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UNFPA-MHPSS Specialist-P3/P4-Damascus, Syria
Damascus, SyriaPosition Title: MHPSS Specialist
Receiving Agency: UNFPA
P Level: P3/P4
Location: Damascus, Syria
Duration: 3 months
Language: English is required. Arabic is a significant advantage.
Under the overall supervision of the UNFPA CO Representative and/or the Head of Office, the MHPSS specialist will be responsible for supporting the integration of MHPSS into GBViE and SRHiE programming; to orient SRH and GBV colleagues and partners on MHPSS-related issues; to support the GBV Sub-Sector in strengthening the capacity of the GBV partners, particularly the staff of GBV response service providers, in order to deliver services in compliance with IASC Guidelines for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings and UNFPA MHPSS draft guidance. The incumbent will also assist in establishing relevant partnerships with other stakeholders.
Main Tasks and Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of the UNFPA CO Representative and/or the Head of Office, and close collaboration and coordination with GBV Unit head, the MHPSS specialist will be responsible to support the integration of MHPSS into GBViE and SRHiE programming; to orient SRH and GBV colleagues and partners on MHPSS related issues; to support the GBV Sub-Sector in strengthening the capacity of the GBV partners, particularly the staff of GBV response service providers to ensure quality services and also for staff care, in order to deliver services in compliance with IASC Guidelines for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings and following the IASC minimum service package for MHPSS.
The incumbent will also assist in establishing relevant partnerships with other stakeholders.
These activities will include the following:
CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.
Receiving Agency: UNFPA
P Level: P3/P4
Location: Damascus, Syria
Duration: 3 months
Language: English is required. Arabic is a significant advantage.
Background Description of Emergency / Justification for Request (Please provide a short paragraph outlining the prevailing humanitarian situation and context)
On 23rd September 2024, the air strike started in Lebanon by Israel. Over the past few days, as the hostilities in Lebanon escalate Syria has witnessed an influx of thousands of Syrians and Lebanese crossing into Rural Damascus, Homs, and Tartous Governorates. Around 100,000 people have already crossed the border within 7 days. People are reported to be arriving in a state of desperate need and exhaustion. While the needs assessment for the new arrivals is still ongoing, preliminarily identified needs include protection, health, food, non-food items, water, dignity, and hygiene kits. Many of those crossing to Syria were women and children in dire conditions. Some of the new arrivals bore injuries both from the long journey and due to the hostilities in Lebanon. At the Jdaidet Yabous crossing point alone, on 26 September UNHCR witnessed 10 victims with serious injuries caused by the bombardment in Lebanon.
UNFPA is actively engaged in the inter-agency coordination mechanism led by UNHCR for coordinating the response both at Damascus and field office levels (Homs, Tartous, and Rural Damascus). In the immediate response phase, UNFPA through its implementing partners (SFAP-SARC-GOPA) is escalating its humanitarian response delivering critical assistance to the new arrivals at the five main crossing border points, 5,000 female dignity kits and 10,000 sanitary napkins, sufficient to cover the menstrual needs of 660 women and girls for one month, have been handed to its implementing partners SARC and SFPA to respond to the immediate needs of women and girls at the newly established four Border Health-Protection Support Points (Border Posts). UNFPA is also coordinating with SARC and for the deployment of midwives and psychosocial support workers as part of the response by next week. Through existing Implementing partners UNFPA will continue providing these critical SRH and GBV services, including MHPSS through Integrated Mobile Team, static clinics, and Women and Girl Friendly Spaces to ensure life-saving comprehensive GBV and RH services.
The Syria crisis remains a complex humanitarian emergency with 16.7 million people in need of assistance as per the HRP 2024. Basic services in Syria continue to erode, leading to increased vulnerabilities, including the risk of increased mortality and morbidity. The earthquake in Türkiye and northern Syria in February 2023 caused significant loss of life and displacement and has further exacerbated the crisis. Economic deterioration and internal migration have further increased humanitarian needs. Regional events, such as the conflict in Gaza, South Lebanon, and Israel, have also implications for Syria, including for security and accelerating the movement of return of Syrian refugees in neighboring countries.
Given the complexity in terms of the current crises affecting already pre-existing protracted crises in Syria, humanitarian supply chain support will be crucial to ensure Integrated MHPSS services through SRH and GBV-related service points.
