VCT Trainer

SKOUN is a Lebanese, non-profit, non-governmental organization and one of the first outpatient facilities that provide accessible treatment, education and protection for all people who use drugs while maintaining its values regarding inclusion, accessibility, integrity and dignity.

For 20 years, SKOUN has been caring for the most vulnerable populations in Lebanon and strives to ensure drug use and addiction are treated as primary health issues.

SKOUN aims to support the development of a community-based substance use and mental health system in line with the National Mental Health Strategy and model of care, tackling gender barriers in service access and gender biases in service provision through offering quality and gender-sensitive services to women, men, boys, girls and gender non-conforming individuals living in Lebanon, particularly the most vulnerable groups and people at risk.

Within the framework of the Middle East Response Project to Fight Tuberculosis (TB), HIV, and Malaria Grant, this project, "Strengthening HIV Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment Services in Beirut and Mount Lebanon," aims to strengthen HIV prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services among high-risk populations in Beirut and Mount Lebanon. Activities include Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) days, community outreach, TB screening for People Living with HIV (PLHIV), and awareness events such as World AIDS Day. The project also focuses on building the capacity of outreach workers to promote HIV-related services and combat stigma and discrimination.

Training Purpose:

Skoun is seeking to hire a trainer/facilitator to conduct a one-day refresher training session in June 2025. This session will be designed for outreach workers/VCT officers working on HIV prevention and harm reduction work.

Training Objectives:

• Build capacity in delivering voluntary HIV counseling and testing .
• Improve knowledge of harm reduction strategies and drug policy in Lebanon.

Scope of Work:

The trainer is expected to lead training sessions covering the following core modules:

1. Harm Reduction

1. Definition, goals, and principles
2. Types of harm and harm reduction vs. elimination
3. Advantages of harm reduction
4. Overview of harm reduction services in Lebanon
5. Drug criminalization and its impact
6. Practical examples and case studies

2. Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT)

• How to conduct a standard VCT session
• Ensuring confidentiality, consent, and stigma-free service delivery
• Referral pathways and usage of Skoun’s referral sheet
• Follow-up and linkage to care

Deliverables:

• Develop training schedule and agenda
• Pre- and post-tests for participant evaluation
• Harm reduction training guide
• Reporting/data collection templates for VCT services
• Final report summarizing training outcomes, challenges, and recommendations

Qualifications:

• Proven experience in harm reduction, HIV services, or public health
• Familiarity with Lebanon’s legal and community context around drug use and HIV
• Experience delivering inclusive, gender-sensitive training
• Fluency in Arabic and English preferred