MdM / MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM COORDINATOR (M/F) - Lebanon

For more than 30 years, Médecins du Monde, a campaigning medical organisation committed to international solidarity, has been caring for the most vulnerable populations at home and abroad. It has continued to highlight obstacles that exist in accessing health care and has secured sustainable improvements in health-for-all policies. Those working for this independent organisation do not solely dispense care and treatment but condemn violations of human dignity and rights and fight to improve matters for populations living in precarious situations. 

MdM currently works in 46 countries across all continents where it focuses on 4 priority areas: caring for the health of migrants and displaced persons, promoting sexual and reproductive health, combating HIV and reducing the harm and risks associated with drug use, crises and conflicts. 

The goal of MdM in Jordan and Lebanon is to offer primary health care and psychological support for Syrian nationals fleeing the conflict in Syria. 

Since 15th of March 2011, following the demonstrations in Dera’a and then in the major cities of Syria, the situation has been worsening. Protesters demand the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad, the overthrow of his government, and an end to nearly five decades of Ba’ath Party rule. The conflict between the Syrian army and opposition resulted in massive displacements of populations within the country and, into adjacent countries, particularly to Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. 

In February 2012, MdM launched an exploratory missions in the three Syria neighboring countries, namely in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. The assessment focused on the humanitarian needs, MdM’s network as well as local medical partners’ revival, and possibility to preposition drugs & medical material to enter Syria as soon as possible. 

Following the assessments, the activities were expanded on Syrian borders, at the beginning of May 2012. MdM and its partners offer primary health care & psychosocial support services to refugees and displaced Syrian populations. Today, withthe large influx ofrefugees who have experiencedviolent situationsand stressfulevents, thehigh level of psychosocial & mental distress, and the risk of developingPTSD, MdM plans to continuean adequate responsein psycho-social support. The framework of this support is based on an evaluation performed by the Mental Health advisor of MdM in February 2013; and which will be adapted according to the evolving context and needs in the area of the Bekaa Valley. Based on the evaluation performed by the Mental Health Advisor of MdM in February 2013, MdM launched its MH Program in July 2013 aiming to integrate the mental health component into the PHC of MdM partners.

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Under the responsibility of the Medical Coordinator, as Mental Health Program Coordinator you are in charge of the implementation, follow up and supervision of the different psychosocial and mental health activities of MdM in Lebanon, as part of the comprehensive Primary Health Care package provided by MdM, through its partners, to the benefit of the Syrian refugees impacted by the crises in Syria. 

More specifically, you: 

1 - Program Management

• Provide technical support in mental health related issues to MdMs’ and partners’ medical staff 
• Organize, in consultation and coordination with International Organizations, WHO and MoH the capacity building for MDMs’ and partners’ medical staff in mental health through on the job and theoretical trainings 
• Keep and improve a referral system for psychosocial and mental health cases from the Primary to the Secondary level 
• Agree with the MdM Partners in the Bekaa and Mount Lebanon on the most appropriate strategy to outreach the refugees’ communities and organize the system of care and relevant referral to PHC or Second line facilities for further follow-up of patients requiring specialized Mental Health Care 
• Keep and improve the current data collection system for mental health activities according with the needs of reporting 
• Are in charge of the coordination with partners about the most appropriate psycho-social activities to be developed and proposed within the Mental Health care approach 
• Contribute to the overall planning, assessment and evaluation of the Mental Health component of the PHC programme implemented by MdM. 
• Ensure mental health components of the program is consistent and in link with the refugees’ community needs 
• Develop or adapt specific didactic materials for technical topics and capacity building activities 
• Centralize and report regularly all information regarding activities (data, monthly reports), respecting quality standards 
• Participate to the development of the general strategy on MdM activities with the General Coordinator, the Medical Coordinator and the team 
• Develop the strategy to implement the MH component in the partner’s PHC trough the capacity building (in service training) and supervison of partner’s MH Focal Point to ensure the sustainability of the integration of the MH component 
• Contribute to the Organizational Development support of MdM’s partner to integrate and develop the MH component in its structure and in its long term strategy 

2 - Team management

• Participate/ensure the recruitment of national para-medical staff (as per the requirements), definition of the job description, interview the candidates, train the new staff, evaluate their performance 
• Support and supervise national mental health staff 
• Emphasize on capacity building of the national medical team especially 

3 - Coordination with UN agencies, NGOs, local medical authorities and local authorities 
Participate to specific coordination meetings 

• Represents MdM towards health local authorities and national/international health partners regarding mental health and upon request from the Medical Coordinator 
• Participate to other strategic/coordination meeting under delegation of the medical coordinator 

This list of activities is not exhaustive and may change depending on the situation. 

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Starting ASAP 
• Duration: 12 months 
• Contract : EMPLOYEE (French contract) 
• Short term contract 

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE NEEDED:

• Licensed Psychologist 
• Experience in a similar position 
• Knowledge of public health issues, in relation to Mental Health in situation of conflict/civil war 
• Experience in negotiations with local authorities, partners and staff in difficult contexts is an asset 
• Ability to train national staff on mental health/social issues 
• Ability to take effective decisions according to the context 
• Capacity to create relationships with the communities 
• Ability to manage a team 
• Patience 
• Ability to transfer competences and provide capacity building 
• Reactivity, anticipation, adaptability and capacity to take initiatives to changing requirements 
• Organisational skills, rigor 
• Ability to synthesise 
• Listening and diplomacy skills 
• Good writing and communication skills inside the team and from widely-varied organizations and agencies 
• Team spirit 
• Interest for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law 
• Respectful of a traditional Muslim society 
• You will be committed to MdM’s values as an organisation and be motivated by its non-statutory, Not-For-Profit model 
• Languages: Fluent English (oral and written) mandatory 

MdM stands up for the integration of people living with disabilities and fights against discrimination.

To apply this position, please send a resume and a cover letter via this link. 

To have a look at all our vacancies.

« MdM reserves the right to close any vacancy before the advertised deadline. Thank you for your understanding. »