Nutrition & Livelihoods Officer

Job Summary

The Nutrition and Livelihoods Officer provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for integrated nutrition and livelihoods programmes/projects within the Country Programme, from development planning to delivery of results. In doing so, the incumbent implements a variety of technical and administrative programme tasks to facilitate programme development, implementation, progress monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of results – ensuring that nutrition interventions are complemented by livelihoods and food security initiatives that address underlying economic vulnerabilities and support sustainable outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

1. VitaMeal Program Leadership & Supply Chain Management

• Support the entire VitaMeal pipeline, from coordinating with the central warehouse on dispatches to ensuring timely and documented distribution to all CBCCs within the cluster.
• Liaise with logistics staff and transport providers to plan and execute distribution routes, ensuring timely deliveries to prevent stock-outs at CBCCs.
• Implement a stringent system of audits at CBCCs and any intermediate storage points. Meticulously reconcile physical stock counts with distribution records, waybills, and CBCC logbooks to ensure absolute accountability and prevent any misuse or diversion.
• Closely monitor consumption rates and stock levels at each CBCC to forecast needs accurately and initiate timely replenishment orders, minimizing both stock-outs and overstocking.

2. CBCC Capacity Building & Program Quality Assurance

• Facilitate comprehensive and recurring training for CBCC management committees and caregivers on safe storage, hygienic preparation, and record keeping and reporting.
• Lead practical cooking demonstrations for caregivers and parents to promote correct preparation and showcase how to integrate locally available foods for enhanced nutrition.
• Work with CBCCs to ensure they meet minimum standards for receiving VitaMeal, including the availability of a secure storage space (e.g., locked, weatherproof store), a functional kitchen with clean cooking facilities, and safe water sources.

3. Nutrition-Specific Programming

• Champion the quality and regularity of growth monitoring sessions at CBCCs and outreach sites. Train staff on accurately measuring and interpreting data to identify cases of Moderate and Severe Acute Malnutrition (MAM/SAM).
• Establish and manage clear referral pathways to ensure children identified with MAM/SAM are promptly referred to health facilities or CMAM programs for treatment.
• Promote the integration of lessons on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF), Community Complementary Feeding and Learning Lessons (CCFLS) and dietary diversity into CBCC activities and caregiver meetings.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners, and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of Feed the Children international mission impact strategies and best practices on nutrition-related issues to support programme implementation, operations and delivery of results
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss operational and implementation issues. Provide solutions, recommendations and/or alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decision-making. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.

4. Integration of Livelihoods for Resilience

• Support the establishment of gardens at CBCCs to serve as learning sites for caregivers.
• Promote the cultivation of nutrient-rich vegetables to diversify the children’s diets and provide a model for homestead gardens.
• Facilitate access to seeds and training for climate-smart agriculture (e.g., drought-resistant crops) to help families of enrolled children produce more food.
• Promote the establishment of VSLAs to improve household financial resilience, enabling families to better cope with shocks and invest in their children’s well-being, thereby reducing dependence on emergency food support.
• Integrate targeted livelihoods initiatives that support the sustainability of nutrition outcomes by addressing underlying economic vulnerabilities.

5. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with nutrition sector government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve programme goals on maternal and child rights as well as social justice and equity.
• Participate in appropriate technical working group meetings and events on programming to collaborate with partners and colleagues on operational planning and preparation of nutrition programmes/projects.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.

6. Monitoring, Knowledge Management, Compliance & Reporting

• Track key VitaMeal-specific performance indicators (e.g., distribution accuracy, stock-out rates, consumption per child, audit results).
• Identify, capture, synthesize, and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders
• Prepare precise and timely reports on VitaMeal program performance, highlighting accountability measures, challenges, and successes for internal and donor review.
• Ensure all program activities strictly adhere to child safeguarding policies. Implement community-based feedback and reporting mechanisms (e.g., suggestion boxes) to ensure transparency and accountability to beneficiaries.
• Conduct and update the situation analysis for the programme sector(s) for the development, design and management of nutrition related programmes/projects. Research and report on development trends (e.g. political social, economic, nutrition, health) for higher management use to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery of results

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Food / Family Science, Public Health, Agriculture, Agribusiness, Social Sciences, or a closely related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience managing community-based nutrition programs with a strong focus on commodity accountability, preferably within an NGO.
  • Essential: Extensive, hands-on experience in managing and auditing the distribution of food commodities (like VitaMeal, CSB, or other fortified blends).
  • Essential: Proven experience in supply chain and logistics management in a field-based context.
  • Essential: Demonstrated experience in training and mentoring community structures (e.g., CBCC committees, caregivers) on food management and hygiene protocols.
  • Highly Desirable: Experience in integrating nutrition-sensitive agriculture or VSLAs into nutrition programming.
• Licensure: A valid motorcycle riding license and proven experience riding in rural terrain is mandatory.
• Technical Skills: High proficiency in data collection, analysis, and reporting; advanced skills in Microsoft Excel for tracking and reconciliation; strong computer skills.

Core Competencies and Personal Attributes

• Unimpeachable Integrity: Demonstrated commitment to accountability and transparency, with a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and misuse of resources.
• Meticulous Attention to Detail: Exceptional accuracy in record-keeping, auditing, and stock management.
• Leadership & Problem-Solving: Ability to inspire compliance with procedures and solve logistical challenges in remote areas.
• Communication: Excellent training and facilitation skills. Fluency in English and Chichewa. Proficiency in local languages of the assigned cluster is essential.
• Resilience & Adaptability: Ability to work independently in a demanding field environment with minimal supervision.
• Commitment to Safeguarding: A deep commitment to the well-being and protection of children.

Safeguarding Policy

FEED strives to provide an environment free from sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment in all places where relief and development programs are implemented. FEED holds a zero-tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment. FEED expects its employees to maintain high ethical standards, protect organizational integrity and reputation, and ensure that FEED work is carried out in honest and fair methods, in alignment with the FEED Heartbeat and safeguarding and associated policies. Violations of the stated policies will be subject to corrective action up to and including termination of employment.