Myanmar: Mental Health, Care Practices, Gender and Protection Program Manager

Apr 11, 2020 | Action Contre la Faim
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Action Contre la Faim is a global humanitarian organization which originated in France and is committed to ending world hunger. The organization helps malnourished children and provides communities with access to safe water and sustainable solutions to hunger.

In August 2017, violence in Northern Rakhine State led to over 700,000 refugees fleeing into Bangladesh.  Prior to the events of August 2017, ACF had widespread activities in NRS, which were then interrupted until July 2018.  Since July 2018, ACF Myanmar’s Rakhine base has been consistently growing and developing programs in several sectors including Nutrition and Health; Mental Health, Care Practices, Gender and Protection; Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL); WASH and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR); and Health System Strengthening (HSS).

In 2020, ACF Rakhine base will continue to operate life-saving interventions in nutrition, mental health, care practices and psychosocial support for IDPs and host communities. This emergency program comprises a Therapeutic Feeding Program (TFP) implemented in ACF Out-Patient Therapeutic Program centers (OTPs), and a Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) in MoH Rural Health Centers, in both Central and Northern Rakhine State (CRS and NRS), through the Sittwe base and Buthidaung and Maungdaw sub-bases. The MHCPGP Program Manager will supervise the management of all MHCPGP activities related to this Nutrition/MHCPGP integrated program. This will imply a close and continuous collaboration with the Nutrition Program Managers in CRS and NRS. This project is an on-going Emergency Program, which is a co-funded project with different donors: ECHO, SIDA, CDCS, UNICEF, WFP. Regular and timely reporting and monitor of indicators are required.

In October 2019, the MHCPGP department started to implement new activities within Community Care Space (CCS) which is an adaptation to the context of the concept of Baby-Friendly Space.  Activities within the CCS aim to prevent malnutrition by increasing understanding, awareness and practices related to Mental Health, Care Practices, Gender and Protection topics.

In parallel to this project, there is a BMZ-funded project involving nutrition and IYCF, with livelihoods and WaSH / DRR components which started in September 2018 for a duration of 36 months in consortium with Save the Children International, in CRS (Sittwe and Minbya townships). The MHCPGP PM will provide technical support and inputs in collaboration with colleagues.

The position is based in Sittwe and the MHCPGP PM is supervising and providing technical oversight for 3 bases where the MHCPGP teams are located :

  • Thet Kay Pyin (CRS), where there is a staff of 1 Head of Project, (HoP), 2 team leaders (TL’s), and 15 psychosocial workers (PSWs), living within the camps and are responsible for implementing MHCPGP activities in 6 OTPs. It takes approximately 30 minutes to reach the area by car from the Sittwe Office. Travel Authorizations (TA’s) are required from the authorities to access the area.
  • Buthidaung (NRS), where there is a staff of 1 Deputy Program Manager, (DyPM), for both Buthidaung and Maungdaw teams, 2 TL’s and 12 PSWs who are responsible for 2 OTP’s and 2 CCS.  NRS is a remote location and can take 3 hours to reach by speed boat or car from Sittwe. TA’s are required from the authorities to access the area.
  • Maungdaw (NRS), where there is a staff of  2 TL’s and 9 PSW’s who are responsible for 2 OTPs and 1 CCS. It is a 45 minutes car ride Buthidaung.  TA’s are required from the authorities to access the area.

The management of NRS teams is mostly managed remotely, especially when there are delays of TA’s.  However, the MHCPGP PM should expect to travel to NRS once or twice a month to provide direct support to the teams when TA’s are active. There is travel by either car or speedboat, and NRS is a remote location.  The NRS Deputy PM is autonomous in managing program activities; however, technical supervision and support for the implementation of activities and personnel issues are needed.

Responsibilities:

You will have to coordinate the implementation of ACF’s Mental Health, Care Practices, Gender, and Protection program in Rakhine State and guarantee the quality, relevance, and cost-effectiveness of the MHCPGP component, in line with ACF’s and international standards and national policies.

More precisely, you will have to :

Oversee the overall implementation of the MHCPGP activities in Rakhine State

  • Ensure the MHCPGP activities are in line with international recommendations and technical standards, as well as the ACF’s policy documents and technical guidelines.
  • Provide technical expertise and support on tools, methodologies, innovation, experience sharing, etc.
  • Ensure general management of the MHCPGP activities, and in particular and those are implemented in conformity with the proposal, budget, logical framework and activity plan
  • Work in close and continuous collaboration with other Program Managers (PM) on the base, and ensure MHCPGP activities are implemented in conformity and integrated with their technical inputs :
  • With the Nutrition PMs for the implementation of the TFP activities in OTPs
  • With the PM’s of HARP project (1 ACF PM + 1 Humanity and Inclusion PM)
  • With the Nutrition and WASH PMs for the implementation of all transversal nutrition-sensitive, IYCF and hygiene promotion related activities (BMZ emergency project)
  • Arrange regular field visits to implementation sites (at least 30% of working time in the field

