Nutrition Champion At Development Exchange Centre

Development Exchange Centre (DEC) is a non-governmental, non-discriminating, women-focused organization improving the wellbeing of women groups and communities in Nigeria through socio-economic interventions for sustainable development.

DEC was established in November 1987 due to joint research conducted by the Canadian University Services Overseas (CUSO) and the Adult and Non-Formal Education Agency (ANFEA) Bauchi State.

Job Profile

Department: Social Services
Opening Date: August 28, 2025
Closing Date: September 06, 2025
Reports to: Case Manager/Health and Nutrition Technical Officer
Project Duration: 12 months

Locations: Bauchi State– Bauchi, Dass, Ningi, Jama ’are, Toro, Katagum, Misau, Zaki, Warji, Alkaleri LGAs
Nasarawa State– Akwanga, Awe, Keana, Lafia, Obi, Kokona, Nasarawa LGAs.

Background

Development Exchange Centre (DEC) is a Partner to CARE International in the implementation of CAtalyzing Strengthened policy aCtion for heAlthy Diets and resiliencE (CASCADE) Project, CASCADE Project is a Program being implemented by CARE International and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) with funding from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. CASCADE is a 4.5year (2022-2026) Program implemented across six countries (Nigeria, Benin, Mozambique, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda). In Nigeria the Program aims to strengthen nutrition systems that contribute to ending malnutrition for 1.1 million women of reproductive age and children under the age of 15 and is being implemented in the State of Bauchi, Jigawa, Kebbi and Nasarawa States.

Purpose of the Role:

To promote optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices, facilitate nutrition counseling, and support community-level awareness and referrals in alignment with the CASCADE project goals. Nutrition champions focus on educating, supporting, and linking community members to nutrition services. Their work is vital in preventing malnutrition, encouraging behavior change, and promoting healthy diets.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supports Community Led Advocacy Sensitization/Stakeholders engagement by raising awareness on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, appropriate complementary feeding after 6 months and promoting consumption of Cascade Food value chain (Orange Fleshed Sweet potatoes-OFSP, Gboma Sika, Soya Beans among other foods) during pregnancy and lactation.
• Engaging traditional and religious leaders to champion behavioral change in dietary practices.
• Support Community Led Advocacy for Nutrition services at community levelSupport community awareness on hygiene practices using Key Household Hygiene PracticesWork with Community Quality Improvement team facilitators to support hygiene improvement at household’s level.
• Teaches families on how to prepare nutritious meals using local foods such as Orange Fleshed Sweet potatoes-OFSP, Gboma Sika, Soya Beans among other foods), hygiene and safe food handling, the signs of malnutrition and when to seek help.
• Supports women access Antenatal Care Services at facilities/community Nutrition Education session on practices through facilitating Radio listening groups for SBCCFacilitating town hall sensitizations.
• Supporting local women’s groups (VSLA, SILC) to drive household-level nutrition improvements.
• Improve child diets quality through promoting local practices.
• Visits pregnant women and caregivers of young children at home to reinforce key nutrition messages using IEC Materials, encourage attendance at antenatal care or growth monitoring sessions, provide counseling on breastfeeding, child feeding, and maternal nutrition, assess hygiene practices and support households on improvement practices, complete home visitation tools and report to the Case Managers and facilitate follow up groups and escalate.
• Assists health workers during monthly weighing and screening sessions, help record children’s weight and Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) periodic after every 6 months, explain results to caregivers and encourage them to act if a child is at risk, track and report facility-based Growth monitoring data and other data that may be assigned. Facilitates Mother-to-Mother Support Groups where women can share experiences, learn from each other, support one another in practicing good nutrition, grown Cascade Food value chain for consumption and support women knowledge improvement through facilitating / delivering IYCF messaging leveraging VSLA Meetings.
•  Identifies and refer malnourished children or pregnant/lactating women with nutritional risk to health facilities, supplementary feeding programs, Case Managers or other services and work closely with SAA Champions to compliment behavior shift for women. Encourages households to grow their own nutritious foods (like vegetables or fruits) to improve diet diversity and promote uptake and utilizations of food recipes. Keeps simple records of households visited, referrals made, community meetings conducted and data reporting.
• Report activities to the Case Manager or Health and Nutrition Technical Officer

Qualifications and Experience for the position:

• Minimum of SSCE/WAEC. Certificate in Community Health, Nutrition, or Social Mobilization is an added advantage.
• Previous experience as a community volunteer or health worker is highly desirable.
• Good communication and facilitation skills in the local language.
• Strong knowledge of cultural practices related to maternal and child nutrition.
• Passionate about community development and improving child health.
• Must have previous experience in managing community health/nutrition platforms.
• Must be community based and known among stakeholders and community members.
• Preferably a community-based health practitioner, dietitians, health worker, CHIPS etc.

Note:

• DEC is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.
•  Only applications submitted through the given channel and within the given period will be considered.
• Applicants must be residents of the project implementing LGAs to be eligible for this job offer.
• We welcome applications from qualified applicants and particularly encourage women to apply.
• DEC brings to the attention of the public that applying for any position is free of charge. No processing fee is required for your application.
• You are not to give any kind of gratification to submit your application.
• Any person found to be paying for or giving any form of gratification will be disqualified. You are requested to report any person demanding/giving payment or gratification for either submitting or processing the forms via [email protected].
• Only successful candidates will be contacted at every stage.

How To Apply

DEC is asking suitably qualified candidates to forward their detailed resume/CV and cover letter in a single file to: [email protected] in a word document or PDF format (as any other format would not be considered) using the Job Title as the subject of the email.