Kenya: MHPSS and Protection Technical Officer – National Position

Place: Nairobi with regular travel to Sudan upon VISA approval

Starting date: As soon as possible.

Contract Period: 6 Months

Closing date for applications: January 5th (Due to the urgency of the position applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis)

THE ORGANIZATION: 

“Outraged by the injustice faced by people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, we aspire to a world of solidarity and inclusion, enriched by our differences, where everyone can live in dignity”

Handicap International Federation’s operating name is Humanity & Inclusion (HI). HI, Humanity & Inclusion is an independent and impartial aid and development organisation with no religious or political affiliations operating in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict, and disaster. We work alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable people to help meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions, and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights. HI is celebrating its 40th year of serving people with disabilities. Currently, the organization is in 60 countries, 22 are in the African continent with over 200 projects globally.

For further information about the association: www.hi.org.

JOB CONTEXT:

Humanity & Inclusion (HI), together with a local NGO will start a project in Sudan. Due to the administrative constraints to obtain visas in Sudan, the HI team will be based in Nairobi, providing remote support to the local partners. Depending on VISA approval, HI teams will have the possibility to travel to Sudan for field and monitoring visits. The project includes physical and functional rehabilitation, MHPSS, Protection and Inclusive Humanitarian Action.

Under the line management of the Country Director, the MHPSS and Protection Technical Officer contributes to the deployment of HI’s MPHSS and protection response in Sudan in line with the implementation of the HI’s mandate, country, and global strategy with a primary focus on the delivery of HI’s CDCS funded consortium project.

The MPHSS and Protection Technical Officer works in synergy with other Program’s sectors Technical Officers in the country, region and at HQ providing sound technical advice for the establishment and implementation of mental health and protection programming in all areas of intervention. S/he ensures the optimization of the quality and impact of the projects implemented in the program.

S/he will provide technical assistance and guidance to the local partner in Sudan while being based in Nairobi with regular travel to Sudan upon VISA approvals.

YOUR MISSION:

Mission 1: Build the technical capacity of program staff and partners: 

• Identifies capacity-building needs and appropriate and effective modalities to facilitate training for partners and program staff.
• Leads the development of resources/curricula/SOPs and works with program staff and HQ MPHSS and Protection Specialists to contextualize and adapt global and country-specific materials.
• Leads the development of training materials and delivers technical training, ongoing technical coaching, and training of trainers.
• Supports integrated program design and leads the identification of key aspects for the integration of MHPSS and protection program and provides capacity building through the development of specialized modules as needed.
• In collaboration with the Inclusive Humanitarian Action Technical Officer ensure that all program-specific tools are in line with HI disability, gender, and age (DGA) policy and best practices.
• Contributes to the development of partnerships with local actors to support integrated and comprehensive MHPSS and protection services.

Mission 2: Guides the establishment, development and implementation of MHPSS and protection programming in Sudan: 

• Develop adequate technical standards and guidance for the implementation of MHPSS and protection activities, including but not limited to individual and group PSS activities, PFA training, referrals pathways and protection SOPs, protection mainstreaming, and engagement of local stakeholders.
• Ensures technical support to the project in accordance with global technical frameworks and standards within its sectoral scope.
• Develops a thorough understanding of the MHPSS and protection environment in the Sudanese context and provides the country team with updated analysis.
• Provides appropriate technical guidance and support to partners as needed (adapts standards, assists in proposal writing and reporting) in accordance with mandatory strategies, standards and cross-cutting approaches.
• Ensures adequate support for multi-sectoral interventions within projects, in accordance with other Technical Officer
• Ensures the control and the follow-up of the technical quality and the relevance of the activities of HI within the programs in its perimeter.

Mission 3: Oversees and supports the project on MHPHSS and protection, best practices, training and reporting: 

• In collaboration with partners, develop a strategy for quality implementation of MHPSS and protection activities under this CDCS project.
• Coordinates closely with the local partner to ensure quality implementation of project activities including the harmonization of standards and approaches.
• Provides adequate technical guidance to consortium partners in line with strategies, standards and cross-cutting approaches.
• In collaboration with the Country Director support the partnership teams to produce regular reports on technical activities (case studies, project progress reports, etc.) both for internal use and submission to external stakeholders e.g. authorities, and donors.
• Ensures quantitative and qualitative reporting through relevant tools, focusing on technical support outcomes and learnings.

