Community IYCF and ECD Counselor

Summary

          The community IYCF and ECD counselor will be responsible for providing Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) support and education to vulnerable caregivers through individual counseling and awareness sessions at the community level.  

 Responsibilities and Essential Functions

1. Provide support and counseling to pregnant women and mothers identified with difficulties in breastfeeding and/or sub-optimal infant and young child feeding practices and to caregivers of children 0-23 months
2. Provide Early childhood development (ECD) support and education to vulnerable caregivers through individual counseling and awareness sessions, including responsive caregiving, stimulation and early leaning practices.
3. Assist and give one-on-one counseling sessions related to IYCF for PLWs and caregivers of children 0-23 months referred from the IYCF national hotline
4. Conduct regular follow-up visits/phone calls to all women assisted, especially mothers of children under 6 months, to ensure exclusive breastfeeding.
5. Refer cases for specialized care when needed
6. Give awareness sessions to spread the knowledge among vulnerable families about optimal IYCF-E practices and ECD.
7. Engage men, grandmothers, and other family members in IYCF/ECD activities.
8. Provide on-the-job coaching to the PHC staff on IYCF counselling if needed
9. Provide training sessions on IYCF when needed
10. Distribute micronutrient supplements to PLWs and children when needed
11. Provide technical support and guidance to lead mothers in conducting Mother Support Group activities.
12. Screen infants, young children and pregnant women for malnutrition, when necessary, and refer cases as per the protocol.
13. Report daily and weekly to the project area coordinator/officer on all conducted activities, by completing the required reporting forms and databases.
14. Keep the necessary files for each case visited and counseled.
15. Attend IOCC staff meetings when required.
16. Perform other duties as necessary

     Qualifications

          Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Native Arabic speaker and fluency in English is necessary
• Strong social, interpersonal, communication and intercultural skills
• Team player
• Able to meet deadlines
• Computer literacy: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.

Experience:  

• At least 2-3 years of relevant work experience
• Previous experience in NGOs and humanitarian fields is an advantage
• Previous experience in IYCF program implementation is an advantage
• Previous experience in nutrition, or ECD program is an advantage

Contacts/Key Relationships (IOCC)

Project Area Coordinator, Project Manager, Project Supervisor/officer, ECD facilitator, Community Nutrition and ECD educator, lead mothers, malnutrition monitor, social worker, , Monitoring & Evaluation Department

Working Conditions

• Stationed in the field. 
• Visits to Beirut office for meetings, training and relevant paperwork.
• It is preferable that candidate resides in the area (Akkar/North Lebanon or Bekaa/Baalbak-Hermel)
• The candidate should have his/her own car.