🇸🇱 Job Vacancies @ Action Against Hunger – 2 Positions

Action Against Hunger is recruiting to fill the following positions:

1.) Mental Health, Psychosocial Support and Protection Capacity Building Expert
2.) Food Security and Livelihood/Climate Change Deputy Program Manager

See job details and how to apply below.

1.) Mental Health, Psychosocial Support and Protection Capacity Building Expert

JOB ADVERT

Mental Health, Psychosocial Support and Protection Capacity Building Expert (National Status)

Action Against Hunger is an equal opportunity employer

Women are strongly encouraged to apply

Background

Action Against Hunger (ACF) has been working in Sierra Leone since 1991. As part of its activities in the country, ACF is implementing an integrated multi-sectoral project entitled Multi-sectoral community-led approach to improve nutrition in Bonthe district, Sierra Leone (MCA-Nut) to support vulnerable populations in three chiefdoms in Bonthe District: Jong, Kpanda Kemoh, and Yawbeko.

MCA-Nut is an Irish Aid funded project that is expected to run for three years, between August 2022 and July 2025. The project is currently in the 2nd year of implementation in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and the Ministry of Social Welfare and the national partner Movement Towards Peace And Development Association (MOPADA). The principal objective of the project is to contribute to the reduction of under-nutrition in children under five years and to reduce the chronic malnutrition of adolescents and pregnant and lactating mothers in the target areas.

ACF nutrition programming is designed to address the underlying causes of malnutrition, through nutrition specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions. This includes treatment and preventative actions in various sectors, including: food security and livelihoods, health and nutrition, mental health and psychosocial support and protection (MHPSS-P), and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). A range of strategies are deployed across the project for integrated service delivery across these different sectors, as well as across advocacy work that is both mainstreamed across the project and integrated within specific activities.

With regards to MHPSS-P interventions, in the first year of implementation, ACF focused its activities in the United Brethren Church (UBC) Hospital in Mattru Jong, Bonthe and in 22 health facilities in Jong, Kpanda Kemoh, and Yawbeko chiefdoms. The health staff were trained to be able to identify signs of psychological distress and to provide psychosocial support following the Mental Health Gap Action Programme and to provide child care practices. In the In-Patient Facility of the UBC hospital, a baby friendly corner (BFC) was established to provide childcare practices including psychosocial care to children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and their caregivers. In the second year, the MHPSS-P intervention expanded to the communities where Community Health Workers (CHW) and leading mother from the Mother Support Groups (MSG) are trained on the identification and referral of people in psychological distress and/or at risk of protection.. In addition, community dialogues take place on a monthly basis with the key members of the community to discuss the main problems identified in the community and actions to be taken and followed up. At district level a MHPSS-P working group in coordination with the MoH and the Ministry of Gender has been established to coordinate all efforts among the existing actors.

The community activities are led by MOPADA who work on social change and economic emancipation mainly towards women and children through community development and empowerment processes. MOPADA has mainly expertise in health and food security and livelihoods and is currently expanding their sectors of expertise to also provide MHPSS-P services.

Main Purpose

These Terms of Reference cover two objectives:

ACF is looking for a MHPSS Capacity Building Expert to

1. strengthen the capacity of the ACF team on child care practices and MHPSS-P to train and mentor health facilities staff ; and
2. to train MOPADA to become an MHPSS-P expert.

The MHPSS Capacity Building Expert will be in charge of implementing the two objectives mentioned above which mainly include preparing trainings and on the job trainings, supervising activities, revising and proposing additional tools or material for improvement of quality of activities and ensuring high quality data collection, monitoring and reporting.

Responsibilities

Mission 1: To identify the needs of the ACF MHPSS-P team in Bonthe and elaborate a capacity building plan 

• Identify the needs in MHPSS-P within the project and the team
• Visit activities in the field, including meeting local and sectorial actors to evaluate the quality of the intervention and training gaps.
• Based on the evaluation, elaborate a needs assessment report and a capacity-building plan

Mission 2: Provide technical support in the implementation and follow-up of ACF MHPSS-P activities in Bonthe

• In collaboration with the MHPSS-P Head of Department, organize and facilitate training sessions on MHPSS-P and child care practices topics, according to identified needs and using ACF training package
• Participate in strengthening staff skills, in line with established capacity-building plan and according to needs.
• Regular hands-on training (side by side training) with ACF staff (and HF staff) on child care practices and MHPSS-P onsite (HFs and hospital)
• Organize regular technical supervision with ACF staff (and HF staff)
• Develop and/or update training manuals and materials on MHPSS-P and child care practices related topics
• Participate in the monitoring of project activities to ensure effective technical follow-up with the Health and Nutrition Program Manager and MHPSS-P Deputy Program Manager
• In collaboration with Program Manager and Deputy Program Manager, carry out field visits to provide technical support and supervision to teams on MHPSS-P and child care practices related issues and prepare visit reports
• Identify recommendations and build an action points on MHPSS-P and child care practices related issues for the PM and DPM
• Suggest adaptations of activities/approaches or mitigating measures to address challenges faced during the implementation
• Participate in program coordination meetings