Mission 4. Establishes program monitoring, evaluation, learning and information management:

• Supports program monitoring to ensure data is used to inform programming as needed to contribute to high-quality implementation of project programming.
• Develop a comprehensive MHPSS and protection activities M&E plan as well as related assessment tools.
• Develop tailored information-sharing protocols (ISP).
• Contributes to the capitalization of projects and ensures technical learning from projects within its sectoral scope. Develops case studies, best practices, lessons learnt and other knowledge-based products.

Mission 5. External representation and active participation in inter-agency coordination mechanisms and platforms: 

• Represent HI within the MHPSS and protection cluster and other relevant local networks and works collaboratively with other agencies sharing knowledge and best practice with relevant coordination mechanisms.
• Ensures HI’s programming is in line with guidance and standards issued from the Interagency fora.
• Contributes to advocacy on specific themes in line with global advocacy priorities.
• Contributes to the delivery of communication messages in line with overall communication priorities.

Mission 6. Business development and strategic positioning: 

• Supports the development of major opportunities or new projects within the country within her/his sectorial scope.
• Contributes to the development of context analysis with her/his sectorial scope.
• Contributes to the design and writing of concept notes/proposals for new projects in the country.
• Identifies & develops local partnerships and/or consortium with NGOs and relevant institutions with a focus on delivering technical priorities within her/his sectorial scope.
• Promote the identification and development of local partnerships with organizations of people with disabilities (OPDs) and persons with disability.
• Promote and support the active participation of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in the consortium and HI programming.

YOUR PROFILE:

Educational Background and Experience: 

• Qualifications: Essential bachelor’s degree in psychology, master’s degree in psychology preferred.
• 3 to 5 years of relevant professional experience in the implementation of MPHSS and protection projects required.
• Expertise required in designing and implementing capacity-building programs for local partners as well as providing capacity-building support and facilitation of workshops.
• Experience supervising, accompanying and coaching others.
• Demonstrated understanding of human rights and violence against women and girls, child protection concerns, and protection mainstreaming.
• Excellent conceptual and theoretical understanding of rights-based approaches and the rights of person with disabilities, rights of children and women.
• Excellent conceptual and theoretical understanding of issues related to vulnerabilities with a special focus on disability, gender, and age as potential factors of exclusion.

Skills Required:

• Demonstrated capability to develop tools and SOPs for MPHSS and protection work.
• Ability to foster teamwork, empowering and developing others.
• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written).
• Strong drafting and reporting skills.
• Strong planning and organizing skills.
• A demonstrated results-oriented approach.
• The disability situation worldwide: disability/poverty/development, statistics and prevalence, impairment categories.
• An understanding of the frameworks and mechanisms of international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance.
• Experience developing capacity-building techniques for use with adults.

Security: 

• Personal security management

Cross-sector Skills: 

• Frameworks and references
• Office and collaborative tools
• Stress management
• Collaborating in a global organization

Language Skills: 

• English, knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

Personal Qualities: 

• A creative mindset and approach are required in order to succeed in this role.
• You must have the ability to work under pressure and without constant supervision.
• Ability to be proactive, reactive, and flexible.
• Capacity to organize your work and manage priorities.
• Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills.
• Emotional capacity to work in an often-unstable security situation.
• Good team member with a passion for utilizing participatory approaches.

How to Apply: 

If you feel you are the right candidate for this position, kindly send your application along with an up-to-date CV (including 3 referees current and/or past line managers and their current official contacts) by email to: recruitment.ed@hi.org

The email subject line should be marked: “Application for MHPSS and Protection Technical Officer - Sudan Position. Please do not send your academic and other testimonials they will be requested at a later stage.

All HI staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the Code of Conduct. In accordance with these values, HI operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment , Child Safeguarding, Anti-fraud, bribery, and corruption.

Humanity & Inclusion is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Females and Persons with Disabilities are encouraged to apply