Nutrition Intern at Helen Keller International (HKI)


Posted on: Thu 10-07-2025

Helen Keller International (HKI), established in 1915, is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to saving the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Headquartered in New York City, HKI currently conducts programs in 21 countries in Africa and Asia, as well as in the United States.

HKI implements an integrated package of cost-effective interventions that are proven to improve maternal and child nutrition. HKI supports policies and programs on food fortification, vitamin A supplementation, infant and young child feeding, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, community-based management of acute malnutrition and prevention and treatment of neglected tropical diseases. At the core of HKI’s programs is advocacy and social behavior change communication to various stakeholders. HKI also undertakes cutting-edge research to influence policy decisions and inform program quality.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

 

Job Title: Nutrition Intern

Location: Abuja

Employment Type: Full-time

Reports to: Program Manager

 

Technical and Representative Duties

Under the guidance of the Program Manager and with support from the country team, the intern will:

  • Provide supportive supervision of middle upper arm circumference screening for children under 5 conducted by Health workers in target communities.
  • With support from the Program Officer/Program Associate, ensure quality of food cooking demonstration sessions are conducted in line with global best practice in supported communities.
  • Ensure integration of community nutrition interventions including Measuring mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) screening and referral, Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN), Mother Support Groups (MSGs), food demonstrations), and hygiene promotion.  
  • Build the capacity of community volunteers (model moms) by providing on-the-job training on mother led-MUAC, and MIYCN.
  • Support awareness creation for the uptake of Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS).  
  • With support from other project staff, conduct nutrition assessments/surveys as approved by the donor.  
  • Support the implementation of the nutrition-sensitive agriculture activities of the project in the state through establishment of home and communal gardens to enhance homestead food production.
  • Raise community awareness on consumption of safe, diversified, nutrient dense, fortified and nutritionally adequate foods.
  • Work with the agricultural extension agents to ensure the adoption and practice of good agricultural approaches in food production.  
  • Support capacity building and provide technical support to beneficiaries on nutrition-sensitive agriculture issues including home gardening, dietary diversification and nutrient dense diets, food preparation and utilization, best practices
  • Support quality data collection of activities conducted in the communities.
  • Support the development and sharing of success stories from project implementation.
  • Actively engage with and maintain relationships with relevant government ministries and departments and nutrition working groups.
  • Support in Planning and facilitation of advocacy and awareness creation on the project to officials in government, private sector, academia, research institutions and civil society, to gain their support for nutrition interventions.  
  • Support information sharing and knowledge management on the project, including documenting and sharing lessons learned on implementation among project team members and relevant stakeholders.  
  • Compile and edit information for dissemination events to facilitate knowledge sharing and document lessons learned.
  • Support engagement with government ministries, private sector entities, and other partners during program activities. Organize meeting logistics; send out communications; take notes during meetings.
  • Support the writing of timely activity reports (weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual) on the progress of the project in line with donor requirements.
  • Travel to support field activities as required.
  • Undertake other tasks assigned.  

Qualifications, Experience, and Skills  

  • Bachelor’s degree in nutrition, public health, agriculture, data science health science, social works, or related fields.
  • Academic experience gathering and/or analyzing data for research projects, and communicating results, is essential.
  • Solid organizational skills and reliable attention to detail.
  • Ability to work independently and prioritize workload, assume responsibility for work, and follow through to completion.  
  • Highly computer literate including:
  • knowledge of Microsoft office suite or equivalent.
  • strong Excel skills; and
  • proficiency in statistical analysis using STATA or R, a strong advantage.
  • Ability and willingness to work under pressure with a positive attitude as a part of a team.  Collaborative, flexible and solution oriented.
  • Willingness to travel within the targeted communities.
  • Demonstrable respect for all persons regardless of religion, ethnicity, class, or gender, with a high comfort level working in a diverse environment with a demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively across cultures.
  • Proficiency in the English language including ability to comprehend project documents, draft and edit routine business correspondence; and contribute to drafting and editing reports.
  • Experience laying out and formatting communications documents a plus.

Application Closing Date

24th July, 2025.

 

Method of Application

Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: [email protected] using the job title as the subject of the email.