JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE:Regional Nutrition& Health Programme Manager

LOCATION:Either Addis Ababa or Nairobi

DEPARTMENT:Programmes, East, West and Central Africa Region

REPORTING TO: Head of Programmes- East, West and Central Africa

KEY RELATIONS:EWCA Programme and Support Staff in regional and country offices, Regional Resource Development, Organisational Development & Partner Relations and MEL Advisers, Affiliates and implementing partners, Humanitarian Team (London), with a functional link to the global Humanitarian Health and Nutrition Adviser.Key external relationships include humanitarian clusters, government Ministries of Health and UN agencies

GRADE:National/ International terms and conditions depending on successful candidate

Background

HelpAge International (HelpAge) is an international NGO with a vision of a world where older people fulfill their potential to lead active, dignified, healthy and secure lives. It is also a global network with over 100 affiliates working to support older people and promote their rights. HelpAge’sprogrammes are managed by a secretariat in London and six Regional Offices including one for East, West and Central Africa based in Nairobi.

A growing part of HelpAge’s work is in humanitarian crisis situations, where older people are amongst the most vulnerable. HelpAge is the only international NGO dedicated to ensuring older people receive humanitarian assistance and protection.HelpAge’s strategic aim for its humanitarian work in East Africa is to ensure that older people are considered and their needs addressed in planning and activities of African governments and humanitarian organizations in emergency preparedness, response and recovery programmes. We are now in the process of developing a particular focus on older people’s health & nutrition in the humanitarian context. Despite the commitment of humanitarian actors to impartiality, older people are routinely excluded from health & nutrition programmes. They are left out in the assessments and their specific needs are not addressed in supplementary and therapeutic progammes and treatment.HelpAgeis committed to ensuring older people receive the humanitarian health & nutrition assistance they need by:

  • implementing health & nutrition programmes in partnership with host governments (MoH) and other agencies
  • ensuring other agencies are aware and informed of the health & nutritional needs of older people
  • Strengthening the capacity of other agencies to assess and address older people’s health & nutrition needs in emergencies, and,
  • actively participating in coordination fora to raise the profile of older people’s nutrition and health needs.

In East Africa, HelpAge has country programmes in Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. In the past, HelpAge has implemented emergency health and nutrition interventions in Darfur-Sudan, South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Purpose of the job

To further HelpAge’s organisational goal of ensuring that older people’s needs are included in the health and nutrition assessments, management and other support they need in humanitarian crises by initiating, supportingand managing a programme of nutrition & health in humanitarian contexts in the East Africa region including by direct delivery of services, advice and support to other nutrition actors (including governments, NGOs, UN, and coordination bodies such asthe humanitarian clusters), advocacy and capacity building.

Responsibilities and activities

1.Programme development

  • Working closely with the Regional team and Humanitarian Team in London, design a strategy to address the health and nutrition needs of older people in humanitarian contexts in East Africa.
  • Monitor changes in the food security, health nutrition situation in crisis prone countries/areas through the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), IASC’s Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO), Humanitarian Response Plans (HRP)and other sources in order to identify potential interventions in a timely manner.
  • Work closely with HelpAge’s regional and country teams and partners to initiate and implement programmes to address older people’s health and nutrition needs in accordance with HelpAge’sguidelines -Nutrition Interventions for Older People in Emergencies and Health Interventions for Older People in Emergencies.
  • Take the lead on conducting needs assessments using HelpAge’s Rapid Assessment Methodology for Older People (RAM-OP)
  • Develop partnerships with relevant agencies for joint operations, research and advocacy including best practices in older people malnutrition management, use of ready to use food, assessments, micronutrients deficiencies, etc
  • Raise HelpAge’s profile and create strong relationships with key agencies and donors in the health and nutrition sector includingnational Ministries of Health, national nutrition clusters, Regional health/ nutrition leads from relevant UN agencies and international NGOs
  • Liaise with relevant regional academics and training institutions for public health professionals and nutritionists in order to influence their curriculum and build a network of experts and resource persons for training, policy development and advocacy.
  • Support HelpAge country teams to design and initiate health and nutrition programmes with relevant partners.
  • Promote the development of sustainable health and nutrition programs by offering creative ideas and new approaches to solving problems in the health and nutrition interventions.
  • Support country teams in contributing to the IASC humanitarian response documents contribution, investigate upcoming Requests for Applications (RFAs) and develop proposals, budgets and project review processes. Keep abreast of best practice developments in the health and nutrition sectors.
  • Document evidence of the health and nutrition situation of older people in humanitarian contexts in the East Africa region and good practice in addressing theirspecific needs. Disseminate this within HelpAge and with relevant external agencies and platforms.

