ECD Facilitator - Chekka

Terms of Reference

Overview

Research and best practices indicate that access to integrated early childhood development services can help reduce the major inequities, cycles of poverty, and lack of basic human rights faced by a vast majority of the world’s children aged zero to five. To that end, and according to the Nurturing Care Framework “It is now internationally acknowledged and appreciated that supporting Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiatives with adequate funding must be seen as an ‘investment’ rather than an ‘expenditure’. Credible evidence from across the world confirms that investing in ECD services can yield significant returns for every dollar invested in terms of a healthier, more productive, better educated and socially adjusted citizenry. Early experiences have a deep impact on children’s development in all of their aspects. They affect learning, health, behavior and – ultimately – adult social relationships, well-being, and earnings. “Over 1/3 of children under 5 years of age worldwide still fail to achieve their full developmental potential due to malnutrition, poverty, disease, neglect, and lack of learning opportunities”[1].

Based on compelling scientific evidence from neuroscience, developmental psychology, and economics, there is now a widespread consensus that high-quality, age- and developmentally appropriate ECD programs for children can help children achieve optimal health, growth, capability, and well-being.

The Early Childhood Development Specialist (ECDS) is mandated to work with children with developmental issues, birth to eight years of age, and their families to access and build support through the delivery of customized, comprehensive, and coordinated early intervention services. Primarily, the scope of work of the early childhood development specialist is to identify early detection and ensure that children who face developmental and psychological delays receive the care they need.

Young children’s good health is the result of caregivers (including child minders, professionals and paraprofessionals) being able to:

monitor children’s physical and emotional condition;

give affectionate and appropriate responses to children’s daily needs;

protect young children from household and environmental dangers;

have hygiene practices which minimize infections;

use promotive and preventive health services; and

seek care and appropriate treatment for children’s illnesses.

In Lebanon, as in the MENA region generally, the 0- to 3-year-old age group is an especially underserved population group. Hence, special attention will be given to strengthening and scaling up quality holistic interventions and support systems for nurturing care in the first 1000 days.

Scope of Work

The Early Childhood Development Facilitator is expected to perform the following tasks:

Evaluate Developmental Delays

Identify Danger signs (developmental risk factors and delays) based on the milestones cards, observations and/or interviews with caregivers; and ensure children are meeting milestones in all dimensions.

Essential screening for health (immunization), nutrition (MUAC screening) and developmental delays (milestones cards) to monitor and document children’s development to ensure early detection, and provide advice and counselling to caregivers

Conduct one on one counselling for caregivers of children under 5 on the integrated Nutrition and ECD

Conduct Home visitations to follow up with families, based on the follow up needed , withy prioritization for the hard to reach areas.

*  ECD Facilitator will not distribute Micronutrient Powders (MNPs) - please refer to Nutrition partners (IOCC and ACF) for MNP distribution to children aged 6 month - 59 month, and for MNPs distribution ( please refer to Nutrition partners (IOCC and ACF) for MNP distribution to children aged 6 month - 59 month)

Organizing referrals and childcare arrangements

Assist families and caregivers to refer and obtain quality care for their children

Work with social services and community assistance agencies to compile resources, organize educational and childcare arrangements, and make referrals when necessary

Refer any suspected Malnutrition case of children aged 6 month - 59 month or Pregnant and lactating women (PLWs) to Nutrition partner for follow up at PHC

Refer any child in need of Micronutrient Powders (MNPs) to UNICEF Nutrition partners

Refer any lactating women with challenges, or in need for breastfeeding counselling to UNICEF Nutrition partner for IYCF counselling 

Refer any child with developmental delays and in need for specialized services to nearest PHCCs (primary health care center) or any specialized center that provide such services.

Educating the community

Encourage and support the multi-sectoral collaboration to optimize child development, especially for children with developmental delays and disabilities and their families (i.e.  referral to specialized care and accessibility to relevant information, Records and reports keeping)

Documenting children’s developmental needs, issues, and progress, and keep record of the social services programs and resources families utilize, and acquire children’s records of immunization, physical examinations, and other necessary medical documents using the Milestones cards.

Regularly update the list of referrals and follow up with proper follow up on case by case.

Conduct group sessions for caregivers of children under 5 using the ECD Modules provided by UNICEF and on how to monitor children’s physical and emotional conditions, and how to seek care and appropriate treatment for children’s illnesses.

Requirements

Educational background in health including, early education , social and development,  Child Health, Maternal & Child Health, Mental Health & Psychosocial Support, and/or rehabilitation

Demonstrates familiarity with integrated and inclusive ECD, including relevant global guidance documents, stakeholders, and networks -

Excellent time management and personal organization and interpersonal skills –

Excellent communication skills as well as excellent strategic and analytic thinking –

Ability to work on complex projects in multitasking and respect deadlines

Fluent in spoken and written Arabic, knowledge of English would be an asset.