Afghanistan: Health & Nutrition Officer – Afghanistan

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

1. Terms of reference

Job title: Health & Nutrition Officer (HNO)

Duty Station: Kandahar with regular visits to Kabul

Starting date: ASAP

Duration of contract: 12 months

Reporting to: Project Manager (PM) and Head of Mission (HoM)

Supervision of: 1 national Health and Nutrition Activity Coordinator, 9 midwifes and 9 nurses for 9 health facilities, 3 mobile teams, 1 M&E-reporting officer

1. General context of the project

The program’s general objective is to contribute to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with malnutrition, diseases and hazards resulting from deficient (or non-existing) health and nutrition services, environmental health conditions and protection environment in conflict-affected communities in Kandahar province – Afghanistan. The program will target 72.241 individuals > 12% men, 48% women, 20% boy and 20% girls > 23% IDP, 4% documented returnees (DR), 12% undocumented returnees (UR) and 61% is most vulnerable local (host) community (HC).

The proposed program aims, on the health and nutrition side, to address the inadequate coverage and quality of life-saving services (especially for reproductive health and nutrition services) for the most vulnerable communities in Maywand, Spin Boldak and Zheray. The project will also address some of the key determinants of malnutrition and child and maternal mortality through promotion of improved Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices, safe delivery and healthy behaviours. Hygiene/WASH promotion is closely linked to health and nutrition, and can further help to decrease mortality rates. Lastly, the project will seek to enhance the psycho-social wellbeing and protective environment of the most vulnerable population groups. WASH and protection components will also be implemented in the informal settlements of Kandahar where IDP and (mostly) undocumented vulnerable returnees are concentrated. Activities include:

• Structural rehabilitation/upgrade of HFs; hire and train (female) dedicated health staff for RH (and/or nutrition services) at HF level (static), run mobile teams to support the outreach capacity of the HFs for provision of RH and nutrition services; identify and train new additional community health workers and supervisors; conduct community awareness sessions on health and nutrition related topics; and secure the OPD nutrition services at HF level by dedicated trained nutrition staff;
  
• Conduct training in CP, GBV and PSS for different stakeholders, actors and volunteers; conduct awareness sessions for community members on protection related issues; provide individual case management services for individual protection cases (CP, GBV and PwSN ) and run collective PSS for most vulnerable population groups at community level (CP, GBV and PwSN);
  
• Run WASH – HP sessions for different target groups.
  

Tasks and responsibilities

The Health and Nutrition Officer (HNO) is in charge of the implementation and the supervision of the health and nutrition sector-related activities, in particular:

Programme:

• HNO and PM should work as complementary team for the implementation of the project activities, under the responsibility of the PM.

• Project staff recruitment and training.

• Organize mobile teams and ensure their proper functioning.

• Arrange for project kick-off with BARAN and DoPH, to ensure there different roles and responsibilities are discussed and agreed and avoid any misunderstandings.

• In close coordination with PM and health and nutrition clusters, develop and establish internal and external functional and effective referral and coordination mechanisms at field level for comprehensive health and nutrition services.

• Ensure in cooperation with the protection officer for proper protection mainstreaming in health and nutrition services and correct referrals to the social workers working with the mobile teams.

• Ensure a proper implementation and follow up of mobile team and health facility staff, ensuring standardization and quality of services.

• Organize weekly meeting with the mobile team supervisors (GP)

• Ensure the proper and timely collection of data through a correct use of internal databases and monitoring tools > use PAT as month internal project monitoring tool

• In close coordination with the PM build the capacity of local actors and key community members on identification and referral of patients to the health facilities > develop the trust and link by community towards the health service provider at facility level.

• If security situation allows for it, undertake regular field visits to provide technical guidance and supervision as well as regularly monitor the health and nutrition activities at health facility level and at outreach level (mobile clinic and health post).

• Agree with the PM from the beginning on reporting mechanism, tools and deadlines from PO to PM and from project team to PO/PM > apply PAT as internal project monitoring tool

• Elaborate trend analyses on 6 monthly bases for reproductive health (in particular for safe delivery) and nutrition.

• Ensure to put in place a quality complaint mechanism and conduct a beneficiary satisfaction survey at the end of the project implementation to measure the impact of the activities and adapt the program to better meet the needs and respond to the gaps for assistance in the project target areas.

• Maintain regular and positive collaboration with the colleagues to harmonize approaches and methodologies of response, share challenges and best practices (at project and overall program level).

• Support the development, implementation and evaluation of the mission strategy and program in reference to the Health and Nutrition Sector, providing technical inputs and recommendations for new and ongoing interventions in the country.

Working relationships/communication:

• In coordination with PM, establish and maintain regular and collaborative relations with relevant donors, local authorities, partners, project stakeholders and other organizations working in the target areas.

• Proactively participate in health and nutrition cluster meetings and relevant inter-sectoral coordination meetings at field level, contributing to the development of guidelines, standards, tools and strategies.

• Overall attend the relevant cluster meetings and ensure timely reporting of highlights to PM & HoM.

• Overall communication style needs to be conflict sensitive, moderated, soft and constructively engaging.

• Ensure to copy PM in all communications with staff (except on the case management and follow-up with individual case workers) and external stakeholders.

• All donor communication on the project must pass over the PM and HoM.

• Ensure systematic information and update sharing with the HOM and other programme staff.

• Coordinate with other INTERSOS projects/sectors in Kandahar for effective and efficient referral of cases between INTERSOS projects/sectors.

Required profile/experience

• Advanced degree in medicine or public health.

• At least 3 years of professional experience working as a technical expert in the area of primary health care or a related field is required, including financial management responsibilities.

• Coordination experience is desirable.

• Prior work experience in Afghanistan (or Middle East or Central Asia) highly desirable.

• Demonstrate minimum 2 year experience in the implementation of health programming in complex emergencies, including mobile clinics/ primary health care services, emergency health care services (including EmONC) and nutrition (in particular SAM).

• Prior experience in working in complex emergency setting, involving displacement.

• Demonstrated familiarity with the health system in Afghanistan, especially with primary health care and health outreach services.

• Admin and finance skills, required;

• Demonstrable experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with donors and government counterparts.

• Experience with donor compliance and reporting.

• Strong representation and negotiation skills.

• Demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills.

• Excellent computer skills (proven computer literacy, in particular Excel knowledge is a must).

• Demonstrated experience in staff supervision and remote management.

• Strong experience with monitoring tools and systems.

• Excellent written and spoken English. Pashto would be asset.

• Strong representation, negotiation, communication and diplomatic skills, demonstrated leadership.

• Strong team spirit, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment.

• Excellent analytical skills, observation and analysis capacity, problem-solver approach.

• Ability to deal with heavy work pressure.

Qualified applicants are requested to submit their CV, motivation letter and 2 references to recruitment@intersos.org with subject line: "**Health&Nutrition Officer – Afghanistan**”.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the first interview.