Job context
The humanitarian and security situation in the greater Kasai region (five provinces namely, Kasai, Kasai Central, Kasai Oriental, Lomami and Sankuru) is of great concern and has resulted in an urgent need for multi-sectoral response and action. About 1.4 million people are internally displaced; 2.8 million people are in food crisis (1.8 million people in phase 3 and 1 million in phase 4); and many areas are also affected by high rates of acute malnutrition for example, global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate of 12.3% in Tshikula health zone/Dibaya territory and 9% in Luiza health zone . These high levels of GAM coupled with the very high food insecurity, population displacement and overall poor access to basic amenities such as safe water, increase the risk levels for a deterioration in the nutrition situation. Furthermore, Kasai is historically one of the regions most affected by high levels of acute malnutrition in DRC.
To address this situation, WFP has activated a level 3 (L3) emergency response to provide much needed food and nutrition assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the Kasais between October and December 2017. WFP assistance is being prioritised in Kasai and Kasai Central as these two provinces host more than 85 percent of IDPs in the region and include 22 health zones in Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) phases 3 and 4.
The overarching goal of the emergency operation is to improve the food and nutrition security of the most vulnerable populations. The specific nutrition objective is to contribute to preventing and reducing undernutrition through the following activities:
• Treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM): children aged 6-59 months; pregnant and lactating women; and malnourished people living with HIV/TB undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART) and malnourished tuberculosis clients undergoing directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS).
• Prevention of acute malnutrition: children aged 6-23 months and pregnant and lactating women.
• Food assistance for caregivers accompanying children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) admitted to intensive therapeutic nutrition units.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Emergency Coordinator and to the Head of Programme in Kinshasa, the Emergency Nutritionist will be responsible for managing the WFP nutrition response strategy in close partnership with the Ministry of Health (specifically PRONANUT - Programme National de Nutrition); UN agencies and Nutrition Cluster partners, and for overall management of implementation of all nutrition activities under the emergency operation. The Nutritionist will be responsible for providing capacity development and technical assistance for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of WFP nutrition response in Kasai and Kasai Central provinces:
Nutrition Programme Implementation
a) Provide technical assistance to country operations aiming at improving implementation of WFP’s nutrition strategy, and activities throughout the targeted provinces to ensure effective delivery of nutrition assistance;
b) Contextualise targeted and blanket supplementary feeding operational guidelines, in line with the national protocol for management of acute malnutrition, and tools including: selection of beneficiaries, joint delivery mechanisms, staffing, integration of complementary services specifically infant and young child feeding in emergencies, behaviour change communication messaging, management of non food items, monitoring and evaluation;
c) Undertake regular field visits to provide on the job training/formative supervision to nurses, community workers and partners as the security situation permits;
d) Develop and document best practices and evidence of success of nutrition activities;
Assessment and Information Management
e) Oversee preparation and dissemination of timely analytical and critical reports including monitoring and evauation reports;
f) Provide technical assistance to country nutrition and monitoring units for the establishment of a robust M&E framework, including systematic nutrition screening at food distribution sites, assessment of participation and coverage in nutrition prevention activities, as per 2017 - 2021 WFP Corporate Results Framework;
g) Elaborate weekly reports (SitReps) on nutrition treatment and prevention activities in the targeted sites;
Coordination
h) Promote active integration of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions among the relevant actors involved in the humanitarian response
i) Whenever necessary, participate actively in coordination forums directly related to WFP’s nutrition operations in the Kasais. These could include: Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM), Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF), Micronutrients, Nutrition Information Management working groups etc.
Qualifications and Experience
Education:
At least a Master’s degree in public health nutrition, international studies or other related field.
A candidate with a medical degree specialising in nutrition with specific experience in case management of malnourished children would be an added advantage.
Fluency in both English and French (level C) is essential
Experience:
At least 4 years of relevant experience in nutrition programming in emergency and post emergency settings;
Previous experience in similar IDP operations in a support and advisory role;
Previous work experience with UN organisations is desirable;
Previous working experience in Southern, Eastern or Central Africa region is desirable.
Knowledge & Skills:
Ability to work in IDP contexts resulting from armed conflict, with traumatised populations;
Ability to engage effectively at national and 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;
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 supervisor.
CLOSING DATE: 03 November 2017
Interested individuals meeting the above requirements are requested to apply on the WFP Career Website using the following link: http://www1.wfp.org/careers/job-openings. Please search for the position title: Nutrition Consultant: Emergencies, DRC, requisition no: 69621