Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) Counselling Training Package for Frontline Workers (2026)

This training package provides a comprehensive set of materials to strengthen the capacity of frontline workers to deliver effective, inclusive, and context-appropriate infant and young child feeding (IYCF) counselling in emergency settings. It supports frontline workers to adapt their existing knowledge and skills to complex, high-pressure environments where caregivers face disrupted systems, stress, and constrained resources. The training emphasizes practical, person-centred counselling approaches that support informed decision-making, minimize risk, and promote safe and responsive care for infants and young children.

The IYCF-E Counselling Training Package complements the UNICEF Community IYCF Counselling Package by building on foundational counselling skills and focusing on their application in emergency contexts. It strengthens advanced competencies such as individual assessment and triage, supporting caregivers experiencing stress or gender-based violence, adapting counselling during infectious disease outbreaks, and providing risk-reduction support for infants who are not breastfed. Together, the two packages form a continuum of learning that enables frontline workers to deliver practical, responsive support in humanitarian settings.

Training Approach
This training uses a practical, skills-based approach where participants learn through realistic scenarios, demonstrations, role plays, and reflection. Each session follows a consistent five-step structure: set the scene, strengthen knowledge and skills, demonstrate, participant role-play, and self-reflection. Foundational counselling skills and the Assess–Analyse–Act (3As) process are integrated throughout to support application in real-world settings.

Sessions
Session 1: IYCF Counselling in Emergencies
Session 2: Individual Assessment in Emergencies
Session 3: Addressing Stress in Emergencies
Session 4: Supporting Caregivers Affected by Gender-Based Violence
Session 5: Supporting Caregivers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
Session 6: Increasing Breast Milk Intake
Session 7: Complementary Feeding in Emergencies
Session 8: Assessing and Supporting Infants Receiving Breast Milk Substitutes

Acknowledgements
This IYCF-E Counselling Training Package was developed with the support of a multidisciplinary team. Lead writer: Virginie Jouanicot (Save the Children). Lead technical writer: Brooke Bauer (Save the Children). Technical writers: Michelle Pensa Branco and Isabelle Modigell (independent consultants). Reviewers: Patricia Welch and Sarah O’Flynn (Save the Children) and Linda Shaker Berbari, Najwa Al Dheeb and Fatmata Fatima Sesay (UNICEF). Layout and design: Joanne Chui and Virginie Jouanicot (Save the Children). Pilot testing was conducted in Rwanda and Zimbabwe, with thanks to all participants, facilitators, country teams, and Ministries of Health who contributed.