Job Description

Title: Capacity Development Expert (MHPSS)

Company Name: Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK)

Vacancy: 01

Job Location: Dhaka

Employment Status: Contractual

Educational Requirements:
∎ Advanced university degree with specialization in areas such as clinical psychology, clinical social work or mental health. It is desirable to possess a Master's in Public Health., or demonstrable experience in one of these areas, with a focus on MHPSS.

Experience Requirements:
∎ At least 5 year(s)

Job Context:
∎ ASTHA: Strengthening Access to Multi-sectoral Public Services for GBV Survivors in Bangladesh` project has been working since 2018 to ensure access to multi-sectoral services for the most vulnerable women and girls who are at risk or survivors of gender-based violence; and to raise awareness with the community on harmful gender norms and behaviors that perpetuate violence. This four yearlong project(2018-2021) implemented at four districts in Bangladesh- Potuakhali, Jamalpur, Bogura and Cox`s Bazar by Ain o Salish Kendra- ASK with technical support from United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) and funding from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN).
∎ Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) is currently looking for a Capacity Development Expert-Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) for the ASTHA project.Through ASTHA, ASK has committed to ensuring that the needs of GBV survivors are met through adequate health responses, psychosocial support, legal support, case management and referral linkage in line with international guidelines. ASTHA is providing mental health support to the GBV survivors through Case Worker and Case Manager and coordinate with multi-sectoral departments to establish referral linkage; the incumbent is expected to provide technical support for building ASTHA project staff capacity on MHPSS. Along with, provide supports to the CSOs and multi-sectoral departments for enhance their capacity on MHPSS. So, it is vital for ASTHA that the service providers/GBV responders have the capacity to provide quality response services, which must include competent and appropriate MHPSS care and support.
∎ The successful candidate should therefore have experience in training, on the job supervision and mentoring, coordination and in building referral links to other formal service providers and informal community supports, lead, organize and supervise the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) activities for the project staff and different stakeholders. The incumbents report to the Team Leader, ASTHA project, working closely with the other project staffs both in Dhaka and districts and under the general oversight of the Executive Director of ASK.
∎ Reportable: Team Leader, ASTHA Project, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK)
∎ Job Location: Dhaka with extensive field visit in the project areas
∎ Reference: Minimum 2 references

Job Responsibilities:
∎ The Capacity Development Expert (MHPSS) will provide training and ongoing supervision to current ASTHA psychosocial workers (case workers) for a sustainable improvement and expansion of their MHPSS intervention, delivered through ASTHA project targeted women and girls who are at the risk of GBV. In addition, the Capacity Development Expert (MHPSS) will undertake a range of activities to enhance the capacity of organizations implementing GBV programmes to support compliance with set guidelines for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support.
∎ The key responsibilities include:
∎ Capacity Development of ASTHA staff and partners:
∎ Support ASTHA project staff in Bogura, Jamalpur, Potuakhali and Cox's Bazar and ensure the staffs are strengthened capacity in providing MHPSS through development of relevant tools and training materials.
∎ Design training curricula in collaboration with ASK and UNFPA:
∎ Develop a structured package of PSS interventions for case workers/managers that is compatible with mentoring training for supervisors through active engagement in government-led PSS to influence and support curriculum and material generation. This will include consulting with partners on materials developed, supporting trainings through training of trainers and promoting the use of this package among other CSO actors providing case management service in project areas.
∎ Develop methodology of the training that can be used for future trainings, including training supports (ppt, hand-outs etc.)
∎ Organize the logistics of the training including any materials necessary for the training such as power point presentation, handouts, pre and posttests, etc.
∎ Assist in the formulation of Psychosocial Support (PSS) messages and approaches, in consultation with project team and ASK core project.
∎ Conduct training and workshops:
∎ Conduct the required training following the timeline defined in work plan.
∎ Adapt training schedule to access constraints of ASTHA staff.
∎ Monitoring MHPSS interventions:
∎ Conduct regular assessments on PSS practices among ASTHA implementing partners providing GBV case management services.
∎ Existing training evaluation materials refined and rolled-out across all capacity building activities.
∎ In collaboration with the M&E expert, develop/strengthen tools and a clear framework for monitoring the impact of the different tiers of the MHPSS strategy developed and implemented across districts.
∎ Ensure monitoring and supervision of MHPSS intervention through ASTHA
∎ Design monitoring and supervision tools and train ASTHA team on their use
∎ Monitoring for data entry and submit timely weekly and monthly reports to M&E staff
∎ Continuously debrief with ASTHA team to address any implementation challenges
∎ Ensure coordination with protection and health actors:
∎ Participate to coordination mechanisms with protection and health actors
∎ Contribute to advocacy on consideration of MHPSS needs
∎ Provide technical support to protection and health actors on psychosocial interventions (including co-facilitation of MHPSS training with local partners)
∎ Recommendations for future capacity building plan on MHPSS for ASTHA
∎ Coordinate the wider roll-out of evidence-based MHPSS interventions across health and protection sectors through engagement with local partners, and NNPC.
∎ Assist in setting referral pathways, receive PSS referrals (internal/external), follow-up on referrals and provide feedback of actions taken

Additional Requirements:
∎ Experience in GBV/ MHPSS in either a developmental or humanitarian context in Bangladesh.
∎ Experience in training, supervision, and mentoring of non-professional counselling staff
∎ Knowledge of the GBV situation of Bangladesh is an asset.
∎ Knowledge and understanding of humanitarian/development programming and operations, including both human-rights based and survivor-centered approaches
∎ Ability to collaborate with a wide range of partners, strong communication, networking and excellent organizational skills.
∎ At least 5 years experiences in the following area(s): design and implement community-based psychosocial support interventions/ PSS programme particularly as it relates to GBV.
∎ Experience in facilitation and communication skills, motivated and ability to work in team approach, documentation,reporting writing,capacity building of Local Partner staff.
∎ Working experiences on GBV case management and psychosocial counseling with women and girls who are at the risk of GBVis preferable.
∎ Clear understanding of gender, human rights issues surrounding violence against women and girls.
∎ Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for survivors.
∎ Ability to work under pressure.
∎ Knowledge in building individual and organizational capacity in program implementation.
∎ An understanding of partnership management will be an advantage.
∎ Applicant should have good computer knowledge especially in Microsoft Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint.
∎ Excellent spoken and written English language skills and the capacity to produce quality reports independently.
∎ Willingness to frequent travel across the project areas.

Salary:
∎ 55,000 - 60,000 BDT per month (Consolidated)

Application Deadline: January 25, 2020

Company Information:
∎ Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK)
∎ Business : Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), a national legal aid and human rights organization, was established in 1986. Over the last thirty years ASK has evolved a comprehensive approach to the promotion and protection of legal and human rights. Its strategies promote human rights awareness and community activism; offer legal aid through mediation and litigation, while clients are given psycho-social counseling; investigations into human rights violations and their documentation are supplemented by research which together lead to media campaigns to defend human rights, and public interest litigation for law and policy reform. Being committed to attaining gender equality at every sphere of life, ASK?s activities have special focus on women but providing legal aid to victims/survivors of arbitrary arrest, preventive detention and taking stand against unlawful evictions, extra judicial killings, torture and death in custody, condition of the prisoners and interests of the religious and ethnic minorities very much are its concerns. ASK?s advocacy is carried out both at the national level and international level. ASK?s publication are an important means of disseminating information and knowledge.

For more information about ASK and what we do visit our website at www.askbd.org

Category: NGO/Development

Read Before Apply: Only short listed candidates will be called for interviews.