Project Coordinator - Strengthening Psycho-Social Resilience of Palestine Refugees through Social Work Interventions and Coordination of Staff Care Activities-International Consultancy

Result of Service

NA

Work Location

Amman

Expected duration

11 months

Duties and Responsibilities

BACKGROUND


The prevalence of adverse mental health and psychosocial issues are of increasing concern to Palestine refugees. In many UNRWA fields of operations, children and adults are exposed to violence, conflict and displacement. This is further complicated by a variety of external factors, including poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, oppression and exclusion. If not addressed, psychosocial distress can impede on daily fife function and lead to mental illness, unhealthy and risky behavior, substance abuse, low academic achievement and increased school dropout rates, in addition to exacerbating the prevalence of non-communicable diseases.

In line with UNRWA’s Medium Term Strategy 2016-2022, which recognizes that the core UNRWA programmes are among the agency’s strengths to facilitate greater coherence, consistency and quality of mental health and psycho-social support (MHPSS) interventions and their impact across the Agency in order to protect and improve the MHPSS well-being of Palestine refugees. In 2017, the Agency adopted a MHPSS framework that sets out general principles and concepts that guides MHPSS programming across the Agency and ensures that minimum MHPSS standards and practices are integrated into UNRWA programme interventions including prevention/promotion activities, assessment modalities, and core interventions and referrals systems. Moreover, the framework calls for a well-coordinated and technically supported structures in all UNRWA fields of operations, building on the capacities of relief and social services programme to support the psycho-social wellbeing of children and adults in times of both relative normalcy and emergency.


As a result, and starting in 2019, RSS social workers and supervisors have undergone professionalization trainings to strengthen their knowledge and skills in social work interventions as part of the GIZ PART I project. UNRWA worked closely with two local institutions to develop a professional social work training curriculum in consultation with field offices to ensure capacity building responds to context specific needs. The professional social work training and the coaching and mentoring phase that followed was implemented in all fields of operation and all offices are now providing social work interventions and adapting to remote engagement modalities with clients.

Despite the strengthening of capacities that has taken place, social workers face continued pressures and stresses to serve Palestine refugees in increasingly difficult contexts. Due to COVID19, the social work training in some fields was delayed and had to be transitioned online which resulted in the subsequent coaching and mentoring phase also being delayed and carried online. Therefore, the social workforce requires further support and guidance to strengthen their day-to-day implementation of social work to strengthen psychosocial support to Palestine refugees and foster their resilience and social inclusion.


Under the overall supervision of the Director of the relief and social services department, the coordinator will work with the Chief of Social Services to coordinate the overall implementation of the project regarding the professionalization of the social workforce to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of all the project activities.

Specific tasks related to this objective are:

1. Oversees the overall implementation of the project to ensure coherence and consistency with the project agreement to ensure the smooth implementation of the project related activities in line with the project log frame and engages with other departments as appropriate.

2. Follows up with the finance, external relations and the relief and social services department regarding project budget allocation, monitors the expenditure and prepares the financial reporting required to the donor.

3. Convenes regular meetings with the relief and social services department and field offices to follow-up the proper implementation of the project activities, highlight any challenges and propose solutions.

4. Organizes meetings and follows up on action points with the donor to the project and external partners engaged to technically support or collaborate on implementation of key project components.

5. Supports contracting and coordination of implementing vendors and additional consultants for implementation of the programme.

6. Coordinates and oversees implementation of a staff care component provided by external technically qualified counsellors.

7. Organizes two/three Agency-wide workshops for cross programmatic coordination and cooperation to ensure effective implementation of the project activities.


8. Provides and coordinates the logistical support for any of the project related activities as required.

9. Provides regular updates and reports to the Director of Relief and Social Services on the implementation of the project.

10. Any other related tasks.

Qualifications/special skills

Education:

Advanced university degree in psychology, social sciences, development studies, public administration or any relevant field.

Experience:

At least five years of experience including at least three years in a project management capacity preferably in the field of coordination of mental health and psychosocial support programmes and activities.

Competencies

• Ability to develop clear goals consistent with agreed strategies, capability to develop, monitor and adjust plans and actions as necessary
• Acts in accordance with the profession’s ethics and values respects and promotes individual and cultural differences
• Ability to prepare, coordinate and conduct meetings and workshops
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Ability to present data and information in a clear and constructive way.
• Ability to work under pressure

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English language

Additional Information

Remuneration will be set at P3 Level USD6,490.33 per month
One and a half day annual leave per month.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.