Terms of Reference
Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Technical Working Group
South Sudan
1.Background
Infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF) are a cornerstone for childhood development. World-wide about 30%[i] of children under five are stunted as a consequence of poor feeding and repeated infections. Even in resource poor settings, improved feeding practices can lead to improved intakes of energy and nutrients, leading to better nutrition outcomes.
In the south Sudan only 45%[ii] of children under the age of 6 are exclusively breastfed and 38% continue to breast fed up to two years. Similarly, acute malnutrition continues to be a problem of public health significance in view of its direct underlying relationship to increased risk of mortality and morbidity in young children as well as its deleterious effects on overall child growth and development.
Therefore, in consideration of the above context the Nutrition Cluster has been supporting the coordination of nutrition actors within the humanitarian community to ensure appropriate and efficient response to humanitarian crisis by providing life-saving nutrition support to populations in need in accordance with national and global standards and it is within this operational framework that the IYCF technical working group has been established to contribute to a reduction in young child malnutrition by providing technical support in the development of IYCF programs and policies in south Sudan based on the latest global nutrition technical knowledge and program experience.
2.Justification
Despite the above compelling evidence of high malnutrition rates in the country, South Sudan still lacks national IYFC guidelines that are essential in steering programmes aimed at enhancing child survival through the promotion, protection and support of optimal infant and young child feeding practices countrywide. Thereforethe establishment of the IYCF technical working group will complement government efforts through the provision of technical support in IYCF policy formulation, program implementation as well as program monitoring.
3.Objectives of IYCF technical Working Group
- Coordinate implementation of IYCF activities to ensure coherent and streamlined IYCF program implementation in all states.
- Provide technical input during the IYCF policy formulation and development.
- Provide technical support in the development of the IYCF guidelines for South Sudan.
- Promote partners compliance to national IYCF policies and their integration into relevant partner’s work plans.
- Support the establishment and functioning of state IYCF working groups
- Support capacity building and implementation of emergency IYCF actions as needed
- Review and support dissemination of technical updates on IYCF to relevant stakeholders
- Advise and support IYCF capacity needs assessments as well as priority areas of research to determine predominant hindrances to IYCF and identify priorities for action
- Provide technical support for adapting and implementing international guidelines, policies, curricula and tools to support IYCF programmes
- Advocate and promote the integration of IYFC initiatives into government health care system such as supporting the incorporation of IYCF activities into the reproductive health services including ante and post-natal care, family planning, traditional birth attendants.
4.Working modalities
- IYCF Technical Working Group to meet monthly and meeting schedule to be reviewed after 3 months
- Timing: From 10:00am, to last not more than 2 hours
- Location: at the ministry of Health offices in Juba
- Decision making: Public voting with a quorum of 7 members
- Production of minutes & circulation – Secretary
Current Representation in the Group
Ministry of Health MoH, Nutrition department representatives / 2 representativesNutrition Cluster / Coordinator and co-coordinator
UN agencies (UNICEF) / 2 representatives
International NGOs / 4 representatives (must be implementing active IYCF activities)
National NGOs / 3 representatives (must be implementing active IYCF activities)
1
[i]WHO, global strategy for infant and young child feeding ,available at
[ii]The South Household Health Survey 2010