Nutrition in iCCM Advisor

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The IRC began its health work in South Sudan in 1989, training health workers and making health services available to remote, underserved communities. With the signing of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the IRC began supporting the Government of South Sudan’s efforts to establish health systems. Today, the IRC continues to work closely with the newly formed Republic of South Sudan in strengthening those systems. However, a lack of resources, widespread poverty, and low literacy levels continue to challenge efforts to meet the basic needs of the South Sudanese people. It is estimated that only 25% of the population has access to any kind of health care services, 80% of which are provided by humanitarian and other non-governmental organizations.

The overall goal of the current iCCM nutrition project is to decrease child morbidity and mortality in Aweil East, Aweil North and Aweil South Counties of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State and Panyijar County of Unity State by training and equipping Community-Based Distributors (CBDs) to screen and refer children with malnutrition for treatment.

Currently, the IRC iCCM nutrition program has a network of more than 2500 Community Based Distributors (CBDs) trained on screening of children under five for malnutrition using Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) tape and referral for malnutrition treatment, in addition to treating children under five for malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea in Aweil East and Aweil South counties of Northern Bahr elGazal state and Panyijar county of Unity state. The iCCM nutrition program also has 13 Out Patient Therapeutic Programs (OTPs) in Panyijar county and 6 OTPs in Aweil South county, and an ongoing set up of 23 OTPs in Aweil East county.

Job Overview/Summary:

 IRC is interested in closer integration between the iCCM and the CMAM program to improve access and coverage of the treatment of severe acute malnutrition (SAM). The Nutrition in iCCM Advisor will work closely with the Nutrition Coordinator and the iCCM Coordinator to oversee a new initiative to pilot home-based treatment of SAM as part of the iCCM program. S/he will also oversee the evaluation of this pilot project with support from the IRC Nutrition Technical Advisor.  This will involve coordinating an evaluation (i.e. SQUEAC, quality of care) to measure the impact on access and coverage with technical support from the Coverage Monitoring Network. Additionally, with technical support from the IRC Nutrition Technical Advisor, s/he will monitor the nutrition situation which includes overseeing and/or conducting pre and post harvest SMART surveys for the iCCM nutrition program. S/he will also ensure high quality data and reports are produced and shared with relevant stakeholders and IRC Health Technical Unit. S/he provides technical oversight and training to field-based health staff in the area of IMAM (CMAM) programs, with an emphasis on national staff capacity building.

Major Responsibilities:

The Nutrition in iCCM Advisor will oversee the nutrition activities under the iCCM program in South Sudan and providing technical support to the nutrition iCCM team. This position reports to the Nutrition coordinator and works in close collaboration with the iCCM Coordinator.  

•  Technical Monitoring and Program Quality
  • Provide technical supervision of, and technical support to IRC iCCM Nutrition programming activities
  • Ensure that iCCM nutrition programs utilize standardized protocols, policies and guidelines, as prescribed by the Ministry of Health and WHO/UNICEF.
  • Ensure that all iCCM nutrition activities are consistent with established best practices
  • Oversee the collection and timely reporting of data and statistics for all iCCM nutrition programs in line with IRC guidelines and according to internal and donor requirements
  • Ensure appropriate follow-up and decision-making on data relevant to IRC iCCM nutrition programs
  • Ensure a good coordination with the iCCM Coordinator, Nutrition Coordinator  and iCCM nutrition teams and provide frequent updates
  • Ensure all stakeholders, including IRC Deputy Director Programs (DDP), IRC iCCM Coordinator, IRC health technical unit, UNICEF, DFID  and all donors are provided with updates, following the established reporting structures
  • Collaborate with the iCCM nutrition team and the Nutrition Coordinator to ensure a holistic approach in line with IRC’s Program Framework principles
• Innovation
  • Lead the iCCM and nutrition pilot project to test the home-based treatment of SAM in coordination with the senior iCCM and nutrition team
  • Develop and test appropriate tools for illiterate community health workers to ensure quality data collection of SAM
  • Develop SAM treatment algorithms in coordination with technical iCCM and nutrition senior management
  • Lead the pilot project evaluation in coordination with the technical iCCM and nutrition teams
  • Document lessons learned from the pilot project
• Strategic Planning
  • Monitor evolving needs of the target communities and adjust the programmatic priorities as necessary
  • In collaboration with the Nutrition Technical Adviser, the iCCM  Coordinator, Nutrition Coordinator and the DDP, lead the overall development of an overall IRC iCCM Nutrition Program strategy in line with IRC South Sudan Country Strategic Planning
• Grants Management and Reporting
  • Review progress in achieving program objectives and targets in collaboration with the programs managers.
  • Participate in Grants Opening, Mid-Term and Closing meetings
  • Review technical aspects of internal and external reports prepared by the iCCM Managers within agreed deadlines using IRC and donor formats, as required
  • In collaboration with program managers, review Budget vs. Actual expenditure for iCCM programs on a monthly basis
  • Bring any over/under expenditure issues to the attention of the Field Coordinators/Managers and the Program Managers in a timely manner and develop corrective plans in collaboration with the DDP and the Grants team
• Program Development
  • Identify opportunities for program development
  • Lead technical assessments as a basis for iCCM nutrition program development when necessary
• Staff support
  • Work with the Field Coordinators/Managers to ensure technical aspects of the Performance Management System documentation for the program managers is in place and followed up regularly.
  • Provide ongoing training and technical support and guidance to the program managers, and ensure all iCCM staffs adhere to best-practice principles in all aspects of program implementation.
  • Ensure appropriate support to the field sites where the program is implemented through regular visits

Job Requirements:

• Nutrition professional with a relative degree in Nutrition or Public Health Nutrition  and  significant experience in nutrition in emergencies 
• At least three years professional experience in nutrition IMAM (CMAM) programs
• Experience in nutrition surveys (SMART)
• Experience in conducting SQUEAC preferred
• Experience in research an asset
• Excellent management skills and analytical thinking
• Experience developing staff capacity
• Experience working in a multi-cultural setting
• Experience in emergencies or working in South Sudan previously preferred
• Ability to write clear and concise reports and proposals and to meet required reporting deadlines
• Able to work independently while being a strong team player
• Competence with Windows, Microsoft Office
• Ability to work in unstable security environments
• Proficient English written and spoken required, Arabic an asset

Working Environment:  

• Security level: Orange
• Housing: Housing in Juba is a private, ensuite room in a shared IRC guest house supplied with electricity, DSTV, Internet, housecleaning and potable water. Food is an individual responsibility –covered by location differential.
• The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.