Cluster Nutrition Specialist

Under the overall supervision of the Team Leader and direct supervision of the PMU based Nutrition Specialist and in coordination with the Chief of PCU and FAO Technical Assistance team, the Cluster Nutrition Specialist will have the responsibility of supporting and technical backstopping the planning, implementation and management of activities related to component C, contributing to the outputs related to nutrition across all project components. The specialist will be responsible for the following tasks.

Responsibilities:

• Provide technical backstopping to nutrition technicians on smooth implementation of Nutrition related activities at the cluster level,
• Undertake regular field supervision in the respective rural municipalities where activities are under implementation based upon a supervision schedule (in coordination with PCU) and submit timely reports of the field visit,
• Guide and facilitate the formation and registration of nutrition groups, nutrition exhibitions, food demonstrations and the implementation of BCC and other nutrition activities at Rural Municipality and ward levels,
• Coordinate, support and advocate for making agriculture and livestock interventions of the project nutrition sensitive for smallholders and farmer groups,
• Provide support for establishment of Nutrition Field School (NFS) in close coordination with Rural Municipality and other cluster team members,
• Assess the effectiveness of the BCC and nutrition education programme by visiting households and interacting with nutrition groups and farmer groups,
• Monitor nutrition related project activities and Small Grant sub-projects on nutrition and share information with concerned supervisors and stakeholders, document the results of small grants on nutritional outcomes/ indicators,
• Ensure that project-supported activities follow the appropriate code of practices for social and environmental safeguard, public health and food safety,
• Assist PCU in capacity development on the Environmental and Social Safeguard Measures, gender mainstreaming, occupational safety and health to project facilitators and farmers,
• Assist framers’ groups to prepare the Environment and social safeguard related documents and implementation of safeguard measures,
• Assist PCU in safeguard screening process, monitoring compliance of nutrition related regular activities and preparation and submission of the report,
• Assist PMU/PCU on implementation safeguard related workshop and survey; Environment and Social Safeguard Measures and their compliance monitoring process, periodic stockholder consultation, compliance monitoring survey, beneficiary satisfaction survey,
• Assist PCU in implementing GRM community awareness activities, GRM recording, GRM meeting and reporting,
• Assist PCUs to collect, compile and prepare safeguard related periodic progress,
• Submit a work plan and periodic progress report as per the template developed by the Project,
• Enter Nutrition related data in PMIS, technically validate those data and information and ensure timely progress reporting through PMIS system and established reporting and coordination mechanism of the FANSEP II using the prescribed forms and formats,
• Ensure technical guidance, supervision and backstopping support in terms of data recording and reporting related to Nutrition related activities for timely submission of the data and information on the field level activities,
• Prepare success stories, trimester, semi-annual and annual progress reports including project result framework indicators,
• Assist PCU in implementation of home nutrition gardens (HNGs), document the results of HNG on dietary diversity and consumption of nutritious food and income.
• Assist PCU to conduct on spot HNG training to members of nutrition groups and provide follow up support on seasonal vegetable production and backyard poultry/ duck rearing with the help of cluster and field level agriculture and livestock professionals,
• Assist PCU in formation and mobilization of nutrition groups, support to conduct midline, endline and other outcome surveys for tracking project achievements, 
• Undertake nutrition and BCC related project task as assigned by PMU and PCU in close coordination with TA Team Leader
• Undertake any other tasks related to nutrition and BCC as assigned by TA Team Leader.

Minimum Requirements  :  

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Human nutrition or any related field with a background in nutrition education,
• Three years of relevant experience in developing and implementing food and nutrition programmes, tools and training materials.
• Working knowledge of English, Nepali and local language (Maithali).

Technical/Functional Skills:

• Candidate should have a knowledge of computer skills (MS office package: word, excel and PowerPoint)
• Experience with similar internationally funded projects will be an added advantage.
• The ability to drive motorbike/ scooter with valid licence will be an added advantage having experience of working with multi-disciplinary team will have an advantage.
• Experience working with terai communities and nutritional enhancement of golden 1000 days mothers and children below 2 years of age will be an asset.
• Experience or knowledge of the home nutrition gardens and nutrition field schools.
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills.
• Proven ability to work with diverse stakeholders, including government bodies, nutrition groups.
• Proven track record of advising and collaborating with government institutions, stakeholders, and local government.

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2500016