Security Situation Summary in the country and main threats: (i.e armed conflict, terrorism, crime, social unrest, hazard)
Key Profile Information: UNFPA SCO has 32 active IPs responding to the Syrian humanitarian crisis with integrated GBV-SRH services. Out of them, at least 5 IP have services in nearby border areas through where the current influx is happening. UNFPA leads the GBV Sub-Sector, which works alongside the Child Protection Sub-Sector (led by UNICEF) within the Protection Sector (led by UNHCR) and has strong linkages with the SRH working group (Also led by UNFPA) under the Health Cluster (led by WHO). The GBV Sub-Sector also works with other humanitarian sectors within the Inter-Sector Coordination Group (ISCG). The Sub-Sector coordinates the GBV prevention and response through strengthening community-based GBV programming. These include ensuring access to quality multi-sector GBV response services for survivors, building the capacity of GBV service providers and other stakeholders to deliver quality care integrated with MHPSS in line with best practices and minimum standards for humanitarian settings, and enabling active participation of affected communities in GBV awareness-raising, response, prevention, and risk mitigation. Currently, UNFPA is part of the MHPSS working group that is led by WHO and is active at the national and governorate level. On 23rd September 2024, the air strike started in Lebanon by Israel. Over the past few days, as the hostilities in Lebanon escalate Syria has witnessed an influx of thousands of Syrians and Lebanese crossing into Rural Damascus, Homs, and Tartous Governorates. Around 100,000 people have already crossed the border within 7 days. People are reported to be arriving in a state of desperate need and exhaustion. While the needs assessment for the new arrivals is still ongoing, preliminarily identified needs include protection, health, food, non-food items, water, dignity, and hygiene kits. Many of those crossing to Syria were women and children in dire conditions. Some of the new arrivals bore injuries both from the long journey and due to the hostilities in Lebanon. At the Jdaidet Yabous crossing point alone, on 26 September UNHCR witnessed 10 victims with serious injuries caused by the bombardment in Lebanon.
UNFPA is actively engaged in the inter-agency coordination mechanism led by UNHCR for coordinating the response both at Damascus and field office levels (Homs, Tartous, and Rural Damascus). In the immediate response phase, UNFPA through its implementing partners (SFAP-SARC-GOPA) is escalating its humanitarian response delivering critical assistance to the new arrivals at the five main crossing border points, 5,000 female dignity kits and 10,000 sanitary napkins, sufficient to cover the menstrual needs of 660 women and girls for one month, have been handed to its implementing partners SARC and SFPA to respond to the immediate needs of women and girls at the newly established four Border Health-Protection Support Points (Border Posts). UNFPA is also coordinating with SARC and for the deployment of midwives and psychosocial support workers as part of the response by next week. Through existing Implementing partners UNFPA will continue providing these critical SRH and GBV services, including MHPSS through Integrated Mobile Team, static clinics, and Women and Girl Friendly Spaces to ensure life-saving comprehensive GBV and RH services.
The Syria crisis remains a complex humanitarian emergency with 16.7 million people in need of assistance as per the HRP 2024. Basic services in Syria continue to erode, leading to increased vulnerabilities, including the risk of increased mortality and morbidity. The earthquake in Türkiye and northern Syria in February 2023 caused significant loss of life and displacement and has further exacerbated the crisis. Economic deterioration and internal migration have further increased humanitarian needs. Regional events, such as the conflict in Gaza, South Lebanon, and Israel, have also implications for Syria, including for security and accelerating the movement of return of Syrian refugees in neighboring countries.
Given the complexity in terms of the current crises affecting already pre-existing protracted crises in Syria, humanitarian supply chain support will be crucial to ensure Integrated MHPSS services through SRH and GBV-related service points.
Security Situation Summary in the country and main threats: (i.e armed conflict, terrorism, crime, social unrest, hazard)
Under the overall supervision of the UNFPA CO Representative and/or the Head of Office, the MHPSS specialist will be responsible for supporting the integration of MHPSS into GBViE and SRHiE programming; to orient SRH and GBV colleagues and partners on MHPSS-related issues; to support the GBV Sub-Sector in strengthening the capacity of the GBV partners, particularly the staff of GBV response service providers, in order to deliver services in compliance with IASC Guidelines for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings and UNFPA MHPSS draft guidance. The incumbent will also assist in establishing relevant partnerships with other stakeholders.
Main Tasks and Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of the UNFPA CO Representative and/or the Head of Office, and close collaboration and coordination with GBV Unit head, the MHPSS specialist will be responsible to support the integration of MHPSS into GBViE and SRHiE programming; to orient SRH and GBV colleagues and partners on MHPSS related issues; to support the GBV Sub-Sector in strengthening the capacity of the GBV partners, particularly the staff of GBV response service providers to ensure quality services and also for staff care, in order to deliver services in compliance with IASC Guidelines for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings and following the IASC minimum service package for MHPSS.
