Assistant Nutrition Officer
Project HOPE Namibia in Malawi (PHN-MA) invites applications from qualified Malawians for seven (7) Assistant Nutrition Officer positions within the Ana ndi Achinyamata Patsogolo (ANAPA) project.
These are full-time, 6-month fixed-term contracts requiring 40 hours per week. The roles are based in the districts of Blantyre, Lilongwe, Machinga, Mangochi, Phalombe, Thyolo, and Zomba, with project activities extending to Chikwawa and Mulanje. This position reports to the Nutrition Program Officer.
Position Summary
The Assistant Nutrition Officer (ANO) is responsible for supporting the implementation of community-based nutrition programs targeting orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), including those living with HIV (CLHIV), HIV-exposed infants (HEI), and other vulnerable children under five and their caregivers. Key activities include screening, referrals, and education. The ANO will provide counseling on healthy feeding practices, collect and report data, and collaborate closely with community volunteers and health facility staff to enhance nutrition services. This role works under the supervision of the Nutrition and WASH Specialist with a dotted reporting line to the District Team Leader.
Key Responsibilities
- Program Implementation Support:
- Support the delivery of nutrition activities for OVC and their caregivers at the community and household levels.
- Assist in identifying and screening vulnerable children for malnutrition using approved assessment tools.
- Facilitate the referral of malnourished children and caregivers to appropriate health facilities for treatment.
- Help integrate nutrition education into existing OVC case management frameworks.
- Nutrition Education and Counselling:
- Deliver basic nutrition education and counselling to OVC caregivers and adolescent mothers living with HIV.
- Promote appropriate and healthy infant and young child feeding practices within the community.
- Support awareness campaigns on the importance of nutrition and healthy eating for people living with HIV.
- Monitoring and Data Collection:
- Systematically collect and record nutrition-related data during outreach activities and community visits.
- Assist in maintaining precise records of all beneficiaries who receive nutrition services.
- Contribute to the preparation of weekly and monthly activity reports.
- Community Engagement:
- Collaborate with PHNAO, Child Protection Workers (CPWs), Community Case Workers, and community volunteers to advance nutrition interventions.
- Actively identify, screen, and refer malnourished CLHIV or HEI from HIV-affected households to relevant nutrition services.
- Participate in community outreach events, growth monitoring sessions, and nutrition campaigns.
- Strengthen the linkage between OVC households and available community nutrition services.
- Capacity Building Support:
- Assist the Nutrition and WASH Specialist and Nutrition Program Officer in organizing training sessions for community volunteers and caregivers.
- Support men