Action Against Hunger is seeking a IYCF (Infant Young Children Feeding) Promoter for SIDA VIII project title “Provision of lifesaving undernutrition treatment and prevention support to vulnerable communities affected by critical nutrition emergency in District Battagram, KP”.

The project will support Provincial Nutrition Cell (PNC) health department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to respond effectively to malnutrition emergency at district Battagram. The project specific objective is “To improve community’s accessibility to life-saving care and prevention of acute undernutrition of pregnant and lactating mothers and children

OBJECTIVES

Objective 1

Ensure CMAMI Rapid/detailed assessment of 0 to 59 months  infant and Young Child feeding practices and at risk mothers/care givers at Health Facilities /OTP/NSC

Tasks & responsibilities

• Conduct CMAMI Simple Rapid Assessment (SRA) of all mothers with children/Infant 0 to 59 months that attend the Primary Health Care (PHC) /OTP program through the local Basic Health Units (BHUs).
• Conduct detailed assessment of child feeding practices in women that require additional support or reveal difficulties.
• Regular and strong coordination with PHC/CMAMI, NSC and Outreach staff on referral and integrated case management package.
• Conduct anthropometric assessment of pregnant and lactating mothers at health facility in collaboration with BHU health staff/lady health visitor (LHV).
• Ensure quality of prevention and treatment services in comply with Pakistan IYCF guideline and CMAMI standard case management.  
• Report on progress and any problems in a timely manner to health facility Incharge and nutrition supervisor/officer.
• Maintain growth chart of individual register children/infant during assessment.
• Through liaison with the community groups, provide effective follow up of all cases: particularly tracing of children who are absent from the program, sick children, long stay children, children not gaining weight, and children with social problems etc.
• Respond to inquiries regarding the technical aspects of the program admission and discharge whenever necessary under CMAMI and IYCF guideline protocol.
• Provide success stories / case studies in the intervention with coordination of Health facility in charge, Nutrition Officer / Manager.
• Perform any other duties requested by the immediate supervisor

Objective 2

Counseling the pregnant/lactating at risk mothers  and 0 to 59 Infant/ Children on Health and Nutrition Care Practices  at Health Facility/OTP/NSC

Tasks & responsibilities

• Establish IYCF corner at each health facility to perform CMAMI assessment care and Early Childhood Development (ECD) care practices/counselling session.
• Provide key Health and Nutrition education messages to beneficiaries based the protocol and guidelines.
• Conduct a practical demonstration with mothers and caregiver on effective breastfeeding and Infant feeding preparation and essential care practices at home.
• Provide tailored one to one counseling sessions, based on initial assessments, offering practical advice and education to mothers on the key issues of infant and Young child feeding practices.
• Ensure all mothers/care givers are aware of the importance early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for under 6 months infant.
• Ensure a comfortable, calm environment for counselling sessions and maintain good relationships with the beneficiaries.
• Counseling the mothers on good maternal nutrition and health care practices during pregnancy and lactation.
• Establish and ensure IYCF/ECD play area at health facility for infant/children and provide psychosocial counseling along with caregivers.
• Follow and respect the current protocols specially drug administration i.e. for de-worming, malaria, EPI schedule and MNP, IFA / Vitamin A supplements targeting children and PLW with proper documentation.
• Add the activities linked to health and nutrition education in the protocols
• Follow the treatment of the beneficiaries through home visits with support of community groups.
• Participate in the follow-up of stock request and consumption.
• Ensure proper documentation and reporting of the stock distributed through OTP/Outreach/NSC activities.

Objective 3

Ensure IYCF/CMAMI activities and ensure PHC integration and reporting

Tasks & responsibilities

• Establish good relationship with the relevant stakeholders (DOH staff /and community).
• Closely work with BHU health staff in MNCH unit and OTP with NA and LHV, ensure integration of CMAMI/IYCF activities into Primary Health care services.
• Conduct education sessions within the surrounding community on the importance of IYCF practices in conjunction with community mobilisers.
• Aid in establishing mother-to-mother support groups/committees within the community to provide additional support for mothers and extend knowledge of good IYCF practices.
• Playing an active role on advocacy to promote proper IYCF Practices, antenatal and post-natal checkups, importance of institutional deliveries, vaccination and growth monitoring.
• Ensure/main all key indicators reporting data and share with relevant team/stakeholder on daily/monthly/quarterly basis.

INTERNAL & EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIP

Internal

Under the guidance of

Nutrition Officer

In coordination with

Line manager of

N/A

Technical manager of

N/A

External

NGO/ INGO

Community Based  organisations/UN agencies working in KP

Government of Pakistan

District Health Staff ,

Other

REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES

Internal National

• To support in compilation of monthly, quarterly and annual reports
• To provide data for the central data base management to the district office.
• To support in compilation of program activities documentation reports.
• Referrals to EPI and MCH for Vaccination and ANC/PNC respectively.

Internal Global

N/A

External

Required reports for District Health Office

Reports required by the Government counterparts especially Nutrition Department – KP

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Mandatory

• Bachelor degree or Diploma in Nursing/LHV/Midwife/CMW with 1-2 Year working experience in NGO / INGO in relevant position and program (i.e. CMAM & IYCF).  Alternatively, 2 years working experience with NGO / INGO in Nutrition program position and program e (i.e., CMAM & IYCF trained).
• Ability and willingness to autonomously travel to duty site/ health facility and villages when required.
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions like long distance walking to work/distribution sites
• Excellent spoken and written local (Pashto) /Urdu and English language skills
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.

Preference

• Experience in closely working with DOH and Taluka/District HQ Hospitals and at health facility level is advantageous
• Previous experience working in clinical setting/CMAM /IYCF is an asset
• Ability to prepare weekly and monthly program reports
• Candidates will be preferred who belong to ACF-intervention areas/UCs district Battagram or surrounding.

COMPETENCIES

(1 being lowest, 4 being highest)

Team work:04

Organisation and planning:03

Analysis and resolution of problems and conflict:04

Adaptability and flexibility:03

Motivation:04

Resistance to pressure, and capacity to deal with difficult situations:03

Results orientation:03

Effective and synthetic Communication:03 

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply