Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) Counselor (2 Positions) – Marka District, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Vacant Announcement

Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) Counselor (2 Positions)

Organization

Gargaar Relief and Development Organization (GREDO)

Position Title

IYCF Counselor

Location/Duty Station

Marka District, Lower Shabelle

Announcing Date

17/09/2022

Closing Date

23/09/2022

SUPERVISOR/ Title

IYCF Officer or his designee

Project Duration

6 months Contract with possibility of extension to availability of funds and satisfactory job performance.

Commitment to Diversity

GREDO is an equal opportunities employer.

Submission Email:

recruitment@gredosom.org

Organizational Background.

GREDO is an indigenous local NGO.  Non-profit non-partial, non- political and voluntary organization based in Baidoa. To reach the most affected grass-root communities in Bay and Bakool regions and lower Shebelle effectively and efficiently, the necessity of local partnership in relief program appeared. Responding to the partnership need, a group of Somali intellectuals and well-wishers initiated in December 1992 a local non-governmental organization called Gargaar Relief and Development Organization (GREDO) the organization has implemented during these period different projects including relief and emergency programs and later improved into rehabilitation and developmental programs.

Job Summary

The chronic nature of the nutrition emergency in Somalia has devastating impact on the economic potential and general development of the population The immediate causes of malnutrition include high morbidity with frequent disease outbreaks, poor dietary diversity leading to high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies such as anaemia, inadequate feeding and care practices of young children and their mothers, household food insecurity in some areas, and poor access to basic services such as primary health care, clean water, and sanitation facilities. These devastating immediate causes can be addressed through an integrated and coordinated approach to programming.

The entirety of central and southern Somalia is characterized by extreme instability and conflict. This and the conditions described above have brought acute hardship for millions, among whom children are the most vulnerable.

Job Purpose

To provide promotion and support for optimal infant and young child feeding to mothers and carers of children under 2years old.

Key accountabilities

• To conduct community surveys to identify target beneficiaries (children under 2 and pregnant and lactating women)
• To lead group education sessions for pregnant mothers and carers of children under 2
• To train staff and volunteers on best practices for infant and young child feeding
• To supervise volunteers to ensure consistent messaging
• To assess mothers and their children to identify specific feeding support needs
• To provide 1:1 breastfeeding counselling for mothers experiencing difficulties breastfeeding; including supporting relactation
• To provide training, demonstration, on going guidance and support to provide artificial feeding safely for exceptional cases until the infant is at least 6 months old
• To refer children for intensive nutritional/medical care as required
• To identify mothers to become peer educators in their home villages, and to support them to undertake sensitisation and referral to the Child Friendly Space
• Keep a register of mothers and children attending education sessions, receiving skilled assessment and support
• Monthly reporting of activities to the Infant and Young Child Feeding officer
• Local level awareness raising on best feeding practices for infants and young children amongst other humanitarian actors in the locality