1. General Presentation
Triangle Génération Humanitaire (TGH) is an international non-governmental organization (INGO) designing and implementing emergency, post-emergency and development programs since 1994. The programs fall within the fields of water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH), civil engineering (Shelter), food security, rural development (Livelihood), socio-educational and psychosocial support (Protection). In 2019, its committed teams operate in 9 countries in Asia, Africa and Middle-East Region.
TGH in Iraq
TGH has been working in KR-I since June 2013, providing WASH in schools, winterization distribution, cash for education, Case management and psychosocial support as well as livelihood activities to Syrian refugees and IDPs. In response to the vulnerable situations of families in Iraq, TGH setting up child protection programmes. Through its specific child protection unit, TGH provided psychosocial support to thousands of children and their families in the IDP camps of Khazer and Salamyiah as well as in the Balad area (Salahadin Governorate). TGH coordinates the care and response provided to child protection cases requiring external support (medical NGOs, national child protection services, etc.) to ensure children receive the most appropriate care.
In addition to its child protection activities, TGH is part of a dynamic of national capacity building for actors involved in child protection, starting with the Ministry and the Department of Labour and Social Affairs (MoSA/DoSA). The organisation has played a significant role in the development of child protection guidelines in both Iraqi Kurdistan and federal Iraq.
The organisation is also implementing food security and livelihood programmes focusing on water resource management, rehabilitation of agricultural infrastructure, veterinary care, economic recovery and population empowerment. These programmes help to revive agricultural economic activity, a crucial sector in rural Iraq, and encourage people to return to the villages where they belong.
2. Projects
TGH is implementing child protection programs as well as food security and livelihood programs
Strengthening child protection case management systems in Iraq
Following a 2-year project to build the capacity of the Directorate of Social Affairs (DoSA) / Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I), the Social Protection Department in Ninewa and a National NGO in the Centre and South of Federal Iraq, the aim of the project is to continue the strengthening of the child protection services provision (notably of case management) in KR-I and Federal Iraq by continuing to reinforcing the capacities of government and non-governmental social workers and NGOs in all governorates of KR-I, Ninewa and 10 governorates in the Centre and South of Federal Iraq.
Economic recovery of micro-entrepreneurship and agriculture in Hamdaniya District
The project is aiming at revive economic activity, in conjunction with the Iraqi Agricultural Bank (ABI) through establishing loans and financing mechanisms at community level, which will facilitate access to financial and non-financial services for men and women entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector or the local economy.
Also contribute to the rehabilitation of infrastructure related to local agricultural activities (restoration of irrigation systems, development and promotion of efficient water management techniques), and to the improvement of farm animal health and growth (mobile veterinary services, rehabilitation of local animal care capacities). In addition to implement social cohesion activities by strengthening economic interactions within and outside the community, restructuring community groups that are representative in terms of gender and age, and building on traditional structures. These groups provide a solid basis for improving managerial and technical capacities, especially of women and youth whose role in agriculture is fundamental but often undervalued.
Support food security in Sinjar in a COVID-19 context
the current global health crisis linked to Covid-19 worsened the economic difficulties of the most vulnerable families. The Iraqi authorities have adopted measures to prevent the spread of the virus, including the closure of airports and movement restrictions between governorates. In Sinjar, these measures have led to difficulties in the supply and movement of agricultural products, considerably reducing production capacities.
Thus, the project aims at addressing these difficulties linked to the current sanitary context, and also at relaunching agricultural activities in a sustainable way. In order to respect sanitary measures, an online catalogue of equipment and agricultural inputs will be developed, so that each beneficiary can choose according to his needs and activities.
Vegetable farming activities will be supported in particular, family orchards and small-scale animal farms. The people targeted by the project will not only receive the material necessary to relaunch their activities, but they will also benefit from specific technical training.
