Senior Gender, Protection and Mental Health Officer - Generic

1. Purpose

The Gender, Protection and Mental Health Senior  Officer is responsible for implementing gender, protection and mental health interventions, including General Protection and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response initiatives, within CARE's programming in Lebanon. This role emphasizes integrating GBV prevention and response with health services, particularly mental health and sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Key responsibilities include overseeing and contributing to the execution of inclusive field activities carried out by protection and health partner organizations, as well as CARE's direct activities, with a focus on gender equality, women's empowerment, social inclusion, and disability inclusion to ensure equal access for all participants. The Senior officer supports the Protection Manager, the coordinator and the gender and protection team in ensuring the quality implementation of protection project activities and the mainstreaming of gender and protection across CARE’s programs. The role involves effective coordination with implementing partners, providing capacity-building support on protection, gender, GBV and mental health following CARE’s global approaches and national sector guidelines. Additionally, the Senior officer manages quantitative reporting data, coordinates seamless field activities, upholds CARE's mission and values, and contributes to monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning efforts by reporting on program quality activities and supporting MEAL implementation in collaboration with the Gender and Protection Manager, GBV and PSEA specialist, Partner’s focal points and MEAL team, ensuring the confidentiality of beneficiary data in line with established guidelines. 

2. Reporting Lines

The Gender, Protection and Mental Health Senior officer will report to the Gender and Protection Manager on weekly achievements, challenges and recommendations and s/he will contribute to quantitative and narrative reports according to donor’s and CIL requirement. The Senior officer will also have doted lines to the Gender and Protection Coordinator and other PMs or Senior Officers for the mental health component. 

3. Organizational Relationship

The Gender, Protection and Mental Health Senior Officer will work closely with the CARE global health team as well as the Gender and GBV specialist under the supervision and guidance of the Gender and Protection Manager. He/ She will closely coordinate with MEAL, Project partners and implementation team.

4. Specific Duties & Responsibilities

Project Implementation: 
• Coordinate and Deliver trainings to CARE project partners, staff and volunteers on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment, Gender Mainstreaming, Protection, mental health and GBV Risk Mitigation.   
• Monitor Gender sensitive GRM mechanism.   
• Support in providing PSEA briefing sessions to project participants as needed.
• Support in Coordinating the implementation of a Safety Audit[HJ1.1][NK1.2].
• Coordinate with relevant focal points and lead on the dignity kits distribution activity.
• Raise Procurement Requests as advised by the Gender and Protection manager following the procurement plan and CARE’s guidance.
• Lead on the recruitment of Distribution volunteers.
• Coordinate field activities to ensure they run smoothly and effectively, resolving any issues that arise. 
• Capacitate and support project partners and Care staff on Gender and Protection principles through providing the needed guidance, SOPs, material etc.
• Coordinate closely with implementing partners to ensure adherence to Project timeline, objectives, targets and help mitigate risks while monitoring deliverables.
• Support Protection Manager in monitoring spending and updating budget forecast upon need.
• Commit to project workplan and ensure timely provision of services. 
• Support PMs to manage project delivery for mental health components, including making detailed project implementation work plans and budgets; procurement plan; monitoring mental health project activities and outputs and preparing donor reports.
• Support PMs to manage current partnerships with mental health partners and develop new ones with local health actors in keeping with principles of equitable partnership.
• Support the integration efforts of the MH and the Protection throughout all the project activities.
• Conduct regular visits to the implementing partners' premises and ensure proper support. 

Reporting: 
• Report on progress and achievement of activities and on relevant indicators of the M&E matrix and reporting tools.
• Develop narrative reports as per donor’s requirement.
• Report any protection concern and or trend. 
• Report to the coordinator any findings related to mental health sector and activities and observed trends in the field.
• Adherence to CARE's Principles: Uphold and promote CARE's mission, principles, and values in all activities and interactions.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL):
• Report on existing MEAL plans and program quality activities in a timely manner.
• Support the implementation of monitoring and evaluation activities in coordination with the Gender and Protection Manager, Partner’s focal points and the MEAL team.
• Ensure the confidentiality of beneficiaries’ data as per established guidelines.

External Representation and coordination:
• In close collaboration with the Gender and Protection manager and GBV and PSEA specialist, ensure CARE representation in relevant technical coordination meetings at field level, as well as liaise with external actors (local authorities, national/international NGOs, etc.).
• Maintain a strong and supportive relationship with regional agencies, partners and municipalities.
• Coordinate with other Health actors and service providers, and collect community input, to establish and strengthen referral pathways.
• Collaborate closely with CARE’s program quality staff (inside and outside Lebanon when needed) to ensure joined-up programming with a strong focus on gender and inclusion mainstreaming into MH activities. 

5. Qualifications

Skills
• Experience in working with communities from different backgrounds. 
• Experience in integrating Gender and Protection with other sectors, especially mental Health.
• Experience in providing Gender, protection and mental health related training.
• Experience in Protection and GBV activities, especially GBV Case Management, Survivor center approach, Cash assistance and Legal services. 
• Excellent knowledge of mental health standards 
• Experience in coordination with local implementing partners.
• Excellent organizational skills, with ability to prioritize tasks and adjust to constantly changing situations while maintaining focus on delivery and follow-through. 
• Excellent teamwork skills.
• Experience in reporting and consolidating reports.
• Ability to manage conflicts, work well and coordinate at a field level with partners/contractors and ensure a timely delivery of the proposed works. 
• Ability to build strong and credible relationships with partners, beneficiaries, CARE staff, beneficiaries, International/Local NGOs, local authorities, and communities. 
• Experience working in GBV and mental health integrated programs 

Knowledge
• Knowledge of CARE’s policies and commitment to gender equity and diversity 
• Knowledge of Child Safeguarding policy and PSEA (protection from sexual exploitation and abuse)

b. Experience

At least  3-5  years of relevant experience, especially at NGOs, academic organizations, Gender equality and Women empowerment, Protection, mental health, training provision on Gender mainstreaming with an understanding of the Lebanese socio-economic context.

c. Academic Background

Bachelor’s degree in one or several of the following areas: Gender studies, Anthropology, Human rights, Public health, social science, with a preference for a degree in psychology 

d. Languages

English and/ or Arabic are the working language of CARE International in Lebanon. 
Knowledge of other languages is an asset but not mandatory.

6. Other contract elements

Benefits: Social security/Health Insurance & Transport allowance.
The direct supervisor reserves the right to adapt this job description at any time during employment according to needs. 
Any extension of this contract is dependent on performance review and funding availability.

Safeguarding & Equal Opportunity

CARE International in Lebanon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
CARE International in Lebanon employees and related personnel abide by CARE International Safeguarding Policy. CARE has a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of abuse, including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, physical and emotional abuse, neglect, and child abuse.
CARE is an Equal Opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.