Nutrition Program Intern at Helen Keller International

Scope of the Position

The Nutrition Intern will support nutrition interventions which include micronutrient supplementation in 21LGAs and nutrition-specific and sensitive activities such as integrated management of acute malnutrition, maternal infant and young child nutrition, and water, sanitation and hygiene in any of Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Ebonyi, Kebbi and Sokoto States.

 Specific responsibilities

• Provide supportive supervision of middle upper arm circumference screening for children under 5 conducted by Health workers in target communities.
• With support from the Program Officer/Program Associate, ensure quality of food cooking demonstration sessions are conducted in line with global best practice in supported communities.
• Ensure integration of community nutrition interventions including Measuring mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) screening and referral, Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN), Mother Support Groups (MSGs), food demonstrations), and hygiene promotion.
• Build the capacity of community volunteers (model moms) by providing on-the-job training on mother led-MUAC, and MIYCN.
• Support awareness creation for the uptake of Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS).
• With support from other project staff, conduct nutrition assessment/surveys as approved by the donor.
• Support the implementation of the nutrition-sensitive agriculture activities of the project in the state through establishment of home and communal gardens to enhance homestead food production.
• Raise community awareness on consumption of safe, diversified, nutrient dense, fortified and nutritionally adequate foods.
• Work with the agricultural extension agents to ensure the adoption and practice of good agricultural approaches in food production.
• Support capacity building and provide technical support to beneficiaries on nutrition-sensitive agriculture issues including home gardening, dietary diversification and nutrient dense diets, food preparation and utilization, best practices
• Support quality data collection of activities conducted in the communities.
• Support the development and sharing of success stories from project implementation.
• Actively engage with and maintain relationships with relevant government ministries and departments and nutrition working groups.
• Support in Planning and facilitation of advocacy and awareness creation on the project to officials in government, private sector, academia, research institutions and civil society, to gain their support for nutrition interventions.
• Support information sharing and knowledge management on the project, including documenting and sharing lessons learned on implementation among project team members and relevant stakeholders.
• Support the writing of timely activity report (weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual) on the progress of the project in line with donor requirements.
• Any other additional responsibility as communicated by the supervisor

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in the field of nutrition, agriculture, public health or any related field.
• At least 1year experience implementing and nutrition and nutrition-sensitive interventions in Nigeria 
• At least 1year experience implementing nutrition
• Experience in Nutrition and community-based programming will be an added advantage
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to be respectful, kind, sensitive, and empathize with all beneficiaries
• Good communication skills (verbal and written).
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Understands and speak local language of the state fluently
• Acceptable IT Skills