Associate Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) describes any type of local or outside support that aims to protect or promote psychosocial well-being and/or prevent or treat mental disorder. It is therefore, by definition, a multi-sectoral issue. Within the work of UNHCR and partners, MHPSS activities do not constitute a separate sector, but are mainly realized within existing sectors and work fields such as health, nutrition, community-based protection, child protection, and SGBV. The main task of the MHPSS team is to build and maintain capacity for MHPSS interventions within UNHCR and partners in order to foster delivery of quality MHPSS interventions for refugees and surrounding host communities. The incumbent supports UNHCR’s efforts to comply with internal guidance such as the Operational Guidance for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Programming in Refugee Operations (2013) and international minimum standards, including interagency guidance for mental health and psychosocial support such as the IASC Guidelines for MHPSS in Emergency Settings (2007) and Mental Health Standard in the Sphere Handbook (2018).He/She will also be integral in supporting UNHCR’s efforts to ensure that MHPSS is well integrated across all sectors. The incumbent typically is a member of the protection team and normally reports to the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Officer. If such function does not exist, the incumbent will report to the Public Health Officer, Programme Officer or Community-based Protection Officer, based on the set-up of the office. The supervisor defines the general work objectives and provides necessary advice and guidance.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the mental health and psychosocial support officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer -Associate MHPSS officer will:

•Assist partners and UNHCR staff in the protection and health units to develop, coordinate, and monitor appropriate MHPSS interventions. •Contribute to capacity building and supportive supervision of UNHCR staff and partner staff around: I. Community-based psychosocial support, II. Evidence-based scalable psychological interventions, III. Offer support to primary health care workers around mental health care). •Perform monitoring around psychosocial support of partners including, in consultation with the relevant units, Community-based Protection, Child protection, GBV and Education. •Provide support to UNHCR health partners to ensure the correct use of the mental health elements of Health Information System (HIS), collect data for the annual UNHCR reporting, review and analyse monthly health data, and compile annual reports on the mental health situation. •Undertake regular site visits in order to assess MHPSS needs of persons of concern, with attention to people with specific needs. •Support staff welfare in identification, recommendation and referral of mental health related matters among staff •Support the development of functional referral and follow-up mechanisms between community, MHPSS services and protection partners. •Support establishing referral pathways for people with clinically relevant mental health conditions from the community to the primary health care system and when required to secondary care. •Keep regular contacts with local authorities, Community leaders and partners as requested by supervisor. •Represent UNHCR team in MHPSS coordination meetings and or in coordination meetings round protection and health, as requested by supervisor. •Ensure compliance of implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of MHPSS services. •Upon indication, assist in assessing the MHPSS needs of persons of concern (people with high priority needs and or persons with complex or severe problems), initiate treatment and define appropriate follow up interventions. •Share information on MHPSS services: when, where and how to access the services, provide feedback or complaint on services provided or staff conduct etc. •Maintain a record of feedback from PoCs and sharing with relevant focal point or the Head of Office. •Establish communication with communities’ mechanisms to address stigmatization and quality of rights in mental health.

•Professionalism •Integrity •Teamwork and respect for diversity •Commitment to continuous learning •Planning and organizing •Communication •Flexibility •Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement

the relevant fields mentioned in this DoA. - Professional experience in the humanitarian or forced displacement field - Field-based experience in programme management, MHPSS in humanitarian settings and supervision of MHPSS teams. - Field-based experience working with the protection sector in low- or middle-income countries - Experience in training unspecialized community members on MHPSS-related topics, including psychological interventions. - Strong understanding of the multilayered array of MHPSS services - Experience in UNHCR field operations - Good knowledge of the UN and NGO humanitarian community

Desirable work experience:

- Strong understanding of and working experience with refugee Protection (community-based protection and refugee rights) -volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

The incumbent will be based in Debark Field Office which operates under UNHCR Gondar Office within the Amhara region. Gondar, also spelled as Gonder, is a city and woreda in Ethiopia. Located in the North Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, Gondar is north of Lake Tana on the Lesser Angereb River and southwest of the Simien Mountains. As of 2016, Gondar has a population of 299,969. Gondar previously served as the capital of both the Ethiopian Empire and the subsequent Begemder Province. The city holds the remains of several royal castles, including those in the Fasil Ghebbi UNESCO World Heritage Site for which Gondar has been called the "Camelot of Africa". Staff members should be prepared to operate under challenging conditions with extremely limited resources. The office deals primarily with several local camp environments with inherent risks to staff safety and health. Regardless of information campaigns, there are realistically few, or no COVID-19 protocols adhered to in the communities. Staff are required to wear masks but will often work and live within large groups of people who do not. There is a referral medical hospital in Gondar but with limited equipment. Staff with medical conditions should come with at least 3 months of prescribed medication. The town has a central market where most of the common items can be found. Also, there are government schools but focused mainly on the National Educational Curriculum. Staff reside in commercial accommodation, mainly hotels. The town generally lacks apartments for rent save for the new city where it is mainly characterized of upcoming duplex buildings largely meant for family homes. There is running water as well as national power in the city whereby both services are not reliable. The office relies on WiFi for internet connectivity. Staff need to be aware therefore that internet may not be accessible after working hours. Although there are functioning banks in Gondar and Debark, transacting in dollars is not possible. Staff are also advised to always have a cash reserve on them. It is recommended that first time travellers to the duty station dispense sufficient funds from the ATMs in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. Ethiopian regulations do not permit the transportation of more than $ 3,000 or its equivalent into the country.

The security situation is fluid and staff members should always get the latest travel advice and support prior to travel to Debark. Ethiopia is a unique country and Amhara is a unique (humanitarian) operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential. The IUNV will be commuting daily from Debark to Alemwach which is a distance of approximately 25 kms (30 mins) and may be required to visit other camps when necessary.