Psychosocial Support Worker

ABOUT ABAAD 

ABAAD – Resource Centre for Gender Equality is a UN ECOSOC-accredited organization that aims to achieve gender equality as an essential condition to sustainable social and economic development in the MENA region. 

JOB PURPOSE: 

The Psychosocial Support Worker (PSSW) is responsible for working within communities, conducting outreach activities, coordinating with local stakeholders, and ensuring buy-in of the local population. The PSSW also conducts awareness-raising on protection prevention, response and self-protection for adolescent girls, and delivers Psycho-Social Support activities within the mobile and static settings. The PSS will be based in the Women and Girls Safe Space and will work closely with community actors, such as the municipalities, local organizations, community centers and conduct regular visits to Syrian gatherings (informal settlements, …etc). 

REPORTING LINES: Post holder reports to Centre Coordinator 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Community Outreach and Mobilization 

· Conduct information and awareness sessions with women and girls in the community to disseminate information about available services and key protection concerns 

· Identify and assess communities to be engaged in the safe spaces activities 

· Maintain regular contact with community focal points and community outreach volunteers 

· Identify and engage key “gatekeepers” and active members within the community to ensure access of ABAAD teams and formation of community groups 

· Identify community gateways and mobile safe spaces 

· Identify and recruit community volunteers amongst the refugee and host communities 

· Support community volunteers and women and girls’ community groups in developing strategies and action plans to address and/or mitigate risks 

· Facilitate referral of identified needs to humanitarian organizations and other service providers, ensuring follow up and feedback to the community 

· In close collaboration with community volunteers and community groups conduct regular safety audits to identify risks identified by women and girls within their community 

· Conduct trainings of community group volunteers and key gatekeepers 

· Organize regular planning and reporting meetings with community groups and gather feedback on community activities on a regular basis 

Psychosocial Activities 

· Conduct age appropriate psychosocial activities for women, adolescent girls, men and boys 

· Identify and refer individuals in need of psychosocial support and plan, provide tailored psychosocial support activities 

Monitoring and Reporting 

· Prepare and submit weekly, monthly and 3-month work plans in a timely manner and incorporate manager feedback. 

· Participate in weekly internal meetings to ensure adherence to standards of appropriate case management, as well as community based approach and psychosocial activities 

· Regularly document outreach and community activities using agreed tools (including safety audits) 

· Gather feedback at the community level regarding ABAAD safe spaces programme and share information with line manager 

Coordination: 

· As requested undertake/participate in liaison, coordination, and information sharing activities with national NGOs, international organizations, donors and government 

Other: 

· Respect for ABAAD Code of Conduct, Child protection and its PSEA Policy 

· Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop 

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE 

· University Degree (Masters or BA) in business, sociology, psychology or any related field; 

· Minimum three-year’ experience in a similar position; 

· Knowledge of GBV prevention and response 

· Experience in GBV programming, and demonstrated gender sensitivity; 

· Experience of working in/with non-government organizations; 

· Experience working directly with refugees and other groups 

· Experience working directly with women and girls 

· Strong communication and interpersonal skills 

COMPETENCIES 

· Commitment to human rights, gender equality, non-discrimination 

· Flexible pro-active attitude 

· Good organizational and prioritization skills and ability to meet deadlines under pressure; 

· Leadership, problem solving, and negotiation skills; 

· Strong inter-personal and team working skills including the ability to manage, liaise and communicate with team members; 

· Demonstrated capacity to take initiative and pay attention to details; 

· Ability to plan workloads and demonstrate accountability for outputs; 

· Fluent written and spoken Arabic and English are essential- French is a plus;