Merlin International Profile Merlin specialises in health, saving lives in times of crisis and helping to rebuild shattered health services. Each year, Merlin helps more than 15 million people in up to 20 countries.
Context and Background
The goal of the Sudan mission is to address the health and humanitarian needs resulted from widespread displacement of the population caught up in conflict and incapacity of the local health system to meet the needs both in emergency and transitional context. Over two million people are now thought to have been displaced since the commencement of hostilities in the Darfur region, many of whom continue to be in acute need of emergency assistance. These needs are further exacerbated by seasonal rains & food shortages due to interruptions of agricultural cycles. Developments at the peace process level may initiate population returns in certain areas, while other areas continue to experience displacement. In addition, the capacity of the national health system heavily disrupted due to long term conflict resulted the host community remained underserved/unserved for essential health care. Merlin has been working in Darfur since late 2004, and currently runs 4 projects across South Darfur. The primary focus of Merlin program is primary health care and community based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM). The special emphasis is given to maternal and child health care. The program strategy includes establishment of static and mobile clinics in the IDP camps and unserved rural areas to ensure access to essential care and building local capacity through a community based outreach component and engage with ministry of health at state and locality in regards to collaboration, coordination and technical support supervision. The focus for 2010 will be to continue support for improved primary health and nutrition care provision in the selected locations, consolidating program quality, improve the community involvement in the program planning and implementation through a revised community based approaches, capacity building of national staffs and local health system by increased engagement with the MOH in regards to support, supervision, training and policy development. In addition, Merlin has an interest to explore the health and nutrition care needs of the population living outside of Darfur.
Job
Nutrition Cordinator
Closing date: 11 Oct 2011
Job Description
Position: Nutrition Coordinator Programme: PHC And Nutrition Project For IDPs And Host Communities, South Darfur
Responsible To: Operations Manager (Technically to the Country Health Director)
Location: Nyala, with travel across South Darfur
Start Date: ASAP
Duration: 24 Months
Salary: £28,850 - £29,600 per annum dependant on relevant experience
Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, R&R, and annual leave entitlement of 24 days per annum rising to 30 days at the completion of 12 months of continuous employment with Merlin.
Main purpose of the role
The Nutrition Coordinator is responsible for leading the nutrition team and providing technical support and capacity building of the team for successful planning and implementation of programme activities. The Nutrition Coordinator will work closely with Health Coordinator and Operational Coordinator for program development.
The Nutrition Coordinator will also work closely with the Senior Health Coordinator/Country Health Director to provide input into proposal development and country level strategies as required.
Overall Objectives (scope)
This position demands both the technical knowledge and the work experience, needed to coordinate a nutrition programme.
The nutrition coordinator will be responsible for ensuring management of the nutrition programme is executed in line with international humanitarian standards and donor guidelines with the assistance of the Country Health Director.
This position demands an ability to manage, organise and support all aspects of the programme; including other agency liaison, training and supervising regional and local staff using techniques and tools available and appropriate to Sudan.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Programme development.
• To take a lead role in expansion of Merlin’s nutrition programming in Darfur and beyond if need be.
• Design value added IYCF activities to be incorporated into CMAM and support field teams in their implementation.
• Take lead in the re-orientation of the nutrition project to reflect internationally recognised core components of CMAM. Take lead in the design of complete CMAM projects in all project areas.
• Take part in the compilation of project proposals in collaboration with other technical staff.
• Provide technical oversight in the Integration of nutrition programme with current PHC services in South Darfur
• Provide technical contribution to Merlin country strategy for nutrition sector
Coordination, Representation and Networking.
• Represent Merlin in thematic and sectoral meetings related to nutrition at state level.
• Participate in internal coordination meetings and to support integration of nutrition interventions into the overall PHC units.
• Promote a harmonised approach in issues nutrition in all project areas including promoting communication and sharing across project sites. (reporting, protocols etc).
• Keep the SHC apprised of all nutrition issues including new concepts, planning, changes, challenges etc.
• To liaise, according to Merlin distribution of responsibilities, with the Ministry of Health and other agencies (UNICEF, WHO, and WFP) to ensure appropriate provision of service and use of resources.
Technical support, training and capacity building.
• Provide technical supervision on nutrition interventions to all project sites.
• Provide technical guidance to staff implementing health and nutrition programmes on the integration of a nutrition component into the overall primary health care programmes and curative services.
• Ensure that the implementation of the nutrition program conform to internationally accepted standards and country guidelines.
• Providing technical leadership and support for conducting nutrition surveys in all project sites, participate in reporting and generate discussion within the nutrition cluster for any issues which needs to be addressed jointly.
