TERMS OF REFERENCE

(Please submit a CV and cover letter to: dakarrb.recruitment@wfp.org by 4 March 2016)

Duty Station: Abuja, Nigeria

Duration of assignment: four months initially, starting as soon as possible

Position title : Nutrition Officer (P3) – Consultancy Contract

Background and context

Since the beginning of 2013, the repeated assaults of the armed group Boko Haram in the neighboring regions of Lake Chad have caused massive displacements and forced populations to seek refuge in neighboring countries, Cameroon, Niger and Chad. In December 2014, WFP launched a regional emergency operation to respond to the immediate food and nutritional needs of vulnerable populations in Cameroon, Chad and Niger. In addition, technical assistance is provided to Nigeria government to assist the vulnerable populations in the North Eastern states of Nigeria.

According to the latest Cadre Harmonisé Analysis, close to 4 million people are facing critical levels of food insecurity (phases 3, 4 and 5 of the Integrated Phase Classification) in those states, requiring urgent support. The Global Acute Malnutrition prevalence ranges from 7.1% in Adamawa to 11 % in Yobe (National Nutrition and Health Survey 2015). Stunting prevalence stands at a critical to very critical level, according to WHO thresholds, in all three states.

Under the scope of a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), WFP mainly focuses on sharing its expertise related to emergency food assistance operations, specifically through:
- Training and direct support to NEMA/SEMA (State Emergency Management Agency) on food security analysis, targeting, monitoring and evaluation, supply chain management, basic nutrition, logistics and commodity management, warehousing and food distribution to ensure better quality of the nutrition sensitive food assistance response to affected populations by NEMA/SEMA, in line with WFP standards;
- Active role in strengthening the food security response coordination;
- Support to NEMA/SEMA in the implementation of a cash transfer pilot project to provide life saving food assistance to Internally Displaced People facing high levels of food insecurity;

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to WFP Nigeria Coordinator and in coordination with the Regional Nutrition Unit, the Nutrition Officer will be responsible for the following duties, focusing mainly on the provision of capacity strengthening support for nutrition emergency preparedness and response for NEMA/SEMA and on the promotion and implementation of nutrition specific and sensitive programmes as part of WFP response in the three Northern States:

1) Nutrition Capacity Strenghening for Emergency Management Agencies

The Nutrition Officer’s main duty will be to closely work with NEMA/SEMA to strengthen their understanding and knowledge of nutrition in emergencies:
- Promote the prioritization of nutrition as a key component of the emergency response;
- Support NEMA/SEMA to actively contribute to the nutrition response coordination;
- Provide NEMA/SEMA operational staff with nutrition trainings, covering basic concepts of nutrition, nutrition emergency response planning and implementation, nutrition monitoring and evaluation, nutrition sensitive food assistance;
- In line with a multisectoral nutrition approach, support NEMA/SEMA to improve the nutrition sensitivity of their food assistance through advocacy, guidance and on the job trainings;
- Develop materials (guidelines, standard operating procedures etc.) in order to harmonize and systematize NEMA/SEMA’s nutrition sensitive activities;

2) Coordination

The Nutrition Officer will be responsible for overall WFP representation in the area of nutrition, including representation of WFP in various technical working groups related to nutrition, including the Nutrition in Emergency Working Group, among others:

- Participate actively in thematic working groups directly related to WFP’s nutrition activities in Nigeria;
- Participate in coordination meetings related to the nutrition response to the crisis, including coordination meetings at state level;
- Support the sector’s efforts to develop a nutrition response plan to the crisis;
- Promote actively integration of nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive interventions among the relevant actors involved in the humanitarian response to the crisis (Government, U.N agencies, NGO, communities);

3) Nutrition Programme Implementation

The Nutrition Officer, in coordination with the Regional Nutrition Unit, will be responsible for the design and implementation of nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive interventions in line with the Regional Nutrition strategy for the response to Lake Chad Basin Crisis:
- Support the implementation of the nutrition sensitive cash transfer pilot project;
- Ensure nutrition sensitive programming throughout the overall WFP response;
- Analysis of the need for a nutrition-specific response, including exploring the feasibility of using cash transfers for nutrition specific interventions;
- Actively engage in nutrition sector discussions around the development of a MAM treatment national protocol;
- Liaise with Government, identified food firms and WFP RB and HQ to support the development of a strategy for local production of Specialized Nutritious Foods;

4) any other duty related to WFP Nigeria overall nutrition portfolio.

Educational Requirements

At least a master’s degree in public health nutrition or other related field.

Essential Experience

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in nutrition programming in emergency and post emergency settings.
• Experience in the implementation of IMAM programmes and multi-sectoral responses addressing the underlying causes of undernutrition.
• Experience in developing/implementing Social Behaviour Change Communication strategy and activities for nutrition.
• Experience in providing capacity development support to Government bodies
• Experience in nutrition-sensitive cash-based transfers and/or support to local productions of nutrition commodities a plus.
• Previous working experience in West and Central Africa is desirable.

Working Languages

• Fluent in English (level C)

Critical success Factors

• Ability to travel frequently and to work in difficult and unsecure environments.
• Proven ability to conceptualize, develop, plan and manage programmes, leadership and teamwork abilities, good analytical, negotiation, communication and advocacy skills
• Ability to engage effectively at field level with a wide range of actors including those in the international humanitarian community and governments;
• Good computer knowledge and skills;
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and simultaneously manage multiple tasks in an autonomous manner;
• Previous work experience with UN organisations is desirable;
• Maturity, initiative, courtesy, tact and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to handle any other additional tasks as requested by his supervisor.

Please submit a CV and cover letter to: dakarrb.recruitment@wfp.org by 4 March 2016