Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) Senior Officer

Need Statement (indicate the purpose of this assignment and indicate the RWP reference number(s)):

UNICEF is supporting Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) and caring practices as one of the major

components of nutrition program led by the Public Nutrition Department of MoPH. Maternal Nutrition refers to the nutrition of women during adolescence, pregnancy, and lactation, as it affects their health and the health of their foetus and/or infant, through their childbearing and nurturing roles.

Infants are children aged 0-11 months; young children are aged 12-23 months – inclusive.

The extender will support the MIYCN training which is planned in different provinces supported by UNICEF through KFW, BMZ and WB grants. Program components are implemented by BPHS implementing NGOs both at health facility and community levels as part of the contracted-out mechanism of health service delivery in the country. At community level, activities such as meetings, mobilization, noticeboards, groups, and monitoring are undertaken as well as growth monitoring and promotion, home visits, group activities, and coordination with the health sector outreach Program. At facility level the extender will support activities such as nutrition counselling, education, and practical support take place, including in breastfeeding corners, as well as support for the baby-friendly hospital initiative. Activities are also undertaken in emergency contexts at facility level and in mobile teams. PND with a role of stewardship provides all necessary technical support such as developing the guidelines, protocols, training material, monitoring, and reporting tools, and Program implementation guidance. PND also monitors the project implementation closely at the field.

The extender will as well support implementation of the system on Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (BMS), including supporting the BMS committee, monitoring and reporting system and revision of the procedure.

This TOR is to provide technical assistance on the area of MIYCN to PND to strengthen the results based MIYCN Program implementation and contribute to reduction of maternal and child mortality and morbidity in the country. The RWP reference # for this ToR is Activity 3.3 and output # 883/008.

Specific Tasks/Activities 

1.Leading the MIYCN Technical Working Group; planning, agenda preparation, inviting the members, following of the action points  

2.MIYCN training (Doctors, Nurses, NCs, and midwives); planning, TOR, implementation, post training supervision/on the job mentoring 

3.Lead post training supportive supervision to ensure the participants translate their learning to action; this need to start with Kunar, Urozgan, Kandahar and other 13 provinces where the training was completed under the EU support.                          

4.Finalization of NCs TORs; translation, approval by MoPH management, and dissemination 

5.Coordination with Reproductive Health Directorate on revision of Midwives TORs to strengthen their nutrition counselling role during ANC and PNC 

6.Work on NCs database to have clear picture on the gap and advocate for recruitment

7.Monthly data analysis to find out gaps on maternal nutrition and NCs, propose actions for modification, and coordinate with Provincial Nutrition Officers, and BPHS IPs for improvement 

8.Conduct field visits at least once per quarter to get clear picture of MIYCN activities from the field and use the finding for programme improvement/modification 

9. Quarterly discussion/meetings with PNOs, BPHS IPs, and other related stakeholders on progress, challenges, and programme improvements 

10.Review of existing developed BMS materials such as training modules and M&E tools

11.Updated BMS procedure to ensure consistency with global, regional guidelines and country context

12.Orientations on BMS Code carried out

13.BMS Committee meetings held 

14.Strengthening of monitoring of BMS Code 

15.Any other activities and tasks assigned by the supervisors 

16.Coordinate World Breastfeeding Week (WBW)

17.Lead WBW taskforce 

18.Prepare workplan along with budget for celebration WBW

19.Support establishment of breastfeeding corner

20. Finalized breastfeeding corner standard operation manual 

1.MIYCN Technical Working Group meeting happens bimonthly 

2.Training is started in the provinces 

3.Supportive supervision reports

4.NCs TORs are finalized and disseminated 

5.The TOR of midwives are revised and reflect Maternal nutrition 

6.Strengthened NC database and advocacy efforts for recruitment of NCs

7.Data analysis reports produced

8.Field visit reports produced with action points completed

9.Minutes from quarterly and ad hoc base meetings with action points completed

10.Revised BMS materials including training modules and M&E tools

11.Updated BMS procedure

12.Orientation reports from BMS orientations

13.Minutes from BMS Committee Meetings with action points completed

14.WBW celebrated in the first week of August at the national and provincial level

15.Breastfeeding corners established in target health facilities.

16.Monitor and supervise from breastfeeding corners 

Minimum Qualification and Experience:

General skills:

•Management and team leadership ability.

•Having the required skills in general management.

•Writing and communication ability in professional and related area.

•Data analytic and data management 

Language Proficiency: 

•Fluency in English is essential

•Fluency in both local languages (Pashto and Dari) is must

Computer:

Be able to work in all aspects of Ms. Office (Ms. Word, Ms. Excel, Ms. Power point etc.), outlook and internet browsers

Key qualifications

•Minimum requirements MD with diploma in nutrition with 5 years’ experience in the related field (nutrition).

•Good analytical skills

•Excellent computer skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SPSS, Power BI, etc.)

•Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

•Excellent analytical and writing skills in English, Pashtu and Dari

•Excellent facilitation skills

NTR

NTR