Nutrition Counsellor

World Vision International (WVI) began emergency relief operations in Afghanistan in 2001 by addressing the urgent needs of children and families affected by natural disasters and decades of conflict. More than a decade later, World Vision Afghanistan’s (WVA) programs have expanded to development sectors such as health, nutrition, WASH, child protection, and education, empowering women to engage in civil and social change through interfaith partnership.

WVA targets the most vulnerable in its interventions; including children, women, Internally Displace Persons (IDPs), and returnee refugees, as well as the most impoverished and marginalized families. These priorities have been chosen to contribute to our Goal of: “Improved survival and well-being of Afghan girls and boys, building the foundations for a better future for Afghan children and their communities.” 

Our work is well established in Herat, Badghis, Ghor, and Faryab provinces in the western region of Afghanistan. We work closely with all levels of society including children, parents, teachers, village councils, religious leaders, ministries, provincial departments, and other national and international agencies.

Job Porpuse:

This is a full-time Nutrition Counselor position aimed at improving the nutritional well-being of individuals and communities, with special focus on vulnerable groups including pregnant women, lactating mothers, infants, and children under two years of age.

The role primarily involves providing preventive nutrition services through growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) and Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) counselling in accordance with national public nutrition guidance of the Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health.

The Nutrition Counselor provides personalized nutrition counselling, promotes healthy dietary and feeding practices, and supports behaviour change communication to help prevent malnutrition and improve health outcomes. The position also supports nutrition awareness activities at facility and community levels and collaborates with health workers, community representatives, and relevant partners to strengthen nutrition education and promotion services..

Major Responsibilities: 

1. Growth Monitoring and Promotion (GMP) and MIYCN Counselling

• Register children under two years of age and conduct growth monitoring by measuring weight, height/length, age, and checking oedema in children under two years.

• Provide individual and group nutrition counselling for:

• Mothers
• Pregnant women
• Lactating women
• Caregivers of children under two years

• Promote key MIYCN practices including:

• Early initiation of breastfeeding
• Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months
• Continued breastfeeding up to two years and beyond
• Appropriate and timely complementary feeding
• Infection prevention and hygiene practices

• Provide counselling to strengthen healthy growth of children with normal nutritional status.

• If growth risk or nutritional concern is observed, provide follow-up counselling and advise caregivers, without performing malnutrition classification or clinical treatment.

• Support referral of children with severe acute malnutrition without medical complications to appropriate treatment services through coordination with the nutrition nurse or clinical staff.

• Promote use of locally available nutritious foods and age-appropriate feeding practices.

2. Nutrition Counselling for Women and Adolescents

• Provide nutrition education for pregnant and lactating women, adolescents (5–18 years), and women of reproductive age.

• Promote:

• Daily consumption of iron-folic acid tablets during pregnancy
• Adequate dietary intake for maternal health
• Daily use of iodized salt at household level

3. Community Nutrition Promotion

• Conduct community outreach activities to promote nutrition awareness.

• Support community health workers, health shuras, and community leaders in promoting positive nutrition practices.

• Participate in community mobilization campaigns and nutrition education sessions.

• Deliver 1–2 key nutrition messages monthly to community members or health facility visitors.

4. Recording, Reporting and Administration

• Document all counselling and growth monitoring activities using standardized forms.

• Monitor and record nutrition behaviour changes during follow-up counselling.

• Maintain child and maternal nutrition counselling records.

• Prepare and submit daily, weekly, and monthly activity reports, including IMAM reporting templates when required.

• Support documentation of psychosocial and nutrition awareness activities if conducted.

• Ensure proper maintenance of equipment and report any technical problems.

• Assist in data collection, beneficiary tracking, and reporting of program achievements.

• Perform other nutrition-related duties assigned by the supervisor.

(Adhere to WV accountability standards.)

• Ensure full compliance with WVI’s Accountability Frameworks, Safeguarding Policies, Code of Conduct, and donor requirements by actively participating in AAP mandatory trainings and integrating accountability mechanisms into all project activities.
• Conduct meaningful AAP community engagement and sensitization during field visits, including distribution of CFM cards to beneficiaries and facilitating awareness sessions on the feedback and complaints mechanism throughout project implementation

Required Professional Experience and Education

• Minimum 2 years of relevant professional experience in nutrition counselling, maternal and child health promotion, or community nutrition services.

• Previous experience in growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) and Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) counselling is highly preferred.

• Experience working in health facilities or community health nutrition programs following the guidance of the Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health is an advantage.

• Experience in behaviour change communication, nutrition education, or community outreach activities is desirable.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Nutrition, Public Health, Nursing, Midwife or related health fields.
• Training or certification in GMP, MIYCN, or nutrition counselling is preferred.
• Additional training in child, maternal, or community nutrition is an advantage.

Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications

Good knowledge of Growth Monitoring and Promotion (GMP) and Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) principles.
• Understanding of preventive nutrition, behaviour change communication, and basic community nutrition promotion.
• Knowledge of maternal, child, and adolescent nutrition practices.
• Familiarity with health education, counselling techniques, and community outreach approaches.
• Basic knowledge of record keeping, reporting, and nutrition data documentation.