NUTRITION ASSISTANT | x3 | 12 Months | Mutoko, Mudzi, Mbire, | Mastercard Project

Position summary:

The Nutrition Assistant will provide technical expertise on climate smart integrated intervention to address access and availability for quality nutritious diets adoption of key behaviours on maternal infant and young child feeding and support for strategic coordination of interventions across multiple sectors.  S/he in collaboration with the MoHCC Government of Zimbabwe line ministries Food and Nutrition Security Committee will be responsible for coordinating the implementation of entrepreneurship Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition components at community level and Health Facilities that contribute to the overall success of the project.

The Nutrition Assistant will work with the existing sub-national committees (District/Ward Food and Nutrition Security Committees) local government agencies community-based organizations private sector and other stakeholders to enhance project coordination and collaboration. This will help to ensure that the project is well-integrated into the local context and contributes to broader development efforts.

S/he will identify and utilize the established networks to advocate for policies and practices that support improved nutrition outcomes and climate resilience in crisis-affected areas. This includes participating in relevant forums sharing project lessons learned and promoting evidence-based decision-making. S/he will work with the climate change adaptation experts in the GoZ line ministries and sub-national committees who will support integration of the climate-smart approaches into nutrition programming. This includes promoting climate-resilient food production promoting drought-resistant crops value chain and entrepreneurial skills development.

The position requires an individual with a strong understanding of resilience-nutrition linkages and shows evidence of maturity and experience of working in a rural community in developmental programmes. The ideal candidate must demonstrate strong facilitation and negotiation skills to achieve results within multi-sector teams and understanding of mainstreaming principles gender governance social behaviour change; child protection entrepreneurship adolescent nutrition and nutrition sensitive agriculture.

Duties and Responsibilities

include but are not limited to:

Objective 1: Ensure implementation of project activities as defined in the project document

Technical Support:

• Demonstrates strong understanding of and facilitate roll out of (care group approach cIYCF Healthy Harvest)
• Demonstrate strong understanding of and facilitate roll out of community visioning training for transformation and participatory score card.  
• Serve as the lead nutrition resource person for the project
• Organize and lead sensitization sessions for District FNSCs and other district stakeholders on outcomes of community visioning sessions
• Roll out technical trainings (Care Group Methodology SAA and Male Engagement) for sub district resource persons including Village Health Workers (VHWs) and Care Group leaders
• Conduct SAA sessions with FNSCs Care Groups Male Advocates and VHWs
• Organize and lead sensitization meetings with the local leaders on the Care Group methodology SAA and male engagement
• Utilize the Care group approach and peer-to-peer learning to influence the adoption and practicing of the nutrition health and WaSH behaviours.
• Promote production and consumption of locally available nutritious foods neglected traditional nutritious foods and biofortified crops.
• Promote the food forest concept using regenerative agriculture techniques to improve production at household level.
• Utilize market-based approaches to improve local diets through product development/food formulation of enriched porridges using locally available foods.
• Improve food quality by educating caregivers and learners in schools on safe food handling and storage practices.
• Promoting consumption of nutrient-dense foods through utilization of innovative multi-ingredient recipes that reduce cooking time.
• Conducting cooking demonstrations and evidence-based SBC interventions to improve consumption of nutritious food.
• Conduct a mapping of community-based psychosocial support structures within wards.
• Lead demand creation and triggering sessions for care groups in partnership with FNSCs and sub-district stakeholders in project wards.
• Organize and lead sensitization sessions for District FNSCs and other district stakeholders on the care group integration
• Support district and sub-district FNSC members in rolling out the care group approach
• Implement SBC activities
• Monitor community trainings and develop a strategy to improve and maintain quality in the implementation of nutrition activities
• Ensure access to food and a quality diet through the creation of community gardens and a food programme in schools based on self-production benefiting children and families.
• Ensure the creation of water reserves the use of local seeds and agroecological production methods to mitigate drought periods.
• Collaborating with MOHCC and other govt line-ministries and sub-national structures in preventing and combating malnutrition
• Strengthen of institutional committee officials to improve community practices and behaviours.
• Enhance income access for farmers through organized participation in agricultural cooperatives (Commodities associations) in sustainable value chains selected through an analysis of the same.
• Enhance and strengthen cultural heritage and the local seed system access to inputs and professional training based on agroecology principles and the creation of centres for processing and marketing.
• Facilitate creation of a climate weather analysis system that will guide the choices of associations and the policies of local authorities
• Experience and expertise in Knowledge Products development
• Strengthening womens groups and their access to structured dialogues with local authorities to ensure womens agency.
• Lead the community level recruitment of programs participants
• Develop workplan implement activities and conduct regular technical review meetings for consistency and compliance to agreed standards.
• Actively contribute to the development of different tools needed for proper implementation of the project.
• Produce timely reports for internal use and contribute to donor reports on the status of on-going programming.
• Comply with NAZ policies and regulations with respect to child protection code of conduct health and safety equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures

Objective 2: Ensure timely routine reporting of the project activities.

