ECD / IYCF Counselor

Background/IRC Summary:

• The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives.
• Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.
• At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity, and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure.
• The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

IRC in Pakistan:

• IRC has been working in Pakistan for over 40 years.
• Manages and delivers large, complex programs to meet the needs in health, education, protection, environmental health, and livelihoods for displaced, poor, and disaster-affected communities.
• Works in partnership with local government and non-governmental organizations.
• Currently operates in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Baluchistan, and Sindh provinces.

Job Overview/Summary:

The “ECD/IYCF counselor” will be responsible for rapid/detailed assessment of infant and Young Child feeding practices in mothers/care givers at OTP centers and at community level. Counseling the pregnant women for the preparation of Breastfeeding and colostrum feeding. One to One tailored IYCF counseling sessions to all mothers with children under 24 months.

Major Responsibilities:

• Conduct assessment of all mothers with children under 24 months that attend the OTP program and at the community.

• Perform appropriate assessments of IYCF needs and malpractices, and analyze and come up with clear recommendations.

• Develop an action plan to improve IYCF practice as per national guidelines and provide technical guidance to the nutrition teams (Nutrition Assistant/Lady Health Visitor/Lady Health Worker/Community Resource Person).

• Ensure group counseling of the mother-to-mother support group at the community level (in each village) and conduct it regularly.

• Identify model mothers and explore their best experiences to replicate the best practices within the community.

• Ensure the setup of breastfeeding corners at each OTP/SFP site established at health facilities.

• Provide appropriate counseling and awareness sessions for PLWs, caregivers of OTP/SFP beneficiaries, and mother groups on breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and maternal and child nutrition.

• 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.

• Utilize the provided education material on breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices, relaying accurate, practical, and specific advice according to the mother's needs.

• Produce monthly reports regarding IYCF activities and submit them to the project manager on time.

• Perform any other relevant tasks assigned by the line supervisor.

Position Reports to: ECD/IYCF Supervisor with Technical Assistant from Sr Health Manager

Language Skills – Local languages along with good Urdu speaking

Gender Equality:

IRC recognizes that gender equality is fundamental to the achievement of our organizational mission. As such,

IRC is committed to the promotion of gender equality in all aspects of our operations and programs. Our organizational policies, procedures and actions demonstrate this commitment. Women candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

The IRC Core Values and Commitments.

• The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons.

• IRC is committed to ensuring that IRC staff is suitable to work with children and have the knowledge s/he needs to uphold and abide by the IRC’s Child Safeguarding Policy.

• Level of interaction with children: Frequent direct contact with children

• IRC ensures that its staff must actively practice the roles and responsibilities related to client responsiveness, and accountability to people in affected communities and must have competencies to solicit and listen to feedback and other’s perspectives, respond to feedback with maturity and sensitivity and take appropriate decisions and makes changes to behavior or actions in response to feedback.

• IRC recognizes that gender equality is fundamental to the achievement of our organizational mission. As such, IRC is committed to the promotion of gender equality in all aspects of our operations and programs. Our organizational policies, procedures and actions demonstrate this commitment.

Women candidates and persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.