Vacancy Title: Nutritionist (3 posts)- RACIDA

Job Location: Mandera County, Kenya

Contract Details: Six (6) months

Job Summary:

Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance (RACIDA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance self-reliance and prosperity amongst vulnerable (Agro)-pastoralist communities living in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands through the promotion of better livelihood systems, sustainable use of natural resources, and community empowerment. RACIDA began operations in Kenya in 2001 in the arid lands of Northern Kenya (Mandera and Wajir) and has since expanded its multi-sector operations throughout the region in Ethiopia (Liben zone) and Somalia (Gedo region). RACIDA seeks to consistently implement highly integrated, contextually appropriate, community-based programming. Our programs are part of a comprehensive strategy that sets local communities across the Mandera Triangle at the center of their development trajectory.

RACIDA is collaborating with the County government of Mandera to implement the USAID/BHA-funded project “Integrated emergency response to the triple crisis of drought, COVID-19, and desert locusts in Mandera County, Kenya (IETC)”. The project encompasses the nutrition, WASH, agriculture, and food assistance sectors. Within the Nutrition Sector, RACIDA is working closely with the Ministry of Health (MoH) to implement the emergency nutrition project in six sub-counties (Lafey, Mandera North, Mandera East, Banisa, Mandera South, and Mandera West). Due to the ongoing drought and severe food insecurity at the household level, the number of children under the age of five and pregnant and lactating women in need of nutritional support has increased, placing a strain on the available health personnel. RACIDA, in collaboration with the County Ministry of Health, is recruiting an additional emergency surge staff for a period of six months to support the provision of quality nutrition and health services to beneficiaries.

The nutritionists will be posted by the County MoH to high-volume health facilities with HR gaps within the six sub-counties where RACIDA is implementing the emergency nutrition project. Under the direct technical supervision of the County MOH, the emergency surge staff will provide nutrition services in the target health facilities and outreach sites as per the standard MoH guidelines.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Providing nutrition services including nutritional assessments and provision of micronutrients in health care facilities and outreach sites.
• Collating and analyzing nutrition data.
• Counselling clients/patients with specific nutritional needs.
• Implementing and monitoring outpatient supplementary and therapeutic feeding programs.
• Promoting Maternal Infants and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) programs.
• Conducting nutritional and health education and demonstrations.
• Supervising and implementing baby-friendly community initiatives
• Assessing and reviewing nutrition referral cases.
• Ensuring proper use and keeping records of nutrition supplies.
• Preparing daily, weekly, and monthly nutrition reports in health care facilities/outreach sites.
• Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Requirements

• At least a Diploma in Community Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition, or Nutrition and Dietetics or higher from a recognized institution;
• Registration by the Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute (KNDI); and
• At least one year of experience.