• Carry Out training needs assessments of nutrition staff and develop a training plan to meet such needs identified.
• Plan and undertake relevant trainings in nutrition to Merlin as well as other stakeholder staff if need be.
• Closely work with operations manager and project coordinator to re-structure nutrition team and develop organogram as agreed
• Assist operations manager to ensure that programme (PHC and Nutrition) teams are integrated and follow all set protocols
Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
• Ensure a process and final evaluation and monitoring of the nutrition projects is undertaken throughout the project sites.
• Undertake routine monitoring and evaluation of the nutrition projects and based on such propose solutions and way forward.
• Support health coordinators and nutrition supervisors to ensure that summary programmatic data is available in for programmatic input.
• Follow up with health coordinators and nutrition supervisors on the utilisation of commodities and supplies to avoid expiry of the same or pipeline breakages.
• Review nutrition parts of donor reports while ensuring the technical quality of such parts.
• Working closely with health coordinators and other project staff, ensure that nutrition reports are prepared and submitted timely to donor and other stakeholders. Security
• Full adherence to Merlin Sudan Security procedures.
• Full adherence to Merlin Sudan field communication protocols and standard operating procedures, informing fellow team members and the Program Coordinator immediately of any security incident.
• To behave at all times in a manner which positively promotes Merlin and its work and actively maintaining Merlin’s acceptance strategy with both civilians and parties to the conflict.
Person Specification Essential Qualifications, experience and competences
• B.Sc/M.Sc or equivalent in Nutrition or related degree
• Work experience in CMAM and conducting nutrition surveys
• Programme development and management in a Humanitarian and/or emergency situation.
• Teaching and/or training experience.
• Demonstrated analytical and conceptual skills to plan projects, timetable agreed activities andoversee staff activities.
• Good team player, flexible and capable of working with a multinational country team.
• Ability and willingness to travel to rural locations and live in sometimes basic conditions.
• Appreciation of and sensitivity to local culture.
• Ability to function and manage in situations of uncertain security.
• Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English
• Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office
• Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures
• Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
• Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues
• An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values
Desirable Qualifications, experience and competences
• Previous experience working for an international NGO in developing countries.
• Willingness to learn basic Arabic.
• Previous experience in Africa, especially in Darfur.
How to Apply
To apply for this job, please go to www.merlin.org.uk/jobs and apply using our online recruitment system. In order to apply for a job with Merlin online you will need to complete a short registration process and create an account – the online recruitment system explains how to do this. Once your account has been created, you will be able to save the information that you have entered in your application and re-visit it at any time before you submit it.
If you are unable to apply online please download and complete an application form and email it to:applications@merlin.org.uk.
Please note that we do not accept CVs and any application must therefore be made online or by completing our application form. Unfortunately due to the number of applications we receive, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Data Protection
Please note, on submitting your application, you are agreeing to Merlin holding and using the information that you have given for the purposes of recruitment and employment – should an offer be made. Where required by donors funding requirements, some job offers are conditional on our ensuring that potential employees’ names do not appear on counter terrorism lists generated by the United Nations, European Union or the United States. On submitting your application, you are agreeing to Merlin using the information that you have given for checking that your name does not appear on these lists.
Position: Nutrition Coordinator Programme: PHC And Nutrition Project For IDPs And Host Communities, South Darfur
Responsible To: Operations Manager (Technically to the Country Health Director)
Location: Nyala, with travel across South Darfur
Start Date: ASAP
Duration: 24 Months
Salary: £28,850 - £29,600 per annum dependant on relevant experience
Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, R&R, and annual leave entitlement of 24 days per annum rising to 30 days at the completion of 12 months of continuous employment with Merlin.
Main purpose of the role
The Nutrition Coordinator is responsible for leading the nutrition team and providing technical support and capacity building of the team for successful planning and implementation of programme activities. The Nutrition Coordinator will work closely with Health Coordinator and Operational Coordinator for program development.
The Nutrition Coordinator will also work closely with the Senior Health Coordinator/Country Health Director to provide input into proposal development and country level strategies as required.
Overall Objectives (scope)
This position demands both the technical knowledge and the work experience, needed to coordinate a nutrition programme.
The nutrition coordinator will be responsible for ensuring management of the nutrition programme is executed in line with international humanitarian standards and donor guidelines with the assistance of the Country Health Director.
This position demands an ability to manage, organise and support all aspects of the programme; including other agency liaison, training and supervising regional and local staff using techniques and tools available and appropriate to Sudan.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Programme development.
• To take a lead role in expansion of Merlin’s nutrition programming in Darfur and beyond if need be.
• Design value added IYCF activities to be incorporated into CMAM and support field teams in their implementation.
