Mental Health and Psychosocial Support and Protection Project Manager for Danish Red Cross supported programmes in Sudan

Danish Red Cross (DRC) is looking for an experience candidate to serve as a mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) / Protection project manager in Sudan to support the MHPSS / Protection portfolio in collaboration with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS). The MHPSS / Protection project manager will be responsible for providing technical assistance and institutional support to ensure sustainability, structure and quality of MHPSS / Protection in SRCS.

DRC’s has been present in Sudan since the mid-80s, working in partnership with Sudanese Red Crescent Society across 7 Sudanese states (Northern, River Nile, Red Sea, Kassala, Gedaref, Khartoum and White Nile). Since 2016, DRC is the leading partner in MHPSS/protection and migration sectors, with a well-established portfolio and several interesting funding opportunities upcoming in the short and medium period.

DRC operates in close coordination with other Movement Partners present in the country, in particular in close partnership with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS). Current donors for DRC funded programmes include European Union, DANIDA, and funding from other Red Cross Red Crescent Societies.

The MHPSS / Protection project manager will be based in Kassala (R&R position) but is expected to travel to Khartoum and other states to provide technical support to SRCS as required.

The MHPSS / Protection project manager reports directly to the Country Manager in Sudan and coordinates closely with the other delegates in Sudan in the country, contributing to the overall reporting and proposal development of DRC in Sudan in collaboration with the SRCS and the country office team.

Key Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the DRC Country Manager, you will be responsible for the following – but not limited to:

The Danish Red Cross (DRC) partnership with Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) date back to the mid-80s and in the recent years it has included a strong focus on responding to climate changes, MHPSS/protection, migration and displacement. In addition, DRC has supported SRCS emergency response, particularly related to flooding. DRC operates through Sudan Red Crescent Society and in close collaboration with other members of the RCRC Movement present in the country. Currently Danish Red Cross has 4 Delegates in the country (Country Manager + 3 Technical Delegates).

The position has the following main responsibilities:

• In collaboration with SRCS, support the implementation of the assigned projects and provide technical support to the SRCS project staff and volunteers.
• Ensure that the activities in the assigned projects are quality-sounded and implemented in line with the Fundamental Principle of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, IFRC Migration policy and global strategy and other relevant guidelines.
• Ensure optimum efficiency of donor funds, effective budgeting and financial controls and maintenance of compliance.
• Ensure that quality donor financial and narrative reports are timely completed in line with donor requirements.
• Manage the relationship with the donor/s funding the assigned projects.
• In collaboration with SRCS and other DRC delegates, identify SRCS’ institutional technical capacity needs on MHPSS/Protection and approach to working in migration/displacement contexts, support SRCS in building sustainable MHPSS/Protection capacity, and scaling up interventions.
• In collaboration with SRCS, develop/adapt tools and material to be used in the implementation of MHPSS/protection activities, as required and agreed with SRCS.
• Assess jointly with SRCS the training needs of SRCS project staff and volunteers and based on these identified training needs, coordinate with SRCS and support thematic and competencies trainings on overall displacement approaches and general protection, child protection, MHPSS and GBV best-practices and professional standards and provide post-training on-the-job support to SCRCS staff and volunteers, as per identified needs.
• Monitor the situation of migrants/displaced people (including refugees) in East Sudan and contribute towards analysis on migratory/displacement movements and related MHPSS/protection issues in the region.
• Contribute to coordination with SRCS and other key stakeholders working in the target states and on a national level through regular meetings, delivering reports, and sharing of experiences.
• In collaboration with SRCS, assess MHPSS/protection needs in other states, explore opportunities and develop funding proposals/concept notes.

The MHPSS and Protection project manager’s line manager is the DRC Country Manager in Sudan and s/he will be part of the DRC global MHPSS, Migration and Displacement, and PGI/CEA matrices structures with a technical line to the DRC MHPSS Lead.

Qualifications and experience

• Relevant educational background, e.g. Master’s Degree or (equivalent) in Social Studies, Refugee/Migration studies, Psychology or similar.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional field experience in the field of working with refugees, migrants and displaced people in the area of protection and MHPSS.
• Experience in coaching and mentoring and building skills of staff and volunteers, as well as facilitating of trainings.
• Proven skills in developing MHPSS/Protection training curriculums and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) and training materials.
• Proven strong reporting skills and proven experience and skills in developing project proposals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent coordination, negotiation, networking and facilitation skills.
• Fluency in spoken and written English required, Arabic is an advantage.
• Self-supporting in computers (fluent in Microsoft Package).
• Strong Humanitarian project management skills.
• Must be flexible and adaptive to change, proven ability to work and live in a stressful environment with sometimes limited access to internet and basic living conditions and few recreational activities.
• Experience from working in emergencies would be an asset.
• Knowledge about the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement is desirable.
• Experience from working in African countries is an asset.
• The candidate having International Mobilization and Preparation for ACTion (IMPACT) and Hazardous Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) or other security training will be highly preferred.

Personal qualities

• An excellent communicator with great facilitation skills and a diplomatic flair (good sense of humor).
• Must be flexible and adaptive to change, proven ability to work and live in a stressful environment with sometimes limited access to internet and basic living conditions and few recreational activities.
• Good cultural understanding, high commitment, and respect of local culture with the ability to build the confidence of partners in a challenging and politically sensitive environment.
• Strong interpersonal, networking and coordination skills, as well as patience and a positive and solution-oriented personality.
• Must be able to deploy to Sudan and to perform under demanding working conditions.
• Successful candidate must be able to live in a modest environment with limited occasions of social interaction and possess a valid international driving license.

Employment conditions

The MHPSS & Protection project manager will report to Danish Red Cross’ Country Manager in Khartoum. The duty station is Kassala. Accommodation at both Kassala and Khartoum level is shared housing with other delegates, in the field depending on risk level either hotel or shared housing. This is an unaccompanied position and the MHPSS & Protection project manager is entitled to R&R.

The starting date of the assignment is envisioned as asap. The length of the contract will be till 31st December 2023, with possibility of extension. The contract will be administered in accordance with the Danish Red Cross Terms and Conditions for Delegates. The monthly salary including allowances and pension is competitive, depending on experience and qualifications.

Further information

Please click to view the job description and for further details you may contact DRC Country Manager in Sudan, Nuria Beneitez at [email protected]