Position Title : Programme Coordinator (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS))
Duty Station: Kabul, Afghanistan
Classification: Professional Staff, Grade P3
Type of Appointment: Special short-term graded, 6 months with possibility of extension
Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible
Closing Date: 03 October 2022
Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
Context:
The complex emergency response situation has emerged across Afghanistan, with increased conflict related displacements inside the country, severe drought, natural disasters such as earthquakes, food insecurity, increased rates of malnutrition, reduction in access to basic services, infectious disease outbreaks including but not limited to COVID-19, deteriorating economy, lack of livelihood opportunities and increasing limits on human rights, particularly for women and girls. Humanitarian and transitional needs are increasing in a context of extreme political and economic instability. Cash shortages, the rapid rise of unemployment, inflation and the depreciating exchange rate will have serious impact only exacerbate impacts on development gains in 2022. 24.4 million people in Afghanistan or over 55% are projected to be in humanitarian need. As of May 2022, 19.65 million people are facing acute food insecurity and the UN reports that poverty may become nearly universal affecting 95-97 percent of the population by mid-2022. Over 500,000 people are expected to be newly displaced in 2022, adding to a population of some 5.5 million already in protracted displacement, including those in informal settlements on urban fringes.
The sharp increase in hostilities across the country also severely impacted health facilities and health personnel and further stretched thin resources responding to the increased health needs, including a need for far greater focus on people’s mental health. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) provides comprehensive essential health care, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is a part and parcel of IOM’s overall health service delivery. The MHPSS components cover all four layers of the Inter Agency Standing committee (IASC) MHPSS intervention pyramid in crisis settings, including social considerations in basic services and security, strengthening community and family supports, focused non-specialized supports, as well as specialized services.
Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCoM) for Afghanistan, and the direct supervision of the Senior Programmes Coordinator (Migration Health), and technical supervision of the global Mental Health, Psychosocial Response and Intercultural Communication Section, the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Coordinator will be responsible for the management and coordination of IOM’s MHPSS programme in Afghanistan. The successful candidate will also ensure that MHPSS activities are in line with the Country Office’s (CO) overall strategy and activities linked with other IOM projects and units. They will be responsible and accountable for the implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of MHPSS activities in Afghanistan, including the management and technical supervision of the National staff of the IOM MHPSS programme in the Afghanistan CO. The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Coordinator is expected to carry out the duties in accordance with the strictest ethical standards and with due respect for gender and socio-cultural sensitivities.
Core Functions / Responsibilities:
- Manage and ensure the overall implementation of the CO’s MHPSS projects in a timely manner, including recruitment of new staff, project and budget monitoring, and maintaining relevant donor visibility in line with IOM rules and regulations.
- Identify and substantively support the Program Support Unit (PSU) in programme development opportunities and resource mobilization efforts for MHPSS, including identifying funding opportunities, development of project proposals, identification of new donors and thematic areas of technical intervention, and preparing relevant documents in this regard. This includes cooperation with other relevant thematic areas to ensure the complementarity of new programs, such as Reintegration and Development Assistance in Afghanistan (RADA)/Stabilization, Reintegration and Resilience Division (SRR), and Protection.
- Align and further harmonize MHPSS activities across different IOM units, including Reintegration Assistance and Development in Afghanistan (RADA), Stabilization, Reintegration and Resilience (SRR), and Protection. Ensure cross-cutting issues are integrated in the MHPSS programming in Afghanistan, and that MHPSS is mainstreamed into and harmonized with protection initiatives and programs – e.g., Gender Based Violence (GBV) and protection.
- Drive the development and implementation of a holistic and systematic MHPSS strategy for the Afghanistan CO in coordination with relevant colleagues as above, and in line with the relevant IASC guidelines and the IOM Manual on Community-based MHPSS in Emergencies and Displacement, and other relevant guidance.
- Manage and monitor (both technically and administratively) the MHPSS Team including the psychosocial mobile teams. Work with the health and MHPSS teams to ensure the provision of adequate and suitable capacity building to MHPSS personnel and relevant internal and external actors where applicable (e.g., Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), Protection, Health, Nutrition, Education, Food Security and Livelihood), including line ministries and civil society organizations.
