Nutrition Program Specialist
Project HOPE Namibia in Malawi (PHN-MA) is seeking a qualified Malawian professional for the Ana ndi Achinyamata Patsogolo (ANAPA) project. We are hiring a Nutrition Program Specialist to join our team based at the Country Office in Blantyre.
This is a full-time, 6-month fixed-term contract requiring a minimum of 40 hours per week. The position reports to the OVC Technical Lead.
Position Summary
The Nutrition Program Specialist will lead the coordination, design, implementation, and monitoring of community-based nutrition and WASH interventions across ANAPA-supported districts. This role is pivotal in improving the nutritional status of children under five, children living with HIV (CLHIV), vulnerable households, and pregnant or lactating women. The ideal candidate will integrate evidence-based, HIV-sensitive, and community-driven strategies into all program activities, aligning them with national priorities. This position works under the OVC Technical Lead with a dotted reporting line to the Implementation Lead.
Key Responsibilities
- Coordination and Partnerships:
- Collaborate with key national and district-level stakeholders, including nutrition and WASH cluster partners, NGOs, health service providers, and the Ministry of Health, to effectively leverage resources.
- Actively participate in district and national coordination meetings for nutrition, WASH, and HIV to enhance stakeholder collaboration.
- Program Implementation:
- Assume overall responsibility for the daily execution of high-quality nutrition services within designated communities and health facilities.
- Offer technical expertise on Infant and Young Children Feeding (IYCF) practices to guarantee superior service delivery.
- Organize and lead nutrition education sessions for caregivers, pregnant and lactating women, and families with CLHIV.
- Incorporate HIV-sensitive nutrition modules into community programming, with a focus on dietary diversity, ART adherence, and maternal nutrition.
- Supervise growth monitoring and promotion activities, managing the procurement and distribution of necessary supplies such as scales, MUAC tapes, height measures, and food supplements.
- Support micronutrient supplementation initiatives (Vitamin A, iron, folic acid, deworming) in partnership with local health authorities.
-- Champion household and community gardening projects to bolster food security and improve dietary diversity.
- Ensure all staff are trained on and adhere to national and nutrition cluster guidelines and SOPs for service provision, including IYCF.
- Integrate WASH messaging into programs and support the rehabilitation of handwashing facilities to mitigate disease.
- Provide consolidated technical guidance to implementing partners and the MOH on all WASH-related matters to ensure quality, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
- Supply current and comprehensive data to guide WASH policy, program development, and management.
- Community Engagement & Capacity Building: