Nutrition Intern

About Helen Keller International (HKI)

Helen Keller International (HKI), established in 1915, Helen Keller International works to save the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged persons. We combat the cause and consequences of blindness and malnutrition by establishing programs based on evidence and research in vision, health, and nutrition. With its head office in New York City, Helen Keller conducts programs in 22 countries in Africa, Asia, and the United States. In Nigeria, Helen Keller has been supporting the national Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and Nutrition programs in the following states: Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, FCT, Katsina, Kebbi, Nassarawa, Sokoto, and Taraba.

With funding from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDSC), Helen Keller Intl is implementing Integrated Nutrition Project with a key focus on multiple micronutrient supplementation in 21LGAs and nutrition-sensitive activities in 15 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Adamawa state. The project’s objective is to advance Essential Nutrition Actions (ENA) and Essential Hygiene Actions (EHA), targeting maternal, infant, and young child nutrition, as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene practices. This will be accomplished by implementing both nutrition-sensitive and specific interventions, seamlessly integrating homestead food production with social behavioral change communication strategies.

Specific Responsibilities

• Provide supportive supervision of middle upper arm circumference screening for children under 5 conducted by Health workers in target communities.
• With support from the Program Officer/Program Associate, ensure quality of food cooking demonstration sessions are conducted in line with global best practice in supported communities.
• Ensure integration of community nutrition interventions including Measuring mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) screening and referral, Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN), Mother Support Groups (MSGs), food demonstrations), and hygiene promotion.
• Build the capacity of community volunteers (model moms) by providing on-the-job training on mother led-MUAC, and MIYCN.
• With support from other project staff, conduct nutrition assessment/surveys as approved by the donor.
• Support quality data collection of activities conducted in the communities.
• Ensure quality and timely reporting of project activities.
• Support the development and sharing of success stories from project implementation.
• Actively engage with and maintain relationships with relevant government ministries and departments and nutrition working groups.
• Support in Planning and facilitation of advocacy and awareness creation on the project to officials in government, private sector, academia, research institutions and civil society, to gain their support for nutrition interventions.
• Support information sharing and knowledge management on the project, including documenting and sharing lessons learned on implementation among project team members and relevant stakeholders.
• Support the writing of timely activity report (weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual) on the progress of the project in line with donor requirements.
• Any other additional responsibility as communicated by the supervisor

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in the field of Nutrition or any related field.
• At least 1 year experience implementing nutrition
• Experience in Nutrition and community-based programming will be an added advantage
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to be respectful, kind, sensitive, and empathize with all beneficiaries
• Good communication skills (verbal and written).
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Understands and speak Hausa language fluently
• Acceptable IT Skills.