Jonathan Makka
Public Health Nutritionist
Abuja
Summary
Experienced public health professional with nearly a decade of experience in designing and implementing community-level interventions. Skilled in developing programs targeted at Integrated Social Behaviour Change, hygiene promotion, health system and Food systems strengthening, poverty reduction and resilience building to achieve exceptional results.
Overview
2025
2025
years of professional experience
1
1
year of post-secondary education
Work History
Senior Analyst, Nutrition
Sahel Consulting Nutrition and Agriculture Ltd
9 2022 - Current
- Steered the development and review of Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) packages that were used for awareness creation, sensitization and the promotion of desired behaviour change specific to dietary diversity and hygiene practices amongst 120,000 ALDDN beneficiaries across implementation sites.
- Led the development of and organizational SBC strategy for Nutrition
- Regular engagement with relevant stakeholders to drive programmes strategic priorities, and identify possible challenges or issues
- Supporting with planning and development of social and behaviour change activities leveraging a strategic Human-centered Design
- Developing radio programme scripts based on specific diet and hygiene-related topics to address perceived barriers and social norms that influence the desired behaviour change
- Coordinated the development of guidelines and coordinating the implementation of awareness campaigns across the programme sites which target key dietary diversity and hygiene-related topical areas that are affected by social and cultural norms that limit behaviour change
- Leading the development of a key message booklet and coordinating the mainstreaming of specific and relevant nutrition key messages into other programme interventions and activities
- Working with the M&E team to develop and deploy data collection tools, track nutrition intervention activities at the various programme locations and conduct effectiveness surveys to assess the progress of behaviour change amongst the programme beneficiaries
Nutrition Coordinator (WFP, UNICEF, UNWOMEN, NHF)
Centre for Community Development and Research Network (CCDRN)
07.2021 - 09.2022
- Coordinated the implementation of the integration of nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific activities across Yobe State reaching approximately 100,000 beneficiaries.
- Led in the definition, supervision, and monitoring of CCDRN Nutrition programs, in compliance with national guidelines and coherence with identified humanitarian needs
- Facilitated the setting of modalities that improved nutritional statuses and intervention outcomes by increasing the production of diverse and safe foods, thus increasing household food availability through gender-sensitive interventions
- Supported project management with recommendations for improving processes to achieve objectives, whilst contributing to the overall adaptive programming approach, and play a key role in project work planning, learning, and reporting
- Steered the design, integration, and coordination of the Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) approach to the Blanket supplementary feeding programme and other nutrition projects across Bade LGA
- Guided the team in coordinating with other technical departments at the coordination level -Food Security and Livelihood, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, protection, Education Logistics, and Administration across CCDRN’s project locations
- Oversaw the formation and operationalization of Care groups (model used for IYCF activities) and other nutrition activities (CMAM and IYCF) at the LGA level
- Ensured the creation of viable linkages between the Nutrition component of the project and other sectors (WASH and FSL)
- Organized and facilitated capacity-building initiatives for the Nutrition professional, Nutrition team and Health workers through continuous On-the-Job training and mentoring sessions
- Routinely monitored the Nutrition component of the budget whilst ensuring compliance with donor guidelines
Base Manager
Centre for Community Development and Research Network (CCDRN)
01.2022 - 05.2022
- Provided direct support to CCDRN operations in the areas of logistics, administration and community/local authority relations, ensuring systems and procedures are followed
- Implemented appropriate management, administrative and logistical methods of working, while ensuring their efficiency, in line with CCDRN Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s), guidelines and local regulations
- Ensured CCDRN support / administrative Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), donor policies and procedures, and applicable local regulations were always understood and complied with
- Managed local procurement and logistics, ensuring programme procedures were adhered to and developed where necessary, in liaison with the Logistician and Programme Management Team
- Maintained systems for resource management at the base, including the administration of systems related to vehicle fleet management and maintenance, warehousing, asset management, stock keeping and facilities management
- Supported in the logistical planning and administration related to any visitors to the base, including travel requirements and security briefs
- Oversaw and supervised the recruitment, selection, hiring, training, and performance management of all base support staff, and ensured those actions were carried out in compliance with applicable CCDRN, local legislation and donor policies
- Led CCDRN technical staff operating out of the base location in the recruitment, selection and hiring of local technical staff in compliance with applicable CCDRN, local legislation and donor policies
- Ensured all base staff understood and adhered to the provisions of the CCDRN Code of Conduct and the United Nations Code of Conduct on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CoC/PSEA)
Food Security and Nutrition Specialist (WFP)
Centre for Community Development and Research Network (CCDRN)
03.2020 - 07.2021
- Overall responsibility and leading and coordinating the Food Security and Nutrition Programmes in Adamawa and Yobe states, providing technical support to the Development, Humanitarian/Emergency team and country office in terms of Food security and nutrition programming
- Supported project management and implementation of Food Security and Nutrition, and market system-related activities including beneficiary identification and validation, activity site allocation, planning, and implementing the communal and individual activities, whilst working with partners to facilitate monitoring
