Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Specialist - SRH

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

Eligibility criteria

Minimum age: 22 years old. Applicants must be nationals of or legal residents in the country of assignment.

Description of task

The UN Volunteer will support the Lebanon Country Office in the design and implement SRH in emergencies prevention and response MHPSS activities, and will support the integration of basic psychosocial skills, and approaches into SRH services, and enhance the capacity of partners implementing programmes to provide high quality MHPSS support to women and girls in compliance with IASC Guidelines for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, the Interagency GBV Case Management Guidelines and The Inter-Agency Minimum Standards for Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies Programming.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Assistant representative or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer will:

• Provide technical guidance and support the design of SRH/MHPSS interventions of UNFPA and its partners to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon;
• Support and strengthen capacity of existing MHPSS components of SRH interventions which are currently being implemented by UNFPA and its implementing partners (IPs) and promote compliance with information management standards for MHPSS service delivery including SRH data management systems;
• Assess capacities of IPs to integrate basic psychosocial skills and Psychological First Aid (PFA) into their work in SRH response and related services, particularly in light of changes to communication techniques necessitated by COVID-19. Provide technical guidance to implementing partners to enhance the psychosocial elements of this work;
• Assess linkages across the continuum of care for MHPSS services supported by UNFPA, including ways in which these may have been impacted by COVID-19. Evaluate procedures and provide technical support for screening and referral up and down the IASC pyramid to ensure these processes are survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and sensitive to MHPSS needs related to Sexual and Reproductive Health (See Mental Health Aspects of Reproductive Health, WHO,UNFPA 2009);
• Provide technical assistance and strengthen capacities of implementing partners to ensure that health activities take into account the holistic definition of health, that SRH service providers are adequately trained and supported in the psychosocial aspects of SRH service delivery, and that the psychosocial impact of SRH services is monitored to ensure adherence to the do no harm principle;
• Support adaptation of monitoring tools to ensure MHPSS interventions are in compliance with international guidelines and best practices;
• Collaborate with colleagues of other technical specialties (GBV, SRH, youth, Gender & Human Rights) to ensure basic considerations for psychosocial well-being are mainstreamed throughout UNFPA’s programming;
• Coordinate with health and MHPSS partners to ensure that GBV and SRH considerations are integrated into their response and vice versa and participate in relevant coordination fora;
• Assist in advocacy and visibility around SRH-MHPSS interventions, with a particular focus on specially women of reproductive age and pregnant women;
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications/Requirements

Required degree level:

Master degree or equivalent

Education - Additional Comments:

• Advanced degree with specialization in areas such as clinical psychology, clinical social work or mental health. Training on global mental health or a Master’s in Public Health is desirable;

Required experience:

36 Months

Experience remark:

• At least three years of specialized experience in community based psychosocial support interventions particularly as they relate to SRH, and experience in this field at international level in a humanitarian context;
• Demonstrated knowledge of Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines on MHPSS in Emergency Settings, the Interagency GBV Case Management guidelines and the GBV Interagency Minimum Standards for GBV in Emergencies Programming;
• Demonstrated experience on Counseling skills and clinical supervision of lay counsellors;
• Demonstrated knowledge of reproductive health issues and protection issues in humanitarian settings, and of humanitarian emergency operations and roles/responsibilities of humanitarian actors;

• Experience supporting the integration of MHPSS into Sexual and Reproductive Health and/or experience supporting maternal mental health is desirable

• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;

• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;

• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;

• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Sound security awareness;
• Have affinity with or interest in UNFPA’s mandate, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Language skills:

• English(Mandatory), Level - Fluent
• Arabic(Mandatory), Level - Fluent
• French(Optional), Level - Working Knowledge

Area of expertise:

Mental health

Driving license:

No

Competencies values:

Adaptability and Flexibility, Commitment and Motivation, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Integrity, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Working in Teams

Application procedure:

1.Go to https://vmam.unv.org/

2.If not yet registered in the UNV Talent Pool, please register your profile following below steps:

a. Click on “Candidate Signup”, enter your basic personal information and click “Sign Up”. b. You will receive a notification e-mail to your registered e-mail c. Click on the link in the e-mail to validate the e-mail address d. Complete all the required sections under “My Profile” (Personal Information, Addresses, Qualifications, Experiences, References). Under Personal Information section, please make sure to tick the box “I am interested in serving as a volunteer” and select “National only” or “Both national and international”. Do not select “International only”. e. If you have more than one nationality, make sure to add Lebanon as your current nationality otherwise your application will not be considered for national UNV assignments f. Click “Submit my profile” g. Go to “My Page” -> Click on “Special Calls” -> search for “Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Specialist- SRH (LBNR000333-7924) click Apply then press "Submit my Application”.

3.If already registered in the UNV Talent Pool:

a. Update your profile under “My Profile” (Personal Information, Addresses, Qualifications, Experiences, References). Under Personal Information section, please make sure to tick the box “I am interested in serving as a volunteer” and select “National only” or “Both national and international”. Do not select “International only”. b. Go to “My Page” -> Click on “Special Calls” -> search for “Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Specialist- SRH (LBNR000333-7924)”, click Apply then press "Submit my Application”.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.