Organisational background:

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 24 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 50 countries, our 8,300 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Action Against Hunger USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network. As an independent NGO, Action Against Hunger USA currently manages operations in 8 countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia and Haiti. Action Against Hunger-USA has over $100 million in programs, and approximately 1,800 permanent staff based in New York City, Washington D.C, Nairobi, and country offices. Additional growth is anticipated.

I. Summary of Position

The Project Officer is responsible for overseeing implementation of all health and nutrition activities at facility level in coordination with the technical manager and field coordinator in Baidoa by ensuring compliance with Damal Cafimaad contract, WHO, MOH, Health and nutrition clusters guidelines and policies in each program component.

He/She will directly work with other project staff in the districts, RMO, DMO, MoH staff and the subcontracted partner to implement health and nutrition services and will closely work with other partners present at the district, regional and state level. Health and Nutrition programming includes EPHS service delivery at targeted facilities and mobile teams, community engagement, SBC activity, infection control and waste management, HMIS reports, supply management and supervision.

The project officer purpose, engagement, and delivery are:

Purpose: The project officer will oversee day-to-day implementation of health and nutrition program activities across all districts in Bay region. in line with Action Against Hunger standards as well as aligning programming to essential package for health services (EPHS) package for Somalia.  He/she will work with MoH staff and provide technical support to MoH facilities at district level as part of health system strengthening.

Engagement:

• Represent Action Against Hunger on health and nutritional issues at state, regional and district level through engagements of RMO, DMO and Local Authorities.
• The officer will be able to develop framework for communication with Local representatives (Regular meetings, identification of Key local actors and collaboration with them in order to facilitate harmonious and productive relations.
• Identifying partners and other agencies in the area (gap analysis of who is doing what where), Introduce the program to the local authorities, community representatives, beneficiaries, and partners.
• In addition he will be able to participate in regular Coordination meetings at state and Field level with the MOH staff and regional/state clusters.
• Organize regular meetings with other sectors within ACF and other agencies in the area and plan for joint activities.
• Develop referral pathways, district mapping, and stakeholder analysis within supported Districts.
• Organize weekly coordination meetings and updates with the field teams.

Delivery:

• Ensures quality programmes are implemented at all targeted facilities in the district in line with the EHESP Protocol
• Identify gaps and challenges and address them on timely basis
• Ensures timely reporting of routine project activities including DHIS2 reports
• Ensure proper use and monitoring of medical supplies including monthly consumption, stock out and follow up of archival documents
• Provides support to MoH staff within supported facilities
• Promotes positive behavior change through community engagement and SBC activity
• Collaborate with technical manager, SGBV specialist, HMIS managers and Logistic managers for quality implementation of the project activities

II.  Essential job duties.

• Ensure proper documentation of activities at both the community and health facility level ensuring that accurate beneficiary records are maintained
• Ensure that the health facilities keep updated stock of all essential supplies and requisitions for health and nutrition supplies are made in a timely manner.
• Ensure the follow up of attendance and the punctuality of staff
• Ensure that staff work plan is prepared on a monthly basis in liaison with MoH
• Support in capacity building of the Health and nutrition teams on planned trainings, identify training needs and conduct regular refresher training.
• Introduce the program to the local authorities, community representatives, beneficiaries and partners involved regularly and plan for joint activities
• Represent Action Against Hunger in meetings with MOH and Partners within the districts, region and at state level.
• Follow-up of all the data/reports provided by health facility and mobile teams in the field.
• Ensure timely submission of all the reports in the field according to the stipulated deadlines.
• Monitor trends and update the technical manager on areas of concern
• Prepare weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports (ONA, APR, narrative, consumption)
• Identify procurement needs and raise procurement requests on time.
• Manage health and nutrition commodities (Drugs, nutrition commodities, NFIs, Hospital food).
• Ensure that CHWs’ activities at the community level are on course and the team offers required support.
• Check that the stock and pharmacy are managed well, follow up the equipment’s and general supplies.
• Ensure proper filling of OPD, ANC,PNC,OTP/TSFP registers and referral forms and that anthropometric and nutritional data are entered correctly.

III.  Supervisory Responsibilities

None

IV. Gender Equality Commitments  

• Foster an environment that supports the values of women and men, and equal access to information.
• Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.
• Value and respect all cultures.

V. Fiscal Responsibility

• Supports in requisition and management of procured supplies.

VI. Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions. Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

VII. Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.
• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases.

Requirements

Required Qualifications and Professional Experience

• Medical Doctor, Diploma in Nursing, pharmacy, Clinical Medicine, Laboratory Science.
• Degree in related field is an added advantage.
• Minimum of 3 years work experience in a similar field in Somalia context.
• Experience working in nutrition and health projects.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Humanitarian experience in medical and nutrition programs in Somalia (EPHS, CMAM, BEmONC, ICCM, CMAM, IYCF)
• Excellent knowledge of working with MoH, UN, and NGO Health/Medical systems and structures.
• Good analytical capacity.
• Conversant with Health Information Management Systems Data (DHIS).
• Competence in training and team management.
• Computer skills: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and EPI info.
• Fluent in English and Somali (both oral and written) is compulsory.
• Experience and ability to design, manage, and forecast budgets.
• Working experience in the design, implementation, and analysis of coverage surveys (SQUEAC/SLEAC), KAP surveys, and/or rapid nutrition assessments and SMART surveys.
• Excellent report writing skills and solid working experience in proposal development.
• Knowledge and adherence to the Humanitarian Code of Conduct.

Benefits

Action Against Hunger-USA provides all staff with an attractive salary & benefits package. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to color, religion, gender, age, handicap, disability, marital status. Action Against Hunger-USA complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

Application Process:

Due to Urgent need to fill this position. Applications will be reviewed on rolling bases. Applications should reach not later than September 14, 2024