AVIS DE RECRUTEMENT (SVN)
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Position Title : Senior Project Assistant (Psychosocial)
Duty Station : Kalemie, République démocratique du Congo
Classification Grade : General Service, Grade G6
Contract Duration: 6-month Special Short Term
Start Date : ASAP
Reference: SVN 2022-01-RDC
Close Date : 16 janvier 2022
Since 2016, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been supporting migration health initiatives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Within its health border and mobility management (HBMM) framework, IOM delivers and promotes comprehensive, immediate and long-term preventive and curative health programs which are beneficial, accessible, and equitable for migrants, mobile populations and other vulnerable and hard to reach communities. IOM works within existing health frameworks and with government authorities and Health, WASH, and Protection cluster coordination mechanism. Travel health assessments are provided by IOM in Kinshasa to migrants applying for long-term visa for Canada, New Zealand, Australia and UK under a self-payer program through its Migration Health Assessment Clinic (MHAC) in Kinshasa. Further, IOM supports the government in interventions aiming at strengthening the health system to effectively prevent, detect and respond to epidemics and public health threads, including focused interventions to strengthen the border health management: integrated surveillance and disease control training to frontline health staff, necessary medical and health commodities for the border health posts, analyses and reports on population mobility trends in priority health zones to inform epidemic preparedness and response efforts, as well as risk communication assistance to sensitize cross border population and neighboring communities. IOM is an active partner of the Ministry of Health in supporting Point of Entry and Points of Control surveillance during outbreaks, including the Ebola outbreaks in North Kivu (2018-2020 and 2021) and in Equator Province (2018 and 2020), the meningitis outbreak in Tchopo and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since 2020, following the declaration of COVID-19 pandemic in DRC, IOM has been supporting the Ministry of Health in implementing measures to control the spread of the virus. IOM is currently implementing a COVID-19 vaccination project at the border in four provinces, in line with the national response strategy. Also, IOM provides self-payer COVID-19 testing services to the UN staff and dependents in Kinshasa, as part of the First Line of Defense global program. In addition, since 2015, IOM has been working in partnership with the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) towards the realization of the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Since 2020, the project is aiming at strengthening the core capacities to respond to public health emergencies in line with the International Health Regulation (IHR) (2005), prioritizing four international airports (Kinshasa, Goma, Kisangani (Bangboka) and Lubumbashi) and nine (9) new land Points of Entry (POEs).
IOM is in the process of extending the health portfolio and expecting to play a larger role in the health sector in DRC. In Tanganyika province, the Migration and Health Department is involved in a stabilization project targeting displacement-affected communities, supporting the integration of individuals and families that have been displaced over the past few years within communities of destination. The overarching project objective is to strengthen the socio-economic resilience of these communities by addressing the major drivers of instability and displacement, and through improved local governance, mental health and resilience capacity, while simultaneously addressing existing or potential drivers of instability that could lead to recurrent displacement. As part of the project, mental health and psychosocial support services and referral mechanisms will be provided to ensure that the most vulnerable community members are also able to participate in the collaborative effort to peaceful coexistence.
Contexte :
Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Chief of Mission (CoM) and of the MHD Program Manager, and the technical guidance of the mental health and psychosocial support international specialist, the successful candidate will be responsible for the daily implementation of the project, including the coordination with other actors on ground and representation to technical meetings.
Fonctions principales / Responsabilités :
Carry out psychosocial needs assessments, mapping exercises and surveys in the concerned communities of the reintegration program to enhance access to community-based psychosocial services and social cohesion initiatives for the most vulnerable sectors of returnees and host community members in Tanganyika Province.
Identify existing MHPSS service providers, networks and coordination mechanisms in place in Kalemie and Tanganyika province (stakeholder mapping).
Establish coordination and partnership with all stakeholders involved in MHPSS, including the civil societies organizations, local NGOs, faith-based organizations, women’s and youth groups, parents and teachers’ associations, universities and research centers.
Identify training needs and provide training sessions to provincial and district authorities, NGO’s staff, community focal points and volunteers on topics related to psychosocial support guidelines and services such as the socio-ecological model, integration of services – IASC Pyramid, community-based approaches, PFA, family psychoeducation, life-skills and leadership. MHPSS and social cohesion, including peacebuilding and livelihood initiatives in line with the reintegration aims of the project.
Organize in collaboration with the existing MHPSS actors and networks a workshop to establish a system of referral in an out-patient mode, including identification of effective referral pathways and tailored SOPs, ensuring compliance with medical treatments and constant follow-up of beneficiaries referred to local health posts, hospitals, mental health institutions and specialists.
Recruit and train psychosocial community focal points and support the identification and training of community-based volunteers. Coordinate and provide technical supervision of psychosocial community focal points and volunteers, ensuring timely and effective execution of program’s activities, equitable and appropriate allocation of tasks and responsibilities within the team, as well as transparent and accountable use of allocated financial resources.
Support the community focal points in the identification of severe mental health cases that require specialized interventions and refer them to local health posts, hospitals, mental health institutions and/or specialists, including provision of transportation and admission if needed.
Provide individual and group counselling sessions to returnees as well as counselling and focused psychosocial services to family members, close relatives and friend.
Ensure management of program’s sites and assets, including temporary psychosocial and recreational hubs and centres, rented venues, technical equipment and means of transportation, while keeping attendance sheets, logbooks and required administrative records.
Ensure coordination, information sharing and joint actions with other IOM’s field teams (social cohesion and livelihood) involved in the reintegration program, including provision of training sessions on psychosocial support and Psychological First Aid (PFA).
Ensure that confidentiality and the right to privacy is strictly maintained with regard to sensitive information on beneficiaries and their families, and that case management files (both hard and soft copies) are maintained, regularly updated and protected.
Develop awareness messages/campaigns related to MHPSS community-based approaches and psychosocial wellbeing to be circulated among concerned populations, local associations and social activists, health posts and hospitals, municipalities and councils in the province.
Report on the psychosocial activities/sessions conducted to Project Manager through clear and concise reports on monthly basis, as well as fill the program’s monitoring forms and update mission’s online database in accordance with structured reporting requirements.
Assist Project Manager and International/National Consultants in the managerial and technical management of the program at field and local level, and any other duty that might be assigned by IOM DRC.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Education
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology or Educational Psychology.
Post-graduate studies in Psychology and/or Psychosocial Support in emergency and reintegration settings is an advantage
Experience
Previous experiences in counselling and community-based psychosocial activities in related areas of intervention is an advantage.
Experience in communicating and working with a wide range of people, including people of culturally diverse backgrounds.
Minimum of four years (BAC+5) continuous professional working experience
Languages
Required: French
Advantageous: English, Local Languages
The incumbent is expected to demonstrate the following values and competencies:
Values
• Inclusion and respect for diversity respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
• Integrity and transparency: maintain 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 behavioral 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 behavioral 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 and 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.
The appointment is subject to funding confirmation.
Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.
How to Apply :
Application:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their application by sending a motivation Letter and the Updated CV to the e-mail address [email protected] referring to this advertisement
Closing Date :
From 05.01.2022 to 16.01.2022
