MHPSS Officer

LOCATION: Adan, Yemen.

REPORTING TO: Deputy Chief of Party.

ROLE TYPE: Full-time, 1-year fixed-term contract with the potential for renewal.

CLOSING DATE: 30th of August,2024

ABOUT ARK 

 ARK is a social enterprise, empowering local communities through the provision of agile and sustainable interventions to create greater stability, opportunity and hope for the future. 

 We believe that strong, resilient communities are the foundation of local, national, regional and international development and stability – and ultimately a safer, peaceful and more prosperous world. At ARK, we have delivered research and programmatic interventions validating this approach in over twenty countries since 2008. As a social enterprise we work in partnership with communities, our donors, and other implementers to build local capacities, generate opportunity and bring about sustainable change. 

 Learn more about our impact here:  https://www.ark.international/impact 

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

ARK is implementing a multi-year MHPSS project in Yemen. Working through local partners, ARK aims to provide communities with sustainable, culturally relevant, context-specific, and age- and gender-appropriate Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) that is accessible to all community members who have been exposed to prolonged traumatic events including conflict, particularly children and young people.

The project focused on capacitating Yemeni community-based organizations (CBOs) to deliver safe, effective and specialized MHPSS interventions for children and adolescents affected by the conflict.

The selected candidate will work under the Deputy Chief of Party and will contribute to the management of project partners. The candidate will provide direct technical support to project partners to deliver planned MHPSS activities. This individual will also be responsible for the effective, efficient and compliant day-to day-delivery of MHPSS activities within the project, in accordance with ARK and the client’s policies and procedures. They will work with other members of the ARK HQ staff to achieve the project objectives and contribute towards all project deliverables.

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

ARK is implementing a multi-year MHPSS project in Yemen. Working through local partners, ARK aims to provide communities with sustainable, culturally relevant, context-specific, and age- and gender-appropriate Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) that is accessible to all community members who have been exposed to prolonged traumatic events including conflict, particularly children and young people.

The project focused on capacitating Yemeni community-based organisations (CBOs) to deliver safe, effective and specialised MHPSS interventions for children and adolescents affected by the conflict.

The selected candidate will work under the Deputy Chief of Party and will contribute to the management of project partners. The candidate will provide direct technical support to project partners to deliver planned MHPSS activities. This individual will also be responsible for the effective, efficient and compliant day-to day-delivery of MHPSS activities within the project, in accordance with ARK and the client’s policies and procedures. They will work with other members of the ARK HQ staff to achieve the project objectives and contribute towards all project deliverables.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

MHPSS Technical Oversight

·       Serve as the primary point of contact between ARK and MHPSS local partners.

·       Participate in MHPSS technical capacity assessments of local partners who will deliver MHPSS activities to children, adolescents and community members.

• Provide ongoing technical support and MHPSS supervision to local partner MHPSS staff, including ensuring that all partners action recommendations from the technical capacity assessments.
• Support local partners in providing culturally sensitive MHPSS support (both individual and group) to children, families and community members.
• Support local partners to liaise with key line ministries, and local authorities to ensure that the activities link to and strengthen the existing community and national support mechanisms in place.
• Provide and facilitate trainings, mentoring and supervision regarding MHPSS interventions for implementing partners. Provide capacity building on MHPSS guidelines and standards, protection principles, Do No Harm approaches, and Core Humanitarian Standards for staff of implementing partners, and key members of the community.
• Provide in-person mentoring and coaching to project partners. Conduct field monitoring visits to project locations, producing monitoring visit reports and actions plans and sharing with ARK senior management and partner staff. Follow up on action plans with partners to ensure quality and safe delivery of MHPSS activities to service users.
• Contribute to and update regularly the ARK and partner staff internal and external referral pathway mapping; Coordinate with partners and other local organizations to create linkages for children/adolescents and parents/caregivers for the promotion of quality referral pathways.
• Coordinate with other technical sectors within ARK (Livelihoods, etc.) ensuring integration and mainstreaming of MHPSS concerns to different sectors.
• Attend the MHPSS and Child Protection Working Groups in Yemen as an ARK representative, feedback to project management team and ensure sector-wide 4Ws are updated regularly.