• Take lead in the re-orientation of the nutrition project to reflect internationally recognised core components of CMAM. Take lead in the design of complete CMAM projects in all project areas.
• Take part in the compilation of project proposals in collaboration with other technical staff.
• Provide technical oversight in the Integration of nutrition programme with current PHC services in South Darfur
• Provide technical contribution to Merlin country strategy for nutrition sector
Coordination, Representation and Networking.
• Represent Merlin in thematic and sectoral meetings related to nutrition at state level.
• Participate in internal coordination meetings and to support integration of nutrition interventions into the overall PHC units.
• Promote a harmonised approach in issues nutrition in all project areas including promoting communication and sharing across project sites. (reporting, protocols etc).
• Keep the SHC apprised of all nutrition issues including new concepts, planning, changes, challenges etc.
• To liaise, according to Merlin distribution of responsibilities, with the Ministry of Health and other agencies (UNICEF, WHO, and WFP) to ensure appropriate provision of service and use of resources.
Technical support, training and capacity building.
• Provide technical supervision on nutrition interventions to all project sites.
• Provide technical guidance to staff implementing health and nutrition programmes on the integration of a nutrition component into the overall primary health care programmes and curative services.
• Ensure that the implementation of the nutrition program conform to internationally accepted standards and country guidelines.
• Providing technical leadership and support for conducting nutrition surveys in all project sites, participate in reporting and generate discussion within the nutrition cluster for any issues which needs to be addressed jointly.
• Carry Out training needs assessments of nutrition staff and develop a training plan to meet such needs identified.
• Plan and undertake relevant trainings in nutrition to Merlin as well as other stakeholder staff if need be.
• Closely work with operations manager and project coordinator to re-structure nutrition team and develop organogram as agreed
• Assist operations manager to ensure that programme (PHC and Nutrition) teams are integrated and follow all set protocols
Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
• Ensure a process and final evaluation and monitoring of the nutrition projects is undertaken throughout the project sites.
• Undertake routine monitoring and evaluation of the nutrition projects and based on such propose solutions and way forward.
• Support health coordinators and nutrition supervisors to ensure that summary programmatic data is available in for programmatic input.
• Follow up with health coordinators and nutrition supervisors on the utilisation of commodities and supplies to avoid expiry of the same or pipeline breakages.
• Review nutrition parts of donor reports while ensuring the technical quality of such parts.
• Working closely with health coordinators and other project staff, ensure that nutrition reports are prepared and submitted timely to donor and other stakeholders. Security
• Full adherence to Merlin Sudan Security procedures.
• Full adherence to Merlin Sudan field communication protocols and standard operating procedures, informing fellow team members and the Program Coordinator immediately of any security incident.
• To behave at all times in a manner which positively promotes Merlin and its work and actively maintaining Merlin’s acceptance strategy with both civilians and parties to the conflict.
Person Specification Essential Qualifications, experience and competences
• B.Sc/M.Sc or equivalent in Nutrition or related degree
• Work experience in CMAM and conducting nutrition surveys
• Programme development and management in a Humanitarian and/or emergency situation.
• Teaching and/or training experience.
• Demonstrated analytical and conceptual skills to plan projects, timetable agreed activities andoversee staff activities.
• Good team player, flexible and capable of working with a multinational country team.
• Ability and willingness to travel to rural locations and live in sometimes basic conditions.
• Appreciation of and sensitivity to local culture.
• Ability to function and manage in situations of uncertain security.
• Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English
• Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office
• Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures
• Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
• Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues
• An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values
Desirable Qualifications, experience and competences
• Previous experience working for an international NGO in developing countries.
• Willingness to learn basic Arabic.
• Previous experience in Africa, especially in Darfur.
How to Apply
To apply for this job, please go to www.merlin.org.uk/jobs and apply using our online recruitment system. In order to apply for a job with Merlin online you will need to complete a short registration process and create an account – the online recruitment system explains how to do this. Once your account has been created, you will be able to save the information that you have entered in your application and re-visit it at any time before you submit it.
If you are unable to apply online please download and complete an application form and email it to:applications@merlin.org.uk.
Please note that we do not accept CVs and any application must therefore be made online or by completing our application form. Unfortunately due to the number of applications we receive, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Data Protection
Please note, on submitting your application, you are agreeing to Merlin holding and using the information that you have given for the purposes of recruitment and employment – should an offer be made. Where required by donors funding requirements, some job offers are conditional on our ensuring that potential employees’ names do not appear on counter terrorism lists generated by the United Nations, European Union or the United States. On submitting your application, you are agreeing to Merlin using the information that you have given for checking that your name does not appear on these lists.
