Coordinator, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.”  The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

Lebanon, embroiled in multifaceted crises, stands at the precipice of one of the most challenging periods in its modern history. Since the onset of the Syrian conflict thirteen years ago, the country has absorbed an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees, adding to another 300,000 Palestinian refugees. This influx has catapulted Lebanon to the forefront of refugee-hosting nations globally, exacerbating humanitarian demands and compounding challenges stemming from its post-civil war reconstruction efforts. The confluence of factors, including economic collapse, political instability, the lingering effects of the 2020 Beirut explosion, and the COVID-19 pandemic, has plunged Lebanon into an unprecedented state of turmoil.

The Danish Red Cross (DRC) has been present in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) since 2002 and in Lebanon since 2013. DRC is considered a strategic partner of the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) and the Palestine Red Crescent Society – Lebanon Branch (PRCS-L). DRC’s work in Lebanon has focused on support for essential health care services, mainstreaming MHPSS services, and has integrated a strong focus on non-communicable diseases in its health response.

This position will be contracted under IFRC and will be managed by DRC, based in the DRC Lebanon country office in Beirut. The MHPSS Coordinator will provide support to both LRC and PRCS-L. DRC does not directly implement MHPSS activities in Lebanon and works solely through partners. There will be frequent travel to project locations across Lebanon, including Palestine Refugee camps and gatherings.

Job Purpose

The MHPSS Coordinator is to support the DRC Country Office (CO) in ensuring technical quality and impact of the MHPSS programme by initiating, planning, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting of all DRC supported MHPSS activities in Lebanon. He/she will offer professional expertise to DRC Country Office and partners to ensure that the MHPSS activities implemented are of good quality, make impact and are sustainable. The staff member will provide technical support in accordance with global minimum standards, Red Cross/Red Crescent movement MHPSS policy/guidance notes and DRC MHPSS framework to a team of LRC and PRCS-L staff and volunteers implementing various MHPSS activities and will collaborate with other DRC programmes implemented within the target areas.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Programme coordination and technical expertise

1. Support LRC and PRCS-L in regularly assessing, analysing, and disseminating information about MHPSS needs, capacities, and resources of LRC, PRCS-L and the target beneficiary population.
2. Support organizing and facilitating MHPSS trainings for staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries, including developing a system for follow up of trainees to put in action gained knowledge and skills in close collaboration with LRC and PRCS-L counterparts.
3. Support developing / adapting context-relevant MHPSS training materials, curricula, and tools required for the smooth implementation of MHPSS projects
4. Provide guidance on roll out of an effective system of caring for staff and volunteers in all units where DRC supported projects are implemented.
5. Provide technical inputs into project design and proposals related to MHPSS, and identify opportunities for additional funding or strategic partnerships, as relevant.
6. Carry out regular monitoring and support supervision of project staff and volunteers.
7. Carry out coaching and on-the-job training and mentoring of project staff and volunteers to enhance their capacity in planning and implementing PSS projects.
8. Prepare and/or provide technical inputs into quarterly and annual reports, workplans and budgets of all MHPSS activities supported by DRC.
9. Ensure that DRC supported MHPSS activities align with the National Mental Health Programme in Lebanon, global standards in MHPSS, including the Movement Policy and DRC MHPSS framework, and other international guidelines.
10. Ensure mainstreaming of protection, gender and inclusion as well as Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) aspects in all DRC supported MHPSS activities.
11. Ensure visibility of MHPSS activities at local and national levels.

Relationships, expertise and professional development

1. Establish and maintain effective professional working relationships with national and international staff in country, regional and global offices, and with counterparts in LRC, PRCS-L, partner national societies and relevant government agencies.
2. Maintain a high degree of skill and knowledge in MHPSS, serve as a reference point for partner staff, maintain linkages with global, regional and local technical working groups.
3. Contribute to the development of a network and systems for knowledge sharing including best practices.
4. Actively participate in the DRC MHPSS technical team/matrix.

Duties applicable to all staff

• Work actively towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals.
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
• Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

Education

• Relevant university degree preferably in the field of psychology, social work on public health (with an MHPSS focus) - Required.
• Courses in project management is an added advantage - Preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 3 years experience in an MHPSS-focused role preferably with an INGO/NGO/UN - Required.
• Solid knowledge of development and/or humanitarian programme design and management - Required.
• Experience working on capacity building and training related to MHPSS - Required.
• Experience working with Palestine Refugees or other marginalized, urban populations - Preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Sharing the RC/RC principles and values - Required.
• Good communication skills  - Required.
• Strong skills in managing relationships including: Working in teams; Communicating information and ideas; Conflict and self-management; Knowledge sharing/Continuous learning - Required.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment - Required.
• Good stress management skills - Required.
• Self supporting in computers [Windows, Microsoft Office, database, e-mail (Outlook),etc.] - Required.
• Fluent spoken and written English and Arabic - Required.

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.

Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust.