Psychosocial Support Delegate, Syria

Requires a Cover Letter?: 
yes
Application Submissions Guideline: 

Deadline for applying is 16th November. Interviews are expected to take place the 21st and 27th November.
Application and CV should be uploaded at Danish Red Cross web page www.rodekors.dk/job or directly at https://drk.easycruit.com/intranet/international/vacancy/2170649/68803?iso=dk

Contact Person Name: 
Eva Jordung Nicolson
Contact Person Position: 
Country Coordinator
Contact Person Email: 
Description: 

Psychosocial Support Delegate, Syria

In Syria nearly half a million people are estimated to have been killed since 2012, 55,000 of them children. More than a million people have been injured, 6 million internally displaced, and 5 million have become refugees, meaning that the pre-war settled population of approximately 23 million has been halved. 13 million require humanitarian assistance, 5 million of whom are children, and over 2 million still live in hard-to-reach areas where they are exposed to grave protection threats. Renewed displacement continues; from Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus in the Spring, and Deraa and Quneitra more recently. Forcible displacement and semi-compulsory relocations continue, most notably in the Northwest near the Iraqi border and into Idleb, where there is may still be a bitter confrontation to come.

Syrians have been forced to engage in severely negative coping strategies; to unsustainable and unsafe means of survival, including forced and/or early marriage, child labour, child recruitment, survival sex and temporary marriages. WHO estimates that more than half of all Syrians are in need of mental health and psychosocial support services and one in four children is at risk of developing a mental health disorder. The present crisis has also directly impacted staff and volunteers of Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), the Host National Society (HNS). For over seven years, dedicated staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to bring basic services to individuals, families and communities most affected by the crisis.

The Danish Red Cross (DRC) has collaborated with SARC since 2006, initially through cooperation on a psychosocial support (PS) programme provided to the Iraqi refugee population in Syria, and since the beginning of the conflict in 2011 through programmes with a focus on PS, health and relief items, for conflict affected communities, as well as organisational capacity building for the national society. In May 2017, DRC conducted a review of the SARC psychosocial programme (PSP). The review team found that the PSP needed additional technical support to deliver quality PS services. A capacity building plan was prepared and for two years DRC has been working with SARC to implement this plan. The PS delegate will continue the capacity building in close cooperation with SARC.

Responsibilities

  • Oversee all technical aspects of SARC’s PSP in close coordination with the DRC Country Coordinator, relevant delegates and SARC departments;
  • Support and advise SARC programme teams and departments implementing the PSP, and the teams providing technical support/supervision;
  • Support SARC with assessment, response and mainstreaming of PS knowledge, attitudes and practice across their departments;
  • Coordinate and collaborate with the DRC Syria Country Team, the DRC Regional PS Delegate, the IFRC PMEAL Officer and delegate in Syria, and with the DRC planning, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (PMEAL) advisor on the capacity-building component and PMEAL of the PSP;
  • Jointly with SARC participate in relevant Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement and inter-agency coordination beyond the Movement, such as the MHPSS Technical Working Group (WG) and Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) in Syria;
  • Advise, assist, and communicate as appropriate with other Partner National Societies (PNS), ICRC or NGOs working with interventions related to the PSP;
  • Support the DRC Syria CC in relations with the HNS, other PNS, and in DRC’s contribution to wider Movement cooperation in Syria;
  • Support overall DRC programme development and fundraising as a contribution to our wider response to the Syria Crisis.

Experience and qualifications

  • Minimum 5 years relevant experience in providing PS training, supervision and development of training materials and manuals.
  • Proven experience in Psychosocial Support (PS) in the field, preferably in low income or countries experiencing protracted crisis.
  • Understanding of and experience in the capacity building of local partners working in difficult contexts, particularly in PSP.
  • Excellent English speaking and writing skills.
  • Excellent Arabic speaking and writing skills – in order to communicate effectively and train SARC volunteers in their language.
  • Technical knowledge of best practices in PSP, in humanitarian and/or special development settings.
  • A relevant academic degree in the health sector, e.g. in psychology, a related social science, or similar.
  • Full proficiency in Microsoft Office and as self-supporting with computers as possible.
  • A valid international driving licence.
  • Confidence in situations of stress, including insecurity-related, and able to handle a heavy but varied workload for a long period.
  • Willingness and ability to live and work under restricted conditions in Damascus.
  • Results-orientated but at the same time innovative and flexible, always able to retain focus on beneficiary or client needs.
  • Understanding that process and ownership are key to achieving results in culturally and politically sensitive environments.
  • Self-reliance, initiative and maturity, enabling the delegate to represent DRC at different fora, independently when necessary.
  • Excellent diplomacy, communication, coordination, negotiation, networking and facilitation skills, and able to work collaboratively.

Employment Conditions
The ideal starting date is 1 January 2019 or soonest thereafter and the length of the contract is 24 months with the possibility of extension.
Your duty station will be Damascus, Syria. The position is a non-family duty station. Travelling to the programme areas will take place to the degree that the security situation in-country allows and will under the current circumstances require at least 10% of the contract period.

Further information
For more information on the position, please contact Country Coordinator Eva Jordung Nicolson on tel. +963 953 333 721 e-mail [email protected].

Expired

NOTE:

Daleel Madani, the civil society network, serves as a platform for organisations to post their professional opportunities, but is not involved in the recruitment process. The hiring organisation is solely responsible for the job and candidate selection.

Last modified: 
26 Nov, 2018
Intervention Sector(s):
Mental Health
Application Deadline:
Friday, 16 November 2018
Contract Type:
Full Time
Period of Employment:
24 months, starting 01 January 2019
Salary
DKK 41,300-43,600
Salary Range:
> 3000 (USD)
Education Degree:
Other
Education Degree Details:
•A relevant academic degree in the health sector, e.g. in psychology, a related social science, or similar
Experience Requirements:
5 to 10 years
Arabic Language:
Excellent
English Language:
Excellent
French Language:
None
Country/City: 
  • Lebanon
  • Beirut
  • Beirut
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