The incumbent will also assist in establishing relevant partnerships with other stakeholders.
These activities will include the following:
- Assess the current PSS interventions within the scope of SRH and GBV, staff knowledge and skills among UNFPA and GBV Sub-Sector partners.
- Lead the design of standard and contextual inter-agency MHPSS interventions for GBV and SRH partners, including consideration of a cognitive behavior-based or common elements support approach tailored to staff without formal MHPSS qualifications.
- Develop a training, mentoring and supervision plan to equip GBV caseworkers and case managers to deliver specialized interventions that address common psychosocial reactions to trauma, burnout and abuse, including suicide, bereavement, and depression. Deliver training sessions and develop follow up/coaching plans for the partners to ensure skill development and application.
- Lead and facilitate inter-agency level training on PFA and other psychosocial interventions to develop the ability of health staff and community mobilisers to recognize and respond appropriately to MHPSS needs.
- Design and develop IEC material to support implementation of MHPSS interventions within the scope of SRH and GBV interventions.
- Supervise the development and field testing of field manuals and guidance materials.
- Develop monitoring tools to ensure MHPSS interventions are carried out in compliance with international guidelines and best practices.
- Participate in MHPSS coordination to ensure GBV and SRH related MHPSS is addressed and maintain linkage between MHPSS Working Group and GBV Sub-Sector to support information sharing and skills transfer.
- Develop/adapt specialist training material tailored to the MHPSS intervention designed for the GBV and SRH.
- Provide capacity building to implementing partners, including GBV and health responders, in good practices (quality of communication, respect, privacy….) to reduce negative psychological impact, and in providing quality psychosocial first aid responses for survivors of GBV and other psychologically distressing GBV/SRH situations.
- Analyze results of monitoring visits and data to identify capacity development needs
- Develop appropriate IEC material to support the training and program implementation for MHPSS interventions and review existing IEC materials to ensure that MHPSS aspects are included in health and GBV response and prevention messaging.
- Support the capacity development of UNFPA and GBV Sub-Sector partners to respond to emergency/humanitarian crises with awareness of MHPSS needs, referral options, and interventions.
- Prepare GBV Sub-Sector partners to ensure sustainable MHPSS quality through structuring supervision and review mechanisms.
- Actively participate in and support the inter-agency, multi-sectoral GBV and MHPSS coordination groups.
- Contribute MHPSS perspective and inputs in assessments, planning, and reporting undertaken by GBV Sub-Sector partners and other relevant interagency initiatives.
- Identify a range of MHPSS services available for inclusion in GBV and SRH referral pathways, determine protocols for triage and referral to these services, and propose appropriate needs-based referral mechanisms that are effective in addressing specific issues.
- Document training and supervision using tracking tools designed in collaboration with the GBV and SRH sectors. Create records of participants’ progress. Report on the effectiveness of training materials and process and assess and address gaps through iterative improvements to training protocols.
- Supervise the development of monitoring tools for MHPSS interventions within the scope of GBV and SRH, to support quality programming in compliance with international standards. Conduct monitoring visits and provide reports on compliance and challenges.
- Conduct a review of GBV response and prevention interventions to crisis-affected populations to ensure that all interventions are in line with guiding principles, including the IASC Guidelines for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, IASC Guidelines for Integrating GBV Interventions in Humanitarian Settings, Interagency GBV Case Management Guidelines and other international standards.
- Produce inputs to regular progress reports and Sit Reps as required.
- Provide technical assistance and capacity development support to UNFPA SRH and GBV staff and GBV Sub-Sector partners.
- Supervise the development of MHPSS and GBV IEC materials which specifically address and support case workers providing a direct response to ensure compliance with minimum standards.
- Provide technical updates and training to GBV partners in relevant technical areas related to the MHPSS component of the GBV response.
- Master’s degree with specialization in psychology, mental health, clinical psychology or related areas.
- At least 5 years of specialized experience in MHPSS interventions particularly as it relates to GBV.
- Experience in GBV/MHPSS at an international level in a humanitarian context.
- Demonstrated knowledge of IASC Guidelines on MHPSS in Emergency Settings.
- Demonstrated experience of training, supervision, and mentoring of non-professional counseling staff.
- Ability to work within a team structure, maintain flexibility, and cope with a stressful workload.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work within different cultural environments.
- Strong knowledge of humanitarian coordination mechanisms; and strong cultural awareness and sensitivity.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English. Another UN language (especially Arabic) is a serious advantage.
CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.