Job Description

Position title       :            IYCF Officer (1)

Reporting to       :            Nutrition Coordinator

Location               :            Baidoa

Job summary:

The Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Officer plays a pivotal role in designing, implementing, and monitoring programs aimed at improving infant and young child feeding practices within the community. This role involves working closely with community health and nutrition volunteers, mother-to-mother support groups, healthcare providers, and other community structures to promote optimal feeding practices. The IYCF Officer is responsible for capacity building, advocacy, and ensuring the integration of IYCF initiatives into existing programs and community structures.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement strategies for promoting optimal infant and young child feeding practices, including breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and appropriate feeding during illness.
• Organize and facilitate training sessions for healthcare workers, community health volunteers, and caregivers on recommended feeding practices and nutritional requirements for infants and young children.
• Coordinate with local authorities and community leaders to facilitate the integration of IYCF activities into existing healthcare and nutrition programs.
• Work closely with healthcare providers to ensure the provision of accurate and timely information on infant and young child feeding during antenatal care, postnatal care, and child health clinics.
• Support the establishment and functioning of mother-to-mother support groups to provide peer support and share experiences related to breastfeeding and complementary feeding.
• Conduct regular meetings and outreach activities with community leaders, women's groups, and other key stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding.
• Advocate for the integration of IYCF initiatives into existing community structures, such as community health centers, women's groups, and early childhood development programs.
• Document and share best practices, success stories, and lessons learned from IYCF interventions with relevant stakeholders to inform program planning and replication.
• Identify barriers and challenges to optimal infant and young child feeding within the community and work collaboratively with stakeholders to develop appropriate solutions
• Conduct regular assessments to identify barriers to optimal feeding practices and develop strategies to address them.
• Monitor the nutritional status of infants and young children through growth monitoring and other relevant indicators
• Advocate for policies and programs that support breastfeeding and optimal feeding practices for infants and young children.
• Develop behavior change communication materials and campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of proper nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life.
• Engage with caregivers and community members to promote positive attitudes and behaviors related to infant and young child feeding.
• Prepare regular reports on the progress of IYCF activities, including achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Maintain accurate records of program data, including beneficiary information, training attendance, and monitoring results.
• Contribute to the development of case studies, success stories, and other documentation to showcase the impact of IYCF interventions.

Experiences and Qualifications

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in nutrition, public health, or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred.
• At least 2-3 years of experience in implementing nutrition or public health programs, with a focus on maternal and child health.
• Strong knowledge of infant and young child feeding guidelines, including breastfeeding promotion and complementary feeding practices.
• Experience in conducting training sessions and capacity building activities for healthcare workers and community volunteers.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in data collection, analysis, and reporting using computer software applications.

Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with a commitment to achieving program objectives and improving the health outcomes of infants and young children  

Child Safeguarding Policy:

SOS Children’s Villages Somalia holds strict child safeguarding principles and a zero-tolerance policy for conducts of sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse in the workplace and other places where the organization’s activities are rendered. Parallel to technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring decisions will give due emphasis to assessing candidates’ value congruence and thorough background checks, police clearance reference check processes. SOS Children’s Villages organization is committed to safeguarding the rights of the children and therefore, is expected that every individual who joins with SOS Children’s Villages Somalia understands his/her responsibility in protecting and keeping children always safe

Skills Required

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