Project Assistant / BCC/Nutritionist, Babati, Tanzania

Organization Overview

The International Economic Growth Division manages projects that are pioneering new approaches to agriculture, food security, climate change, and competitiveness—as well as monitoring and evaluating projects within these sectors. We work throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East for chiefly governmental clients, including the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Background

The Tuboreshe Chakula project is a USAID funded project, whose purpose is to transform a critical segment of Tanzania's agro-processing industry – maize, rice, edible oil and horticulture processing – and dramatically increase the supply of and demand for nutritious and fortified foods, especially among vulnerable populations in the food insecure regions of Morogoro, Dodoma and Manyara.

The Project will achieve this goal by building the capacity of agro-processors to improve the quality, safety, presentation, sale and distribution of new and existing food products; to maximize its impact and reach vulnerable groups, particularly the target audience of pregnant or lactating women, children between 6 months and 59 months of age, and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) in the project's districts of operation.

Tuboreshe Chakula is seeking a Behaviorial Change Communication/Nutrition Specialists to be based in Babati. The BCC/Nutrition Specialist will apply their technical expertise in nutrition and BCC strategies to change the behaviors of community members in their districts with special focus to mothers and care givers of children under five years towards consumption of fortified foods (maize flour and sunflower oil) and feeding children with foods containing micronutrient powder (MNP).

Duties

• Create awareness to community members on the consequences of malnutrition and ways to alleviate nutritional deficiencies as indicated in the National Nutrition Strategy.
• Provide trainings to communities on the magnitude of micronutrient deficiencies in their areas, effects and major interventions undertaken by the government.
• Guide behavior changes of communities towards preference and consumption of fortified foods and health benefits accrued from consuming such foods
• Create community demand on consuming fortified foods and MNP
• Conduct regular supportive supervisions on to reproductive and child health (RCH) nurses at health facilities while informing mothers and care givers about using MNP to improve the nutritional quality of complementary foods and consumption of fortified foods
• Conduct mini campaigns at community level using educational materials and PA systems to create awareness on roles of various nutrients added in fortified foods.
• Ensure availability of MNP at wholesalers and retailers for easy accessibility by communities (in the absence of social marketing specialists).
• Provide nutrition education to blended flour processors and right formulations for different population groups
• Provide nutrition education to maize flour and oil processors and share with them the BCC strategies
• Prepare weekly, monthly and quarterly reports
• Participate in collaborative activities with other component staffs
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• BA in related field plus at least one year experience
• Knowledge of fortification and the nutritional benefits
• Experience with Behavior Change Communications
• Strong Communication skills
• Easily works in a team environment as well as individually
• Ability to work under pressure
• Fluent in written and spoken Swahili and English
• Must be able to legally work in Tanzania without sponsorship

Minimum Qualifications

3+ years of experience OR the equivalent combination of education and experience.

Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits.

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