Project Administration

• Attend weekly project team meetings with key internal stakeholders, either in person or via messaging software. Brief on the previous week’s activities and agree upcoming deliverables with the Project team. Draft weekly project reports and save in the appropriate Teams location. Brief the DCoP, senior managers and external stakeholders on the MHPSS project activities as required.
• Participate in reviewing the Monitoring and Evaluation collection plan, Results Framework and Logical Framework monthly with the project’s Monitoring and Evaluation staff. Support Monitoring and Evaluation activities as agreed in the project M&E Plan.
• Effectively adapt or develop MHPSS data collection tools and resources to demonstrate progress and outcomes of MHPSS interventions.
• Support the preparation of all contracted client reporting deliverables including monthly, quarterly, analytical and closedown reporting before sending to the DCoP for approval. This includes briefing relevant MHPSS stakeholders of their required inputs in advance.
• Provide inputs to regular progress reports.
• Support partners to ensure that they adhere to ARK safeguarding and PSEAH policies and procedures.
• Perform other activities as required;

Requirements

Requirements

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Essential

• A degree in psychology, sociology, social work, child protection, or a related subject.
• Minimum of 3 years practical working in MHPSS programming with children/adolescents within a humanitarian or development organisation; preference for candidates who have previous experience with direct service provision to children/adolescents.
• Previous experience overseeing projects delivered by local partners.
• Demonstratable experience with operationalizing MHPSS Global standards and principles, including knowledge of IASC and other international humanitarian standards for MHPSS programming.
• Demonstratable experience of mainstreaming MHPSS into other sectors (Child Protection, Health, S/GBV, Livelihoods etc).
• Demonstratable ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for MHPSS service users.
• Demonstratable experience in capacity building, training and supervision, including facilitation of community-based training.
• Knowledge of and ability to develop/adapt and deliver PSS trainings and curriculum.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills;
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills;
• Ability to work under pressure, be a self-starter, team player, innovative and demonstrate the capacity for maintaining high professional standards.
• Full professional fluency in Arabic and English.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite.

Desirable

• Previous experience of working within USAID-funded project.
• Previous experience in working with projects that provide small grants to local organisations.
•   Previous experience working within child protection and/or GBV projects in Yemen.
• Completed mhGAP training
• Prior experience delivering Problem Management is a plus.

Female applicants and strongly encouraged to apply.

Benefits

Why join ARK?

• Impactful Work: Your expertise will directly impact the lives of those in need. 

• Global Reach: Collaborate with international experts and local stakeholders. 

• Innovation: Engage in pioneering solutions for sustainable change. 

• Career Growth: Expand your horizons with varied projects and challenges. 

Our People 

 Our team covers a diverse range of professional backgrounds, from diplomacy, humanitarian, development and the military, to the UN, civil society groups, multilateral organizations, journalism and the private sector.  

 An ARK Person Is: 

 Smart: We think deeply about things. We’re proud of our institutional knowledge and our grounding in rigorous research, which we use to make informed decisions.  

Humble: Our work leaves little room for pride or arrogance. Our operating environment is constantly evolving, and we recognize out limitations. We believe in and rely on the education and experiences of others while remaining quick to read, invite feedback, and ask sensible questions.  

Accountable: Each of us want ARK, its partners, and beneficiaries to succeed. This means taking initiative, assuming ownership when necessary and never giving up on our beneficiaries. We are committed and accountable, to both our donors and the communities we serve.  

 Collegiate: We know we are stronger together and that every contribution counts. We trust each other and always support each other.  

 Outspoken: We tackle diverse challenges, and we always want to find the best solution to a problem. We aren’t afraid to share our opinions, and we want to hear those of others too.  

ARK Group is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. ARK Group does not discriminate on the basis of ability, age, gender identity or expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs or sexual orientation. We welcome all kinds of diversity. ARK Group places human dignity at the centre of its development and stabilization work and is this committed to the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse of children and adults. All ARK Group employees and related personnel are expected to share this commitment and only those who also uphold these values will be recruited as part of our team. This vacancy is therefore subject to a range of due diligence checks.  

Last updated on Aug 18, 2024