Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Technical Advisor At Save the Children

***Due to the urgency to fill this role, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Kindly note that the position might be filled before the vacancy announcement is closed; therefore, early applications are encouraged.***

Opportunity: MHPSS Technical Advisor

Post location: oPt CO – Ramallah with frequent travel to Gaza Strip and West Bank

Contract Duration and Level of Effort: 1 year, with potential extension (Pending budget availability).

ROLE PURPOSE:

The MHPSS Technical Advisor will use their technical expertise, in-depth contextual understanding, and relationship building skills to define and deliver high quality, integrated emergency and development MHPSS programming in the oPt (Gaza and the West Bank) in line with global standards and latest research. The main purpose of this role is to ensure MHPSS support provided to affected children and the general populations by Save the Children and partners is of quality, age and gender responsive and deliver impact.

Under the general direction and guidance of the PDQ director, the post holder ensures all MHPSS programming is of excellent technical quality, coherent and aligned with SC and cluster strategies, attracts significant donor funding and contributes significantly to national/global learning, advocacy and program development. The post holder is expected to provide technical advice and support to project staff to ensure program quality is maintained and programming objectives are successfully achieved.

The role ensured MHPSS is considered and implemented in the most appropriate and timely manner across sectors. In line with the oPt Response Strategy, priority will be given to MHPSS Integration in Child Protection, Education, Nutrition and Food Security and Livelihoods.

The MHPSS TA will be actively engaged in the development and conducting need assessments, lead in program design, develop and monitor the quality of our MHPSS intervention, build the capacity of our staff and partners and measure the impact of our MHPSS interventions. The post holder will also be tasked with the development of new guidelines, tools and training materials on community-based psychosocial support models.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Director of Programme Development and Quality.

Staff reporting to this post: no direct reports

Budget Responsibilities: None.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Strategy and Leadership (5%)

• Provide overall strategic and technical steer to MHPSS emergency and development programming in oPt in line with CSP strategic priorities, humanitarian response priorities, and aligned with Regional MHPSS Steer and Global MHPSS Strategic Framework.
• Lead on the operationalisation and implementation of the MHPSS components within the oPt Response Strategy across sectors.

Partnership and Localisation (10%)

• Provide thought leadership in the identification and strengthening of MHPSS partnerships, at institutional and civil society levels.
• Lead on partners’ capacity development around integrated MHPSS across sectors; identify entry point, support capacity assessments, and lead on the development of capacity building and technical supervision systems and plans.

Programme Development (30%)

• Lead in the design of all MHPSS interventions or components across sections and themes (development and humanitarian), writing proposals and engaging MEAL in the development of logframes and results frameworks.
• Ensure the selection of appropriate MHPSS approaches and interventions, informed by evidence and relevant to the context and identified needs, across sectors.
• Ensure that sufficient resources are earmarked to build capacity of SC team and partners, monitor, quality-assure, capture evidence and learning, and strengthen quality and needs-based MHPSS programming.

Programme Quality and Technical Support (30%)

• Provide overall technical oversight of programme delivery; identify core strengths and areas for improvement, and build and implement relevant capacity support, training, coaching, mentoring and technical supervision plans across sectors.
• Lead on the development or contextualization of training modules, implementation tools and technical resources, informed by evidence and aligned with regional and global guidance in collaboration with RO MHPSS TA.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability (10%)

• Coordinate the design and implementation of MHPSS assessments and research studies and supervise their implementation within SC and within clusters, AoR and TWGs.
• Work with the MEAL TA and MEAL team to formulate/select MHPSS indicators and to develop indicator tracking plans for all grants, inputting into the development of additional M&E tools as necessary to monitor project progress.
• Develop and implement quality benchmarks to monitor the quality of our MHPSS interventions.
• With the MEAL team, ensure ethical, safe, appropriate, timely and accurate data collection against agreed indicators to enable both internal and external reporting.

Representation & Advocacy & Organizational Learning (10%)

• Act as a focal point for oPt on MHPSS related activities and represent SCI in relevant groups and fora, including relevant donor meetings as required.
• Help shape broader sector strategies through influence of and leadership within inter-agency coordination forums, ensuring the specific needs of children are being addressed.
• Pro-actively identify advocacy opportunities, case studies and research opportunities which link with wider organizational strategic objectives and turn these into action.
• Contribute to the development of key MHPSS policy and advocacy key messages and briefings.

Safeguarding (5%)

• Ensure full compliance of Child Safeguarding Policy at field level and especially with SC engaged personnel.

In order to be successful you will bring/have:

QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in Psychology, Mental Health or a related field.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Required

• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in a similar capacity.
• Excellent knowledge and experience in using key tools and approaches, including the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies.
• Significant experience working in emergency response, protracted crises or fragile state contexts (experience on the refugees’ crisis is a strong advantage).
• Proven capacity to train, supervise, and coach staff in MHPSS technical skills and coordination, based on evidence-based approaches and intervention packages.
• Ability to write clear and effective assessment and project reports.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills with experience in advocacy.
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy.
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Experience of representation and ability to represent Save the Children effectively in external forums.
• Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children. In particular, a good understanding of the Save the Children mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support.
• Language skills in Arabic.
• A high level of written and spoken English.

Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of SPHERE Standard and other principles of humanitarian work.
• Experience in promoting children’s participation in programme design, implementation and evaluation.
• Good understanding of child protection and gender equality & inclusion.
• High knowledge of database management tools and data analysis tools (VBA programming, MySQL, Access, Advanced Excel functions).
• Working experience in planning and response to emergencies.

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector. This role is offered on the basis of national & International terms and conditions.

Application will be evaluated and selected on a rolling basis.

Save the Children promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment, women and people with different abilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Organisation

Save the Children works in development and humanitarian contexts with children and partners to help families, communities, and governments identify and use innovations to ensure all children survive, learn and are protected.

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realize the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.