JOB OPPORTUNITY

Health and Nutrition System Officer

Department/Project/PN: The Mother and Child Wellbeing Partnership Program (MCWPP)
Workstation: Project Districts
Incumbent’s Name: Vacant
Supervisor/Principal Evaluator/Title: Specialist Health System Strengthening / Food and Nutrition System Strengthening Specialist

BACKGROUND

CARE Nepal is a not-for profit organization that works across the spectrum of humanitarian action and long-term development programs to address gender-based violence, women and girls’ leadership and voice, inclusive governance, sexual & reproductive health, livelihoods, food and nutrition security, disaster risk reduction, and climate change. It draws on its global experience to address the underlying causes of poverty and social injustice, with a distinct focus on the most marginalized and vulnerable women and adolescent girls. It works in partnerships with state agencies, donors, NGOs, civil society organizations, research institutes, private sectors, and also closely collaborates with community members. It currently has presence in all seven provinces of Nepal.

The Mother and Child Wellbeing Partnership Program (MCWPP) in Nepal will be implemented in Sudurpaschim, Karnali, Lumbini, and Madhesh Provinces, targeting six districts with high rates of poverty, poor health and nutrition outcomes, and high rates of food and nutrition insecurity. The MCWPP aims to improve the wellbeing of children and their mothers in targeted districts of Nepal. Activities aim to strengthen the health system; improve care and feeding practices; increase household food security; promote food safety and hygiene; and promote women’s empowerment and leadership.

JOB SUMMARY

Health Systems Strengthening Officer, (HSS) will be responsible for providing technical support to the district project and partner team in the process of planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and advocacy of Mother and Child Wellbeing Partnership Program’s (MCWPP) health and nutrition approaches and activities under the health system strengthening component. The Incumbent will be closely working with the provincial technical team included health, food and nutrition and water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in designing packages and implementing maternal and child health and nutrition (MCHN) and health system strengthening activities at local and district level. The HSS Officer duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES:

In collaboration with the project’s provincial leadership and other technical specialists, support district-based partner organizations to implement project’s health system strengthening activities, including activities to support district and municipal level policymakers on quality improvement of health and nutrition services.
Support local health system to plan and manage functioning health systems – with emphasis on health and nutrition policy development and implementation, strategic planning, approaches to equity in MCHN service delivery
Provide technical mentoring and facilitation support to the partner’s staff and ensure that all the planned activities related to the health system are implemented effectively and efficiently.
Participate in and facilitate district and municipal level annual reviews and project planning.
Ensure that health systems related interventions are well coordinated with other project components like food and nutrition system, gender and social behaviour change communication and WASH, including evidence generation and use
Responsible for ensuring the achievement of expected outcomes and quality review/assurance in the area of health and nutrition systems strengthening and governance.
Advocate for local policies that support the integration of maternal and child nutrition services within the broader health system.
Support and facilitate social behavior change communication and community mobilization activities for improved health and nutrition behavior.
Engage with local government to influence policy changes and ensure alignment with international standards and best practices in maternal and child nutrition.
Analyze the strengths and areas of improvement of the health and nutrition systems to address issues of women, poor and the excluded and enhance gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) integration.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT:

Collaborate with key stakeholders, including government health agencies, NGOs, and community-based organizations, to assess their capacity and involvement in maternal and child nutrition programs.
Build and maintain strong partnerships with local government to facilitate effective implementation of health system strengthening activities.
Support the district local health system in development and implementation of capacitybuilding programs for health workers, focusing on MCHN, to enhance their knowledge and skills.

CAPACITY BUILDING :

Develop capacity development plan for partners, local government, relevant stakeholders, and communities and execute it.
Support partner organization to prepare agriculture development and nutrition behavior change related training plans, curriculum, training materials and training reports.
Engagement and support capacity enhancement of different committees and other relevant platforms at different levels.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION:

Support project monitoring and evaluation team to implement monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track the impact of health and nutrition system strengthening interventions of the project.

DOCUMENTATION AND REPORTING:

Ensure accurate and timely submission of all required technical reporting and deliverables for the health systems strengthening component of the project.
Document best practices and lessons learned for future reference and dissemination.

UPHOLDING CARE’s CORE VALUES AND ESURING ITS PRINCIPLES

Link and demonstrate CARE Nepal’s core values, programming principles, strategic objects, gender equity, diversity and inclusion in programming and behaviors.
Comply and exercise organizational values and culture.
Help to promote rights and good governance.
Responsible for gender responsive behavior in all actions and decisions.
Demonstrate positive behaviors following CARE code of conduct and uphold implementation of CARE Safeguarding policy at all levels.
Conduct awareness raising on CARE Safeguarding policy, feedback and accountability channels and code of conduct.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree preferably bachelor’s degree in public health, nursing or related field
Minimum of 3 years of experience working in health system strengthening, with a focus on maternal and child health and nutrition.
Experience in project implementation and health systems strengthening in Nepal.
Strong understanding of Nepal’s health system and policies related to maternal and child nutrition.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
Fluency in English and Nepali languages.
Ability to independently plan and execute complex tasks while addressing daily management details and remaining organized and focused on long-term deadlines and strategy.
Willingness to work at district level, with at least 50% field visits in hill and mountain municipalities.