Ethiopia: Food Security Advisor

Oct 23, 2018 | Cuso International
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Cuso International, is a non-profit development organization, whose goal is to work alongside local people in other countries, to improve the lives of people living with poverty and inequality.

The Growing Nutrition for Mothers and Children (GROW) project in Ethiopia is an initiative to address undernutrition in women of reproductive age and children under five years of age. GROW project is a partnership among CARE Canada, Cuso International and McGill University. In Ethiopia, the project will be implemented in East and West Hararghe Administrative Zones of Oromia Regional State and in Gewane and Argoba Special Woredas of Afar Regional States. The implementation of the project is led by CARE Ethiopia in close partnership with the Government of Ethiopia Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureaus of Oromia and Afar Regional States. Cuso International Head Quarter and the Ethiopia Country Program Office will involve in deploying volunteers to strengthen the institutional and community nutrition capacity of the different sectors engaged in the implementation of GROW project in the respective targeted zonal and district administrative areas.

Funded by Global Affairs of Canada, the project has three intermediate outcomes

  • Improve nutrition practices and services for women of reproductive age and boys and girls under five years
  • Improve nutrition-sensitive practise for women of reproductive age and boys and girls under five years
  • Strengthen governance of gender-sensitive nutrition programs and approaches at the Federal, Regional, Zonal and district level

The CHAMPS project is a research initiative by Haramaya University in collaboration with London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Emory University. The main research conducted by CHAMPS is in regards to under-5 mortality. Under the social science branch of the CHAMPS team, elements of malnutrition have been presented towards the community. In the coming autumn, 2018, the social science team will be further presenting their research and knowledge towards community members in East Hararghe.  

The overall purpose of this placement is to strengthen the community level livelihood, food security and nutrition service provision in East Hararghe Zone (EHZ) through capacity building and system strengthening in   East Hararghe Government Sectors and community based organizations who are working with the Zonal Nutrition Coordination committee by assigning international volunteer in Haramaya University, which is a public university responsible for promoting problem-solving action researches and delivering coordinate community outreach activities in EHZ.

Specific objectives of the placement:

  • Identification of the livelihood, food security, and nutrition mechanisms of the community
  • Strengthening the livelihood, food security, and nutrition programming capacity of the development workers
  • Developing the nutrition sensitive programming capacity of partners at institutional and community level
  • Strengthening documentation and data system of the university
  • Strengthening nutrition elements of the research projects at the university
  • Linking gained experience across all partnerships for capacity building

As a volunteer, you will:

  • Assist the assessment of project efficacy on the livelihoods, food security, and nutrition elements of the GROW intervention
  • Support the capacity building activities for the GROW program for Zonal, District and Kebele level development workers
  • Assist the design and implementation of GROW’s Y3 & Y4 program
  • Support HU in designing relevant community development interventions with emphasis of food security and livelihood diversification
  • Support HU in project proposals and scientific writing for various purposes
  • Support the child health and nutrition elements of the CHAMPS project

Essential Academic Qualifications:

  • MSs. / MA degree in the following fields of study:
    • Community Nutrition/Rural Development/Public Health/Development Studies

Essential Professional Background:

  • Minimum of four years work experience in designing development/food security/nutrition interventions;
  • Demonstrated work experience in capacity development of nutrition and food security experts;
  • Experience on nutrition and food security assessments