LWF World Service is the humanitarian and development arm of the Lutheran World Federation. We are a widely recognized, international, faith-based organization working in over 20 countries. We seek to bring people of all backgrounds together in the common quest for justice, peace, and reconciliation in an increasingly complex and fragmented world.
A commitment to the human rights of every individual, regardless of their status, guides our work, actions, and operations. We are particularly known for our timely, compassionate, and professional humanitarian work, and for our field presence in hard-to-reach areas. Our work is people-centered and community- based. Above all, we work with the most vulnerable, and in order to claim and uphold their rights, we engage proactively with local government and community structures.
LWF Uganda works closely with United Nations agencies (UNHCR, UNICEF, IOM, UNFPA, WFP), PRM, EU/ECHO, BFTW, etc. LWF Related and faith-based agencies and their back donors.
For additional information, please see www.lutheranworld.org/WorldService.
The LWF Uganda Program is looking for qualified and experienced person to fill the following position;
Consultancy Title: MHPSS specialist
Eligibility: National & International Candidates
No. of Positions: One (1)
Duty Station: Kyangwali, Lamwo, Obongi, Adjumani (Coordination in Kampala)
Reports Directly To: Country Representative, Program Coordinator, and Emergency Operations Manager
Indirectly To: Grants Manager & Protection Coordinator
Duration: 4- 6 Months
Deployment Date: ASAP
Background to Deployment.
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Uganda has committed itself in provision of humanitarian services to refugees, other displaced persons and host community, and has positioned itself to be a fast responder in complex emergencies in Uganda.
LWF has over the years implemented multi-sectoral humanitarian interventions with Protection, Community-Based Psychosocial Support and Livelihood as its flagship sectors, building the capacity of communities to take the major responsibilities by themselves. The main MHPSS interventions include among others:
Preparation of psychosocial support-focused project designs and activities
Provision of individual and group counselling and referral services (specialized MHPSS, livelihoods support, medical etc.)
Overseeing activities at the Women Safe Spaces, Child Friendly Spaces and with the community-based structures
Training of stakeholders, PoC and community-based structures
Peace building and social cohesion, support to extremely vulnerable individuals, prevention and response to GBV, Child protection support
MHPSS promotion, advocacy and awareness raising
Justification for deployment
Despite the fact that LWF Uganda has long legacy of implementing MHPSS across different locations, the expansion of the intervention to support thousands of additional refugees and host persons of concern (PoC), (especially considering the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and protracted displacement) creates considerable workload and stretches the existing capacities. More importantly, LWF Uganda foresees its unique strength in CBPS to have the potential to lead the MHPSS sector in refugee response and cross-border programming, ahead of mass voluntary returns to countries of origin.
The recent increase in suicide rates, necessitating more comprehensive protection support structures and community-based services in Northern Uganda has prompted LWF to strengthen its MHPSS efforts and to strategically position itself to become the leading agency in CBPS. This has created an urgent need for additional technical capacity to harmonize the approach across the country programme and its operational areas, to map the existing interventions/approaches/agencies and build the capacity of the stakeholders jointly with the PoC (in order to ensure sustainable programming that relies on the community-based structures and resource people to lead and create the change they wish to see during displacement, on the move and upon return).
Purpose of the assignment
The main objective of this deployment is to support LWF Uganda to increase the quality of MHPSS interventions through timely implementation of the relevant CBPS activities. The current interventions are carried out in Kyangwali, Adjumani, Lamwo and Palorinya with funding from several sources (UNHCR, UNFPA, PRM, GAC, CoS), benefiting over 500,000 refugees and host community members.
This calls for strengthened coordination between various projects within LWF, at district and national level, with frequent liaison with the MHPSS and Protection partners to ensure quality delivery of services and capacity building in CBPS as a cross-cutting component, while ensuring complementarity and comprehensive support.
Main tasks and Outputs
Review and develop harmonized MHPSS (CBPS in particular) approaches, strategies and design including practical action plans in LWF areas of refugee operations, in liaison with LWF protection coordinators and project heads, partner organizations (e.g., TPO, Tutapona, IRC, CARE) and national/district key stakeholders for improved coordination to avoid duplication of efforts and complementary utilization of resources.
