The Position:
The MHPSS Specialist will be based in Port Moresby and under the overall guidance of the UNFPA Representative in Papua New Guinea and the direct supervision of the Technical Specialist GBV. They will work closely with the Technical Specialist (FP/MH/RHCS) and other program staff. S/he will also work collaboratively with the National Department of Health, National Department for Community Development and Religion, the National Department of Education, Provincial Health Authorities, NGO partners, bilateral and multilateral donor agencies to enhance stand alone and integrated MHPSS programming. S/he will provide technical and programmatic oversight and leadership on MHPSS including research, analysis and training activities.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose:
The Government of Papua New Guinea has high political commitment to the health and wellbeing of the population is well articulated in the National Development Plan and Vision 2050. The Government of Papua New Guinea has also prioritized preventing and responding to Gender Based Violence in its National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender Based Violence (2016-2025) as well as Sorcery Accusation Related Violence in the National Sorcery Accusation Related Violence Action Plan, which both include a strong focus on mental health and psychosocial services. The Technical Specialist will support these goals by providing technical guidance, advice and oversight in regards to MHPSS programming including its integration into GBV, SRHR, peacebuilding, youth and humanitarian interventions.
You would be responsible for:
Provide leadership and technical support to efforts to strengthen and scale up MHPSS programming with the view to increase demand, access and utilization of MHPSS services and support, including in peacebuilding contexts and humanitarian emergencies. Specifically, the MHPSS Specialist would be responsible for:
Advocacy and Coordination
Lead advocacy efforts with partners for the prioritization of integration MHPSS across relevant interventions and the delivery of quality MHPSS services in line with international best practice standards. Ensure complementarity and linkages with parallel programmes and initiatives; Lead national and sub-national coordination including formal coordination mechanisms with partners and external stakeholders to improve the complementarity, cohesiveness and quality of MHPSS actions across the IASC MHPSS pyramid; Lead the development and dissemination of technical standards, tools, guidelines and materials on MHPSS.Strategic Guidance and Partnership
Strategically guide the expansion of MHPSS programming for the CO. Lead MHPSS resource mobilization to capitalize on strategic areas of growth in MHPSS; Provide strategic guidance on the development of the CO MHPSS strategy and provide strategic technical inputs into relevant documents, such as the new Country Programme Document; Ensure strong partnership for MHPSS programming including managing existing relationships with donors and partners. Identify and secure new national and international partnership to advance MHPSS.
Technical Leadership and Capacity Development
Ensure technical leadership and oversight for the design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of MHPSS interventions; Ensure a strong understanding of the principles and standards for MHPSS amongst partners, relevant external stakeholders as well as UNFPA staff including through leading MHPSS training and capacity building actions. Work closely with the UNFPA CO training team/staff to set and delivery of a structured MHPSS training and capacity building plan; Lead collaboration across UNFPA CO teams to build support and capacity for the integration of MHPSS throughout.
Programme Management and Evidence Generation and Dissemination
Lead overall programme management for MHPSS interventions. Work closely with relevant programme staff to oversee the management of work plans and budgets. With the support of programme support staff, lead reporting for MHPSS-related actions; Lead the design and implementation of evidence generation on MHPSS including effective programming. Work closely with relevant staff for quality monitoring and evaluation of project activities. Support research on MHPSS and the dissemination of knowledge products including working with key research partners. Consolidate, document and dissemination to UNFPA staff and external stakeholders MHPSS best practice and case studies on impactful programming; Work closely with Technical Specialists, Programme Managers and Senior Management to ensure the prioritization of MHPSS and cohesive integration of quality MHPSS across UNFPA programming; Undertake any other assignments as may be given by UNFPA Representative.Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
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.
Knowledge and Experience:
At least 5 years of specialized experience in community based psychosocial support interventions particularly as it relates to social norm change, and experience in this field at international level in a humanitarian context; Demonstrated knowledge of IASC Guidelines on MHPSS in Emergency Settings; Demonstrated experience on counseling skills and clinical supervision of lay counselors; Demonstrated experience developing technical curriculum and materials for delivery of MHPSS programming/activities in low resource settings; Demonstrated knowledge of protection and peacebuilding issues in humanitarian settings, and of humanitarian emergency operations and roles/responsibilities of humanitarian actors; Proficiency in English and in other official languages or the UN required/desirable; Strong training and supervision experience required.Languages:
Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French and/or Spanish, is desirable.
Required Competencies:
Values:
Exemplifying integrity Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system Embracing diversity in all its forms Embracing changeCore Competencies:
Achieving Results Being Accountable Developing and Applying Professional Expertise/Business Acumen Thinking analytically and Strategically Working in Teams/Managing Ourselves and our Relationships Communicating for ImpactFunctional Competencies:
Conceptual innovation in the provision of technical expertise Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/building strategic alliances and partnerships Resource Mobilization Job knowledge/technical expertise and Results based managementThis vacancy is archived.