Mission 3: To contribute to the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning processes with regards to the MHPSS-P and child care practices

• Contribute to the review and analysis of project reports (APR), make concrete recommendations and follow them up
• Contribute to the timely drafting of internal and external reports in collaboration with the MEAL department, Heads of Department and Program Manager
• Contribute to the capitalization of the programme data and documentation of activities carried out
• Contribute to the transmission of the technical knowledge acquired in his/her programme
• Identify opportunities for learning and document case studies, lessons learnt and best or promising practices in MHPSS-P and child care practices and contribute to produce reports on capitalization of project’s experience, lessons learned, programme data and documentation of the innovations carried out
• Contribute to the implementation of the complaint mechanisms focusing on the transparency and ethics of projects in particular with assisted populations
• Provide technical support to internal and external evaluations, including supporting the implementation of evaluations (ex. baseline/endline) in collaboration with MEAL
• Ensure gender mainstreaming in data collection and analysis and contribute to the collection of gender-sensitive data (disaggregated by sex and age)

Mission 4:  To train MOPADA to become an MHPSS-P expert

• To support ic collaboration with ACF in the definition of MOPADA’s MHPSS strategy its area of intervention and the sectoral strategy at the national and district level
• Assess the  training needs among partner staff
• To participate in the elaboration of a Plan of Action
• To organize and facilitate training sessions on MHPSS-P according to identified needs
• To strengthen staff skills, in line with established Plan of Action and according to needs.
• In collaboration with the Deputy Program Manager, carry out field visits to provide technical support and supervision to MOPADA teams on MHPSS-P related issues and prepare visit reports
• Identify and follow-up recommendations and action points on MHPSS-P and child care practices related issues

Mission 5: Maintain strict confidentiality and respect of Action Against Hunger’s policies  

• Ensure that beneficiary information is kept confidential and that protocols are in place for data under ACF’s responsibility
• Provide regular reminders of confidentiality procedures

Deliverables

• Needs assessment report
• ACF Capacity building plan
• MHPSS-P and child care practices updated material
• Action Plan to support MOPADA
• Technical report with recommendations to ACF and MOPADA

Requirements

EducationDiploma in Mental Health, minimum BSC degree and masters in Psychology preferred, BSC in Social Work or Social Science with training background in Early Childhood Development, Psychosocial Support, mhGAP, Gender-Based ViolenceExperience

– Minimum 4 years of experience on Early Childhood Development including working with children under 2 years old and caregivers

– Minimum 4 years of experience providing Mental health and/or psychosocial support

– Minimum 2 years of experience in providing MHPSS trainings, supervision and mentoring

LanguagesFluent in English is essential and local language is an assetRequired Skills

– Knowledge on infant and young child feeding and child care practices

– Strong skills in capacity building and supervision

– Strong skills in writing and analysis

– Good listening and communication/facilitation skills

– Knowledge in project cycle management

– Good command of Microsoft

WORK CONDITIONS

Reporting Line 

Line manager: Field Coordinator

Functional manager: Mental Health, Psychosocial Support Head of Department

Supervision 

Hierarchical: n/a

Function: Mental Health, Psychosocial Support and Protection Deputy Project Manager

Place of Assignment

Bonthe District, Sierra Leone

Duration of Assignment

4 Months

STARTING DATE: May 2024

MONTHLY BASIC SALARY: 13,460.67 SLE

HOUSING AND TRANSPORT ALLOWANCE: 15% of basic salary each

HOW TO APPLY:

Send Motivation Letter, CV saved in your name – for example (Joe Blue CV) for your CV, and (Joe Blue Motivation Letter) for your motivation letter, with names of three (3) referees by EMAIL, under the Subject “Mental Health Psychosocial Support and Protection Capacity Building Expert” to

[email protected]

Deadline for the receipt of applications is Wednesday, 10th April, 2024.

Due to the urgency of this position, applications may be sorted on a rolling basis.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for a written test and oral interview.

Please state the position applied for on the subject line of your email.

Action Against Hunger is an equal opportunity employer.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply

2.) Food Security and Livelihood/Climate Change Deputy Program Manager

JOB ADVERT  

Food Security and Livelihood/Climate Change Deputy Program Manager  

 (National Status) 

Action Against Hunger is an equal opportunity employer Women are strongly encouraged to apply 

ABOUT US :

International Non-governmental organization, Action Against Hunger has been working to fight undernutrition and support communities affected by crisis across the globe for almost 40 years and across nearly 50 countries. Action Against Hunger established its presence in both Liberia and Sierra Leone in 1991 during the Civil War and since then has been operational in the two countries by implementing various humanitarian and development programs related to health, nutrition, food security/livelihoods and advocacy geared towards the reduction of the prevalence rates of undernutrition in both countries. The Sierra Leone Coordination office is based in Freetown, Sierra Leone overseeing the operations in Bonthe and Moyamba.

