Organization: International Medical Corps (IMC)
Location: Damboa, Borno State
Employment Type: Full-time
Application Closing Date: Not Specified (Rolling Basis)
POSITION OVERVIEW
International Medical Corps (IMC) is seeking a proactive and community-oriented Nutrition Assistant to support our life-saving nutrition programming in Damboa. This role is responsible for the field-level implementation of nutrition projects, ensuring that all services—from health facilities to mobile outreach teams—adhere to IMC standards and national protocols. You will be instrumental in bridging the gap between clinical treatment and community-based prevention, working closely with health workers and community volunteers to combat acute malnutrition.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Program Implementation & Supervision
- CMAM & IYCF Support: Assist in all Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) activities at both health facilities and community levels.
- Supportive Supervision: Conduct regular field visits to supervise CMAM/IYCF activities, ensuring high-quality service delivery and collecting weekly/monthly reports.
- Outreach Integration: Work with Health and WASH teams to ensure nutrition messaging is integrated into all health facility and outreach activities.
2. Training & Capacity Building
- Gap Analysis: Assess training needs for health facility workers and Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) regarding CMAM and IYCF-E.
- Volunteer Mentorship: Train CHVs on MUAC screening, nutrition reporting, and hygiene messaging, ensuring they can effectively communicate key health messages to the community.
3. Supply & Data Management
- Stock Monitoring: Ensure that mobile teams and health facilities have adequate nutrition supplies for the treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM).
- M&E Collaboration: Work with the M&E section to collect monthly data, ensuring proper filing and documentation of all project activities.
4. Community Accountability
- Feedback Loops: Establish and manage community feedback mechanisms, ensuring that issues raised by the affected population are documented and responded to by the program team in a timely manner.
CANDIDATE SPECIFICATIONS
Education & Experience
- Qualification: Diploma in Nutrition, Nursing, or a related field.
- Experience: Minimum of 3 years of experience in CMAM and IYCF-E (Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies).
- Administrative Background: 2+ years of relevant experience in administrative work within health or nutrition programs.
- NGO Context: Previous experience working for an international NGO is highly preferred.
Skills & Competencies
- Language: Strong written and spoken English skills; ability to write technical reports in English is mandatory. Fluency in local languages (and Arabic as per the requirement) is essential for community engagement.
- Mobility: Ability and willingness to travel frequently to project sites and hard-to-reach areas within Damboa.
- Communication: Strong organizational and presentation skills; ability to respond effectively to inquiries from senior field management.
METHOD OF APPLICATION
Interested and qualified candidates should apply via the IMC online recruitment portal.
International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering.
Success Blueprint: Nutrition Assistant (IMC Damboa)
The Nutrition Assistant role is the “engine room” of field operations. IMC is looking for someone who is technically sound in CMAM but also exceptional at managing people and supplies in a fluid environment.
1. Highlight “CMAM” Technical Depth
The job requires 3 years of experience in CMAM and IYCF-E.
- The Strategy: On your CV, don’t just list these as skills. Describe your experience in managing OTP (Outpatient Therapeutic Program) and SFP (Supplementary Feeding Program).
- Keywords: “MUAC screening,” “SAM/MAM management,” “RUTF/RUSF supply chain,” and “Plumpy’Nut distribution.”
2. Focus on “Supportive Supervision”
A major part of this job is supervising others (health facility staff and volunteers).
- Success Factor: Show that you can lead without being a “boss.”
- Action: Highlight your experience in mentoring Community Health Volunteers (CHVs). Mention any specific training you have organized or facilitated for local health workers.
3. Supply Chain Vigilance
In Damboa, a stockout of RUTF (Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food) can be fatal for patients.
- Pro-Tip: Emphasize your “organizational skills.” Discuss how you track “burn rates” of nutrition supplies and how you ensure mobile teams never go into the field empty-handed.
4. Community Feedback Mechanisms
IMC places high value on Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP).
- The Detail: The job description mentions creating “feedback mechanism pathways.”
- Action: Mention any experience you have in managing suggestion boxes, community town halls, or help desks. Showing that you listen to the community makes you a high-value candidate for IMC.
5. Multi-Sectoral Integration
Nutrition doesn’t happen in a vacuum—it is linked to WASH and Health.
- Strategy: Discuss how you have worked with WASH teams (e.g., teaching handwashing alongside breastfeeding) or Health teams (e.g., ensuring malnourished children are screened for malaria).
6. Final Application Checklist
- [ ] Language Skills: The job mentions English and Arabic. If you speak Arabic, Hausa, or Kanuri, list these prominently.
- [ ] Report Writing: Can you write a clear, concise weekly report? Ensure your cover letter reflects this writing ability.
- [ ] Travel Readiness: Damboa requires frequent field travel. Ensure you state your willingness to be mobile.
- [ ] Rolling Basis: This position is likely to be filled quickly. Submit your online application today.
You are the link between IMC’s resources and the children who need them. Apply with energy.