Consultant To Design Lebanon Field Office Referral System

UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST – UNRWA   UNRWA is the United Nations agency responsible for the protection, care and human development of a population of some 4.6 million Palestine refugees living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and the Syrian Arab Republic. The Agency is committed to assisting Palestine refugees in maintaining a decent standard of living, acquiring appropriate knowledge and skills, enjoying the fullest possible extent of human rights, and leading a long and healthy life. UNRWA is by far the largest UN operation in the Middle East with over 29,000 staff. Most of the staff members are refugees themselves, working directly to benefit their communities – as teachers, doctors, nurses or social workers. Consultant to design Lebanon Field Office Referral System   Location Lebanon Field Office Type of Appointment Consultant Deadline for Application 04 November 2014 Vacancy Announcement Number 943/2014 Department/Division Office of the Director – Programme Support Office    BACKGROUND INFORMATION The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is mandated to respond to the needs and protect the rights of Palestine refugees, including the provision of education, health care, and relief and social services to over 5 million Palestine refugees in the region. In Lebanon there are 455,000 registered Palestine refugees out of which 280,000 living inside the country in one of the 12 camps within a very challenging context characterized by poverty, displacement, exclusion, isolation, conflict and emergencies impacting significantly upon their psychosocial well-being and development. The arrival of additional refugees from Syria (over 53,000 as of May 2014) has greatly increased the burden on UNRWA’s already stretched services and has added to the social pressure among refugees. This situation triggered discussions on the Agency‘s urgent need to start providing an environment that fosters the psychosocial wellbeing of the refugees and provides support to those who need it especially that UNRWA, through its various services, has the opportunity to affect the life of the Palestinian refugee at all stages.    To that end, the Agency has decided to adopt a comprehensive and consistent approach to the provision of mental health and psychosocial support. Given that psychosocial support is not housed in one project, but is the responsibility of all of the programmes, a significant focus will have to be placed on ensuring that this approach is coordinated with the inputs and cooperation of all departments.   Currently, UNRWA Lebanon Field Office (LFO) is taking concrete steps to establish and implement a sustainable initiative to mainstream psychosocial support within all programs and departments (education, health, relief and social services, and protection) through defining a clear psychosocial support strategy and work plan that utilizes the existing tools and programs at UNRWA, designing a solid external and internal referral system and building the capacities of its frontline staff.   PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE CONSULTANCY AND MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES The purpose of this consultancy is to identify needs for referral that mainly focus onpsychosocial support and mental health in addition to related areas like recreational activities, Gender Based Violence (GBV), special needs, persons with disability...etc. and design a referral system for Palestinian Refugees at both the internal level within UNRWA and external level (partners, UN....etc.).   In accordance with established Agency policy and procedures, The consultant is responsible of conducting the following tasks:   For the internal referral system:   (A)     Map and assess services provided by UNRWA departments (Health, Protection, Education and Relief and social services). (B)     Assess any possible weaknesses and identify missing services that will be required for the referral system. (C)     Design and describe in details the structure of referrals for different services. This should include clear identification about people’s roles, responsibilities, paths, cycle and tool (forms …) (D)     Coordinate with UNRWA HQ to ensure alignment with UNRWA policies and initiatives. (E)     Identify and describe necessary steps to put the referral system in place and involve staff into its use (database, training, implementation mechanisms…).   For the external system:   (F)      Identify potential partners, provide advice on UNRWA’s cooperation with them and assess their readiness to collaborate with UNRWA and on which terms. (G)     Supervise and coordinate the work of experts in UNRWA undertaking 4Ws assessment. (H)     Gather existing data and information in addition the 4Ws exercise to identify. (I)        On the basis of this, design the external referral system. Describe in detail the structure of referrals, including a clear identification about roles, responsibilities, paths, cycle and tools (forms…). (J)       Suggest a method for the follow up of cases within the designed referral system.   This work should be done in complementary with the Lebanon Field Office’ Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS): Strategy. Moreover, the necessary additions to the document should be made to fully integrate the referral system, structures and systems throughout the document.   COORDINATION -          The consultant will closely coordinate with the GIZ consultant who provides technical expertise and supports UNRWA in developing an overall vision with regard to psychosocial support. The consultant will regularly communicate and reflect with the GIZ consultant on the progress of the consultancy and integrate suggestions about the future referral system developed in the training with UNRWA staff currently being carried out by the GIZ team. -          The consultant will coordinate and inform regularly the Program Support Office (PSO) at UNRWA Lebanon Field Office. This coordination will take place also through regular (weekly or biweekly meetings) with the Psychosocial Support Strategy and Referral System Working Board (Review attached Annex).   