MOBILE SUPPORT TECHNICIAN FOR COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL PROGRAMS

GENERAL CONTEXT

Médecins Sans Frontières is an international independent medical-humanitarian organization, which offers assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.

MSF is a civil society initiative that brings together individuals committed to the assistance of other human beings in crisis. As such MSF is by choice an association. Each individual working with MSF does it out of conviction and is ready to uphold the values and principles of MSF.

The MSF movement is built around six operational directorates. MSF OCBA is one of those directorates. The operations are implemented by field teams and the mission coordination teams; together with the organizational units based in Barcelona, Athens and decentralised in Nairobi, Dakar and Amman. The field operations are guided and supported by 5 Operational Cells, the Emergency Unit and other departments supporting operations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

The RESTORE project (Recognising, Engaging and Supporting Those living with Ongoing, Recurrent violence and its Effects) is an innovation incubator that seeks to test and integrate newer and better approaches to dealing with the cumulative consequences people suffer on the body and mind from being exposed to recurrent moderate to extreme violence. The aim is to develop approaches and provoke changes in our design in regular projects set in conflict zones that allow us to be able to be more people-centred and have a more holistic approach to people we know are affected by violence.

The project envisages to pilot programmes with a methodology of integration and testing approaches and will imply modifying set ups and mind-sets in particular and challenging current ways of how we look at and deal with victims of violence suffering cumulative consequences of recurrent violence that manifest both somatically and psychologically and are often missed or we do not have the set up to deal with certain levels of severity.

In line with OCBA’s focus on victims of violence and emergencies, the aim here is to be able to deploy solutions appropriate to the types of projects settings we work in, including, emergencies and to be able to go beyond an overtly medicalised view of victims of violence and have a people centred approach that is capable of a broader perspective to the effects and consequences of violence. The idea is to leverage community as having a key role in trauma recovery and to empower victims in their own treatment options and prioritisation of solutions available to the difficulties they are facing. We of course include victims of torture, ill treatment and cruel and degrading behaviour within this spectrum of target people, but not only. We want to have an integrated approach to the different forms of violence that affect our target populations and be open to testing approaches and methods that we are not using today, but others are.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this position is to develop know-how and guidance on Psychosocial Community-based interventions with a view to enhancing coping mechanisms and reduce risks of populations affected by the cumulative impact of violence. The programs should provide safe spaces to vulnerable groups where they can access support/relief as well as the opportunity to build life skills/resilience or to address other priorities identified jointly with the target population.

The MST will be part of a multidisciplinary team in HQ that will provide sparring and support. While in the field, the MST will also be expected to work in a multidisciplinary manner with the various medical, paramedical and non-medical coordinators.

The PSS MST will be working within a paradigm of a people centred approach, in an integrated, comprehensive and transversal logic involving the following core areas: context analysis and anthropology, community engagement, health promotion, medical, care for survivors of sexual violence, data analysis and surveillance, social care and protection, amongst others.

The deliverables of this position are a community-based PSS programme guidance package (including various models, practical guidance towards implementation, tools and a MEAL frame) and a short documentary of the process, benefits and outcomes (in collaboration with Knowledge Management Unit).

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES, FUNCTIONS AND TASKS

• Contribute, as a member of the multidisciplinary team, to the adaptation of new Psychosocial community-based programs to be tested.
• Identify and liaise with other organizations that have proven know-how on these models including: Living Peace Institute (specifically for their “Men beyond war” program) and others that might be known either for their demonstrated work across different contexts or for their specialized role and local knowledge in the contexts where the pilots will take place.
• Pilot the community-based group PSS programs already developed in 2-3 projects ensuring the integration of the people centred approach by adjusting activities that both serve and reflect the complexities and uniqueness of the individuals and communities that we assist, and where they participate both in the understanding of the issues and the identification of potential solutions.
• Develop a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) frame for the activities that includes feedback from the beneficiaries and the staff involved, to ensure that there is an iterative process whereby each pilot builds on the learnings of the previous, while at the same time learning about the MEAL frame itself so that by the end of the project the package includes a simple yet effective MEAL frame.
• Train the staff that will be involved in the PSS community-based activities so that the activities can be absorbed by the project at the end of the visit.
• Implement the Trauma Sensitive Care 10-day training in all projects visited.
• Provide remote support to the field teams after the implementation visits. If time allows, between mission, the implementer could also support other projects interested in piloting these programs.
• Document the learning process and outcomes of the group PSS community-based programs and actively participate in the production of a documentary of the overall experience, that is both educational (how to frame and conduct a PSS community-based activity) and divulgatory (why would we do it and what are the benefits).
• Develop a final guidance package for PSS community-based programmes that incorporates the lessons learnt and tips from the 3 pilots as well as a simple and practical implementing tool kit and training material.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Preferably qualified to at least degree level in a Mental Health related discipline.
• Knowledge and experience in working closely with victims of violence and abuse is a must.
• Good conceptual knowledge of the effects of violence and working knowledge of psychological Trauma is desirable.
• Genuine Interest in and working knowledge of the effects of different forms of violence Torture & Ill Treatment, Sexual Violence etc.
• Experience working with groups of adolescents and/or children is an asset.
• Experience with multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary/holistic set ups in health care solutions is desirable.
• Experience in Project Management of this type is a plus.
• Some experience of field work (humanitarian, research or development) though not necessarily with MSF is desirable.
• Good language and writing skills in English and working knowledge of French are essential. Knowledge of Spanish and Arabic are an asset.
• Availability to travel to field locations in volatile environments.
• Ability to translate academic/scientific language and knowledge for non-specialist audience.

CONDITIONS

• Home based position with up to 80% of travel (3 field visits + possible working session in Barcelona).
• Contract duration: 1 year. Type of contract according to the local contract modality.
• Full-time position but open to other options for the right candidate.
• Annual gross salary: IRP2 level 5 (divided in monthly payments) + secondary benefits based on MSF OCBA Reward policy. Subjected to local conditions.
• Starting date: 1st April 2023.