Infant & Young Child Feeding in Emergency (IYCF – E) Counsellors -Gaza

***Due to the urgency to fill this role, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Kindly note that the position might be filled before the vacancy announcement is closed; therefore, early applications are encouraged.***

***This role will be contingent upon securing available funds, and we might use this vacancy to fill more than one post.***

The Opportunity – Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergency (IYCF – E) Counsellors

Post location: Gaza Field Office – Rafah and subject to change based on SC priorities and response in Gaza.

Contract Duration and Level of Effort: 6 months with possible extension.

ROLE PURPOSE:

Save the Children is responding to the conflict situation in Gaza through Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergency (IYCF-E) Nutrition Program and General Food distributions, Child Protection, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Shelter and Non Food Item distributions programming. We are currently operational in oPt (Gaza and West Bank).

The role of the IYCF-E Counsellor is to ensure that all components of the program are functioning properly, providing quality care to all the beneficiaries while respecting guidelines and principles of good practice e.g. the Operational Guidance on IYCF-E, the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent relevant resolutions, and SPHERE 2011.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Health andNutrition Advisor

Staff reporting to this post: TBC.

Budget Responsibilities: None.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Project Management

• Overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of project site activities and staff, such as IYCF-E activities in Child Friendly Spaces, baby-tents, etc., IYCF-E staff, Breastfeeding Counsellors and volunteers;
• Provide guidance on IYCF-E to support staff (IYCF-E, Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), Health, Child Protection (and others as necessary) and Ministry of Health and other humanitarian actors as necessary to promote consistent good practice;
• Ensure all staff understand and implement program guidelines used for assessing the mother-child pair, advising the best feeding option and following up as appropriate;
• Ensure appropriate and consistent education messaging to mothers and other carers at all programming contact points (e.g. child friendly centres, clinics, distributions) and in the community

Note: the key messages should be agreed by all stakeholders in an emergency to ensure consistency;

• Facilitate the scheduling of outreach activities (e.g. IYCF-E outreach workers, volunteers);
• Facilitate the development of monthly work plans for the mother-baby area (e.g. in child-friendly spaces, etc.);
• Prepare field visit plans and supervision checklist in advance of trips
• Compile monthly activity reports and assist with stock consumption/distribution plans for each of the mother-baby areas as required.

Training and Capacity Building

• Conduct orientations and trainings to build the capacity of staff/volunteers, Ministry of Health staff and the community at large.

Advocacy and Communication

• Facilitate cross-sectoral programming, particularly to promote excellent communication and referral between IYCF-E, CMAM, Health, Food Security Livelihood and Child Protection programming;
• Liaise with other humanitarian actors, local authorities, ministries and the military to maximize collaboration and ensure proper coordination of activities and agreed protocols;

In order to be successful, you will bring/have:

QUALIFICATIONS

• Health / Public Health / Nutrition / or equivalent educational background and/or training

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Minimum 4+ years experience in the field.
• Demonstrable commitment to promoting and supporting optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding;
• Experience in conducting assessments and an understanding of nutritional data and information systems;
• Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff;
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions;
• Prepared to live and work in an uncertain security environment;
• Ability and willingness to frequently travel and stay at the field;
• Demonstrable ability at report writing and excellent communication skills;
• Computer literate;
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic.

Desirable

• Emergency programming experience;
• Qualification as a trainer of trainers in breastfeeding counseling;
• Familiarity with the Operational Guidance on IYCF-E and SPHERE standards.

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector. This role is offered on the basis of national terms and conditions. Application will be reviewed and selected on a rolling basis.

Save the Children promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment, women and people with different abilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Organisation

Save the Children works in development and humanitarian contexts with children and partners to help families, communities, and governments identify and use innovations to ensure all children survive, learn and are protected.

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realize the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.