DELIVERABLES -          Mapping of all UNRWA internal services. -          List of potential partners including an advice for strategic partnership. -          A detailed structure of the external and internal referral system including identification of people responsible, their roles and responsibilities to a clear plan on how to put it in place. The successful and coherent integration of internal and external referral structures and systems into the Lebanon Field Office’ MHPSS strategy.   TIME FRAME This consultancy will be conducted on a full time basis over a period of maximum four months distributed as follows:   Three months (or less) to finalize the proposed tasks and the remaining time allocated to revision, comments and final approvals on all documents produced.   PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES (A)   Academic and Professional        Advanced University degree in Psychology, Public Health, Social Sciences or any other related field.   (B)   Experience i)      At least ten years of experience in MHPSS (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support) and/or Public Health at the academic level, research, and/or planning/implementation of related programmes. ii)     Demonstrated good knowledge of UNRWA mandate and services for Palestine refugees in Lebanon. iii)   Knowledge and demonstrated experience in working with the global MHPSS standards and guidelines [such as WHO (World Health Organisation), IASC (Inter-agency Standing Committee)…] and experience in their implementation. iv)    Experience carrying out methods of comprehensive mental health and psychosocial support assessments. v)     Experience in strengthening mental health service provision systems (such as development of processes and protocols, referral pathways, filing and data systems)   (C)   Language        Excellent command of both English and Arabic.   (D)   Skills and Competencies i)      Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. ii)     Good organizational skills. iii)   Motivation and commitments. iv)    Flexibility and ability to work under difficult security conditions and with little resources.     CONDITIONS OF SERVICE Salary: As per relevant salary scale. Contract Duration: four months (estimated) – not extendable. (Only on no-cost basis if needed)   EQUIVALENCY Candidates with an equivalent combination of relevant academic qualifications, professional training and progressive work experience may also be considered.   GENERAL INFORMATION UNRWA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications equally from men and women. It is Agency Policy to give full consideration to qualified disabled candidates whose disability does not impact their ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of the post. Priority will be given to fully qualify registered Palestinian refugees. Prior to the commencement of services, the consultant shall confirm and acknowledge in writing, and provide proof of the existence of, self-procured adequate private insurance against medical, disability and accident for the duration of the contract. As a member of the United Nations system, UNRWA maintains a close relatives’ policy.  In this regard, if a candidate has a close relative (mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter) who is already employed by the Agency, he/she can only be employed if the Agency is unable to find another suitable candidate.   UNRWA staff members with fixed term appointments may apply for any consultant/contractor consultancy while in service. Upon selection, a staff member may be offered the consultant/contractor contract upon resignation from fixed term appointments and a three month break-in-service. Candidates who are no longer employed by the Agency must have a minimum of 3 months break-in-service, before they apply to any consultant/contract positions.   UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for human rights, for diversity, and for non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNRWA staffs are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking working environment. الأونروا هي منظمة تابعة للأمم المتحدة، وهي منظمة تفترض من موظفيها الالتزام بأعلى معايير الاستقامة والحياد والنزاهة. ويشمل ذلك احترام مبادئ حقوق الإنسان واحترام التنوع وتبني الوسائل غير العنيفة في حل كافة أشكال النزاعات.  المتوقع من موظفي الأونروا أن يقوموا بدعم هذه القيم في كافة الأوقات، سواء في أماكن العمل أم خارجه. إن أولئك الأشخاص الذين يتمتعون بالالتزام الكامل وغير المشروط بهذه القيم هم فقط الذين ينبغي أن يتقدموا بطلباتهم للعمل لدى الأونروا. الأنروا هي بيئه عمل لا يسمح فيها بالتدخين.   As an Area post, preference will be given to local candidates already based in the duty station of the post.   TECHNICAL & PRACTICAL TESTS REQUIRED Not applicable.   INTERVIEW Only Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview.    HOW TO APPLY If you have the skills and experience required above, and want to make an active and lasting contribution to improving the lives of Palestine refugees, then register on http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing the UNRWA Personal History Form; it is the responsibility of the candidates (internal and external) to make sure that their Personal History Form is duly completed with the needed information before they apply as amendments to the Form will not be accepted after the deadline of the vacancy announcement. Only applications received through this website will be considered and the system will not allow applications after the deadline. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Candidates may also be invited to take a technical exam in order further evaluate their qualifications for the post. Due to a high volume of applications received, only short-listed applicants will be contacted –“سيتم الإتصال فقط بالأشخاص الذين تنطبق عليهم متطلبات الوظيفة”. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. The United Nations does not concern itself with information on bank accounts. For any queries please send an email to: recruitmentquestions@unrwa.org. Please apply as requested above, do not send your CV To this email address, all cvs sent to this email address will be automatically ignored. يرجى تقديم الطلبات حسب التعليمات اعلاها وعدم ارسال السيرة الذاتية الى هذا البريد الالكتروني, سيتم تجاهل السير الذاتية التي ترسل الى هذا العنوان تلقائيا. or contact the recruitment unit on 009611840490.   Date of issue: 15 October 2014