Nutrition Specialist - CARE International

CARE began operations in Ghana in 1994 by working to educate mining areas about sexual health and the prevention of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. CARE Ghana now works with more than 40 partner organizations to implement a portfolio of projects worth about US$9 million annually in 150 districts across the country, from our main office in Accra and sub-offices in Kumasi, Sunyani and Tamale.

For 30 years, CARE has been working in Ghana to improve livelihoods and achieve social justice through interventions that address the underlying causes of poverty. Our programming focuses on food and nutrition security and social and economic empowerment, with women and youth as our impact group.

Job Description

CARE Ghana is excited to invite your applications for new job openings in our programs and operations. Not only do we offer exceptional opportunities for career growth for Ghanaians especially women and young people, but we are also proud to welcome talented people such as yourself into the global CARE community where our core values of Transformation, Integrity, Diversity, Equality and Excellence are the benchmarks against which we measure ourselves as leaders and employees

If you share these values and our passion for saving lives, defeating poverty, and achieving social justice, then CARE Ghana is the place for you. We hire and nurture great people from diverse backgrounds, abilities, and identities, striving every day and at all levels to build and sustain an inclusive workplace and a sense of belonging for our teams. Your wellbeing and satisfaction with your job in CARE Ghana matter as much to us as your performance.  Our compensation and benefits package are generous, and we offer flexible working conditions to enable you to enjoy life outside of work, and as part of our commitment to equity.

At CARE, we recognize that skills and expertise can come from a range of experiences from work and life, in addition to education or past job titles. As such, we welcome applications from dynamic, curious, and creative Ghanaians with a passion for learning and problem-solving.

Interested? If yes, please see details of the job opening below:

Job Title: Nutrition Specialist

Duty Station: Tamale, Northern Region

The Fill the Nutrition Gap (FNGA) initiative is funded by Latter Day Saint Charities and aims to improve the availability and consumption of nutritious foods and reduce anemia in women, children, and in their families and communities at addressing the pressing issue of malnutrition among vulnerable populations in 13 districts in both Northern and Southern Ghana. With a focus on increasing the availability, access, and consumption of diverse and nutritious foods, as well as essential Iron and Folic Acid supplements (IFA), the project targets women, adolescents, and children in households identified as particularly susceptible to malnutrition.

The FNGAP Project is leveraging on Farmer Field and Business School (FFBS) approach to build the skills of 19,800 members of 5,500 households engaged in crop and small livestock production necessary to increase production and profitability, improve resilience, adapt to climate change, diversify diets and boost nutrition. Additionally, the project will reach out to 35,000 adolescent girls across the 13 project districts with IFA supplements and promote healthy diets & lifestyles among the target groups.

The Nutrition Specialist will be instrumental in designing and implementing evidence-based interventions that address the root causes of malnutrition, taking into account local contexts, cultural practices, and socio-economic factors.

Key responsibilities of the Nutrition Specialist will include developing and implementing nutrition-sensitive agriculture initiatives, conducting assessments to identify gaps and barriers to dietary diversity, providing technical guidance to project staff and partners, and monitoring and evaluating the impact of nutrition interventions. Additionally, the Nutrition Specialist will collaborate closely with government agencies, local organizations, and community leaders to ensure the sustainability and scalability of nutrition interventions beyond the project's duration.

S/he will report directly to the Project Manager and will be based in the Northern Sector Office, Tamale and cover project implementation districts in Northern, Northeast and Savannah Regions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ROLE

Needs Assessment 

• Conduct thorough assessments on the nutritional status, dietary habits, and specific vulnerabilities of the target population, including adolescents and children.
• Provide technical and planning support to design and coordinate, food availability surveys, consumption studies, and other nutrition related studies.
• Explore cultural beliefs, traditions, and practices related to food and nutrition, as well as socioeconomic factors such as income, education, and employment status that may influence dietary choices and nutritional outcomes.

Program Development and Planning 

• Develop comprehensive nutrition programs tailored to the needs of target populations, considering factors such as demographic profile, dietary habits, and cultural preferences.
• Plan and coordinate nutrition interventions that promote dietary diversity, micronutrient supplementation, and improved feeding practices among vulnerable groups.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to integrate nutrition components into broader health, agriculture, and social development programs.
• Design behaviour change communication materials, educational resources, and intervention protocols tailored to the cultural and linguistic preferences of the target audience.
• Engage with local communities, government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders to build partnerships, garner support, and ensure the sustainability of nutrition programs.

