- Thu Nov 27, 2025 12:28 am#9242
Preparation Guide for the Specialist, Nutrition Position – Helen Keller International, Bangladesh (CHT)
1. Understand the Organization and the Project
- Review Helen Keller International’s mission, values, and recent achievements, especially in nutrition, eye health, WASH and livelihoods.
- Study the “Access to and Utilization of Lifesaving Services by Marginalized Communities in Chittagong Hill Tracts” project description. Note the three districts (Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari), the focus on SAM/MAM management, IYCF, nutrition‑sensitive livelihoods and integration with WASH.
- Familiarize yourself with Bangladesh’s national CMAM and IYCF guidelines, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) policies, and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) protocols.
2. Match Your Profile to the Key Requirements
- Education: Master’s degree in Nutrition, Public Health or a related field. Ensure your degree certificate and transcripts are ready.
- Experience: Minimum five years in community‑ and facility‑based nutrition programs. Highlight any work with CMAM, IYCF, nutrition surveillance, capacity building, and integrated WASH/livelihood interventions.
- Contextual Experience: Emphasize any previous assignments in remote, multi‑ethnic or mountainous settings, especially in the Chittagong Hill Tracts or comparable regions.
- Skills: Demonstrated mentoring, coordination, quality assurance, data analysis, report writing, and strong English/Bangla communication.
3. Update Your Resume
- Use a clear, chronological format.
- Create a “Key Achievements” subsection under each role that quantifies impact (e.g., “Managed SAM treatment for 1,200 children across three districts, achieving a 92 % cure rate”).
- Include a “Technical Competencies” block listing: CMCM, IYCF counseling, micronutrient supplementation, monitoring & evaluation, training of trainers, gender‑responsive programming, cross‑sectoral integration.
- Add a “Relevant Tools & Systems” section (e.g., DHIS2, Excel, PowerBI, KoboToolbox, mobile data collection).
4. Write a Targeted Cover Letter
- Start with a brief statement of enthusiasm for Helen Keller International’s legacy and for improving nutrition in the CHT.
- Connect your most relevant experience to each of the six key responsibility areas (technical support, capacity building, coordination, quality assurance, integration, documentation).
- Mention any partnerships you have cultivated with government agencies (DGHS, MoHFW) or NGOs.
- Conclude with your readiness to relocate to the hill districts and your commitment to a 10‑month contract.
5. Gather Supporting Documents
- Certified copies of academic qualifications.
- Professional certificates (e.g., CMAM training, IYCF certification).
- Reference letters from previous supervisors, preferably from NGOs or government health institutions.
6. Prepare for the Technical Interview
- Core Topics to Review:
• Bangladesh CMAM protocol, case definitions, therapeutic feeding regimens, and discharge criteria.
• IYCF recommendations, counseling techniques, and culturally appropriate behavior‑change communication.
• Micronutrient supplementation schedules for children and pregnant/lactating women.
• Monitoring indicators: admissions, default rate, cure rate, relapse, IYCF practice coverage.
• Quality assurance tools: supervisory checklists, RAPID assessments, supportive supervision models.
- Potential Questions:
• Describe a time you improved SAM treatment outcomes in a low‑resource setting.
• How would you ensure gender‑responsive nutrition interventions in the CHT cultural context?
• Explain your approach to integrating nutrition messages with WASH activities during community outreach.
• What data analysis methods do you use to detect trends and inform program adjustments?
- Practical Exercise:
• Be ready to conduct a mock on‑site supervision role‑play: reviewing a health facility’s SAM unit readiness, giving feedback to staff, and planning a corrective action plan.
7. Demonstrate Soft‑Skill Competencies
- Pro‑active attitude: give examples of initiating improvements without waiting for direction.
- Analytical thinking: share how you used data to identify gaps and redesign interventions.
- Result orientation: discuss measurable outcomes you achieved.
- Impact management: illustrate how you tracked and reported on program impact for donors.
- Flexibility and development orientation: show willingness to adapt to field realities and mentor junior staff.
8. Logistics and Personal Preparation
- Verify passport validity and any required travel documents for field work in remote hill districts.
- Arrange health check‑up, vaccinations, and malaria prophylaxis as recommended for the CHT region.
- Research local cultural norms, languages (e.g., Chakma, Marma, Tripuri) and basic phrases to build rapport with communities.
9. Application Submission Checklist
- Updated resume (PDF, ≤ 2 pages).
- Tailored cover letter (PDF, ≤ 1 page) with subject line “Application for the Position of Specialist, Nutrition”.
- Copies of academic certificates and professional trainings.
- three professional reference contacts (name, title, organization, email, phone).
Send all files to Bangladesh‑Recruitment@hki.org before the deadline (December 8 2025).
Final Tip: After submitting, set a reminder to follow up politely after one week if you have not received an acknowledgment. Use the follow‑up to reiterate your enthusiasm and to confirm receipt of your application. Good luck!