Contribution to the improvement of child and family protection in Salah al-Din
TGH and the Iraqi NGO Justice Center have been implementing child protection and legal assistance activities in Balad, Yathrib, Aziz Balad, Samarra and Al Mutassim since February 2019. This action is in line with the projects aimed at strengthening child protection services previously implemented in the region. This project is being carried out in partnership with the Iraqi NGO Justice Center, which provides its expertise in legal assistance as well as in partnership with the Iraqi NGO Bent Al-Rafedain Organization (BROB), which provides its field experience and the many interventions already carried out by the organisation in Child Protection in rural and urban areas and in IDP camps in Iraq.
The project aims to provide child protection services and legal assistance as well as to strengthen community-based risk prevention and intervention mechanisms. Thus, emergency and long-term responses will be put in place, building on systems and services already implemented in previous projects. These objectives are implemented through various actions, including the establishment of appropriate educational activities in childcare spaces and the sensitisation of communities on the vulnerability and rights of children.
3. Human resources – beneficiaries (for psychologist)
The psychologist will provide services to all TGH employees as well as TGH's partners employees. In the meantime, 21 Women, 35 Men have contract with TGH working in different location. This number could increase in case new projects are started. The employees are from different communities, cultures and countries (Iraq, Kurdistan, Syria) based in Erbil, Dohuk, Sulaimaniya, Halabja, Garmiyan, Ninewa, Salah-adin and Baghdad. The psychologist will deal with people from different ages, with an average age of (33 years old) and they are working in the field of child protection, livelihood and food security.
A part of TGH teams in KRI and GoI are responsible for the strengthening of case workers of government and national NGO through providing one-to-one on-the-job support to child protection case workers and supervisors on case management and provide them technical support on difficult and complex cases and follow up the cases with them. While the other part of TGH teams are in direct contact with vulnerable beneficiaries and providing them with food security and livelihood activities.
The common problems seen in TGH workers beside burnout, psychosomatic disorders are as the following:
· Some of government/NNGO's case workers and supervisors are not committed to the planned activities
· Some of government/NNGO's case workers and supervisors are not committed to TGH teams’ technical support and advises given to them on child protection case management.
· Although government/NNGO's case workers are coached on case management standards, some of them are not following up the case management according to the standards.
· If government/NNGO's case workers are not supported financially, they are not committed to the activities.
· As TGH teams follow up with Government/NNGO's case workers and meet cases with them to do field observations, they meet difficult cases that cause stress.
· Due to Covid-19, TGH teams mostly have worked remotely. They have provided support to case workers on the phone. Some TGH staff contracted with Covid-19 or their family members had Covid-19. Consequently, they were put in quarantine until they recovered from the virus.
· Stress due to Covid 19, the team can have the feeling of being insecure regarding their jobs. The activities are delayed which can create a feeling of frustrations and also lead to periods when the work in low intensity which create conflict of interest regarding the roles and responsibilities inside the team.
· Conflict inside the team: the team is composed of people from different ethnic groups who can be in conflict outside the work and sometimes it creates tensions and frustrations inside the team.
· Dealing with beneficiaries: dealing with beneficiaries is challenging as they have to be impartial regarding the origin of the beneficiaries it can be hard to handle by the team. Also there are dealing with the frustrations of the beneficiaries who have not been selected, sometimes it can these situations can even be risky for them. In that case they have to stay calm and impartial which can create also stress.
The results from these areas show that the TGH teams feel stressful, with stress deriving in particular from role conflict between government/NNGO's staff and TGH staff. TGH teams feel that their support to government/NNGO's is not appreciated by them. thus it has affected staff productivity and quality of coaching sessions.
Also, as TGH teams have worked from home due to Covid-19, they have also faced stress. In addition, due to Covid-19, they feel more insecure about the stability of their organization, feel more anxious, and they have less energy and feel more tired.
The above mentioned difficulties faced by TGH teams are observed. The Psychologist can do an initial assessment for the staff to identify the concerns and problems at the beginning. All TGH national staff are speaking either Kurdish and/or Arabic, the psychologist could ask to be accompanied with interpreter to translate to Kurdish or Arabic if needed and will be a part of the psychologist contract signed with TGH.
