Background:
NEYIF is a National Non-Governmental Organization (NNGO) that is non-religious and nonprofit making founded in 2011 with the primary aim of improving the quality of life of the people of Northern Nigeria and the less privilege in the communities through Awareness, Sensitization, Community mobilization, Engagement, capacity Building and Advocacy. Operational in Northern Nigeria since 2013, NEYIF is presently in Abuja, Adamawa, Borno and Sokoto states with its Headquarters in Damaturu, Yobe State. As an active member in WASH, Education, Livelihood & Food security and SGBV/Protection Working Groups, NEYIF cooperates closely with relevant UN agencies, other INGOs, local NGOs and local authorities. All NEYIF ongoing programs in the field of WASH, General Protection (PSS, Child protection & GBV), Education, Livelihoods and Food Security contribute to the Nigerian Humanitarian Response Plan and comply with the Core Humanitarian Standard Serving IDPs, returnees and host communities (in and outside camp settlements), persons at risk or conflicts.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Officer (MHPSS)
Openings: One (1) Position
Location: Damaturu, Yobe state
Renumeration: The Payment is good
Department: Protection
Reports To: Protection Manager and Program Director
Job Type: Full Time
Required Travel: 75%
General Position Summary
The Psychosocial support officer will be expected to provide psychosocial and/or psychological interventions in an individual or group format, support the overall objective of mainstreaming consistent PSS services in line with the project. The Officer will directly be accountable in the development, administration and implementation of the NEYIF protection program in Yobe. The responsibilities and activities of the PSS Officer will be extensive and fluid, depending on the shifting needs of the program, and are likely to include but not be limited to those described below.
Essential Job Responsibilities
STRATEGY & VISION
- As directed by the Project Manager, the post holder will actively contribute to mainstreaming PSS activities into the weekly, monthly and quarterly work plans; and initiate/establish PSS activities.
- To strengthen and supports community-based psychosocial wellbeing of conflictaffected survivors (Children, women, youths) and their families, especially those who experience rejection, stigmatization, reintegration and other challenges.
- Build partners’ or team capacity to provide safe and appropriate PSS services to conflict-affected survivors.
- Collaboratively explore and identify potential risk factors influencing the psychosocial distress of the survivors.
- Conduct specific child-focused activities for psychosocial well-being and building resilience of most vulnerable and at-risk children and adolescents by ensuring a variety of activities that include active games, sports, expressive/creative activities, life skills, educational activities.
- Mobilize adolescent boys and girls to launch empowering activities that suit their interest, promote their psychosocial well-being and create an opportunity for their direct social engagement at community level.
- Provide basic counselling sessions to support children and their caregivers to better cope with difficulties, distress and enhance their resilience.
- Identify vulnerable children and adults in a need of protection or support and conduct referral to the case management team.
- Prevention, response and monitor the conflict context in activity sites and provide timely feedback to the protection Manager and the Project Coordinator.
- Overseeing projects, mitigating risks and solving issues
- Quality assurance, for example through collating data, auditing or compliance checks
- Scheduling meetings and setting agendas for the project team
- Internal and external stakeholder management
- Updating project records
- Provide verbal and written feedback to supervisor on progress, lesson learnt, achievements and gaps, issues and problems.
- Keep a database of the number of beneficiaries per activity in each location, disaggregated by sex
- Liaise with relevant public authorities and service providers in order to foster effective collaboration and encourage national interest and ownership in protection of refugees and other persons of concern.
- Any other duties as may be assigned by the Line Manager;
- Conduct duties in accordance with NEYIF’s programming and protection Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs);
- Conduct duties in strict accordance with NEYIF Code of Conduct and the principle of confidentiality.
- Maintain and promote a positive image of NEYIF and its activities by explaining what NEYIF is doing and why NEYIF operates in that way.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
- Support Protection & GBV program start-up in his/her working LGA and ongoing program management and administration of teams.
- Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with NEYIF’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
- Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.
- Support the development of program implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, beneficiary targeting and distribution process as well as psychosocial and capacity building of partners.
- Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
- Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
- Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and NEYIF policies and procedures.
- Fulfill NEYIF’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization wide guide.
- Ensure all interventions adhere to NEYIF’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
- Ensure compliance with donor and NEYIF regulations related to emergency programming.
- Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES
- NEYIF team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
- Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and NEYIF’s policies, procedures, and values at all times.
Qualifications & Preferred Skills
Professional Standards:
- The NEYIF and NEYIF workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the code of Conduct.
Required qualifications:
- University degree in social sciences or other related discipline;
- Relevant professional experience of 2-3 years, preferably in emergency and/or development context;
- Prior experience or familiarity with NEYIF and/or persons of concern (including internally displaced persons and refugees-returnees) would be a distinct advantage;
- Prior experience or familiarity with NGO sector would be an advantage;
- Familiarity with international protection and human rights legal standards, with special emphasis on women rights and SGBV, would be a distinct advantage.
- Good spoken and written English and /Arabic and relevant computer skills.
- A high respect to client/organization confidentiality.
- Demonstrated interpersonal skills and respect for people with special needs and other vulnerability.
- Ability to work in a multicultural context as a flexible and respectful team player.
- Experience of work in the UN or NGO or voluntary sector is preferred but not essential.
To be successful in this role you must have: Experience in management of a team and excellent analysis and reporting skills; with a high regard toward preserving confidentiality of work-related information and data. How To Apply
- Closing Date: Sunday 10th May -2022 (COB 5:00pm)
- Applicants may submit their CVs and cover letter in not more than one (1) page each in 12 fonts size times new roman and the letter should be address to the HR department with their address; telephone number and contact to:
- [email protected] and copy [email protected]
Notes:
- Please mention the vacancy title: MHPSS Officer in subject box of your email. – Email without vacancy title will not be considered.
- Email after the closing date will not be considered
- Women and persons with special needs are highly encouraged to apply – NEYIF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process