1. Understand the Organization and the Project
- Review Helen Keller International’s mission, values, and recent achievements, especially in nutrition, eye health, WASH and livelihoods.
- Study the “Access to and Utilization of Lifesaving Services by Marginalized Communities in Chittagong Hill Tracts” project description. Note the three districts (Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari), the focus on SAM/MAM management, IYCF, nutrition‑sensitive livelihoods and integration with WASH.
- Familiarize yourself with Bangladesh’s national CMAM and IYCF guidelines, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) policies, and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) protocols.
2. Match Your Profile to the Key Requirements
- Education: Master’s degree in Nutrition, Public Health or a related field. Ensure your degree certificate and transcripts are ready.
- Experience: Minimum five years in community‑ and facility‑based nutrition programs. Highlight any work with CMAM, IYCF, nutrition surveillance, capacity building, and integrated WASH/livelihood interventions.
- Contextual Experience: Emphasize any previous assignments in remote, multi‑ethnic or mountainous settings, especially in the Chittagong Hill Tracts or comparable regions.
- Skills: Demonstrated mentoring, coordination, quality assurance, data analysis, report writing, and strong English/Bangla communication.
3. Update Your Resume
- Use a clear, chronological format.
- Create a “Key Achievements” subsection under each role that quantifies impact (e.g., “Managed SAM treatment for 1,200 children across three districts, achieving a 92 % cure rate”).
- Include a “Technical Competencies” block listing: CMCM, IYCF counseling, micronutrient supplementation, monitoring & evaluation, training of trainers, gender‑responsive programming, cross‑sectoral integration.
- Add a “Relevant Tools & Systems” section (e.g., DHIS2, Excel, PowerBI, KoboToolbox, mobile data collection).
4. Write a Targeted Cover Letter
- Start with a brief statement of enthusiasm for Helen Keller International’s legacy and for improving nutrition in the CHT.
- Connect your most relevant experience to each of the six key responsibility areas (technical support, capacity building, coordination, quality assurance, integration, documentation).
- Mention any partnerships you have cultivated with government agencies (DGHS, MoHFW) or NGOs.
- Conclude with your readiness to relocate to the hill districts and your commitment to a 10‑month contract.
5. Gather Supporting Documents
- Certified copies of academic qualifications.
- Professional certificates (e.g., CMAM training, IYCF certification).
- Reference letters from previous supervisors, preferably from NGOs or government health institutions.
6. Prepare for the Technical Interview
- Core Topics to Review:
• Bangladesh CMAM protocol, case definitions, therapeutic feeding regimens, and discharge criteria.
• IYCF recommendations, counseling techniques, and culturally appropriate behavior‑change communication.
• Micronutrient supplementation schedules for children and pregnant/lactating women.
• Monitoring indicators: admissions, default rate, cure rate, relapse, IYCF practice coverage.
• Quality assurance tools: supervisory checklists, RAPID assessments, supportive supervision models.
- Potential Questions:
• Describe a time you improved SAM treatment outcomes in a low‑resource setting.
• How would you ensure gender‑responsive nutrition interventions in the CHT cultural context?
• Explain your approach to integrating nutrition messages with WASH activities during community outreach.
• What data analysis methods do you use to detect trends and inform program adjustments?
- Practical Exercise:
• Be ready to conduct a mock on‑site supervision role‑play: reviewing a health facility’s SAM unit readiness, giving feedback to staff, and planning a corrective action plan.
7. Demonstrate Soft‑Skill Competencies
- Pro‑active attitude: give examples of initiating improvements without waiting for direction.
- Analytical thinking: share how you used data to identify gaps and redesign interventions.
- Result orientation: discuss measurable outcomes you achieved.
- Impact management: illustrate how you tracked and reported on program impact for donors.
- Flexibility and development orientation: show willingness to adapt to field realities and mentor junior staff.
8. Logistics and Personal Preparation
- Verify passport validity and any required travel documents for field work in remote hill districts.
- Arrange health check‑up, vaccinations, and malaria prophylaxis as recommended for the CHT region.
- Research local cultural norms, languages (e.g., Chakma, Marma, Tripuri) and basic phrases to build rapport with communities.
9. Application Submission Checklist
- Updated resume (PDF, ≤ 2 pages).
- Tailored cover letter (PDF, ≤ 1 page) with subject line “Application for the Position of Specialist, Nutrition”.
- Copies of academic certificates and professional trainings.
- three professional reference contacts (name, title, organization, email, phone).
Send all files to Bangladesh‑Recruitment@hki.org before the deadline (December 8 2025).
Final Tip: After submitting, set a reminder to follow up politely after one week if you have not received an acknowledgment. Use the follow‑up to reiterate your enthusiasm and to confirm receipt of your application. Good luck!
- By bdchakriDesk