Location: Abala, Ethiopia
Organization: Mercy Corps
Deadline: Jul 27, 2025
Job Description
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. We help people overcome poverty and conflict. Working with communities, we leverage local logic to help people transform their lives. To grow more food, earn higher incomes and ultimately advocate for their needs. We see global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable solutions. During our 34-year history, our work has improved more than 170 million lives in more than 115 countries around the world. Mercy Corps Ethiopia invites motivated and qualified candidates to apply for the following vacant position.
POSITION SUMMARY:
Under the guidance of the Field Program Coordinator based in Mercy Corps’ Aba’ala/Erebti Offices, the Health and Nutrition Specialists will be responsible for leading, managing, and monitoring health and nutrition activities in Megale Woreda (Afar Region). The Specialists will work closely with woreda-level stakeholders and partners to ensure effective coordination and implementation of activities. The position holder will represent Mercy Corps in woreda-level health and nutrition coordination forums and ensure alignment with regional and national priorities. S/he will regularly collaborate with other MC Mobile Health and Nutrition Team (MHNT) members operating from Erebti Office to support the effective planning and implementation of activities such as supplies distribution, training, review meetings, and joint field visits.
The Specialists will also work with the Program Coordinator and Operations Focal Points in Aba’ala MC Office to ensure timely procurement, distribution, and documentation of health and nutrition supplies. Additionally, the position holder will contribute to Mercy Corps’ humanitarian response efforts and new business development initiatives. S/he will ensure that the management of health and nutrition interventions adheres to nationally and regionally endorsed guidelines, support the timely submission of 4W/5W reports, and contribute to capacity strengthening efforts within the health and nutrition sector.
Position Title: Health and Nutrition Specialist
Location: Megale Woreda, Afar region.
Position Status: Full-time
Salary Level: Based on the organization scale
Current Team Member: New
Safeguarding Risk Level: 3
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Main responsibility:
- Manage Mercy Corps Emergency Nutrition and Health responses in Megale Woreda of Afar region and provide technical support for HEWs, and health workers.
- Ensuring some protection and GBV related services mainstreamed in all health and nutrition responses and support the field team to make sure the Health & Nutrition interventions are gender sensitive humanitarian services.
- Work closely with other Nutrition and Health team and Field Program coordinator, and other technical advisors to ensure timely and high-quality emergency responses in Megale Woreda.
- Manage the flow of tasks and harmonize different activities to ensure successful integration of the health and nutrition components with other subsectors in both Woredas.
- Prepare the implementation plan together with the Program coordinators, other health and nutrition team members and follow up of the progress based on the agreed plan.
- Provide supervision, technical assistance and capacity building to Community volunteers, health extension workers and Health workers to ensure quality H&N services.
- Coordinate and liaise with Mercy corps support staff at field offices for smooth coordination and facilitation of program material procurement, transportation, and other logistic support required at the community level.
- Strengthening government relationships and liaising with different sector offices directly involved in emergency health and nutrition responses mainly with Woreda level DRM and health offices, for better coordination and smooth partnership through joint planning, sharing progress updates and managing regular communications.
- Establish effective collaboration health and nutrition partners which operate in the same Woreda and other cooperating partners to facilitate the exchange of humanitarian information and manage health and nutrition supplies from respective UN agencies by sharing the forecast and timely requesting.
- Represent MC in Woreda level health and nutrition related coordination forums or meetings for effective coordination and share the meeting extracts for the team.
- Provide technical support and conduct regular monitoring to ensure the health and nutrition services are in line with the regional (Afar) standards.
- Compile monthly and quarterly progress reports and submit them to the Field Coordinator before the due date.
- Support and coordinate capacity building efforts in collaboration with target Woreda health offices and other concerned agencies. Document and disseminate evidence on case stories, performance, and lessons learned. sharing information for local stakeholders at field level.
- Carry out other jobs-assigned by supervisor to support the MC missions at field level.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Education:
- BSC in public health, Nursing, Nutrition and other health sciences.
- More than five years(s) of relevant experience on emergency health and nutrition responses.
- Experience in managing health and nutrition responses at the community level is preferable in pastoralist and semi-pastoralist areas.
- Knowledge of humanitarian response particularly in pastoralist community.
- Experience in implementing BHA funded grants is preferred.
- Ability to manage and work in a team consisting of people with different technical backgrounds and varying levels of technical training.
- Ability to facilitate relationships and interact smoothly and effectively with partners including government HEW, HWs, and Health center managers, Cluster coordinators, and peer organizations at field level.
- Ability to undertake problem analyses and gather diverse information in a systematic way to improve design, implementation, and reporting Health & Nutrition interventions.
- Having strong analytical ability and report writing skills is essential.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; knowledge of local language is an asset.
Success Factors:
- Willingness to travel to project sites whenever necessary.
- Flexibility and accommodation in challenging conditions.
- Hard-working, honest, dedicated, ability to communicate clearly and effectively at all levels – with colleagues, government and military officials, community leaders and community members.
- Good interpersonal and communication skills.
- Experience working closely with community volunteers and local authorities.
- Commitment to teamwork and gender equality.
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, and other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in designing, monitoring, and evaluating our field projects.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.
Merit Based Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal-opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek solid backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can collectively become stronger and have a sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where merit based equal employment opportunities are available to all.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants, or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves professionally, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
