MHPSS Senior Programme Assistant within the Yazidi Survivors Law Framework

Context/Reporting line:

On March 1, 2021, the Iraqi Council of Representatives adopted the Law on Support to Yazidi Women Survivors (Survivors Law). This law represents a watershed moment in Iraqi efforts to address the legacy of ISIL crimes against Yazidis and victims from other minorities, as it officially recognizes acts of genocide against Yazidi and other communities. It provides access to variety of rights and benefits to women and girls survivors of conflict related sexual violence, as well as children abducted by ISIS, including monthly pension, rehabilitation, and health care.

Implementation of the Survivors Law will have two main phases, both facilitated by the Directorate for Survivors Affairs (Directorate), the main implementing body for this legislation, established under the federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MOLSA) and located in Mosul. First phase is the application process through which individual survivors will apply to the Directorate for verification of their claims, in order to become beneficiaries of the benefits. During the second phase, the directorate will facilitate access of eligible survivors to rights and benefits stipulated by the Survivors Law.

Success of the second phase of the implementation of the Survivors’ Law will largely depend on availability and efficiency of the institutional framework for providing specialized services, especially in the domain of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). However, capacity of Iraqi institutions to provide these services is weak and depleted due to decades of conflict and systemic shortcomings. In areas where survivors currently live and especially in areas of their origin (Ninewa/Sinjar) state capacity to provide even basic services are scarce. For this reason, the Directorate’s mandate to provide access to MHPSS benefits will be materialized through two parallel tracks. The first track is building and strengthening Referral System to local NGOs and INGOs that are currently providing MHPSS services to survivors. The Referral System was activated on 26^th of March, with the signing of the official agreement between the Directorate and 8 organizations operating in Ninewa and KRI First survivor have been referred by the Directorate in June 2023, and until now around 50 survivors are receiving various types of treatments from service NGO providers. In parallel (second track), the directorate is facilitating capacity building and development of specialized programs within existing and new specialized MHPSS facilities. IOM Iraq is the main technical partner of the Directorate in both processes.

Under the general supervision of the Senior Programme Coordinator(Peace Bldg&Stabl), the overall supervision of the Reparations Officer , the administrative supervision of the Head of Sub Office (HoSO) and the direct supervision of the National MHPSS Officer (Yazidi Survivors Law framework) and in close coordination with Senior Capacity Building and Awareness Raising Program Assistant, the successful candidate will be responsible for the implementation of activities related to strengthening of the MHPSS response to related by performing the following functions and responsibilities:

Core Functions / Responsibilities

1. Support the National Program Officer in planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating activities related to the YSL-MHPSS activities, including capacity building, field visits, technical exchanges, and internal and external presentations of the program.
2. Assist in coordinating the logistical and technical preparation of YSL- MHPSS related events, trainings, and meetings, including communication with IOM support and admin units, participants, vendors, setting meeting venues, and follow-up actions (e.g. payments, collection of documents)
3. Accompany the YSL- MHPSS Officer with regular field visits to implementing partners to oversee the implementation of projects and drafting summary reports of the visits.
4. Support National YSL-MHPSS Officer in maintaining regular technical coordination with the PSD MHPSS Program Team.
5. Assist Transitional Justice Team in administrative data collection and processing, including data entry in the internal data processing and monitoring systems (portal, budget trackers, timesheets, etc.), in line with internal protocols and SOPs.
6. Assist Transitional Justice Team in administrative data collection and processing, including data entry in the internal data processing and monitoring systems (portal, sub-grant, budget trackers, timesheets, maintaining accurate records of agreements, expenditures, and reporting documentation).
7. Ensure that confidentiality and the right to privacy is maintained with regard to confidential projects and beneficiary information.
8. When required, conduct needs assessments to be able to support and facilitate implementation of projects and activities.
9. In accordance with structured reporting requirements and informal reporting needs, support in preparing clear and concise reports of all activities undertaken.
10. Assist project staff with review translation from English to Arabic and vice versa.
11. Perform other relevant duties assigned, and in line with the above tasks and competencies of the candidate.
12. undertaking duty travel when necessary. 

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology from an accredited academic university or institute, with at least 4 years of relevant professional experience.

Experience and Skills:

• Experience in capacity building of local NGOs and psychosocial programmes.
• Experience in supporting managing sub-grants.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills and the ability to engage with governmental and nongovernmental actors.
• Experience in conducting community engagement activities such as awareness raising sessions and community needs assessment.
• Experience in communicating and working with a wide range of people including people of culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Previous experience in monitoring and evaluation of psychosocial programme activities.

Languages:

• Fluency in English, Kurdish and Arabic is required.

Competencies

The incumbent is expected to demonstrate the following values and competencies:

VALUES – All SOC staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.

Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.

Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.

Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

CORE COMPETENCIES – Behavioural indicators – Choose a level.

Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.

Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.

Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.

Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.

Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

While this vacancy is open to both Internals and Externals, priority shall be given to qualified Internal applicants.

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via this link:

https://jobs.my-soc.org/apply/20240428141328/bUzQSwlB7MLxAiYRynTNkK8jF    

In order for an application to be considered valid, IOM only accepts online profiles duly completed. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.