Actual implementation of the action plan in areas of operation:
Map existing resources and services provided by LWF and other agencies, to scope for most strategic and effective area of expertise while ensuring the voices and needs of the PoC are captured to guide the process
Develop, formalize and oversee the harmonized CBPS design and LWF Uganda strategy paper, in collaboration and in consultation with the LWF advisors, technical personnel, and other stakeholders, with documentation of the processes for evidence-based learning
Roll out and oversee the capacity building and set-up of the CBPS structures at the field level, while maintaining the coordination body in Kampala head office
Verify the quality of LWF Uganda CBPS interventions, in coordination with key stakeholders, PoC, and LWF staff.
Capacity building of field staff through on-job training, coaching and mentoring, with ‘pairing approach’.
Liaison with donors, UNHCR and other stakeholders/partners at national, district and settlement level, as well as working groups for joint accountability and resource mobilization, with frequent information sharing also internally (progress updates to protection advisors, and UNHCR- and PRM-funded project team)
Proposed timelines for the deployment
The deployment shall be 4-6 months, depending on the available funding. The initial week will be spent in Kampala to discuss with management, the work plan and schedule for deliverables.
Reporting and management lines
LWF Uganda Country Representative, the Program Coordinator, and the Emergency Operations Manager are the primary authorities for the overall management of this deployment. Due to donor compliance and technical overview requirements, the Grants Managers and Protection Coordinator will require accountability against expected inputs (donor reporting, sectoral coordination), and while in the field, the line manager to handle day-to-day issues will be the sub program team leader.
The LWF Uganda Country representative shall ensure that the terms of the agreement are upheld, tasks prepared and outputs are produced at a satisfactory level.
Materials / information to be provided:
Project proposals including logframes, project designs and budgets (UNHCR, PRM, CLWR, CoS etc.)
Summary of the proposed/on-going/planned CBPS related activities
Child protection policy
CBPS manual
The Code of Conduct and LWF Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM)
Reporting templates
Other material (softcopy and hardcopy) available upon request
Education, Experience, Skills & Technical Competencies
The ideal candidate should possess a degree in Psychology or Psychiatry with extensive community-based psychosocial support programming and research experience;
Should have at least 2 years in setting up, monitoring or implementing psychosocial programs in humanitarian setting, with knowledge of other protection sub clusters (primarily child protection and SGBV)
Deep understanding and knowledge of (scalable) community-based psychological interventions and other mental healthcare activities conducted by community volunteers, and the interconnectedness with other sectors (especially GBV, CP, livelihoods and peace building)
Knowledge of training in, monitoring and evaluation of CBPS programs and approaches, as per Church of Sweden’s CBPS approach, desirable.
Cost and Terms of Payment
The consultant is expected to provide a detailed quotation to achieve the deliverables, Payment terms will be negotiated with the successful candidate and will include payment related to achievement of agreed and verifiable milestones.
Consultancy application procedure
Proposal Submission
Interested Consultants should submit both their technical proposal and financial proposal by October 18, 2021.
Cover page with name, address and contact information
Capability Statement – experience in conducting similar assignments along with supporting documents such as CVs including full contact details of three (3) professional referees.
The Capability Statement should be addressed to;
The Country Representative
Lutheran World Federation Uganda Program
Plot 1401, Ggabba Road, Nsambya
P.O Box 5827, Kampala- Uganda
Education, Experience, Skills & Technical Competencies as per the technical requirements above.
Security
Overall responsibility for safety, security and viability of this deployment lies with LWF Country Representative (see agreement).
The consultant will follow the LWF’s security rules and obey the LWF Country Representative’s security instructions. Security Briefing will be provided by LWF Head Office upon arrival.
Both Qualified National and International consultants are encouraged to apply.
LWF/DWS is an equal opportunity employer, irrespective of gender, race or religious affiliation. Female candidates possessing the above requirements are encouraged to apply. LWF/DWS is a signatory to the Code of Conduct for humanitarian agencies. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect the organization’s commitment to the prevention of abuse and exploitation of beneficiaries.