Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Officer (MHPSS) - Grade NOB

Contract

This is a No grade contract. More about No grade contracts.

1. Background and Justification

South Sudan has continued to experience protracted humanitarian crises since 2013, orchestrated by cyclic trends of disasters and conflict. The current wave of acute food insecurity, famine, malnutrition, and their related risk of epidemic-prone disease, is driven by climatic shocks (floods and dry spells), insecurity (caused by sub-national and localized violence), population displacements, persistent annual cereal deficits, diseases and pests, economic crisis and hyperinflation. The protracted emergencies currently graded at UN Level 3 have resulted in mass population displacement, worsening food insecurity, malnutrition, and heightened risk of disease outbreaks leaving an estimated 8.9 million people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance (HRP 2022). Access to essential services has been cut off increasing dependency on humanitarian assistance. Available data posits that the country has suffered from a triple shock of sub-national violence, food insecurity, and flooding that began in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 depleting local coping mechanisms, and it is projected that the trends will continue into the last quarter of 2022 as evidence by the current floods in most states of south Sudan. It is expected that the floods and insecurity will further decimate people’s livelihoods and social services mechanisms sending more people into displaced camps where the risk of disease outbreaks is higher.

Objectives of the WHO’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Programme.

Since the start of 2022, South Sudan has suffered simultaneous outbreaks of diseases, including cholera, hepatitis E, meningitis, anthrax, and measles in most of the high-risk counties, with COVID-19, and malaria affecting all 80 counties. The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme is to help countries, and coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies. The ongoing floods, acute food insecurity, and other humanitarian responses in the country are intended to ensure continuity of access to essential health and nutrition services, address the increased health needs, and prevent and respond to disease outbreaks in emergency locations in a fashionable and well-coordinated manner.

Purpose of the Position:

In the context of the WHO Emergencies Preparedness and Response program Incident Management System (IMS), the MHPSS Officer will work under the guidance of the EPR Team Lead to support the design and implementation of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support interventions as part of the broader strategy in delivering integrated essential health services across the emergency programs, in accordance with the WHO MHPSS global guidelines. Accordingly, the incumbent will support assessments, program design, implementation, monitoring, capacity building, and establishment of a framework for MHPSS implementation.

2. Job Description

Task Description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Emergency Team Lead or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the MHPSS officer will:

1. Oversee the smooth implementation of the Mental health component of the Emergency Programs in line with WHO commitments to mental health, and psychological support according to WHO guidelines and tools.
2. Provide technical advice on the assessment of mental health and psychological support (MHPSS) needs, resources, and capacities within the Emergency Programs.
3. Participate in the development of mental health service organization plans, with an initial focus on providing mental health and psychological programming in the country.
4. Promote a system-based approach to integrate MHPSS in Emergency health interventions and support the development of community-based mental health services in coordination with relevant agencies and entities.
5. Liaise with counterparts in the Ministry of Health and other national entities/institutions to improve capacity in the MHPSS response within the emergency programs.
6. Develop and support the implementation of a research agenda on MHPSS including promoting operational research on the cost-effectiveness of community-based interventions.
7. Analyze data and information on best practices and partners' experiences in implementing MHPSS strategies and prepare and disseminate information.
8. Support integration of mental health in the delivery of essential services within the emergency programs.
9. Proactively participate in resource mobilization activities by developing project proposals reflecting MHPSS priorities in the country, ensuring the needed follow-up in terms of a fundraising effort, timely implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and donor reporting.
10. Participate in the various coordination meetings and promote WHOs MHPSS work at the cluster coordination forums.
11. Build the capacity of implementing partners on MHPSS.

12. Prepare brief notes, meeting reports, information products, and content on mental health topics.

13. Qualifications

Education

Essential: University Degree in Medicine, Psychology, or Public Health (With an emphasis on Mental health) Desirable: Master's degree in Psychiatry, clinical psychology, social work, or related field. Specialized training or certification in;1- Public Health2- Clinical Psychology or Psychiatry, and /or 3- MHPSS in emergency and humanitarian crises.

4. Experience

Essential: At least two years of relevant experience providing mental health and psychological support (MHPSS) Desirable: Experience in working around humanitarian and/or emergency response. Emergency in WHO, other UN agencies, relevant non-governmental, health cluster partners or recognized humanitarian organizations; Strong Technical skills in providing mental, neurological, substance use disorders, and other mental health-related areas; Demonstrated skills in capacity-building activities in MHPSS; Demonstrated skills and knowledge in emergency and humanitarian response activities and how it relates to MHPSS and Knowledge of WHO and UN programs.

5. Other desired/mandatory required technical knowledge.

Integrity, objectivity, and professional competence- Strong communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills- Effective time-management skills- Strong capacity to embrace cultural diversity and sensitivity to gender issues- Ability to maintain confidentiality and ensure constant data protection- Ability to work in a stressful environment.

6. Use of Language Skills

Excellent knowledge of English. Working knowledge of another WHO official language would be an asset.

7. Other Skills (e.g. IT)

Knowledge of Microsoft Office software applications. Excellent presentation skills.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.
• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.