Supervise, manage and build the technical capacity of the MHCPGP teams

  • In collaboration with the Deputy PM and the Head of Project, to supervise the recruitment of MHCPGP staff, in particular in technical aspects of HR documents (esp. job description, technical criteria of recruitment, action plan, etc.).
  • Support the MHCPGP Deputy PM and Head of Project in the development of individual action plans and in conducting a regular performance evaluation of team members.
  • Manage overall planning and the division and coordination of work in collaboration with his/her Deputy PM and Head of Project.
  • Identify the teams' training needs on the basis of supervision assessments and observation.
  • Ensure continuous MHCPGP training to the staff or as identified necessary and pertinent for team capacity building.
  • For the TFP program: make sure the Nutrition staff is trained on the MHCPGP principles and activities and make sure the MHCPGP staff is trained on the nutrition and health activities.

Ensure the quality, accountability and impact measurement process of his/her program

  • Ensure timely and high-quality implementation of planned activities within his/her program, alert the Deputy Field Co (DyFC) to any delays or excessive or under-use of resources and support in solutions.
  • In collaboration and with the support of the MEAL department, support the establishment and implementation of MEAL systems on his/her activities: APR design and collection of relevant data, analysis of data and its integration into proposals/reports, capitalization of program-related data and documentation of the innovations achieved, etc.
  • Ensure compliance with donors’ rules and guidelines on all her/his projects including writing a qualitative report to donors and timely delivery
  • Prepare ToRs and provide other specific requirements for consultancies and other technical support as per need and support in developing methodologies.
  • Review recommendations provided by evaluators, consultants, and technical advisors and ensuring they are incorporated in projects/programs, understood by her/his Deputy PM and Head of Project and implemented by field teams with support by the HoD.

Contribute to the identification of needs and the formulation of on-going and upcoming project proposals

  • Monitor, analyze and share (with DyFC and MHCPGP HoD) humanitarian needs related to Mental Health, Care Practices and Gender and Protection in Rakhine.
  • Contribute to the development of proposals on MHCPGP/ABC-related components in Rakhine under the guidance of the MHCPGP HoD, and in coordination with DyFC/FC, support departments (Logistics, Finance, HR) and potential consortium partners.
  • Contribute to MHCPGP related internal and external reporting, as well as any amendments to projects with MHCPGP/BC components in Rakhine.
  • Participate in drafting response plans in preparedness for emergencies in case of need.

Participate in the coordination, representation, and partnerships of ACF in his/her area of intervention

  • Coordinate her/his activities with other sectors and departments of ACF in order to ensure the rational use of resources and optimum integration.
  • Participate in visits by funding bodies whenever requested by the FC/DyFC.
  • Represent ACF and ensure coordination with partners, agencies of the United Nations and NGOs in his/her sector, in collaboration with the FC and DyFC.
  • Organize sessions of training for potential NGOs/CBOs on care practice and psychosocial activities if required 

Contribute to gender and protection mainstreaming

  • Assist the MHCPGPGP HOD in gender and protection mainstreaming, and GBV and child protection integration, into programs and activities, by respecting ACF standards and monitoring these aspects with dedicated indicators.
  • Support the MHCPGPGP team and ACF teams in gender and protection mainstreaming or integration into activities through training, supervisions, and monitoring; as well as conducting gender and protection assessments and analysis.

Qualifications:

  • It is compulsory to hold a Master Clinical psychology with professional experience (ideally previous experience of MHPSS work in the humanitarian sector)
  • You have strong clinical capacity building & training skills, team management and organizational skills. You have experience in behaviour change and barrier analysis desirable. You have cultural sensitivity and experience working in conflict sensitive areas. Good knowledge of Gender Protection Issues and ability to integrate them into MHCPGP activities. Familiarity with Europaid and BMZ reporting and regulations desirable.
  • Previous ACF experience and strong adherence to ACF’s charter and principles advantageous.
  • Fluency in English written/spoken is compulsory.

Employment Conditions

  • Starting date the 8th of June 2020 : 12 months fixed term contract under French legislation

Remuneration and benefits :

  • Monthly gross salary from 2010 to 2335€  upon experience
  • Per diem and living allowance:  432€ (cf eurocost) net, field paid.
  • +150€ as a country allowance 
  • + 16% of monthly gross. For non-French citizens for retrocession of retirement and unemployment insurance. 
  • + child allowance

Transportation and accommodation:

  • Coverage of transportation costs to and in the mission.
  • Individual room in guesthouse covered
  • Medical coverage: 100% coverage of medical expenses + repatriation insurance.

 Leaves and RnR:

  • 25 days of paid leaves per year.
  • + 20 RnR per year.  
  • + 215 € at each RnR period (averagely every 3 months)–
  • Coverage of the transportation expenses to the RnR area of reference.

Training :

  • Free and unlimited access to the certifying e-learning platform Crossknowledge ©.
  • Technical trainings at HQ or regional level (averagely 1 per year). 
  • Intermission Workshop once a year.
  • Participation to external trainings costs upon eligibility of the request.