Nutrition and WASH Intern

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.

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. With the launch of Mercy Corps Global Strategy, Pathway to Possibility, the country office is poised to operationalize its three-year strategy with a vision to enhance the resilience of climate- and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. In Ethiopia, our strategy focuses in the four outcome areas: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently, we operate in six regional states – Afar, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Amhara and South Ethiopia. Working with a diverse base of donors that includes United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations, Mercy Corps Ethiopia empowers people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good. 

Position Title: Nutrition and WASH Intern

Duty Station: Semera

Open Position:  1

Duration of Internship: 6 months

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: (what education and/or skills will the intern have at the end of the internship that can be applied to MULTIPLE employment settings in the future. This differentiates the intern from a volunteer or employee)

By the end of the internship, the intern will have developed the following knowledge and experience:

• Extensive knowledge of WASH approaches for development settings
• Extensive knowledge of MIYCN approaches for development settings.
• Solid research background and good writing skills. 
• Strong, team player, well demonstrated organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Experience working with multi-disciplinary technical specialists. 
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple activities. 
• English fluency is essential, plus at least one other local language spoken in pastoral Ethiopia (Afar regions).

DELIVERABLES: (describe any tangible and measurable result or outcome to complete the project or part of a project)

• Support implementation of Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) activities at regional and woreda level
• Prior experience implementing the Mother Care Group (MCG) model
• Have extensive knowledge of the “first 1000-day” approach
• Collaborate with Agricultural extension workers in the implementation of home gardening for fruits and vegetables including food storage and preservation
• Roll out Community Led Total Sanitation and Hygiene (CLTSH) in targeted woredas
• Capacity building of water management committees and other traditional water governance structures.
• Strengthen health extension workers/ ‘development army’ to promote latrine construction and disseminate essential promotion packages or household sanitation and hygiene.  
• Promote construction of household upgradable latrines.
• Ensures all water/sanitation infrastructure and hygiene activities in the targeted cluster are implemented in accordance with the Mercy Corps, donor, and government guidelines and policies.
• Promote Sanitation and hygiene practices (raw water treatment, safe water storage and handling  hand washing, and installation of hand washing facilities by the latrines)
• Facilitate village-level dialogue on personal, food/water hygiene and sanitation problems and social and gender norms that influence nutrition through Social Analysis and Action (SAA) approach
• Provide Nutrition and WASH training to field staff, government health workers, water technicians etc, as necessary.
• Actively participate in the development of tools behavior change communication (BCC) materials and approaches for Nutrition and WASH
• Regularly design and upload Nutrition and WASH activities concept notes 

Job Requirement

IDEAL CANDIDATE SHOULD POSSESS THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Describe the need for educational background \
2. Degree in health and nutrition or BSc nursing or Diploma in nursing or other related field
3. Have a commitment to work with MC in assigned task.
4. One letter of recommendation from a university / higher institution on the candidate’s personal integrity and sense of responsibility.

LIVING CONDITIONS: The internship should be based in Samara.

Mercy Corps interns and volunteers represent the agency both during and outside work hours and are expected to conduct themselves professionally and respect local laws, customs, and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

• Understand and aware GDI related priorities of the country office and contribute for the realization of priorities (continually work to understand and be aware of the gender diversity and inclusion priorities of the country office and contribute in the execution)
• Promote gender equal and inclusive workplace culture in a day-to-day interaction with a team member, partners and program participants.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Organizational Learning 

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.