IYCF Assistant at Action Against Hunger | ACF-International

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Starting date: as soon as possible
Direct Line Manager: IYCF Officer

Objective 1

• Conduct counselling for pregnant women for the preparation of Breastfeeding and colostrum feeding. One to One tailored IYCF counselling sessions to all mothers with children under 24 months.

Tasks & Responsibilities:

• Provide the Pregnant women with preparatory counselling for breast feeding and colostrums feeding, to ensure prevention of pre-lacteal feeds and bottle feeding.
• Counseling the mothers on good maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.
• 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 of exclusive breastfeeding for the initial 6 months.
• Support the mothers suffering from insufficient milk production with advice on re-lactation.
• Discourage and educate mothers on the dangers of feeding bottles by exchanging used bottles for cups and spoons.
• Provide mothers with practical advice on correct attachment and positioning when breastfeeding, timely introduction of complementary foods and respond to any concerns or local taboos associated with IYCF.
• Counseling of mothers on the appropriate time to introduce complementary feeding promotion the continuation of Breast feeding.
• Educating the mothers on the quality, quantity and frequency of complementary feeds to promote adequate weight gain.
• Utilize the provided education material on breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices, relaying accurate, practical and specific advice for the mother’s needs.
• Ensure a comfortable, calm environment for counselling sessions and maintain good relationships with the beneficiaries.

Objective 2

• Maintenance of IYCF integration within all CMAM components.

Tasks & responsibilities:

• Ensure strong communication links with all other CMAM staff, providing advice and support to all other staff members on IYCF issues as and when they arise.
• 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 (Community Health Groups – CHGs) within the community to provide additional support for mothers and extend knowledge of good IYCF practices.
• Play an active role on advocacy to promote proper IYCF Practices, antenatal and post-natal checkups, importance of institutional deliveries, vaccination and growth monitoring.

Objective 3

• Integration of IYCF care practices within PHC/MCH component carried out by Ministry of Health Staff

Tasks & Responsibilities:

• Coordination with government CVs to incorporate IYCF into regular MCH services;
• Building effective liaison with government staff and involving them into IYCF care practices even in cooking demonstration (where applicable);
• Biweekly/monthly meetings with CVs on IYCF related discussion, exchange of lesson learns/challenges/taboos;
• Documentation of own and CV experiences and challenges under IYCF implementation.

Objective 4

• Represent AAH and the program within the community.

Tasks & Responsibilities:

• Know and understand AAH mandate, Humanitarian principals and the current program.
• With the program manager, develop coherent messages and pass them to the community about AAH mandate, program objectives and approach.
• Build trust between AAH and the community.

Objective 8
Tasks & responsibilities:

• This job description is not intended to be all inclusive and the employee will also perform other related tasks as required and is responsible for reporting and communication of progress and achievement of the specific assigned task.
• The IYCF Assistant should be flexible and adaptable with regards to the implementation of the daily work/activities.
• The IYCF Assistant is expected to conduct all duties in a professional manner following Action Against Hunger Nigeria mission staff regulations and charter including promotion of gender equality.

Internal & External Relationship
Internal:

• IYCF Officer: hierarchical relationship – technical support – exchange of information
• Nutrition & Health Deputy Program Manager: technical support.

Qualifications

• Diploma in a Nutrition or Community Based Programming or related field.
• Minimum 1 year work experience in CMAM, IYCF and community mobilization in the humanitarian contexts (conflict/insecure contexts).

Skills & Experience
Essential:

• Ability and willingness to frequently travel to villages and stay at the field
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions like long distance walking to screening sites
• Capacity to supervise and coach health workers
• Ability to work in an environment where there are physical discomforts associated with change in weather or discomforts associated with noise, dust or dirt
• Professional, motivated, open, creative, mature, responsible, flexible and, culturally sensitive.
• Excellent team, budget and project management and representation competencies.

Preferred:

• Proficient in statistical and other softwares (Microsoft Office – Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Willing and able to be based and travel regularly within remote areas, where services are limited.
• Fluency in English.
• Commitment to AAH mission, values and policy.
• Proficiency with local languages (Kanuri, Fulani, Hausa).
• Previous NGO experience managing mobilization in different interventions (i.e. cash transfers, wash, Nutrition).
• Previous experience with AAH.