approach in coordination with other advisors and the quality improvement advisor. It builds on strategies already tested in Madagascar and develops effective and reasonable mechanisms to ensure the smooth running of planned activities in the community-level health zones and in the health facilities supported by the project. It serves as a technical interface between the project and the Ministry of Health, in this case the National Nutrition Office (ONN), the National Nutrition Program and other partners working in the field of nutrition.

Must be legally authorized to work in Madagascar.

Specific Responsibilities

1. Provide technical expertise on key nutrition-related health issues in Madagascar including malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and food-related noncommunicable diseases, and provide all necessary guidance and information that is useful and necessary for nutrition. Project management to achieve the stated objectives.
2. Actively participate in the updating and / or revision of a protocol on the preventive treatment of malnutrition and the effective integration of nutrition interventions, including community and health care management, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. Ministry of Health and other partners in the nutrition cluster.
3. Plan and organize staffing of equipment and materials and ensure the regular supply of health facilities with specific inputs related to nutrition.
4. Implement in collaboration with other councilors and regional offices monthly, quarterly and annual action plans in the area of ​​nutrition.
5. Ensure and scrupulously ensure the technical quality of all the services provided by the project to the target population, especially children under 5, pregnant and lactating women, relating to the nutrition component and according to the national protocol.
6. Participate in the development of new strategies, guidance and readjustment related to the nutrition component. Effectively accompany ACCESS clinical mentors in regular formative supervision of the health facilities supported by the project.
7. Identify, in collaboration with his/ her supervisor, the need for staff training in the field of nutrition and implement it.
8. Participate in the preparation and timely production of monthly, quarterly and annual project reports with other advisors and the monitoring and evaluation officer.
9. Maintain a database of nutrition-related activities implemented by the project based on indicators previously established and set by the project.
10. Represent the project in nutrition technical meetings organized by both the Ministry of Health and the donor and other partners such as UNICEF, WHO.
11. Participate in the development of new proposals and the design of related documents and reports.
12. Participate in project monitoring and evaluation
13. Perform other activities assigned by his supervisor that are attractive to his area of ​​expertise.
14. Regularly visit the regions and districts to guide and provide support to ACCESS clinical field staff and MOH partners (approximately 25%)

Qualifications and Experience

1. MD or other clinical training degree (e.g. nurse, clinical officer)
2. Master's degree in public health or a specialized degree in nutrition is an asset.
3. Demonstrated experience in the field of nutrition including prevention and management of MAM and SAM
4. At least five years project implementation experience in maternal and child health or nutrition programs
5. Knowledge and competence in communication for behavior change are also extremely desirable.
6. Capacity for analysis and interpretation of Madagascar's health policies in general and related to nutrition in particular.
7. Proven skills to work in a multidisciplinary team.
8. Skills in writing activity reports, verbal communications, tact and diplomacy
9. Computer skills (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint…)
10. Proficiency in French and general working knowledge of English required

https://jobs-msh.icims.com/jobs/10273/nutrition-advisor/job