Capacity Building and Training 

• Develop training curricula and materials on nutrition topics, including infant, and young child feeding, micronutrient supplementation, and adolescent and maternal nutrition.
• Design and deliver training sessions and capacity-building workshops for community volunteers on topics such as nutrition assessment, counselling, and behaviour change communication.
• Build the capacity of staff of Ghana Health Service and community leaders to identify and address nutrition-related challenges within their communities.
• Provide mentorship and support to ensure the sustainability of nutrition interventions and the transfer of knowledge and skills.
• Organize refresher training sessions and peer learning opportunities to reinforce key messages and ensure ongoing capacity development among program staff and partners.

Implementation, Monitoring, Reporting and Documenting 

• Organize and coordinate nutrition education sessions, cooking demonstrations, and community outreach activities to promote healthy eating habits and dietary diversity.
• Establish systems for data collection, storage, and analysis to track program outputs and outcomes, such as changes in dietary practices and nutritional status.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor program activities, provide technical guidance to partner staff and field staff, and address any challenges or barriers to implementation.
• Prepare regular reports, case studies, and documentation to capture the impact of the nutrition interventions and share lessons learned with stakeholders and donor.

Advocacy and partnership building

• Engage in advocacy efforts to raise awareness about the importance of nutrition and mobilize support for nutrition-sensitive policies and programs at the local and national levels.
• Participate in relevant networks, working groups, and coalitions to share lessons learned, exchange best practices, and collaborate on joint advocacy initiatives aimed at addressing nutrition challenges.
• Foster partnerships with government agencies, community-based organizations, NGOs, academia, and private sector stakeholders, civil society groups, to enhance the reach and impact of nutrition interventions, leverage resources, share best practices, and coordinate efforts to address nutrition challenges.
• Coordinate with other sectors such as health, agriculture, and social protection to ensure a multi-sectoral approach to addressing nutrition challenges and improving overall household well-being.

Required Skills or Experience

Knowledge

• Knowledge of public health principles and strategies for addressing nutrition-related issues at the population level, including epidemiology, health promotion, disease prevention, and health behaviour change theories.
• Understanding of the principles of nutrition, including macronutrients, micronutrients, dietary guidelines, nutritional requirements across the lifespan, and the relationship between diet and health outcomes.
• Understanding of food security concepts, food access, food availability, food distribution, and the factors that influence food systems, such as agriculture, trade, and food policy.
• Knowledge of maternal, adolescent and child nutrition requirements, growth monitoring, micronutrient supplementation, and strategies to prevent and address malnutrition in women and adolescents.
• Understanding of evidence-based nutrition interventions and programs to promote healthy eating habits, prevent diet-related diseases, improve nutritional status, and address malnutrition in various populations, such as infants, children, adolescents, adults, and older adults.
• Awareness of cultural norms, values, beliefs, and dietary practices across diverse populations and communities in northern Ghana, and the ability to adapt nutrition interventions to ensure cultural relevance, sensitivity, and acceptance.
• Understanding of nutrition-related policies, regulations, guidelines, and advocacy strategies at the local and national levels to support nutrition goals, promote food security, and address health disparities.
• Knowledge of behaviour change theories, communication strategies, and techniques to promote positive nutrition behaviours, encourage healthy eating habits, and address barriers to behaviour change at the individual, household, and community levels.

Experience

• At least three years’ work experience in developing nutrition programs and interventions tailored to specific populations or target groups, considering factors such as dietary needs, cultural preferences, and socioeconomic status.
• Experience in working directly with communities to understand their nutrition-related challenges, preferences, and needs, and engaging them in the design and implementation of nutrition interventions.
• Experience in conducting training sessions, workshops, or educational sessions to build the capacity of community members, healthcare providers, or other stakeholders in nutrition-related topics, such as healthy eating, food preparation, or nutrition education.
• Experience in working with diverse populations and communities, understanding cultural norms, values, and beliefs related to food and nutrition, and adapting nutrition interventions accordingly to ensure cultural relevance and sensitivity.
• Experience in effectively communicating nutrition-related information to diverse audiences through various channels, such as written materials, presentations, social media, or community outreach, and advocating for nutrition priorities and initiatives to key stakeholders.

Skills

• Skills in conducting nutrition assessments, including dietary assessments, biochemical tests, and clinical evaluations to identify nutritional deficiencies, dietary patterns, and health risks.
• Skills in designing, implementing, and evaluating nutrition programs and interventions, including needs assessments, logic models, program planning frameworks, outcome measurement, process evaluation, and impact assessment.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, including the ability to analyse complex problems, identify key issues, and develop practical solutions.
• Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy in data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Flexibility and adaptability to work in diverse and dynamic environments, including multicultural settings and challenging contexts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex technical information in a clear and concise manner to diverse audiences.

Education 

• Master's degree in nutrition, public health, or a related field.