IYCF Officer (Infant Young Child Feeding Emergency Officer)

BACKGROUND:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. The IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. We began work in Ethiopia since 2000 and currently implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as an equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview: 

The IYCF Officer with the direct supervision from Health and Nutrition team leader (from the perspective of the whole Health and Nutrition project nature and goal). Provide mainly group mother to mother counseling on IYC-E technical demonstration on mothers on how to breast feed and attachments of the child with mother’s breast. The IYCF-E Officer is responsible for the timely reporting and supporting the HCs and Hospitals Health in any IYCF-E related activities and any other work required by the project in Target Woredas (Erer, Gota Biki and Charati).

Major Responsibilities

• Closely follow the implementation of nutrition program agrees with the overall IYCF Program activities according to IRC and national standards.
• Ensure that IYCF service is integrated with all maternal and child health services such as under 5 OPD, EPI and ANC.
• Facilitates the trainings under the project regarding IYCF.
• Supports and liaise with the health center staff and provide on the job training and capacity building.
• Select and establish counsellors on IYCF from the health facilities and the community.
• Establishment and strengthening of MTM support groups, train them and close follow up for supporting IYCF_E promotion activities.
• Assess and diagnose for difficulties of feeding for all PLW coming for other services, for screening and at the community.
• Ensure provision of daily one to one and group counselling for PLW regarding IYCF practices at facility and community level.
• Makes sure that the health staff have adequate training on providing proper IYCF counselling.
• Conduct formative assessment for key behaviors and skill for IYCF and develop culturally appropriate and effective IEC materials and adopt it to the day-to-day counselling.
• Ensures the availability of job aids, reporting formats and all other supplies for IYCF.
• Creates and maintain relationship with local health and other authorities and try to link IYCF program with the existing health structure smoothly,
• Makes sure that health professionals from the health facilities to participate on the daily routine work for sustainability and smooth phase out strategy,
• Provides technical support and training where required to all team members, outreach team including health extension workers and community volunteers on IYCF.
• Works and liaise with any local health workers to integrate the IYCF program from the start in annual and quarter planning of health facilities.
• Support and ensure record and report of IYCF activities at health post and health center level.
• Organizes monthly report of community mobilization, IYCF and report on time to the Project Manager, Nutrition and provides updates when needed.
• Analyze monthly performance of all IYCF activities and take appropriate measure with CMAM officer for better performance.
• Reports any problems in a timely manner to the Health& Nutrition Manager,
•  Work with CMAM officer, OTP/SC Nurses, Mobile health, and nutrition team for integrating IYCF practice promotion activities to their daily health and nutrition works.
• Always upholds the image and values of IRC.

Safeguarding Responsibilities: -

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion, and cohesion in IRC [team/officer.
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.

Job Requirements

Educational Requirements

BSC/Diploma in Nursing, Midwife or Public Health (Senior Clinical/Public Nurse or above).

Preferred experience & skills:

• Minimum one year working experience for postgraduate, two years working experience for Degree and five years’ experience for Diploma holders out of which two-year experience directly related to emergency health & nutrition related fields Knowledge, training, and experience in IYCF and community mobilization/BCC.
• Demonstrated skills in program planning, implementation, and monitoring.
• Demonstrated skills in peer group training, Training of Trainers, and development of training materials.
• Strong computer (Microsoft skills), all and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment.

Language Skills

• Proficiency in spoken and written English is mandatory and Local language is advantageous.

Certificates or Licenses:

• Professional Licenses and other training on thematic areas and certificates are advantageous.  

• Please include 3 references from current and former employers.
• Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.
• Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

·      Name of the position you have applied for

·      Date of application

·      Summary of your qualifications and experience

·      Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

·      Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address

·      Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees. 

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients.

Professional Standards: 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.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances.