Lactation Specialist - Beqaa

Key responsibilities

Accountability and Complexity

• The job holder will work independently while maintaining open communication with other team members
• A strong attention to details is required
• A high level of discretion, transparency, and attention to detail is required
• The job holder needs to have strong organizational and data collection skills
• The job holder will have some decision-making authority within the scope of the role but should discuss decisions with the Nutrition Officer

Support and Counselling

• Provide support and counseling to mothers facing breastfeeding challenges or sub-optimal IYCF practices, as well as to caregivers of children aged 0-23 months within the community.
• Conduct one-on-one counseling sessions on IYCF for pregnant and lactating women (PLWs) and caregivers of children aged 0-23 months referred from the IYCF national hotline.
• Conduct regular follow-up visits or phone calls with assisted women, particularly mothers of infants under 6 months, to promote and ensure exclusive breastfeeding.
• Lead awareness sessions to educate vulnerable families on optimal IYCF in emergencies (IYCF-E) practices.

Nutritional Support

• Distribute nutritional supplements and rations for targeted age groups: Multiple Micronutrient Powders, Multiple Micronutrient Supplements, complementary feeding kits, etc.

Capacity building

• Provide breastfeeding, IYCF-E training to program staff and volunteers as needed
• Provide on-the-job coaching and assist volunteers in facilitating peer-to-peer sessions

Reporting

• Collect and report data on IYCF program outcomes, challenges, and lessons learned
• Submit regular reports to the direct supervisor as required

Behavior and conduct

• Ensures that behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies
• Acts with integrity and holds themselves accountable for being respectful, inclusive and professional
• Reports any concerns

Person Specification

Skills, knowledge and expertise required for the role.

Essential criteria

• Bachelor degree midwifery (preferred), nursing, or any related field
• Has completed the 20-hour training on Infant and Young Child Feeding.
• At least two years of experience as a lactation specialist
• Knowledge of local and cultural thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes towards maternal and child health.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively convey health information to diverse community members
• Self-motivated and initiative taker
• Good report writing skills
• Excellent skills related to Microsoft Office
• Capacity to work well within a team, maintaining open communication with colleagues and supervisors

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience in NGOs and humanitarian field is an advantage
• Previous experience in IYCF program in an emergency setting
• Proficiency in data collection and reporting, ensuring accurate and timely updates to relevant databases

RI Values

Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as “Do No Harm,” Relief International Values:

• Integrity
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Inclusivity
• Sustainability