UNICEF WCARO TERMES OF REFERENCE
Position Title: Regional MHPSS Specialist
Duty Station: Dakar Country: Senegal Region: WCARO Job Level: P4 Application Close: 30 August 2013 Contract Type: Temporary Appointment (TA)
1. Background
The development, provision and strengthening of psychosocial support services for children and their caregiver’s is a fundamental part of the Core Commitments for Children in emergencies (CCCs) as part of both Protection and Education responses. As a member of the Inter-agency standing committee on mental health and psychosocial support reference group (IASC MHPSS), UNICEF has endorsed the Guidelines on mental health and psychosocial support in emergency settings (2007), working with health, education, protection and camp management partners to develop strategies and policies, address gaps in services, and help humanitarian workers better understand how to effectively serve populations living through times of crisis in a way which reinforces their well-being, dignity, and resilience.
In addition to the complex emergencies in Mali, DRC and CAR, in 2012, a serious food and nutrition crisis threatened the Sahel region, with over 10 million people facing food insecurity and over 1 million children expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), exacerbated by and complicating further needs in health, water and sanitation, protection, as well as threatening rights to education. This was affecting eight countries across the Sahel region, including the entire countries of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger and the northern regions of Cameroon, Nigeria and Senegal. In 2012, nutrition programs were used as an entry point for early stimulation and psychosocial support: ECD team trained 4 national TOT groups on Child Care and Development (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Senegal) and implemented a joint PCA for roll out in the field in Mali. Child Protection organized training in 5 countries on "basic" PSS and CP needs, referrals and when possible, disseminating CP messages (Chad, Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso, Senegal) Based on these experiences, and some excellent collaboration in the field, UNICEF WCARO proposes to integrate more formally the ECD/PSS aspects into the nutrition The nutrition situation in WCAR is continuing to be of particular concerns with another 1.5 million children expected to suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition in 2013. This leading to continuous efforts to improve our program and cross- sector collaboration in the region. Moreover, the child protection response for PSS in WCAR is mainly based on child Friendly Spaces (CFS) either through Education or Child Protection section, with difficulty in a cross sectorial approach. Within UNICEF WCAR, country offices have expressed the need for defining the contours of a well-defined integrated psychosocial program to better respond to emergencies with an urgent need to improve the capacity of teams and partners in the field, to manage high quality PSS services and referral systems. The publication of Psychological First Aid (PFA, 2011) is an opportunity also to reinforce front-line practitioners to respond with humanity, in a supportive and practical manner to fellow human beings suffering serious crisis events1.
1 Endorsed by 24 international agencies, the guide reflects the emerging science and international consensus on how to support people in the immediate aftermath of extremely stressful events. For all these reasons, WCARO has identified an urgent need to hire a Regional Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist (MHPSS) to develop an integrated model of PSS/ECD/ Nutrition in emergency response work and in a broader context of emergency response work.
At the early stage of his deployment, the MHPSS specialist will prepare his work plan and timeline according to prioritization of the job based also on deliverables prepared by the technical team (composed of ECD, Nutrition, Education, HIV/Aids and Child Protection colleagues).
2. Purpose of the Position
Ensure Nutritional response are highlights and incorporates ECD and psychosocial integrated support services in WCAR emergency responses for affected children in food and nutritional crisis in a community based setting and support new emergency settings in WCAR to ensure PSS response in emergency is in line with IASC guidelines and results based.
