French-speaking MHPSS Technical Advisor

SOS Villaggi dei Bambini ETS is committed to ensuring that children and young people who cannot benefit from adequate parental care grow up in a situation of equality with their peers, realizing their full potential and the possibility of living an independent life. It has been operating for over 60 years in Italy and today runs 8 Programs and SOS Villages, in Trento, Ostuni, Vicenza, Saronno, Mantua, Turin, Crotone and Milan. SOS Villaggi dei Bambini takes cares for more than 2,600 people, including children, youth and families living in severe situations of hardship, and promotes the rights of more than 47,000 children and young people who benefit from its Advocacy activities. It is part of SOS Children’s Villages network, which supports about 3 million people in 136 countries and territories. At the international level, SOS Villaggi dei Bambini hosts and manages the Global Program Expert Group (GPEG) on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS).

French-speaking MHPSS Technical Advisor

The MHPSS Hub is looking for a French-speaking MHPSS Technical Advisor to support its operations in French-speaking countries, e.g. Haiti, Senegal, Togo. S/he will have an integral role in the development and conducting need assessments, designing ad hoc programmes for capacity MHPSS building/strengthening capacity – including the facilitation of training and supervision – and advising on service delivery.

Availability and type of contract: Consultant, 10 months (starting March 2025 until December 2025) Renewable until 2027.

Working Location: Flexible/Remote with travel to project countries (Haiti, Senegal, Mozambique, Togo, Bangladesh, Svezia…..)

Main Goals:
The Global Programme Expert Group on Mental Health and Psycho-social Support (GPEG on MHPSS), hosted by SOS Villaggi dei Bambini (SOS VdB), aims to mainstream Mental Health and Psycho-social Support (MHPSS) in various SOS Children’s Villages (SOS CV) programs. GPEG on MHPSS provides technical expertise for the quality implementation of MHPSS interventions across the federation, particularly in projects funded by institutions and corporate entities.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Operational support
• Act as main technical focal point for MHPSS in French-speaking MAs supported by the MHPSS Hub.
• Conduct needs assessments in collaboration with the appointed MHPSS focal persons in the French-speaking MAs (travel required, if safety conditions allow).
• Support the French-speaking MAs in developing their capacity building/capacity strengthening and/or their upscaling plans to integrate systematically MHPSS methodologies in their programmes.

Capacity building
• Provide in person/online training on evidence-based MHPSS methodologies for the detection, prevention and treatment of MHPSS problems.
• Provide training on foundational helping skills (FHS) and psychological first aid (PFA) for the staff working in selected MAs, both in humanitarian and development programmes.
• Ensure supervision and mentoring (both online and in presence, depending on availability/needs) as part of the learning trajectory of trained staff.

Knowledge generation and dissemination, partnerships and networking
• Support the efforts of the Research and Quality Advisor as well as of the assigned project managers in the collection of data and in the monitoring of project implementation in line with the Quality Assurance framework of the MHPSS Hub.
• Support in the collection of good practices, lessons learned and case studies to develop dissemination materials in various formats (e.g., brochures, articles, podcasts, short videos, etc.)
• Collaborate with the Partnership and Resource Mobilisation Advisor in designing project proposals for securing funds to support the upscaling, upskilling and capacity strengthening efforts of the MHPSS Hub in French-speaking countries.
• Create connections and partnerships with key actors that can support the work of the MHPSS Hub in the focus French-speaking countries, e.g. academia, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, international organisations, public entities, etc., including initiating efforts to liaise SOS country teams with the available Technical Working Groups.
• Contribute to the development of key MHPSS policy and advocacy key messages and briefings stemming from the implementation of MHPSS activities.

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Requirements:

• Advanced degree in Psychology, Mental Health or a related field
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in a similar capacity
• Excellent knowledge and experience in using key tools and approaches, including the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies
• Proven capacity to train, supervise, and coach staff in MHPSS technical skills and coordination, based on evidence-based approaches and intervention packages
• Ability to write clear and effective assessment and project reports
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances
• Experience of representation and ability to represent SOS Children’s Villages effectively in external forums
• Commitment to the aims and principles of SOS Children’s Villages. In particular, a good understanding of the SOS Children’s Villages mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support
• Fluent in French, spoken and written
• A high level of written and spoken English

Desirable:
• Experience working in emergency response, protracted crises or fragile state contexts
• Communication and influencing skills with experience in advocacy
• Experience in promoting children’s participation in programme design, implementation and evaluation.
• Good understanding of child protection and gender equality & inclusion