CARE Pakistan requires the services of an IYCF & Nutrition Counselor. The incumbent will coordinate with Village Development Committees (VDCs), Self Help Groups, Lady Health Workers, Community Nutrition Workers, Community Health Workers, and other Project Support Community-based Structures under the “Improved Nutrition Status of Mothers and Children” to popularize the CMAM messaging and smooth understanding and interventions of the IYCF and CMAM activities focusing the Community Outreach and IYCF/MIYCF Counseling. The IYCF & Nutrition Counselor is a field-based technical position responsible for directly engaging with Adolescent Girls, Pregnant and Lactating Women, Screening of Children and PLW, with provision of services like (admissions/referrals for the RUTF/RUSF/IFA/MNT/deworming/ANC/PNC and institutions supported deliveries etc. and ensuring follow-ups as per the recommended protocols and referral of children and pregnant and lactating women for other mandatory health and EPI services). The door – to – door screening of children and women (pregnant and lactating) will be carried out, and the counseling will be performed in person (with groups and individuals on breastfeeding techniques and other practices) and in groups. Meanwhile, the IYCF & Nutrition Counselor will also be coordinating and conducting the IYCF counseling and Nutrition, WASH, and Education awareness activities at the field level. Key of the tasks for the position holder may include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

Job Responsibilities and Tasks

• Develop the monthly work plan of activities and collaborate with stakeholders for input and feedback.
• Training on the implementation of community-based management of acute malnutrition and Infant and Young Child Feeding Programs.
• Conduct nutritional assessments and anthropometric measurements.
• Manage beneficiaries' records and fill mandatory templates for field-level activities.
• Register identified children with severe acute malnutrition in OTP programs.
• Identify SAM children with medical complications and refer cases to stabilization centers.
• Provide daily/weekly/biweekly/monthly field-level data for onward submission.
• Keep records of the project in both hard and soft formats.
• Mobilize communities for the early detection of malnourished children and women.

2- Community Education and Counselling (35% of time)

• Popularize breastfeeding practices and counsel pregnant women on preparatory breastfeeding counseling.
• Counsel mothers on good maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.
• Counsel adolescent girls on health and hygiene practices.
• Ensure a comfortable, calm environment for counseling sessions and maintain good relationships with beneficiaries.
• Discourage and educate mothers on the dangers of bottle feeding.
• Respond to concerns or local taboos associated with Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF).
• Utilize provided educational material on breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices.

3- Advocacy and Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC)-(25% of time)

• Play an active role in advocating proper IYCF and Nutrition practices.
• Advocate for EPI visits, antenatal and postnatal checkups, institutional deliveries, vaccination, and growth monitoring. 
• Deliver SBCC sessions and nutrition messages to registered beneficiaries, parents, and community groups.
• Popularize CMAM messaging in the community to enhance good nutrition and health practices.

4- Referral and Follow-Up (10% of time)

• Identify malnourished children, pregnant and lactating women, and refer them for appropriate services.
• Ensure follow-ups of registered beneficiaries.
• Refer SAM children with medical complications to stabilization centers and ensure follow-ups.
• Counsel parents and caretakers on treatment protocols and ensure compliance with treatment.

5- Other responsibilities as assigned (5% of time)