Program Officer – Food Security & Nutrition @Food Security & Nutrition

Role Purpose

To provide technical leadership and hands-on implementation of Graceworld Foundation’s food security and nutrition programs, ensuring vulnerable households achieve sustainable improvements in food access, dietary diversity, and nutritional outcomes.

Job Summary

The Program Officer – Food Security & Nutrition will plan, implement, monitor, and report on Graceworld Foundation’s integrated FSN interventions. Working with communities, county agriculture/health departments, and consortium partners, the officer will deliver evidence-based programming aligned with national and county food security and nutrition strategies.

Key Responsibilities

Program Planning & Implementation

• Lead design and implementation of FSN project activities in line with approved work plans, budgets, and donor guidelines.
• Conduct community needs assessments, SMART/SQUEAC surveys, HDDS, HFIAS, and dietary diversity assessments.
• Implement nutrition-sensitive agriculture, kitchen garden, and diversified livelihood interventions.
• Coordinate targeted distribution of food, cash/voucher transfers, and nutrition supplements with transparent targeting.
• Facilitate trainings for farmer groups, mother-to-mother support groups (MTMSGs), and VSLAs on climate-smart agriculture and dietary diversity.

Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent GWF in county/sub-county forums: Agriculture TWGs, Nutrition TWGs, Cash Working Groups (CWG), and Multi-Sector Platforms (MSPs).
• Liaise with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health (nutrition units), and county governments.
• Coordinate with CBOs, faith-based organizations, and NGO partners to avoid duplication.
• Facilitate participatory planning with community leaders, elders, and local government representatives.

Monitoring, Reporting & Learning

• Maintain up-to-date beneficiary databases, activity registers, and distribution records aligned with the MEAL framework.
• Prepare weekly SitReps, monthly statistical/narrative reports, and contribute to quarterly and annual donor reports.
• Participate in routine monitoring, Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDM), and project evaluations.
• Document best practices, case studies, and lessons learned for organizational learning.

Budget & Resource Management

• Track project expenditures against approved budgets and contribute to Budget Follow-Up (BFU) reviews.
• Raise procurement requisitions in accordance with work plans and GWF’s procurement policy.
• Ensure proper management of project assets and materials per donor requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science & Nutrition, Dietetics, Public Health, Agriculture, or related field.
• Minimum 2 years of demonstrated experience in food security and/or nutrition programming.
• Hands-on experience with SMART surveys, HDDS, HFIAS, and community nutrition screening tools.
• Proven experience in project cycle management including planning, implementation, monitoring, and donor reporting.
• Experience working with farmer groups, CHVs, and county government agriculture/health departments in Kenya.

Desirable

• Knowledge of humanitarian standards: Sphere Handbook, CMAM protocols, and MIYCN guidelines.
• Experience with cash and voucher assistance (CVA) design and implementation.
• Proficiency in mobile data collection platforms (KoBoCollect, ODK, CommCare).
• Familiarity with EU or UN agency donor compliance and reporting requirements.

Core Competencies & Skills

• Strong community mobilization, facilitation, and adult learning skills.
• Excellent analytical, report writing, and communication skills in English and Kiswahili.
• Proficiency in MS Office (advanced Excel for data management and reporting).
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Willingness to travel extensively and work in remote, resource-constrained environments.