- Develop strategies and tools, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to strengthen and systematize IOM’s MHPSS activities in Afghanistan.
- Establish comprehensive and clear work-plans for the MHPSS Team/psychosocial mobile teams to ensure timely weekly and monthly reporting on MHPSS activities and ensure that these are regularly shared with the PSU and other relevant stakeholders.
- Ensure at any given time that MHPSS programming is driven by a sound Monitoring and Evaluation Assessment and Learning framework, and that qualitative and quantitative indicators are always relevant and updated. Work with colleagues to ensure that relevant standardized and global evidence based MHPSS tools are in use within the IOM programme and are customized and tailored to the specific context of Afghanistan.
- Establish, maintain, coordinate and liaise with other United Nations (UN) agencies and key actors, relevant Line Ministries and other civil society actors, and provide technical and programmatic advice for mainstreaming MHPSS among the local population, where applicable.
- Represent IOM at the interagency and governmental MHPSS working group meetings and other relevant fora, and develop and strengthen existing, or new partnerships with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders to ensure strong coordination and enhanced information sharing.
- Perform such other duties as may be assigned.
Required Qualifications and Experience:
Education
- Master’s degree in Psychology (clinical and/or counselling), Psychiatry, Social Work, Anthropology, Pedagogy, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience; or
- University degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience;• Professional accreditation from a recognized psychological or counselling association-society is an advantage.
Experience
- Experience in designing, implementing and/or managing psychosocial support programmes inconflict and/or post-conflict settings with professional experience in diverse context;
- Experience in a large-scale complex humanitarian emergency or post-conflict environment;
- Experience and knowledge in facilitating training and developing curricula;
- Experience in training and supervision of scalable psychological interventions (e.g., PM+, IPT);
- Experience in the integration of MHPSS into Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion (community stabilization, transitional justice, etc.) activities;
- Experience in psychotherapy and counseling for social workers an asset; and,
- Experience in qualitative and quantitative research is desirable.
Skills
- Participation to IOM corporate Academic programmes in Psychosocial Interventions in Emergency and Displacement or similar will be considered an asset;
- Familiarity with the region/country is an asset;
- Proficient in MS Office applications and basic knowledge of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS);
- Very good communication skills;
- Very good analytical, planning and organizational skills;
- Ability to work under pressure in a complex and fast-changing environment;
- Ability to coordinate actions with a diverse group of other actors (incl. emergency response actors) and being able to make use of coordination structures;
- Good problem-solving skills;
- Proven capacity for clinical supervision; and,
- Ability to manage and monitor the work of the teams remotely, including the capacity and team building.
Languages
IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish.
External applicants for all positions in the Professional category are required to be proficient in English and have at least a working knowledge of one additional UN Language (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian or Chinese).
For all applicants, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto is an advantage.
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.
Notes
Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database (https://whed.net/home.php).
Required Competencies:
Values – all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these three values:
- Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
- Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
- Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2
- Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
- Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
- Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
- Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.
- Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.
Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2
- Leadership: provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the organization’s vision; assists others to realize and develop their potential.
- Empowering others & building trust: creates an atmosphere of trust and an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
- Strategic thinking and vision: works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.
IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.
https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.pdf
Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.
Other:
Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile.
Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.
This selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations. Recommended candidates will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.
The list of NMS countries above includes all IOM Member States which are non-represented in the Professional Category of staff members. For this staff category, candidates who are nationals of the duty station’s country cannot be considered eligible.
Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required for individuals hired on or after 15 November 2021. This will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.
Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.
How to apply
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications HERE, via PRISM, IOM e-Recruitment system, by 03 October 2022 at the latest, referring to this advertisement.
IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system. The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
For further information please refer to: www.iom.int/recruitment
No Fees:
IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.
Requisition: SVN 2022 259 Programme Coordinator (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS))
(P3) Kabul, Afghanistan (57759809) Released
Posting: Posting NC57759810 (57759810) Released