Community Systems Strengthening (CSS) and Mental Health/Psychosocial (MHPS) Advisor South Sudan

Job Title:          Community Systems Strengthening (CSS) and Mental Health/Psychosocial (MHPS) Advisor
Location:          Wau, Western Bhar el Ghazal, South Sudan
Contract Date: As soon as possible, initial contract for the duration of one year. Extension is based on performance and donor funding.
Reports to:      Jur River County Project Coordinator

This position is a unaccompanied post.

1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION
HealthNet TPO aims to improve the health condition of the population of South Sudan, by i) understanding, supporting and strengthening coping mechanisms that help the population to recover from decades of war while rebuilding their lives and society and ii) contributing to the design and installation of functional health services.
HealthNet TPO is active in South Sudan since 1996 and one of many players in the country. HealthNet TPO opts for a developmental approach.
Currently HealthNet TPO implements a health service delivery programme in Western Bahr el Ghazal (WBEG) and Northern Bahr el Ghazal (NBEG), funded by DFID/Basic Services Fund (BSF). Further, HealthNet TPO is implementing a Sexual Reproductive Health Project (SHARP) in the SHARP consortium in NBEG funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the period 2013 till 2015. It is also one of the four members of the Dutch Consortium for Rehabilitation (DCR) that has been awarded funding by Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the period 2011 – 2015. One of the main objectives of the DCR is to strengthen health and community systems in order to ensure basic service provision with increased involvement of Civil Society.
HealthNet TPO is seeking a CSS and MHPS Advisor to work on the strengthening of community systems and the integration of mental health and psychosocial support within primary health care according to (part of) the objectives of the DCR.

2. PURPOSE OF POSITION
The CSS and MHPS Advisor provides technical support, coordinates and implements activities in accordance with national policies and CSS and MHPS related strategies as developed by HealthNet TPO.

3. PLACE IN THE ORGINISATION
The CSS and MHPS Advisor will report to the Jur River County Project Coordinator. The CSS and MHPS Advisor will have a functional relation with the Program Development Coordinator – Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), MH & CSS based at headquarters (HQ) in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The CSS and MHPS Advisor will be responsible for the content implemented by a team of Community Development Officers (CDOs) and Community Mobilization Officers (CMOs) and will implement these activities also in close collaboration with this specific team and local partner organizations based at different locations in South Sudan in order to ensure coherent implementation of activities. The CSS and MHPS Advisor will also establish relations at state and country level in order improve the service delivery, to anticipate on changes and/or new opportunities and to make use of existing expertise and platforms in the country.

4. CORE RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:
Capacity Building/Service delivery
• Advise and support realistic planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of CSS and MHPS interventions.
• Build the capacity of the Community Development and Mobilization Officers, staff members of health facilities, partner organizations and community
  groups engaged in CSS and MHPS interventions in close collaboration with the DCR Program Manager (PM).
• Participate in the development and review of training and IEC materials for the capacity building of local staff members, Community Based Organizations
  (CBOs) and partner organizations, health staff, community health workers, community structures.
• Facilitate community mapping exercises aimed at identifying community mechanisms that facilitate and restore social cohesion while at the same time
  addressing community factors that negatively affect health and well-being.

Networking
• Ensure the consensus building and effective coordination mechanisms among stakeholders while establishing multi-sectorial networks at Boma, Payam
  and county/state level
• Active lobby at state and national level to make CSS and MHPS related interventions an integral part of public health and multi-sectorial community
  development policies, in close collaboration with the DCR PM.

Policy Development
• Advise and support based  on document lessons learned  the revision / development of operational guidelines for CSS and MHPS interventions in
  collaboration with the technical advisor at HQ
• Contribute to an evidence based CSS approach by collecting data (surveys, assessments, focus group discussions, key informant interviews etc.) and
  providing support in the analysis of this data according to a pre-designed evaluation framework in collaboration with the technical advisor at HQ

5. PROFILE
EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE
• Postgraduate degree and  relevant  experiences  in related field (International Health, Public Health, Mental health, Psychology, Social Work, Community 
  Development / Social Support)
• Proven experience in planning, monitoring and implementing psychosocial and community mobilization related programs
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with local partners and stakeholders
• Proven experience in capacity development
• Experience in conducting (needs) assessments and applying qualitative date collection methods and analysing data

Competencies
• Strong analytical, creative, communication, interpersonal and diplomatic skills
• Fluent in spoken and written English, and preferably knowledge of the local language
• Team player and networker
• Coaching and knowledge sharing
• Strong reporting skills

For specific questions please contact our HRM department:
Lizzy Ansinghstraat 163
1072 RG Amsterdam
The Netherlands
+31 (0)205120646
recruitment@hntpo.org

For more information on our organization, please check our website: www.hntpo.org 

To apply please send your CV (maximum 3 pages) and application letter (including your motivation) to recruitment@hntpo.org by October 28, 2013.
When applying, include the following title in the email subject line: CSS-MHPS