MHPSS Capacity Strengthening Advisor

MHPSS Capacity Strengthening Advisor

ROLE PURPOSE:

Following the start of the conflict in Ukraine, thousands of people fled and being displaced inside Ukraine and to neighbouring countries. SC is scaling up a programmatic response with local civil society partners and municipalities. The programme provides education, health, IYCF, child protection and psychosocial support to those in need and a cash and voucher assistance.

The overall aim of the MHPSS Capacity Strengthening Specialist will be to support the SC Partnership Team in identifying new potential partners for SC programme implementation, assess the capacity of partner organisations and Save the Children staff and volunteers and design and deliver appropriate training interventions to support capacity development.

Initial Key Deliverables:

Partners identification and assessment

• Work with Partnership team and SC teams to identify potential civil society organization and opportunities to partner with local administrations for SC programme implementation
• Meet the partners on the ground to understand their work and capacities
• Support the partnership team in developing partnership mapping
• Continuously expand Save the Children’s network of strategic partnerships with local authorities, child/youth led organizations and active child protection actors.

Partners capacity assessment and strengthening

• Develop and adapt relevant training modules to ensure partners are equipped to provide safe and effective person-focused MHPSS support including Psychological First Aid, PSS activities, Safeguarding and Integration of MHPSS with other core sectors.
• Identify training needs and develop capacity strengthening initiatives to support the psychosocial wellbeing of children and their families
• Work with SC partners to continuously identify capacity gaps and opportunities to strengthen
• Develop and regularly update capacity strengthening plans with partners based on analysis of needs
• Ensure appropriate mainstreaming of cross cutting themes and principles such as humanitarian principles including gender, child safeguarding, inclusion and MHPSS.
• Directly implement, and when not possible, ensure capacity building plans are implemented in line with Save the Children’s standards and guidelines
• Ensure partnerships are based on mutual understanding of values, mission and goals
• Empower partners to take the lead in their own development.
• Promotes partner leadership on issues.
• Promotes exchange of good practices within the partner network.
• Work closely with the Humanitarian Leadership Academy to ensure appropriate resources are available of the online platform in the Ukrainian language.
• Working closely with the Monitoring & Evaluation team put in place an MHPSS capacity

Competencies for this Role:

1. Applying Technical and Professional Expertise
   Applies the required technical and professional expertise to the highest standards; promotes and shared best practice within and outside the organisation
   Level required: Accomplished
2. Delivering Results
   Takes personal responsibility and holds others accountable for delivering our ambitious goals for children, continually improving their own performance or that of the team / organisation.
   Level required: Accomplished
3. Problem Solving and Decision-Making
   Takes effective, considered and timely decisions by gathering and evaluating relevant information from within or outside the organisation

Level required: Accomplished

1. Leading and Inspiring Others
   Demonstrates leadership in all our work, embodies our values, and articulates a compelling vision to inspire others to achieve our goals for children.

Level required: Skilled

1. Developing Self and Others

Invests time and energy to actively develop self and others to help realist their full potential, and to build the organisation’s capability for the future

Level Required: Skilled

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Significant management or advisor MHPSS experience working in emergency contexts or fragile states
• Previous first phase emergency response experience is essential
• Education to MSc/MA/MEng level in Psychology, Social Work or similar, or equivalent field experience.
• Ability to identify the main gaps in MHPSS in the given context to inform a holistic response for children.
• Good knowledge of and experience in using established inter-agency standards and guidelines such as IASC guidelines on mental health and psychosocial support, SC Child Friendly Spaces Handbook, and the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action.
• Previous experience of managing a team and of project management.
• Experience of and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluating programmes in emergency, transition and development contexts.
• (For advisor) Ability to work both in an Advisory and (advisor/manager) a hands-on implementation capacity
• Experience in capacity building and in strengthening various duty bearers understanding of and response to child protection.
• Experience of representation and ability to represent SC effectively in external forums.
• Experience of working with and supporting local partners
• Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports
• Excellent communication skills
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• A high level of written and spoken English
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Commitment to and understanding of child rights, the aims and principles of SC, and humanitarian standards such as the Sphere Charter and the Code of Conduct. In particular, a good understanding of the SC mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support.

Desirable

Language skills in Ukranian/English

Good working knowledge of the Inter-Agency Child Protection Information Management System

Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant regions/contexts

Specific experience of designing and managing DFID, OFDA, ECHO and other major donor projects

Specific experience of working in interagency projects.