Nutrition referent (m/f/x) – Brussels, Nairobi or Abidjan – MSF Belgium

CONTEXT

The medical department of MSF Belgium (OCB – Operational Center Brussels) plays a strategic role by defining the modalities of implementation of MSF’s medical strategy in order to ensure coherence and quality. Strategical support is provided throughout the phases of the project cycle. It has a normative role and technical support role in the implementation and follow-up of the projects. The medical department ensures the transfer of knowledge to the medical workforce and stimulates research and innovation by challenging current medical practices and exploring of new approaches.

It is composed of several specialists based in a network of units worldwide (Belgium, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Luxembourg, and South Africa) and works in close collaboration with operations, other OCB departments and the MSF movement. We also support the projects of MSF West and Central Africa (WACA).

Nutrition is a core MSF activity, with response to nutritional crises as an operational priority. This transversal topic encompasses care for malnourished children and adults, including pregnant and lactating women, as well as those at high risk of malnutrition (chronically ill, burns, ICU, and surgical patients). We will also keep putting focus on community-based and integrated approaches of nutrition support, seeking innovative ways to reach populations in need while continuously improving food security monitoring and nutrition surveillance systems.

The Nutrition Referent serves as a technical expert on nutrition care across all contexts and populations, covering acute malnutrition treatment, preventive interventions, and clinical nutrition support to ensure the effectiveness and quality of our nutritional interventions. This position provides technical and strategic support to medical staff in operational cells, emergency pools, and project teams through expert advice, tool development, guideline creation, and project visits.

As Nutrition Referent, you will collaborate closely with pediatrics, nursing, health promotion, environmental health, and mental health referents, as well as critical care, infectious diseases, sexual and reproductive health (SRH), hospital management, pharmacy, epidemiology, and E-health teams. The role includes line management, coaching, and support of Nutrition Mobile Implementation Officers, and collaboration across Operations, Analysis, Human Resources, and Supply departments, with active participation in the inter-sectional MSF Nutrition platform.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Support to projects to implement nutrition services/programmes

• Strategic support (in collaboration with Operations and Medical department colleagues):
• Co-define strategies for nutrition interventions (including community-based management, inpatient care, prevention)
• Support nutrition surveys and food security assessments
• Support the setup of nutrition programs including therapeutic feeding centers and outpatient programs
• Support hospital food service management for both in-house and outsourced catering
• Participate in ARO’s and quarterly project monitoring meetings
• Technical support to projects through:
• Respond to technical queries on nutrition assessment, treatment protocols, nutritional / food security evaluations or surveys, and planning/forecasting of nutritional services and supplies.
• Support selection and validation of nutrition supplies, therapeutic foods, and feeding equipment
• Support relevant innovative approaches in nutrition programming
• Collaborate with relevant medical referents
• Contribute to project monitoring by strengthening collection and analysis of nutritional data (aligned with agreed standards, in coordination with E-health) and providing regular feedback
• Ensure briefing & debriefing of key staff involved in nutrition activities, and follow-up on specific issues/concerns with coordinators and medical responsible in respective cells.
• Conduct regular project visits (30% of time) to enable direct support and evaluation of activities, strategies, and needs (incl general organization, review of indicators, focus for quality improvement, contextual adaptation), and provide reports with SMART recommendations and ongoing support to achieve them
• Identify training needs of staff involved in nutrition care and make recommendations
• Support and guide the Nutrition Mobile Implementation Officers (MIO) in their planning and quality of work

1. Technical, normative and monitoring work

• Conduct literature searches and establish technical files on specific subjects (e.g., micronutrients, breast feeding, hospital feeding …)
• Follow developments in nutrition research by following scientific publications and participating in existing networks of nutritionists and food security specialists, maintaining regular contact with institutions like WHO, WFP, FAO and other nutrition-focused organizations
• Identify major operational knowledge gaps, propose and submit ideas for operational research, and collaborate in preparation, implementation, analysis or dissemination of results
• Participate actively in the MSF intersectional nutrition platform
• Participate in internal thematic circles, medical meetings, and coordo week
• Disseminate and guide projects on nutritional strategies, guidelines and tools
• Monitor Early Warning Systems (e.g., FEWSNET, IPC, FSNAU) and support projects in analyzing food security and nutrition trends in key high-risk countries
• Review indicator definitions for monitoring nutrition activities and related data collection tools, in collaboration with the E-Health Unit
• Follow-up and monitor nutrition data and write the OCB annual nutrition report
• Document MSF experiences in nutrition and disseminate lessons learned

1. Training support and participation

• Organize, support, and participate in various nutrition trainings, including acute malnutrition management, clinical nutrition, and nutrition strategies
• Contribute to the development of training modules for other trainings, including FLMT, PSP, and nutrition modules in various medical trainings

1. External representation and partnerships

• Identify partnership opportunities for nutrition programming
• Develop a relevant network of external stakeholders in nutrition and food security
• Participate in workshops, international expert groups organized by WHO, WFP, academic institutions or other validated initiatives when relevant and needed

REQUIREMENTS

Education and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in nutrition & dietetics / or a medical/paramedical degree with certification in nutrition
• Minimum of 4 years’ experience in nutrition care and programming, of which at least 2 years of international experience in humanitarian contexts with MSF or a similar NGO.
• Experience in management of malnutrition in children under 5 years and strategic design of nutrition interventions (inpatient & outpatient settings) is essential
• Clinical nutrition experience is essential (experience in ICU, advanced HIV, TB, burns and surgical nutrition care is an asset)
• Experience in SMART nutrition surveys is a strong asset
• Experience in BFHI, IYCF and lactation management is an asset
• Experience in hospital food service management is an asset
• Experience in nutrition and food security analysis is an asset
• Experience in community health and outreach activities is an asset

Competencies

• Expertise in nutrition care
• Strong people management skills; ability and motivation to train project staff
• Proactive and confident in taking initiative and making decisions
• Strong technical expertise and strategic thinking
• Excellent communication skills; comfortable with public speaking
• Well-organized, with strong prioritization and summarization abilities
• Solid writing skills; able to analyze and synthesize complex information
• Strong interpersonal skills; team player, dynamic, and diplomatic
• Autonomous and adaptable
• Able to work effectively across multiple departments and with diverse stakeholders
• Capable of working in challenging and complex operational contexts

Languages

• Proficiency in English, both written & spoken is mandatory
• Good knowledge of French is required
• Other international languages (Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic) are an asset

Other

• Availability to carry out project visits in all MSF-relevant contexts

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: asap
• Location**: Brussels (Belgium), or Abidjan (Ivory Coast), or Nairobi (Kenya)

**The final outcome depends on the residency of the candidate, the local legal limitations (residency, work permit, etc.) and on agreement with the hosting MSF entity of these locations.

• Mobility: 30% MSF projects visits /year
• Contract type and duration: Open-ended contract – full-time
• The contractual terms and conditions will be established according to the place of work, legal constraints and in respect of MSF standard function and salary grids
• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
• Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments

Deadline for applications: 10th of November 2025