Action Against Hunger is recruiting a suitably qualified Sierra Leonean as Food Security and Livelihood/ Climate Change Deputy Program Manager to assist the Program Manager in planning, implementing, supervising, monitoring and reporting the project’s activities related to Food Security and Livelihoods and Climate Change 

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES : 

⮚ Support the PM in planning, implementing, and reporting the Project 

• Assists the PM in planning, supervising, monitoring and reporting the implementation of the various projects’ activities using Action Against Hunger tools (Activity Progress Report, budget follow-up, etc)
• Contribute in preparing M&E tools, plans and reports;
• Assists the PM in ensuring efficient coordination between the project partners (three partners) and project staff
• Prepares action plans, and regularly follows up activities – Conduct to the monthly budget follow-up and forecast.
• Responsible for the implementation in the working sites of the safety measures/rules for both Action Against Hunger team and the populations/public.

• To ensure sex disaggregation in all project reports (APRs, Donor reports)
• Ensure the inclusion of boys, girls, women and men in all project implementation especially in Action Against Hunger supported communities
• Contribute to develop gender-integrated annual work plans to include the gender objectives, activities to achieve the objectives, and indicators to measure progress toward the achieving the objectives for all staff.
• Demonstrate experience and/or personal commitment to promoting gender equality within the Action Against Hunger working environment
• Ensure that project activities are carried out with cultural sensitivity, promote gender equality and inclusion of marginalized groups;
• Work with field teams to ensure access and participation of women, men, girls and boys at risk to Action Against Hunger interventions
• Conduct Gender leadership trainings for project staff, community leaders and target communities, beneficiaries;
• Include gender lens and component in to all trainings for beneficiaries, project staff and partner staff
• Conduct training to raise awareness of the gender equality, equity and poverty dimensions
• Support local stakeholders in organizing and carrying out advocacy and campaign for greater gender equality and equity in social protection programmes
• Engages with State and local Women’s rights organizations and mobilize collective voice around gender discrimination in the post conflict setting

Proactively represent Action Against Hunger and participate in Gender working groups 

Gender Action Activities: 

• Ensure the inclusion of youth and women in the project in all project implementation especially in AAH supported communities;
• Help ensure all aspects of Action Against Hunger activities adhere to program quality standards and policies (accountability and mainstreaming) in a coherent and integrated manner.
• Ensure that gender considerations are made with participants of projects to have clear statistics on gender inclusion.

Others 

• Help ensure all aspects of Action Against Hunger activities adhere to program quality standards and policies (accountability and mainstreaming) in a coherent and integrated manner.
• Ensure the highest stands of accountability through ensuring good communication and information sharing within the organisation.
• Be aware of, understand, and comply with all of Action Against Hunger’s policies and procedures.
• Contribute to ongoing security management and planning as necessary.
• Actively participate in any emergency response if called upon to do so (within the existing programme area or in a new one).
• Undertake other related duties as may reasonably be assigned by the MEAL Manager, Field Manager, Health and Nutrition Program Manager, Food Security and Livelihood Manager.
• Ensure timely filling and submission of ACF timesheets

QUALIFICATIONS 

• University degree, a Master’s degree highly preferred (Rural Development, Agriculture or equivalents) + professional experience in implementing Food Security and Livelihoods projects (particularly related to Agriculture) and Climate Change.

REQUIRED SKILLS 

• Knowledge humanitarian principles – Analytical capacity – Good communication with other
• Training experience  – Good knowledge of English – Good level of skill using Microsoft Office
• Knowledge of Agriculture (particularly nutrition sensitive agriculture)  – Budget management capacities – Capacities to monitor and report on activities – Management skills.
• Ability to work with and support different teams
• Willingness and ability to travel to remote project areas
• Experience in implementing climate change projects in a developing country context
• Other preferred skills: Knowledge of Bonthe District (context and languages), ability to ride a motorbike.

WORK CONDITIONS

STARTING DATE: May 2024 

MONTHLY BASIC SALARY: 7,714.01SLE  

HOUSING AND TRANSPORT ALLOWANCE: 15% of basic salary each 

DURATION OF CONTRACT: Nine (9) Months, with possible  extension

LOCATION: Mattru Jong – Bonthe, with possible travels to Moyamba, Freetown and other field areas 

HOW TO APPLY:

Send Motivation Letter, CV saved in your name – for example (Joe Blue CV) for your CV, and (Joe Blue Motivation Letter) for your motivation letter, with names of three (3) referees by EMAIL,

under the Subject  “FSL DPM”  to

[email protected] 

Deadline for the receipt of applications is Wednesday 10th April 2024.  

Due to the urgency of this position, applications may be sorted on a rolling basis. 

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for a written test and oral interview. 

Please state the position applied for on the subject line of your email.

Action Against Hunger is an equal opportunity employer. 

Women are strongly encouraged to apply