Back Rwandan Senior Expert on Socio-therapy and Social cohesion

Interpeace

Interpeace is an international organization for peacebuilding, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Its aim is to strengthen the capacities of societies to manage conflict in non-violent, non-coercive ways by assisting national actors in their efforts to develop social and political cohesion. Interpeace also strives to assist the international community (and in particular the UN) to play a more effective role in supporting peacebuilding efforts around the world through better understanding and response to the challenges of creating local capacities that enhance social and political cohesion. For more information about Interpeace, please visit www.interpeace.org

Background

Rwanda has identified mental health and trauma healing as areas of priority. A 2018 Mental Health Survey revealed high prevalence of mental health disorders, particularly among survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. In addition, the country’s National Unity and Reconciliation Policy recognises “serious levels of trauma” as a major effect of the genocide that still weighs heavily on society today. It identifies the healing of psychological wounds as a guiding principle on which unity and reconciliation are established. High levels of trauma, anxiety and depression make it more difficult for people to trust and forgive each other. Trauma affects the ability to open up, receive and trust others, and it is a major cause of inter-community suspicions, especially between groups of genocide survivors and former prisoners. This has limited people’s ability to cooperate in shared, mutually beneficial economic activities.

Service or Assignment Description and Objective(s)

Given the above context, Rwanda’s 4th Health Sector Strategic Plan emphasises the need for holistic innovative programmes that simultaneously promote mental health service provision, advance social cohesion and support sustainable livelihoods. Interpeace, in partnership with Rwanda National Unity and Reconciliation Commission and Prison Fellowship Rwanda will soon start implementing a programme entitled: ‘*’**Reinforcing Community capacity for social cohesion through societal trauma healing in Bugesera District’’* Pilot programme, to strengthen social cohesion and sustainable peace through scaling up community-based healing and livelihood initiatives.

The beneficiaries of the programme will include survivors of the genocide against the Tutsi and their families; former prisoners living in Bugesera District (including those who may have been held in other Districts); local leaders, prison officials in Bugesera District; current prisoners from Bugesera prison and their families, as well as youth, in particular those from the families of genocide survivors and perpetrators who may be experiencing the effects of inter-generational transmission of trauma and genocide ideology.

Scope of work

The Senior Expert on Socio-therapy and Social Cohesion will contribute to the successful implementation of all socio-therapy and social cohesion-related activities, as stipulated within the project document. Their services will be required for at least 100 working days during the period October 2020 to 31 December 2021.

Specifically, s/he will:

• Conduct a mapping of socio-therapy and social cohesion programmes and approaches that are currently being implemented in Rwanda (and in Bugesera District particularly), including through governmental and non-governmental initiatives.
• Identify and curate protocols and approaches already in use in Rwanda, related to socio-therapy and societal healing, community cohesion, inter-generational dialogue on the genocide against the Tutsi and social reintegration of ex-prisoners for the genocide.
• Contribute to the design and / or adaptation of additional protocols and approaches for socio-therapy and social cohesion, ensuring that these protocols or guidelines are evidence-based and are culturally/socially appropriate in Rwanda.
• Participate in the recruitment of a team of dialogue facilitators and socio-therapists who will be implementing all socio-therapy and social cohesion-related project activities at the Sector level (for all 15 Sectors of Bugesera District).
• Serve as lead trainer for all selected dialogue facilitators and socio-therapists; and be responsible for quality control of their work in close collaboration with Interpeace Rwanda Team.
• Contribute to the establishment of research protocols to assess the impact of social cohesion and reconciliation modules incorporated within the project, and supervise dialogue facilitators to ensure that the research protocols are correctly implemented
• Contribute to the interpretation of findings from perception surveys and impact evaluation research conducted within the project, and in documenting such findings through policy briefs, media articles and scientific reports.
• Participate in meetings and workshops with senior project stakeholders at all stages of the project’s cycle, to ensure that the project’s reconciliation activities are compatible with its wider objectives.
• Participate in public events for dissemination of the project’s findings.

Qualifications

Essential qualifications and experience:

• Master’s degree in a related discipline (e.g. sociology, peace studies/conflict management, international relations, law, social psychology)
• At least 10 years of professional experience and / or civic engagement in related fields (e.g. dialogue facilitation, mediation, community organizing, human rights advocacy, transitional justice initiatives), of which at least 3 years must have been within the context of Rwanda.
• Must be fluent in Kinyarwanda.

Desired qualifications and experience:

• Doctorate degree in a related discipline (e.g. sociology, peace studies/conflict management, international relations, law, social psychology).
• Published works on topics related to peacebuilding, social cohesion and reconciliation.
• Experience in designing and / or implementing perception surveys for the assessment of social cohesion, sustainable peace and/or reconciliation.
• Experience in collaborating with governments, mandated commissions, and / or international organizations, for the design and implementation of peace building and social cohesion or reconciliation initiatives.