Position: Nutrition Counselor
About Union Aid
Union Aid (UA) is a non-governmental, non-profit, non-political humanitarian and development organization established by Dr. Toryalay Nassery (an Afghan scholar) in July 1979 in Peshawar, Pakistan. It was formed in response to the influx of refugees from Afghanistan and was the first/pioneer organization to serve the Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Union Aid implemented its activities mainly in refugee camps that later became villages, which was one of the biggest refugee camps in the world at that time. UA initiated its activities in Afghanistan in the 1981 and gradually expanded its services all over Afghanistan. UA started its activities with two doctors and two paramedical staff that gradually expanded to various programs, including:
Health Care & Nutrition: Establishment and management of hospitals and clinics, maternal and child health services, nutrition programs, family planning, as well as full sponsorship and specialized treatment of patients in European countries including Germany, Spain and Italy.
Food Security: Distribution of food items throughout the country.
Education: Literacy initiatives, school management, scholarships for students, and teacher training programs.
Livelihoods & Vocational Skills: Technical training, handicraft production, and employment generation activities to strengthen self-reliance.
WASH & Shelter: Provision of clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, hygiene promotion, and emergency shelters.
Emergency Response: Life-saving interventions including food and non-food distributions, winter relief packages, and rapid health responses during crises.
Agriculture & Environment: Tree plantation and afforestation initiatives to support sustainability and environmental resilience.
Protection: Women empowerment projects, orphanage centers, and demining project.
Cash Assistance: Continuous financial support for needy families and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
| Job Location: | Herat |
|---|---|
| Nationality: | Afghan |
| Category: | Nonprofit-Social Services |
| Employment Type: | Full Time |
| Salary: | As per scale |
| Vacancy Number: | UA-66/AFV-H/Herat/2023/NC |
| No. Of Jobs: | 2 |
| City: | Herat |
|---|---|
| Organization: | Union Aid |
| Years of Experience: | Two years |
| Contract Duration: | One year - extendable |
| Gender: | Female |
| Education: | Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Midwifery |
| Close date: | 2023-11-12 |
Job Description:
The Nutrition Counselor as part of the primary healthcare services will play a vital role in promoting, supporting, and providing the nutritional well-being of individuals and families in the targeted area providing nutrition counseling, education, and guidance to improve dietary practices and overall health.
Responsibilities:
- Register and undertake Growth Monitoring and promotion (GMP) including measuring weight, height, and age, and checking edema of all children under two years of age
- Conduct GMP-based counseling of 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, in courage and counsel the mother to reinforce and promote age-appropriate MIYCN practices
- If a child is suffering from Acute Malnutrition, refer to the doctor of the health center for adequate treatment and counseling.
- Counsel Mothers/caregivers to bring under two children for the continued monthly GMP visit
- Check whether the child has received Vitamin A supplementation during the previous NID, if not then refer to the doctor of the health center in order to obtain Vitamin A.
- Providing health education to mothers in health centers on a daily basis.
- Conduct complementary feeding demonstrations once per month.
Counseling on Maternal Nutrition
- Provide individual Nutrition counseling on appropriate practices, based on the BMI and MUAC findings
- Check whether lactating mothers receive adequate IF tablets for three months after delivery.
- If apparently the mother's health and nutrition are not suitable, refer to the doctor of the health center for diagnosis and treatment.
Recording and Reporting:
- Maintain regular reports to monitor and track the delivery of nutrition services.
- Using the MCH handbook in those provinces where the MCH handbook is applied.
- Identify beneficiaries who require follow-up visits and share information with CHSs/CHWs.
Job Requirements:
- Graduated from the 12th grade or at least she must have completed grade 9.
- Proven experience in nutrition counseling and education. (If any)
- Knowledge of nutritional guidelines and dietary practices. (If any)
- Excellent communication and counseling skills.
- Empathy and the ability to build rapport with clients.
- Familiarity with Afghan nutrition programs and community engagement is a plus.
- Knowledge of local languages is essential.
Submission Guideline:
- Please write the Job title/Vacancy Number on the subject line of your email.
- Aplications received after the closing date will not be considered
- ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED
Submission Email:
hr@unionaid.org