Agriculture Officer/Field Officer (Nutrition & MEAL)

Forum for Rural Welfare and Agricultural Reform for Development (FORWARD Nepal), a National NGO founded in 1997, working in the fields of Food and Nutrition Security, Livestock and Fisheries, Sustainable Livelihoods, Natural Resource Management, and Climate Change Adaptation/DRR, invites application from interested candidates for the position of Agriculture Officer-1 and Field Officer-1 (Nutrition & MEAL) for Nutrition Smart Community (NSC) project in Madhesh province. Please send your application along with the updated CV with the names of two referees via this link Click here until March 28, 2024.

1. Job Position: Agriculture Officer -1

Reports To: Project Coordinator

Duty Station and key responsibilities:

The Agriculture Officer will be based in the Paroha Municipality of Rautahat district. S/he will be directly reporting to the project coordinator.

Job description:

• Ensure implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of project deliverables at the Palika level in coordination with the district team. 
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders (Farmers, FFS groups, CBOs, Agriculture section of Municipality, and other NGOs) for effective implementation of the project activities
• Visit target groups and beneficiaries (EGL, Farmers, FFS members, etc.) on a regular basis to discuss with farmers their problems and provide need-based technical support 
• Provide technical inputs on agricultural technologies, cow shed improvement, bio-pesticides, compost mal, IPM, GAP, etc. to farmers.
• Support in capacity building of Nutrition Promoters and community volunteers on agriculture and advocacy.
• Demonstrate good agricultural practices in the field and guide farmers in adopting the demonstrated technologies.
• Support in designing and implementation small space cultivation practices like kitchen gardening, nutrition gardening, multilayer farming, etc.
• Coordinate with local government to facilitate governmental agricultural services to farmers.
• Advocate local government in improving agricultural policies at the local level.
• Coordinate with local government to incorporate successful approaches and tools in their annual planning of activities.
• Coordinate with local government for the extension of proven agriculture technologies in the Palika.
• Collect field data as per the requirement of the project and as guided by the project coordinator.
• Ensure the timely production of reports and records, stories regarding projects.
• Support PC/PO in organizing training, workshops, and field visits at the Palika level.
• Support/participate in other projects as assigned by the Project Coordinator or designated representative.

Qualification and experience:

• Bachelor's degree in agriculture with experience of 1 year on relevant field.
• Knowledge on agriculture technologies, nutrition and food security, WASH and advocacy.
• Ability to work in close coordination with community and Palika members.
• Willing to travel at rural areas and work with the FCHVs and lead farmers.

2. Job Position: Field Officer (Nutrition & MEAL) -1

Duty Station: Rajbiraj, Saptari

Overall responsibilities:

Field Officer – Nutrition-MEAL, will perform two primary roles. Firstly, lead the nutrition and WASH component. Secondly, s/he will be responsible for the collection, compilation, consolidation, knowledge management, accountability tasks, and analysis of project data.

A. Nutrition (50% of the time)

• Implement the Nutrition and WASH activities according to the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) in close coordination with the Project cum Advocacy Officer (P.A.O) and Project Coordinator (PC)
• Conduct mass screening (Anthropometric assessment) of 6-59 months children with the engagement of the Municipality and guiding the mobilizers/community volunteers in close consultation with the Project Coordinator
• Capacitate the Mobilizer and the Community volunteer on LANN+, Positive Deviance (PD), Nutrition Education and Rehabilitation Program (NERP), nutrition & WASH training, LANN+ operation 
• Support capacity building of Nutrition Promoter/Community Volunteers on nutrition and WASH component
• Coordinate and provide technical backstop to the municipal officials on the Nutrition and WASH components
• Maintain close coordination with local government and advocate for endorsing nutrition & WASH best practices/approaches learned from Nutrition the Smart Village phase I project in Palika's annual planning process.
• Maintain close coordination with WHH (Donor) and its working partners in the project site/District and direct stakeholders for the smooth implementation of the project
• Support PC/PAO in organizing training, workshops/meetings, and field visits at the Municipality level
• Communicate regularly with PAO/PC and other technical officers to implement field-level activities properly
• Responsible for conducting the Child Growth Monitor (CGM) with close coordination with  PC and health workers through the CGM mobile application
• Perform other task-related assignments proposed by the supervisor/ PC

B. MEAL (50% of time)

• Collect field data as per the requirement of the project and as guided by the Project Coordinator
• Responsible for ensuring the on-time execution of project activities against DIP, major monitoring and evaluation events including quarter, Semi-annual, and annual surveys, data quality, and field supervision
• Responsible for data management of Child Growth Monitor (CGM) in the CGM Mobile application  
• Operationalize the digital knowledge management platform/SmartCom Tracker in  the NSC's project with the support of the Regional Nutrition team
• Responsible for providing technical support to Nutrition Promoters and Community Volunteers on information management systems, proper data collection, and record-keeping of project activities
• Conducting regular data verification exercises to ensure reporting and collection of quality data
• Contribute to providing MEAL inputs during the project implementation, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports
• Prepare and guide the team on collecting the information for documenting success and lessons learned on a periodic basis

Qualification and experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Health, Food and Nutrition, and other relevant disciplines having more than two years of experience in the relevant field/development sector.
• Prior experience in MEAL, Nutrition, and WASH components.
• Ability to work in close coordination with the community, local government, and stakeholders
• Driving ability of a two-wheeler with a driving license (Preferable)
• Ability to read and write in English, and Nepali. Ability to work under strict deadlines. 
• Willing to travel to rural areas and work with FCHVs
• Females/Disadvantaged/LGBTQI+/People with disability are highly encouraged to apply.
• Preference will be given to the applicants from local community/project area

Salary and Benefits: will be as per the provision made in the prospective project.

Procedure for Selection: Candidates should attend both written exams and oral interviews. Selection of candidates for the interview will be on the basis of CV screening, and only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for the interview. 

Women and members of marginalized groups are encouraged to apply.

Please visit FORWARD Nepal's website: www.forwardnepal.org/announcements for further information.

FORWARD Nepal

Bharatpur Metropolitan City – 2, Kshetrapur, Chitwan