4. Purpose
General objective:
TGH employees’ wellbeing has been improved with the efforts and stress management techniques of Psychologist. By the end of December 2020, the National staff of TGH Iraq have been equipped to cope with the stressors, hampering their professional capacities.
Specific objectives:
Clear policy about promoting wellbeing for all staff, tackling the causes of work-related mental health problems and supporting staff has been created.
Decrease in the impact of stress on the individuals or teams concerned
All staff have appropriate pre-assignment preparation and training in managing stress.
The line managers have a better knowledge on mental health and stress management – including how to spot the signs and how to have supportive conversations with staff as well as positive manager behaviours have been encouraged and supported
High quality clinical psychology services provided in line with identified needs.
Provide support and advice to field teams in provision of activities and dealing with vulnerable communities TGH is working with.
Sustainability
The performance of staff has improved by addressing their psychological stress and they are able to deal with the stressors by the end of the assignment on 31st December 2020. After the completion of the Psychologist assignment, the staff is now equipped with adapted techniques to deal with their day to day psychological issues and stress management without the presence of psychologist around them.
5. Expected methodology of intervention
Focus group discussions with cohort groups of TGH.
Individual Interviews with different managers: Head of mission, Program Coordinator, Protection Technical advisor, Project managers.
Group and individual counselling sessions, with staff of each program
Visit the different programs intervention areas and on the spot counselling.
Meetings with the Mental health actors working in the intervention areas, to better understand the children’s traumas they deal with
Training sessions to line managers
6. Duration / Chronogram
The job holder will be contracted by logistic unit as service contract for three months, with the possibility of extension upon available funding
7. Roles and responsibilities
Design, develop and implement initiatives aimed at helping employees to cope successfully with changes taking place in their workplace
Design, develop and deliver training and orientations.
work one-to-one with individuals to support them in becoming more successful and effective in delivering their organisational objectives, while also enhancing their personal wellbeing
Analyse the training needs of employees, identify skills gaps and determine how to address that gap in a cost-effective manner.
Provide coaching, guidance and advice to employees in order to help them plan and manage their careers.
Diagnoses or evaluates mental and emotional disorders of individuals and administers programs of treatment;
Evaluate the needs of psychological support for the staff
Accompany with TGH staff to evaluate the needs of including a stronger psychological support for children and their families within TGH’s child protection intervention and assess the possibilities of providing therapeutic care to children in distress within TGH intervention
Evaluate the staff’s trainings needs in terms of identification of profiles in need of psychological support and train the team to improve the identification of cases that should be referred to the specialised psychological services.
Discuss cases with the staff, such as psychological distress and mental health cases
Maintain highest standard of confidentiality of all staff coming in contact with him / her.
8. Expected outcomes
In accordance with the reality on the field and the context in Iraq, propose recommendations to provide a better support to the teams in order to improve their psychosocial conditions.
Submit report to the HoM and TGH programs coordinator on monthly basis with recommendations.
End of contract report submitted with recommendations and agreed action plan prior to departure
Develop staff psychological-wellbeing policy for TGH.
9. Profile of the consultant
· Minimum of 5 years’ experience as a psychologist in institutions and / or in humanitarian field
· Experience in clinical supervision of professional teams (social workers, teachers, facilitators, nurses ...)
· Experience in emergency/post-emergency humanitarian context and dealing with related trauma
· Excellent listening, communication and interpersonal skills
· Excellent motivational skills
· Adaptability and flexibility
· Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
· Self-confidence, with the ability to deal with a variety of people
· Ability to inspire trust and confidence in people from a wide range of backgrounds
· The ability to work under pressure -she/he will need to achieve results within fixed deadlines while working on a number of projects
· Proven work experience with children and adolescents
· Good social skills to build relationships with children and families
· Ability to produce clear, concise written reports.
· Able to access GoI and KRI TGH bases
Languages:
· Mandatory: Fluency in written and spoken Kurdish and/or Arabic. English considered as highly valued
This vacancy is archived.