Nutrition Counselor

Job Description

·       Register and undertake growth monitoring and promotion (GMP), including measuring weight, height, age, and checking for edema of all children under two years of age.

·       Conduct GMP-based counseling for mothers/caregivers of all children under two years of age on appropriate Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) practices and infection prevention.

·       If the child is normal, encourage and counsel the mother to reinforce and promote age-appropriate MIYCN practices.

·       If a child is suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), refer to the doctor of the clinic for adequate treatment and counseling.

·       Counsel mothers/caregivers to bring their under-two children for continuous monthly GMP visits.

·       Check whether the child has received Vitamin A supplementation during the previous National Immunization Days (NID); if not, refer to the administrator of Vitamin A in the clinic.

·       Conduct complementary feeding demonstrations once per month.

Counseling on Maternal Nutrition:

·       Measure lactating mothers' MUAC, weight, height, and calculate BMI, categorizing as normal, underweight, overweight, and obese from the first postnatal care (PNC) visit until the mother stops breastfeeding her child.

·       Provide individualized nutrition counseling on appropriate practices based on BMI findings.

·       Check whether the lactating mother receives adequate Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) tablets within three months after delivery.

At the Community Level:

·       Work and coordinate with the social mobilizer during monthly meetings (as much as possible) to:

·       Share the GMP defaulter cases list with the social mobilizer and follow up.

·       Mentor the social mobilizer on topics such as GMP, counseling skills, and proper home visits.

Recording and Reporting:

·       Maintain regular reports to monitor and track the delivery of nutrition services.

·       Use the MCH handbook for reporting in provinces where applicable.

·       Identify beneficiaries requiring follow-up visits and share information with the social mobilizer within the catchment area of the Basic Health Center (BHC).

Responsibilities on Safety and Security, Gender and Inclusion, and Safeguarding and Child Protection:

[Base location] at CARE are expected to adhere to Safety & Security responsibilities, emphasizing team and individual accountability to maintain a safe environment. This includes readiness, compliance, and active engagement to mitigate risks through awareness, reporting, and policy enforcement.

Gender equality and inclusion are fundamental at CARE, promoting equal rights and challenging discriminatory norms to achieve social justice. We foster an inclusive workplace that respects diverse gender identities, abilities, backgrounds, and experiences through dialogue, training, and diversity initiatives. All CARE staff must uphold ethical standards, following codes of conduct to prevent abuse, including sexual harassment, exploitation, and neglect. Regular monitoring ensures accountability to uphold these principles and support our mission of social justice and poverty alleviation.

Safeguarding Responsibilities:

·       Uphold CARE’s Safeguarding Policy (https://www.care-international.org/resources/care-international-safeguarding-policy) and Safeguarding Code of Conduct.

·       Must read the Safeguarding Policy and either sign the Safeguarding Code of Conduct or sign a Code of Conduct that is consistent with or references this policy and Safeguarding Code of Conduct.

Safety and Security Responsibility:

We all have a responsibility to promote a safe and secure work environment, foster a safety and security culture, and ensure consistent application of and compliance with CARE Afghanistan safety and security policies and procedures.

Job Requirements:

Education:

·       Graduated from 12th grade or hold a diploma in nutrition counseling or certification in nutrition counseling initial training from a recognized institute or entity within the country or from abroad. A diploma or bachelor's degree in medical/health sciences from a recognized or registered institute is preferred.

Experience:

·       The candidate must have at least one year of relevant work experience in BPHS-related health facilities or a similar working context. More than one year of relevant work experience in a similar project context with the same scope is preferred.

She is primarily responsible for conducting anthropometric measurements and organizing nutrition counseling sessions for eligible clients. For any health facility or community-level problems, the staff is required to report directly to the health facility in-charge and field supervisor for necessary support.

Submission Guideline:

Please submit your completed CARE Standard Job application form (ACBAR: Application Form) along with an updated CV to afg.vacancies@care.org. Applications received after the closing date (12:00 AM) and without the CARE application form will not be accepted.

Please indicate the position title and Vacancy Number in the Subject Line (Nutrition Counselor CARE-AF-1170 Balkh); otherwise, your application will not be considered.

Please note that there are no telephonic inquiries, and only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview. The successful applicant will be expected to undergo a Background Check, Bridger check & Reference check and comply with and sign CARE Afghanistan’s Code of Conduct, PSHA (Prevention from Sexual Harassment, Exploitation, and Abuse), and other CARE Afghanistan policies prior to a final offer being made.

CARE IS COMMITTED TO CHILD PROTECTION POLICY (Available at: http://bit.ly/CAREAFG_Child_Protection_Policy)

Equal Opportunity Statement:

CARE is an Equal Opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

MDS (Misconduct Disclosure Scheme):

CARE participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we hereby request information from the candidate’s previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the candidate left employment. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Submission Email:

Afg.Vacancies@care.org