Nutrition Advisor W/M

Mission

The mission of the MSF OCP Medical Department is to implement and develop MSF’s social mission through leadership, expertise, and advocacy in the field of medical nutrition.

This mission is carried out through:

• Co-construction of medical-operational strategies,

• Provision of programmatic support adapted to each context,

• Continuous improvement of quality of care and adherence to medical ethics within operations (in collaboration with other medical advisors),

• Conducting operational research and developing new medical approaches,

• Internal and external advocacy based on field needs, experience, and research (in collaboration with the Access focal point),

• Representation: maintaining links between MSF and the external medical-nutrition community.

Based in Paris, Dakar, or Nairobi, you will report to the Head of the Nutrition, Vaccination, and Epidemics Unit. You will work closely with other members of the medical department based in Paris, Dubai, Sydney, Dakar, and Nairobi.

Responding to malnutrition in emergency settings and in regular programs is a major operational activity.

Main Responsibilities

1)     Support to operations in the prevention and management of acute child malnutrition

 Work closely with operational teams to actively contribute to the design, monitoring, and adjustment of projects involving nutrition/malnutrition activities (emergency and regular programs),

• Support HQ and field managers in decision-making related to nutrition programs and ensure their implementation while considering contextual constraints,

• Facilitate the implementation of nutrition strategies (prevention and treatment) adapted to intervention contexts, particularly during epidemics, mass population movements, etc.,

• Ensure that protocols, tools, and procedures are available to teams to guarantee quality care, and that teams are trained in the use of medical/operational tools during briefings and field visits,

• Respond to field queries and coordinate with advisors from other specialties if necessary (Pediatrics, Pharmacy, Mental Health, TB, HIV, etc.), including advising on nutritional products,

• Conduct briefings and debriefings in your specialty for HQ and field staff,

• Conduct field visits to support teams, assess projects, and provide recommendations,

• Contribute actively to discussions and implementation of new approaches,

• Participate in annual reviews and contribute to defining strategies/orientations for nutrition-related projects and activities.

2)     Participation in activities of the medical department and the Malaria, Nutrition, and Vaccination Unit

• Provide expertise for defining medical-operational policies within the MSF OCP Strategic Plan and support their implementation,

• Contribute to defining the medical department’s action plan,

• Participate in the development and delivery of training sessions,

• Analyze data in collaboration with the eHealth Unit, design indicators, and regularly share analysis results with coordinators and cell managers; contribute to the annual analysis of MSF medical activities,

• Write and contribute to guidelines, policies, and articles,

• Share knowledge and expertise, and strengthen collaboration with other advisors and departments (especially women and children’s unit),

• Promote decentralization of care at community level, focusing on pediatric packages (nutrition, malaria, vaccination, community health workers), in collaboration with relevant advisors,

• Functional responsibility for the advisor on disease-related malnutrition and the Nutrition Mobile Implementation Officer.

3)     Monitoring food security

• Monitor food and nutrition security through various existing channels,

• Provide simple tools to field teams to monitor the nutritional status of populations,

• Raise alerts on nutritional situations and support operational units in defining appropriate intervention strategies.

4)     Scientific monitoring in your specialty

• Maintain R&D monitoring on technical developments to promote innovative practices and standards,

• Develop and propose new tools aligned with evolving medical standards (medications, equipment, strategies, techniques, procedures, protocols, guidelines, including budget considerations),

• Support teams in implementing these tools (including negotiations with Ministries of Health and local stakeholders),

• Participate in the design and implementation of research activities in collaboration with Epicentre or other research actors,

• Develop and maintain networks with medical, research, and humanitarian actors in your field.

5)     Act as focal point in your field within MSF and externally

• Share technical advances, methods, and key topics with counterparts from other MSF operational sections (member of the MSF intersectional nutrition working group),

• Represent MSF externally in your field upon request from management.