***Due to the urgency to fill this role, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Kindly note that the position might be filled before the vacancy announcement is closed; therefore, early applications are encouraged.***
***This role will be contingent upon securing available funds, and we might use this vacancy to fill more than one post.***
The Opportunity – Nutrition Counsellor
Post location: Gaza Field Office – Dir Al-Balah and subject to change based on SC priorities and response in Gaza.
Contract Duration and Level of Effort: Until 31st of March 2025.
ROLE PURPOSE:
Save the Children is responding to the conflict situation in Gaza through Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergency (IYCF-E) Nutrition Program, prevention and management of malnutrition in children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, Child Protection, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Shelter and Non-Food Item distributions. We are currently operational in oPt (Gaza and West Bank).
The role of the Nutrition Counsellor is to provide nutrition counselling to caregivers of children, with a special focus on children under 2-years of age, through established mother baby areas, nutrition centres and primary health care centres. In addition, the nutrition counsellor will support with the management of malnutrition, where it is required. Nutrition Counsellors will be tasked with providing quality care to all the beneficiaries while respecting guidelines and principles of good practice. The nutrition counsellors will provide messages, group counselling and one-to–one tailored counselling on appropriate Infant and young Children feeding practices to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers/caretakers of children 0-23 months of age, as well as providing education to caregivers with malnourished children under-5, and where required supporting with the management of malnutrition. Specific nutrition counsellors will be tasked with close monitoring and support to infants who are infant formula fed. Nutrition counsellors will coordinate and collaborate closely with colleagues providing services under other sectors, such as health, child protection, water sanitation and hygiene.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Nutrition Officers
Staff reporting to this post: None.
Budget Responsibilities: None.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Project Management
- In collaboration with colleagues, day-to-day running of project site activities, this might include feeding assessments, 1-1 counselling, group nutrition education, malnutrition screening, management of malnutrition. Ensure that the nutrition site adheres to water, sanitation and hygiene specifications and infection prevention control measures on a daily basis, for example ensure there is a handwash facility with water and soap or alcohol hand gel and that hands are washed before entering the nutrition site.
- Identify pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers/caretakers of children under 2-years with feeding difficulty by doing rapid screening and/or feeding assessments and provide targeted, quality one to one counselling and follow-up for mothers/caretakers and children with feeding problems.
- Identify non-breastfed infants or infants who are consuming infant formula for focused, specialised support including re-lactation where possible, and as a last resort enrolment to/ referral to a breastmilk substitute programme.
- Facilitate education sessions (group counselling) on nutrition, health and hygiene good practices to pregnant and breastfeeding women, caregivers of children under 2-years and caregivers of malnourished children under 5 attending the Nutrition site.
- Provide basic psycho social support for pregnant and breastfeeding women (PBW) and refer any cases requiring more specialized support.
- Provide supplemental nutritional products to children and PBWs, as per guidance and protocol.
- Ensure nutritional screening of children under 5, pregnant and breastfeeding women at the Nutrition site.
- Where required, support the treatment of malnourished children through the outpatient therapeutic feeding service in the Nutrition site.
- Facilitate the scheduling of outreach activities through the team’s community engagement workers.
- Train and mobilize mother to mother support groups, expanding to father to father and other caregivers, where feasible.
- With the Nutrition Officer, develop monthly work plans for the Nutrition Site.
- Accurately complete the required documentation for the nutrition services, including capturing data on the services provided for provision to the Officers for the required weekly and monthly activity reports.
- Support the Nutrition Officer with stock consumption reports and distribution plans for the Nutrition site.
- Attend and actively participate in trainings and team meetings as requested.
- Perform other duties related to the nutrition programme as needed, assigned by supervisor.
Advocacy and Communication
- Facilitate cross-sectoral programming, particularly to promote excellent communication and referral between Nutrition, Health, WASH, Food Security Livelihood and Child Protection programming.
In order to be successful, you will bring/have:
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES
Essential
- Bachelor’s degree in health / public health / nutrition / or equivalent degree with a minimum of 3 years related experience.
- Demonstrable commitment to promoting and supporting optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding.
- Experience in conducting assessments and an understanding of nutritional data and information systems.
- Experience in individual/group counselling.
- A good understanding of recommended infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices
- Basic competency in written and spoken English and fluency in local/Arabic language.
- Effective self-organizational, time management, and prioritization skills.
- Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions.
- Prepared to live and work in an uncertain security environment.
- Ability and willingness to frequently travel and stay at the field.
- Demonstrable ability at report writing and excellent communication skills.
- Computer literate.
Desirable
- Emergency programming experience.
- Familiarity with the Operational Guidance on IYCF-E, IYCF-E SOP and sphere standards.
- Familiarity with the management of acute malnutrition/ CMAM programme
- Strong interpersonal and team skills
Additional job responsibilities
- The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
How to apply
Save the Children promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment, women and people with different abilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Organisation
Save the Children works in development and humanitarian contexts with children and partners to help families, communities, and governments identify and use innovations to ensure all children survive, learn and are protected.
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realize the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.
We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:
• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated
We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.
Application Information:
Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at Nutrition Counsellor
If you’re unable to apply through the website, please submit your full application through email opt.hr@savethechildren.org , reflecting the position name you’re applying to.
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.