2.Programme management

  • Manage and support the implementation of the regional health and nutrition programme in a timely and accountable way and in accordance with the donor requirements, HelpAge internal procedures and contract management guidelines.
  • Provide technical advice to ensure the emergency, health and nutrition teams at the country offices adhere to appropriate needs assessment andtreatment protocols - includesadequate coverage by projects, quality of medical care dispensed, correct anthropometric measurement and follow-up of MUAC, weight and oedema, accurate patient database management and clear admission and exit criteria.
  • Provide regular technical support and advice toHelpAge’sexisting health and nutrition projects in Ethiopia and South Sudan, including field visits.
  • Support the preparation, review and submission of timely and quality donor reports.
  • Provide support and advice to HelpAge’saffiliates, partners and country programmes to develop and implement appropriate health and nutrition programmes, establishing systems and procedures and ensuring regular monitoring of programmes, including evaluation and audit missions.
  • Support the development of a consultant and staff roster in the region for efficient rapid deployment in the event of an emergency response.
  1. Representation and Advocacy
  • Active participation and representation in health and nutrition coordination fora at national and regional level and the regional hubs for relevant UN agencies.
  • Support the development of country and regional advocacy and engagement strategies, by: 1) identifying key targets including country and regional coordination forums, clusters and sector meetings; key donors; media outlets; and links to global influencing initiatives 2) developing evidence based advocacy messages to highlight the health and nutritional needs of older people in emergencies 3) building advocacy alliances and partnerships with NGOs, UN agencies and others, linking to global level advocacy led by the global Humanitarian Team
  • Compile evidence and learning from HelpAge health and nutrition projects as well as other partner INGOs’, and use it to advocate for the inclusion of older people in the health and nutrition interventions of the organizations.
  1. Capacity building
  • Support the design and implementation of health and nutrition training and capacity building plan for staff of HelpAge and its Affiliates, partners and other stakeholders in the region.
  • Provide training and support in the Rapid Assessment Methodology for older people (RAM-OP)to relevant actors
  • Based on the evidence collected from HelpAge and other agencies in the management of older people’s health and malnutrition, contribute to the revision of HelpAge’sand country specific national guidelines
  • Contribute evidence of older people’s health and nutritional risks and good practices in assessment and treatment to HelpAge’s capacity building and training initiatives including the Age and Disability Capacity Programme (ADCAP)
  • When required, review the health and nutrition components of HelpAge training material and support training delivery in the region.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

  • A post graduate degree in nutrition, public health, nursing or related fields.
  • Substantial technical and managerial experience in programme design, implementation and monitoring of nutrition and health programmes in humanitarian contexts, with at least 5 years in the field.
  • Solid understanding of links between emergency and development programs, familiar with project cycle management
  • A strong understanding of key technical issues in nutrition, including dietary requirements for adults, CMAM and nutritional assessmentsand treatment and prevention of malnutrition
  • A strong understanding of and commitment to international humanitarian principles, standards and instruments, frameworks and codes of conduct that govern humanitarian work.
  • Health system management experience with a good understanding of the age related Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
  • Experience of developing and/or implementing donor and beneficiary accountability frameworks or processes.
  • Experience of developing successful donor proposals and budgets.
  • Demonstrated competence in gathering and analysis of data to produce evidence
  • Demonstrated competence in successfully using evidence for communication and advocacy
  • Demonstrable staff management skills and experience.
  • Experience of work in an advisory capacity, in training and capacity development.
  • The ability to travel, sometimes atshort notice and for extended periods,and to live and work in basic and/or difficult conditions.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team
  • Fluent spoken and written English
  • Excellent writing skills

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