Jobs at Helen Keller International, Program Officer

Location
Kinondoni, Oysterbay Dar Es Salaam

Description
Established in 1915 with Helen Keller as a founding trustee, Helen Keller International (HKI) works to save the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Headquartered in New York City, HKI currently conducts programs in 21 countries in Africa and Asia as well as in the United States. HKI is known for sustainability, reliability, efficiency and the highest level of technical expertise in fighting and treating blindness and malnutrition. To accomplish its work, HKI builds the capacity of local governmental, civil society and private sector systems and infrastructure, and promotes the development of sustained, large-scale programs that deliver effective preventative and curative services for nutrition, eye health and neglected tropical diseases.

Country Overview:

Established in 1984, the HKI-Tanzania office was the organizations first in Africa set up to provide primary eye care services in central Tanzania. HKI has since expanded its role and currently works in partnership with the Ministry of Health, TFDA, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoH), local NGO’s, and other national and international development partners in the areas of Food fortification, nutrition, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), particularly trachoma.

Scope of the Position:

HKI-Tanzania is seeking a program officer a dynamic and collaborative individual to work closely with Food Fortification Program Manager to insure effective and smooth implementation of fortification activities in project area.

Position Title: Program Officer – Food Fortification Program

Duty Station: HKI Dar es Salaam Office Reports to: Food fortification Program Manager

Primary Responsibilities:

Planning, coordination and implementation of fortification activities

• Provide technical support to the frontline health and nutrition staff including ward food inspectors and volunteers to increase their knowledge and skills on fortification and nutrition.
• Collaborate with regional and district health teams to ensure Healthcare workers are trained on context appropriate basic nutrition and fortification as one of nutrition sensitive
• Work with the district nutrition officer and the project manager to plan and coordinate interventions to strengthen millers association
• Regularly work with TFDA district focal person during supportive supervision to provide coaching and mentorship to millers who are doing fortification.
• Works with District nutrition officer to ensure all shops in project area handed with fortification posters, provided contacts of millers who are doing fortification and provided education on benefits of consuming fortified maize flour
• Work with other implementing partners to ensure millers receiving technical input and support
• Ensure social behavior change communication strategies and interventions are developed and implemented to address barriers to adoption fortification technology and consumption of fortified maize flour
• Work closely with program manager and country manager and CDC on planning implementation researches and surveys.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Work together with program manager and M&E officer in gathering, reporting and analyzing performance data for impact and sustainability of project implementation in a district.
• Support all monitoring, evaluation and research tasks and deliverables for the project and ensure that all required reports and documentation are submitted timely.
• Ensure timely preparation and submission of monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual progress reports on the status of project implementation.
• Ensure timely communication with relevant partners to the project thereby maintaining strong relationships at the district.

Networking, visibility and donor recognition

• Ensures fortification program interventions and donor are recognized by the government, partners and communities at the district.
• Develop and support effective linkages and collaborate with Key structures to include RHMT, CHMT, Community Based Organizations, other implementing partners (Ee.g SANKU) and other NGOs.
• Represent HKI-Tanzania and Participate in networking meetings/workshops/conferences with local government and other stakeholders at the district.
• Facilitate documentation and sharing of processes, challenges, good practices and lessons learnt among partners.

Financial and non-Financial resource management
Ensure program assets, materials and financial resources are well managed to ensure Stewardship and accountability.

Minimum Qualification required:

• Bachelor of Science in Home economics and human nutrition, Bachelor degree in public health, Community development, Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Technology or any other related field.
• Experience: A minimum of 3 years working experience in Health, and/or Nutrition projects at community level.

Other skills:

• Basic understanding of advocacy approaches and advocacy issues at local and national level.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English and Swahili
• Significant experience of working with government officials, community groups and communities
• Proven experience in facilitating effective project documentation and dissemination of results to a wide range of audiences. Attend and participate in the leadership of daily devotions.
• Ability to take initiatives, team player who is able to work with minimum supervision
• Basic knowledge of monitoring and Evaluation
• Basic knowledge on research
• Good computer skills in MS office (Excel, word, PowerPoint etc.)
• Familiar with current Advocacy issues around Fortification.

Working Environment / Conditions:

• Work environment: Willing to work in rural areas and be based at the, Morogoro Singida, Arusha or Manyara region in feature with frequent visits to the field
• On call: During working hours unless there is an emergency

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and current CV to Tz.recruitment@hki.org noting the position title in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until January 25, 2018.