Nutrition field Assistant – part time

Action against Hunger is an international non-governmental, private, apolitical, non-religious and non-profit organization created in 1979. Its goal is to combat hunger and dangerous situations that threaten men, women and children. Currently 500 expats and more than 5,000 employees are working for Action against Hunger in more than forty-six countries working in projects concerning four areas of focus: nutrition, health, food security and water and sanitation. 

In Lebanon, the Syrian crisis continues to generate political, social and economic pressure due to the war in Lebanon and keeps more than 1.5 million refugees in a situation of increasing vulnerability. In this environment of political, economic and social uncertainty, our teams have maintained their high levels of humanitarian response and aid to Lebanon. Likewise, our interventions have been maintained in the Bekaa and northern areas, as well as in the south of the country, with a special focus on working in partnership or in consortium with other organizations and on institutional strengthening of the relationship with both donors. institutional, such as with local authorities and entities. 

Under the supervision of the Infant and Young Child Feeding in emergency (IYCF-E) the Nutrition Field Assistant is responsible for planning, implementing and monitoring nutrition activities, with a particular focus on screening of children, pregnant, and lactating women, distribute nutrition supplies, and conduct awareness sessions. The Nutrition Field  Assistant will ensure proper coordination and collaboration with shelters focal points, PHCCs, NGOs, beneficiaries and related Action Against Hunger departments.  The Nutrition Field Assistant will work hand in hand with IYCF-E and community mobilizers to achieve the objectives of the project.

Objective 1: To support the identification of implementing sites to establish screening and prevention of wasting (20%) 

Under the supervision of the IYCF-E, the Nutrition Assistant will assist in assessing on a regular basis nutritional status of children and pregnant and lactating women, this will include anthropometric measurements, and screening for other needs such as IYCF and care practices amongst the targeted communities in the areas of interventions.

Assist in mapping the nutrition partners and Primary Health Care Centers PHCCs in the targeted areas for better coordination and referral pathway  

Refer the cases of wasting and those at risk of wasting through collaboration with the nearest PHCCs in the targeted areas 

Provide caregivers of children between 6-59 months, pregnant, and lactating women with the nutrition supplies as per sector’s SoPs; Multiple Micronutrients Powder (MNPs), High Energy Biscuits (HEB),and other nutrition supplies to improve intake of micronutrients  and avoid malnutrition 

Assist in applying the essential monitoring mechanisms.

Support in conducting assessments and surveys throughout the project (rapid assessments, pre/posttests, baseline/endline, vulnerability assessments, etc.) as needed

Conduct and follow up on referrals requested by the caregivers on nutrition, health, WASH, mental health, food security, protection, etc. 

Objective 2: Identification of malnutrition through appropriate data collection (60%)

Screen pregnant and lactating women using mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) tapes and refer in accordance with the nutrition sector guidance to the nearest treatment centre

Identify the different types of malnutrition among children in the areas of interventions through screening weight, length and MUAC on monthly bases, following internal and WHO guidance.  

Ensure that the absent and defaulters in the nutrition program are followed 

Participate in the training of the Community Mobilizers to support the team in the screening 

Follow up with Community Mobilizers on the essential nutrition activities (awareness sessions and assessments) 

Ensure that a referral system is well establish for children detected with wasting or at risk of wasting in accordance with the nutrition sector guidance

Report any challenges faced through the implementation process and provide possible solutions relevant to the context and culture as well as best practices and lessons learned

Objective 3: Assist in management aspects of the programme (10%)

Ensure that the nutrition programme consumable commodities including rations, therapeutic nutritional treatment, and equipment are well managed and in accordance with Action Against Hunger logistical guidelines

Assist in the identification of gaps in programme management and training needs to be met.

Ensure the smooth and proper running of routine programme activities 

Ensure that performance indicators in nutrition are properly measured.

Provide a weekly planning for the Community screening and awareness activities  

Submit weekly and monthly report to the line manager

Objective 4: Support humanitarian activities of Action Against Hunger (10%)

Support the emergency interventions of the organization as per the employee’s abilities.

Support any activity that helps reaching our humanitarian goals, as per the employee’s abilities.

To uphold the Core Humanitarian Principles of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality and the Action Against Hunger Code of Conduct,

Objective – Security

Respect the security rules specified in the mission and base security plan, see to it that the team under his/her responsibility complies with the security plan and perform the security management tasks that can be assigned in its protocols.

Communicate to the security managers of the working location any security related information or noncompliance with the security plan

Objective 8: Gender & Safeguarding (cross-cutting)

Promote safe and equitable environments, through knowledge and application of the protocol against harassment and gender policy.

Knowledge and compliance with safeguarding policy.

Promote gender equality within the humanitarian and/or development work

Action against Hunger is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work such as but not limited to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and/or financial misconduct; We expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through endorsing our code of conduct and other related policies and only those who share our values and code of conduct will be recruited to work for us.