- Generated understanding of market actors’ actions, opportunities, and constraints by conducting continuous market system analysis and developing approaches, and modalities to support the establishment and expansion of private business institutions
- Worked with a multi-functional team in assessing the legal framework for the right to work and rights at work and recommended advocacy initiatives and policy reform to improve economic inclusion
- Integrated community approaches, gender sensitivity, protection, and capacity building into all livelihood activities as appropriate
- Ensured the cohesion of the overall Food Security and Nutrition approach through a close working relationship with the Food Security and Nutrition teams in other locations while also deciding on the technical basis for the implementation, like which tools, who are the recipients, and what they need in terms of distribution of activities, and where it will take place
- Strengthened, guided, and monitored the livelihood interventions while ensuring compliance with project Minimum Criteria for Livelihoods programming
- Build on existing, and seek new synergies for advocacy through cluster systems at LGA level, technical working groups and other fora in the Food Security and Nutrition Sector
Program Officer (EU-funded PROACT Project)
CRUDAN/OXFAM International
02.2018 - 02.2020
- Developed long-term strategies and implementation plans for carrying out activities that strengthen good linkages between market actors such as inputs suppliers, producers, traders, aggregators, value adders, processors, cooperatives, Agri Businesses, Banks, Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs), to strengthen their reach in serving the end-users
- Supported Community Mobilization and baseline survey for the targeting of beneficiaries, and community selection and established the reference points for subsequent project evaluation
- Provided strategic leadership and direction in the analysis of food security trends, and synthesis of learning from external sources and other projects for a strategic decision which led to excellent programs, policies, and campaign delivery
- These results in the improvement of 35,000 Households’ Livelihoods
- Managed the gathering and sharing of best practices within the thematic areas of the project, that integrate disaster risk reduction, resilience building, social protection/safety nets, and sustainable livelihoods approaches that work in areas of chronic poverty and inequality
- These actions significantly led to the formation of 50 Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Committees, the formation of 1500 Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) Groups and 50 Farm Field Schools in Adamawa state for the diffusion of Best Agronomic Practices
- Led functional public-private sector partnerships and networking with agro-business developers and other multi-stakeholders including nutrition/health actors by strengthening the strategic linkages for food security and support to the local market system
- This action eventually led to the aggregation of 550 Farmers in Guyuk LGA of Adamawa state who participated in the Sorghum Out-grower scheme, 9500 metric tons of Sorghum were produced and off-take by Guinness Nigeria, thereby resulting in farmers’ Livelihoods improvement
Research Associate
Lobadi Consults
11.2017 - 05.2018
- Assisted in identifying project goals, research methods, and variables
- Assisted in developing research schedules to monitor activities of research teams
- Data collection supervision, analysis, and evaluation
- Supported in the Interpretation of data and report writing
- Analyzed and resolved research issues in a timely manner
- Provided technical support during trainings across Nigeria.
Program Assistant (Reproductive, Sexual and Public Health)
Care for Life Mission
Gombe State
06.2017 - 02.2018
- Coordinated the activities of In-school and Out-of-School Youths on Reproductive Health issues through a peer education approach
- Provided unbiased information on HIV testing to clients and thoroughly explain the testing process
- Prepared medical follow-up for critical cases that have a high risk of HIV infection
- Supported in the Implementation of WASH programs at the Community level
- Responsible for meeting work plans and goals on time for the development and implementation of the organization’s strategies
- Generated, submitted, and maintained programme progress records on ARH and other relevant programmes such as documentation of profiles
- Supported the early education of children at the primary school levels for improved learning Outcomes under community-based action against poverty programme
- Earned a reputation for strong work ethics, honesty, and 100% commitment to a given task
- Monitored the implementation of community-based education activities
Consultant (CDC/PEPFAR Bridges Plus Project)
Centre for Integrated Health Programme
04.2015 - 02.2018
- Supported the design of a quarterly Retention Audit Determination (RADET) system that ensured effective tracking of enrolled clients
- Oversaw the periodic updating of the NOMIS and PWIS databases across intervention facilities to enhance data quality
Education
Master of Development Studies -
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University
Bauchi 01.2024 - Current
MSc. - Public Health
National Open University of Nigeria
Post Graduate Diploma - Public Health
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University
BSc. - Microbiology
Ahmadu Bello University
Skills
Nutrition Assessment
Behaviour Change Communication
Programme Planning and Implementation
Community Engagement
Maternal and Child Nutrition
Design Thinking
Food Security and Livelihoods
Policy Advocacy
Monitoring and Evaluation
Cultural Sensitivity
Websites
Timeline
Master of Development Studies -
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University
01.2024 - Current
Base Manager
Centre for Community Development and Research Network (CCDRN)
01.2022 - 05.2022
Nutrition Coordinator (WFP, UNICEF, UNWOMEN, NHF)
Centre for Community Development and Research Network (CCDRN)
07.2021 - 09.2022
Food Security and Nutrition Specialist (WFP)
Centre for Community Development and Research Network (CCDRN)
03.2020 - 07.2021
Program Officer (EU-funded PROACT Project)
CRUDAN/OXFAM International
02.2018 - 02.2020
Research Associate
Lobadi Consults
11.2017 - 05.2018
Program Assistant (Reproductive, Sexual and Public Health)
Care for Life Mission
06.2017 - 02.2018
Consultant (CDC/PEPFAR Bridges Plus Project)
Centre for Integrated Health Programme
04.2015 - 02.2018
MSc. - Public Health
National Open University of Nigeria
Post Graduate Diploma - Public Health
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University
BSc. - Microbiology
Ahmadu Bello University
Senior Analyst, Nutrition
Sahel Consulting Nutrition and Agriculture Ltd
9 2022 - Current
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