Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 99 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality and works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs. CRS has been helping poor, vulnerable families improve their lives through orphans and vulnerable children, agriculture, health, microfinance, and WASH programming in Kenya since 1965.

Job Summary:

The Project Officer – Health and Nutrition will support the implementation of the project through coordinating with partner teams to oversee day to day management of health and nutrition project activities in Turkana County. S/he is expected to support partner teams to ensure smooth and timely projects start-up, implementation and close-out in Turkana in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. S/he will be responsible to ensure integration of ECHO funded project deliverables on nutrition and health, and CRS funded projects and further advance CRS’ interventions in serving the poor and vulnerable communities in county.

Job Responsibilities:

• In close collaboration with the Local Implementing Partners (LIPS), provide technical support and oversee ECHO funded project in Turkana to ensure timely and quality programming.
• Ensure that program strategic objectives and results under health and nutrition sectors meet the expected technical quality standards and are timely accomplished.
• Support the RDRR Manager to ensure accurate and timely projects management and reporting of project sectors milestones, identify implementation bottlenecks and recommend appropriate actions.
• Attend relevant Health and Nutrition coordination meetings, prepare, and submit weekly project sectors update situation reports to the RDRRM Manager
• Contribute to knowledge management and learning through collecting and analyzing program data, evaluating strategic projects, assisting with measuring program impact, capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices, and research and internal reports.
• Closely work with CRS and partner MEAL staff to ensure quality reporting, provide timely supportive supervision to ensure intertied programming throughout the project lifecycle – start-up, implementation, and close-out – in line with CRS’ program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Responsible for preparation of monthly projects performance trends analysis reports and disseminating results with partners and CRS and donor requirements.
• Review project documentation to ensure project implementation is consistent with CRS and donor requirements.
• In liaison with Ministry of Health and County government, organize TOT training for Caritas/Ministry of Health staff and community health volunteers on nutrition system strengthening including Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition, Maternal and Young Child Nutrition in Emergencies.
• Coordinate with Caritas and ministry of health to promote Maternal and Young Child Nutrition in Emergencies through community outreach services and other channels.
• Ensure availability and distribution of IEC materials, nutrition protocols and supplies, reporting tools etc. at health facility and Community Level.
• Coordinate and maintain strong partnerships with other actors in health and nutrition at sub-county and community levels.
• In consultation with Caritas and the subcounty nutrition focal point organize mobile integrated mobile clinics.
• Promote integration of nutrition in FSL; Cash transfer for vulnerable household layering with other stakeholders.
• Support IMAM and MIYCN/E activities in Turkana County
• Develop program driven monitoring schedules in collaboration with the Implementing Partners (IP).
• Oversee procurement, storage and rational use of project health and nutrition supplies as per CRS and donor guidelines.
• Assist the RDRR manager to standardize health and nutrition Data Quality, Audit and Assurance
• Monitor and report any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Assist local implementing partners (LIPs) in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.
• Proactively track budget expenditures against set activities and timelines at the partner’s level
• Support the RDRR Conduct monthly budget and financial report reviews to facilitate proper tracking of resource use against project implementation.
• Review sub-agreements and partner advances to ensure partner liquidations are on time and all expenditures are admissible according to the approved budget and donor agreement in collaboration with Finance and Risk & Compliance staff..
• Review donor agreement to ensure upcoming due dates for financial reports or finalized in as per agreed upon timeline.
• Assist the RDRR to provide relevant and contextualized technical direction and inputs for design of new health and nutrition projects.
• Track portfolio and project MEAL requirements – both CRS MEAL Policies and Procedures (MPP) and donor requirements.
• Work with MEAL staff and partner staff to implement the MPP and donor MEAL requirements applicable to the project.
• Complete the annual MEAL procedure self-assessment for your project and develop action plan to advance MEAL practice.

QUALIFICATIONS

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition & Dietetics
• Minimum of 3-4 years’ experience in managing moderately complex health and nutrition programs in ASAL region, preferably with an international NGO.
• Experience delivering primary health care in resource constrained environments.
• Demonstrated experience delivering health care in conflict settings and ASAL areas.
• Relevant grant management experience, especially for USG or other public donors, a plus.
• Experience working with stakeholders at various levels and strengthening community partnerships.
• Demonstrated experience contributing to the development of project design and technical proposals, a plus.
• Experience analyzing data and contributing to evaluation reports.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.

Personal Skills

• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members
• Ability to inspire teamwork among diverse partners without direct supervisory responsibilities.
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented

Required/Desired Foreign Language:

• Fluent English and Kiswahili

Travel Required:

• 25% to project sites outside Lodwar.

Key Working Relationships:

• Supervisory: None
• Internal: Head of Office; RDRR Manager, MEAL Manager, RTA nutrition.
• External:  Implementing partners, Health and Nutrition working group, County government; ACF Team and technical leadership staff.

Agency-wide REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff)  

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability
• Acts with Integrity
• Builds and Maintains Trust
• Collaborates with Others
• Open to Learn
• Strategic Mindset
• Develops and Recognizes Others
• Leads Change