Program Officer -IYCF

Job Description

TITLE: Program Officer -IYCF

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Nutrition

LOCATION: Beletweyn Hirshabelle state with frequent travel to Mahas, Bulo burte and Mataban districts.

GRADE: 4

CONTRACT LENGTH: 7 months with possible extension

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: (select only one)

Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The IYCF program officer position is for dedicated program staff who will focus on the implementation of IYCF activities in Hirshabelle State. The position’s overall responsibilities will include managing the day-to-day program activities (such as IYCF-E activities in mother-baby areas), IYCF-E counsellors and partners, and volunteers. Additionally, the position will provide technical guidance on IYCF-E to program and support staff, the MoH, and other humanitarian actors as necessary to promote consistent good practice.

The IYCF program officer will report directly to nutrition deputy program manager Hirshabelle and collaborate closely with other nutrition program staff as well as the MOH staff in the health facilities. The role involves implementing program guidelines used for assessing the mother-child pair, advising on the best feeding option, and following up as appropriate. Ensure appropriate and consistent education messaging to mothers and other caregivers at all programming contact points (e.g., child-friendly centers, clinics, distributions) and in the community.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Nutrition Deputy program Manager – Hirshabelle State.

Staff reporting to this point: Facility IYCF Counsellors

Role Dimensions:

Save the Children operates across all zones in Somalia and currently has three main area offices and additional 11 field offices. Programmatically Somalia is a large Country Office with more than

$110million annual budget and staff over 700 staff.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Ø Overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of project site activities, staff and /or partner (such as IYCF-E activities in Mother-baby areas, IYCF-E counsellors and partner and volunteers)

Ø Provide technical guidance on IYCF-E to support staff (IYCF-E, CP and others as necessary) and MoH and other humanitarian actors as necessary to promote consistent good practice.

Ø Ensure all staff understand and implement program guidelines used for assessing the mother-child pair, advising the best feeding option and following up as appropriate.

Ø Ensure all SBCC on facility and community level should be implemented and closely monitor the information passage to the beneficiaries.

Ø Ensure appropriate and consistent education messaging to mothers and other carers at all programming contact points (e.g. child friendly centers, clinics, distributions) and in the community.

Ø Facilitate the development and scheduling of outreach activities/Mobile (e.g. IYCF-E outreach workers, volunteers).

Ø Facilitate the development of monthly work plans for the mother-baby area (e.g. in child- friendly spaces, health facilities, etc.).

Ø Prepare field visit plans and supervision checklist in advance of trips.

Ø Compile monthly activity reports and assist with stock consumption/distribution plans for each of the mother-baby areas as required.

Ø Work closely with the CMAM team and provide all the support needed in the implementation of activities.

Training and Capacity Building:

Ø Provide supportive supervision to staff in the different health and nutrition facilities in Hirshabelle.

Ø Conduct orientations and trainings to build the capacity of staff/volunteers, partner, MoH staff and the community at large living in Hirshabelle.

Advocacy and Communication:

Ø Facilitate cross-sectoral programming, particularly to promote excellent communication and referral between IYCF-E and CP programming (and more depending on the programme).

Ø Attend relevant internal and external sectoral coordination meetings (Health, Nutrition, WASH, CP).

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice) Accountability:

· holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.

· holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

· sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same.

· widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.

· future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

· builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters.

· values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength.

· approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

· develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.

· willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

· honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity.

Skills and Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS

Ø Degree in Nutrition, Nursing, Midwifery, Public health, preferable Master of Nutrition/MPH.

Ø Advanced Diploma with extensive nutrition/IYCF-E work experience.

Experience and Skills Essential

· Minimum three years practical experience in IYCF and Nutrition programming.

· Demonstrable commitment to promoting and supporting optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding.

· Experience of implementation programs (ideally nutrition related), including monitoring and evaluation.

· Experience in conducting assessments and an understanding of nutritional data.

· Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff.

· 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.

· Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles.

· Experience and ability to represent Save the Children’s nutrition work in external meetings.

· Demonstrable ability at report writing and excellent communication skills.

· Computer literacy, particularly in Word, Excel, Statistical Packages and PowerPoint

· Excellent planning, coordination, and reporting skills, with the ability to organize a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities

· Strong communication and interpersonal skills in English, with experience working in multicultural area.

Desirable

· Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours,

· Qualified, nurse or midwife with primary health care/community health care experience.

· Emergency programming experience.

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.

Equal Opportunities

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

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.

Adult Safeguarding.

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment

policy, all employees are also expected to carry out their duties in accordance with SCI protection from sexual exploitation abuse.

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At SCI, we uphold the principle of equal rights and opportunities for all our employees. In our commitment to fostering a more inclusive workplace and addressing gender gaps, we have implemented additional efforts aimed at supporting female qualified candidates: –

· Maternity leave (6 months)

· Annual Leave 30 working days

· 10% *gross salary. (female allowance)

· 1.5 flexible working hours for lactating mothers

How to apply
Please apply in English saving your CV and cover letter as a single document. To see a full a job description, please visit our website at https://somalia.savethechildren.net/career

Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ and assign the best qualified talent.

Application will be closed on 23rd September 2O24

We need to keep children safe, so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse. Employment is subject to our Child protection standards including background checks and adherence to our Child Safeguarding Policy

Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ and assign the best qualified talent.