Oct 24, Interpeace Mental Health and Psychosocial Support and Peacebuilding Advisor Jobs in Ethiopia

Background

Interpeace has been active in Ethiopia since 2021, when it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Peace, which is mandated to foster lasting peace in Ethiopia. In 2022, Interpeace organised an exchange visit for the Ministry of Peace to Rwanda to learn about Interpeace’s efforts there to support the government in promoting a societal healing programme. The Ministry identified that there is a similar need in Ethiopia.

The position is recruited to provide support to the Ethiopia programme. The MHPSS and Gender Advisor will play a pivotal role in the implementation of a MHPSS and Gender project in the Benishangul Gumuz Region of Ethiopia, in partnership with CUSO International and SeeD. CUSO International is implementing a Girl’s Education project and will contract Interpeace to assist them with the implementation of a MHPSS component, focused on the provision of multi-family therapy to create a more enabling environment in the promotion of girls’ education.

This project is taking place in a region that has been affected by a long-standing violent conflict, which has contributed to a high prevalence of mental health and psychosocial issues. The project focuses on promoting greater university access for girls in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional through applying a holistic, multi-sectorial approach.

The project’s intended outcome is the removal of barriers for the advancement of girls’ education in the BGR, which can be achieved through increased community and familial encouragement of girls’ enrolment in formal education, improved academic performance, leadership abilities, and autonomy of girls, and enhanced regional, zonal and woreda-level governance, administration, and delivery of gender equitable education in Benishangul Gumuz region.

To deliver this project, Interpeace is contracting SeeD, a longstanding partner of Interpeace with technical expertise on MHPSS. The MHPSS and Gender Advisor will be supervised by the Ethiopia Country Representative but work in close partnership with both CUSO International and SeeD to deliver an MHPSS needs assessment, assist the development and implementation of contextualised multi-family therapy protocols, and synthesise the lessons learned from this process in a succinct learning paper.

In addition to the above, Interpeace has an ambition to expand our work on the interlinkage between peacebuilding and MHPSS in Ethiopia. The MHPSS and Gender advisor will assist in the development of strategies and business development to achieve this goal. If successful, it is Interpeace’s ambition to transform this role from a consultancy to a full-time position.

Activities, Deliverables and Timeframe

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Interpeace Ethiopia Country Representative, to deliver several outputs. Provisional activities are outlined below, although these may be reviewed jointly by Interpeace and the consultant.

Co-design and implementation of a gendered mixed-method mental health and psychosocial needs assessment.

In partnership with SeeD, design a gendered MHPSS needs assessment, assist the process of data collection and analysis and co-write the research. And help in the dissemination of the research and the process of transforming the research into an intervention.

Co-design multi-family therapy protocols and an evidence framework.

In partnership with SeeD, co-design family therapy protocols that integrate needs assessment with global best practices. Especially important in this role is to help the SeeD team to ensure that the protocols reflect cultural norms and practices and that it has a strong but culturally appropriate gender transformation element.

Implement the multi-family therapy protocols

This involves the training and mentoring of community facilitators throughout the various stages of the multi-family therapy protocols and assist in the monitoring of the protocol delivery. This also includes problem solving when there are issues or obstacles and helping with programme adaptation if and when necessary.

Co-write a learning paper and assist in the dissemination of lessons learned.

This includes the analysis of an endline assessment and generating general reflections on lessons learned, and assisting the SeeD team to produce a learning output that captures the lessons learned and the project impact.

Assist the team in the business development to fundraise for long-term MHPSS and peacebuilding work.

This includes assisting the team with the production of funding proposals on MHPSS and peacebuilding work, both for the continuation of the work in Beninshangul-Gumuz in partnership with CUSO, and for programming on this thematic topic in other regions in Ethiopia.

Qualifications

To deliver the above-mentioned objectives and the associated scope of work, Interpeace is searching for a candidate with the following skills and experience:

Substantive experience and knowledge of MHPSS psychosocial counselling and underlying factors causing mental health-related issues in Benishangul Gumuz region. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate a deep conceptual understanding of the context and the issue.

Excellent knowledge and experience of training and developing guidelines. The successful candidate is expected to develop materials, templates, tools, forms etc that can guide the implementation teams on issues related to MHPSS. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate a proven track record of delivery on this specific issue.

Education and work experience

Advance university degree in psychology, behavioral science, or another mental and social health related field.

At least seven years relevant and proven progressive experience in psychosocial counselling, with extensive experience within the health sector preferably in Benishangul or adjacent areas.

Proven experience in developing and delivering training on MHPSS.

Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research and work experience in the education sector is highly advantageous.

Experience in peacebuilding and experience working with survivors of armed conflict is an advantage.

Fluent oral and writing in English and Amharic.

Specific Technical Skills and competencies:

Excellent writing skills in English and Amharic

Excellent knowledge of mental health concerns facing the communities in Benishangul Gumuz and adjacent regions particularly in the schooling system.

Demonstrated experience in conducting research and training.

Highly organized with the ability to work under pressure.

Strong research and report writing skills with demonstrated track-record in drafting high-quality publications in English language.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application to: [email protected] and send a copy to: Abel Abate [email protected]

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