• Produce timely reports for internal use and sharing with relevant external stakeholders on the status of on-going programming.
• Participate in weekly/ monthly district meetings
• Generate weekly monthly and quarterly reports (narrative and quantitative)
• Ensure that activity and training reports are compiled
• Compile statistical data and draft appropriate reports on activities
• Analyse nutrition situation and prevailing trends and provide constructive written feedback
• Participate during project assessments as may be determined by the project
• Documentation of best and emerging practices for learning purposes and increase project visibility

Objective 3: Administrative support functions.

Aid the Admin and support functions in:

• Documentation & Reporting:
  • Maintain records of supplies beneficiary lists and training logs.
  • Prepare monthly/quarterly progress reports
• Logistics Coordination:
  • Arrange field visits meetings and training sessions.
  • Manage inventory of programmatic supplies.
• Office Management:
  • Ensure proper filing (digital/physical) of project documents.
• Supply Chain Management:

• Liaise with the project admin or logistics teams for timely procurement of program supplies.
• Track stock levels and prevent shortages

• Asset Management:

• Maintain records of project equipment

Finance-Related Duties

• Budget Tracking:
  • Monitor project expenditures against approved budgets.
  • Ensure compliance with NAZ and project financial guidelines.
• Payment Processing:
  • Follow up payment requests for vendors trainers field staff stakeholder allowances etc.
  • verify receipts and financial documents for audits.
• Financial Reporting:
  • Assist in preparing fund utilization reports.
  • Support audits by maintaining proper documentation.

Policy compliance Mandatory Reporting Policy (MRP):

• Comply with all NAZ policies.  
• Assist where necessary in undertaking activities that aim to prevent the occurrence of sexual abuse and exploitation of beneficiaries by NAZ consortium staff and other humanitarian workers.

Confidentiality:

• Ensuring the non-disclosure of any information whatsoever relating to the practices and business of the project and NAZ acquired in the course of duty to any other person or organization without authority except in the normal execution of duty.

Note:  The role of Nutrition Assistant cannot be limited to the specific duties and tasks detailed herein and may be adjusted in accordance with the needs and operational circumstances of the organization. The success of the NAZs mission is the highest priority and all issues which arise must be addressed accordingly. Therefore the Nutrition Assistant will be required to manage all unforeseen issues and circumstances and remain flexible to perform other duties as and when required.

Qualifications :

Qualifications and requirements:

The following may be acquired through a combination of formal or self-education prior experience or on-the-job training.

Education Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of a bachelors degree in: Nutrition & Dietetics Public Health Nutrition Food Science & Technology (with a focus on community nutrition) Global Health / Maternal & Child Health (with nutrition components)
• Additional training in humanitarian nutrition emergency response is a plus.
• Minimum 35 years of experience in nutrition programs preferably in humanitarian or remote settings.

Technical Skills:

• Demonstrated experience in mentorship coaching and capacity building
• Community Engagement & Behaviour Change Communication (BCC)
• Proficiency in requisite and relevant computer applications (Microsoft word and excel data collection & analysis tools).
• M&E (Monitoring & Evaluation) for nutrition programs Data collection & nutrition surveys 
• Cross-cultural sensitivity & gender awareness
• Fluency in local languages (if applicable)

Soft Skills:

• Excellent communication skills and good presentation skills. both written and verbal
• Good negotiation skills
• Should be able to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work in a remote area Adaptability & Resilience (for remote/harsh conditions)
• Team player

Additional Information :

HOW TO APPLY 

To ensure consideration use this smart recruiters platform link  to upload your CV and application letter and to input the required information in the  data fields on the platform no later than the 24th of July 2026: 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. (applications are reviewed as they are received and qualified candidates may be shortlisted or selected and the link closed before the closing date)

Nutrition Action Zimbabwe (NAZ) upholds the highest standards of integrity and accountability in all its operations. We maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy towards fraud sexual exploitation and abuse harassmentincluding sexual harassmentand discrimination. To safeguard our values and ensure transparency all candidates selected for recruitment will undergo comprehensive reference and background checks.

It is important to note that NAZ does not request require or accept any form of payment at any stage of the recruitment process. Any solicitation of payment in exchange for recruitment consideration is fraudulent undermines our principles and must be reported without delay. This safeguard ensures that our recruitment practices remain fair merit-based and free from exploitation.

For verification or reporting concerns please contact:

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Remote Work :

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Employment Type :

Contract