3. Major Duties/Responsibilities
A. Developing an integrated model of PSS/ ECD/ Nutrition in emergency response work (60% of time). 2 or 3 countries will be selected from the following list: Chad, Niger, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mauritania, and Cameroon a. Modules: Develop two training modules as experiences in-field show lessons learned: one on emotional stimulation of young children (ECD) and a second one on the psychosocial support to parents of sick children (PSS) to incorporate them in the Regional Nutritional Protocol, targeting health workers in the region.
b. Coordination: Identify, coordinate and liaise with relevant MHPSS stakeholders at regional level working in the Sahelian countries on ECD and MHPSS in the nutritional and food crisis, to take into account expertise and good practices and incorporate them through technical inputs in the development of modules and an Action plan for roll out (5W ‘mapping and tracking’ exercise (who – what – when – where – why).
c. EPRP: Work with the Education/ECD and Nutrition Sections to identify Sahelian countries to focus on the development of a PSS/ECD/Nutrition emergency response plan with timeframe for roll-out and the phase over for transition to regular programming.
d. Indicators and M&E: Develop indicators, monitoring and reporting mechanisms (results based) to scale up PSS/Nut/ECD integrated model in 2 or 3 countries and extend for sustainability (resilience).
e. Roll-out: Facilitate implementation and roll-out in-country.
B. Developing an integrated model of PSS/Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) in emergency response work (40% of time). 2 or 3 countries will be selected from the following list: CAR, DRC, Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Guinea a. PSS- CPiE/EiE response: With support of CPiE and EiE specialists, in depth review of PSS activities in 2 or 3 countries in: (i) Child Friendly Spaces, (ii) teacher training on psychosocial support for students and (iii) referral systems between schools and psychosocial support mechanisms.
b. Map & track MHPSS Programs: Map of MHPSS existing activities and tools and provide concrete recommendations for COs and the RO on improving the integrated PSS response between CPiE, EiE and HIV/Aids (MHPSS Guidelines used as framework).
c. Minimum Standards and Good Practice Package: Suggest recommendation for UNICEF Country and Regional offices in order to assist in developing and setting standards of care in new emergency settings in the region (Mali + 3 countries). 2 d. Indicators & M&E: Ensure indicators, monitoring and reporting mechanisms are results based.
e. PSS Training of Trainers (ToT): Develop a training Plan of Action for both Objective 1 and Objective 2. Train using MHPSS Guidelines as a framework to create a pool of PSS trainers.
f. PR: Develop mechanisms to keep Regional and Country Offices of Western Central Africa up to date with the work of PSS/ECD/Nutrition and PSS/Child Protection projects, using also the www.mhpss.net global webhosts.
g. Quality and Accountability: Coordinate with NY HQ and IASC MHPSS Reference Group on PSS issues.
C. Qualifications of Successful Candidate
Education: Advanced University Degree in Psychology, Social Work or similar discipline Work Experience and Requirements:
Minimum eight years of progressively responsible professional work experience in the field of psychosocial care and support at a national and international level At least five years’ experience working in emergencies Computer Skills: Skills including use of relevant software and other applications, e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, internal databases. Other Skills: Proven experience integrating PSS in emergency response Proven experience integrated Sector PSS planning and programming Proven ability to strategically identify and prioritize issues; conceptualize, develop, plan and manage programs, as well as to impart knowledge and teach skills Proven leadership, coordination and teamwork abilities Proven training and facilitating skills Excellent analytical, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills Strong motivation to work with minimum supervision in a fast-paced environment Demonstrated ability to work in an international, multicultural environment and establish and maintain effective and harmonious working relationships both within and outside the organisation Knowledge of latest developments (including IASC MHPSS Guidelines and PFA) and research at global level in psychosocial support Ability and willingness to travel to countries in the region for at least 40% of the duration of the assignment. Language Proficiency: Fluency in oral and written French and English is essential. Competency Profile:
Core Values (Required): Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, Integrity Core Competencies (Required): Communication, Drive for Results, Working with People
Functional Competencies (Required): Analyzing, Applying Technical Expertise, Deciding and Initiating Action, Formulating Strategies and Concepts, Leading and Supervising, Relating and Networking ------
If you are qualified and interested in the position and meet the requirements, please forward your application with updated curriculum vitae and UN Personal History Form (available at www.unicef.org/employ), with “Regional MHPSS Specialist” as the subject’, via email to [email protected] and [email protected] by 30.08.13.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.
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