Consultant - PSS Women Empowerment

Job Description

BACKGROUND TO THE ASSIGNMENT:

International Medical Corps is implementing integrated protection activities in the Northern and Eastern regions of Afghanistan. Our protection teams include protection of women and girls, MHPSS and CP staff, which operate in integrated centres in six provinces. The interventions have been adapted to the current context, but there is a need for more structure to the group’s psychosocial support activities. Current awareness raising is focused on general protection issues, health information and the services available to address them, linked with quotes from Muslim texts. We would like to formalize this messaging further. International Medical Corps will facilitate necessary contacts and focal points, and key technical program leads including Protection, MHPSS and CP Coordinators as well Deputy Country Director and other key staff and stakeholders such as Protection Cluster and relevant AoR Sub-Cluster, UNFPA. International Medical Corps will also help collect any feedback as possible and deemed necessary from women who attend group activities.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The Consultant will bring their expertise and knowledge of protection of women and girls concerns, prevention and response programming to develop guidance to be used in messaging and develop a PSS curriculum for closed group activities for women. Incorporating group psychosocial support in women and girls’ safe spaces (WGSS) and basic awareness raising. The consultant will advise as to where guidelines such as Rethinking Domestic Violence (Raising Voices), Women Rise (IRC), Arab Women Speak Out (IRC), EMPOWER (IRC), can be included given the Afghan context. The Consultant will work closely with the Protection on women and girls concerns Coordinator in Afghanistan and the Protection women and girls concerns Advisor to develop a PSS curriculum for closed group activities for women. The final products should be:

1. One guidance for closed group activities (at least 9-12 weeks).
2. One set of guidance for awareness raising information sheet on protection  of women and girls concerns   which is linked to Islam/health related topics for open group activities

SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

• Review International Medical Corps’ former guidance and resources related to group PSS in Afghanistan for protection of women and girls’ concerns Identify if any of the materials can still be used.
• Desk review of other material from national and global levels such as Rethink Domestic Violence (Raising Voices), Women Rise (IRC), Arab Women Speak (IRC), PSS Curriculum (UNFPA Afghanistan), and various other materials from Raising Voices, CARE, IMC etc.
• Interview select staff, including the Protection Coordinator, Protection National Manager, Deputy CD, MHPSS Coordinator, Child Protection Coordinator, and AoR sub-cluster coordinator, to mention a few and as necessary, to understand practical needs and local challenges.
• Develop tools to get feedback from women participants on topics as necessary/feasible.
• Draft plans for developing guidance.
• Draft a Group PSS Guidance, including relevant tools/annexes, for review by IMC Afghanistan, and HQ (expecting 2 drafts).
• Draft set of guidance for awareness raising linking Islam/health messages with Protection of women and girls (2 drafts)
• Finalize Protection of women and girls concerns    PSS Guidance and Awareness Raising Sheets, and all necessary tools/annex.
• All documents will be in English. Translation to relevant Afghan languages will be done by IMC Afghanistan

Requirements

• Bachelor in relevant field required, Master’s degree preferred
• Specialist-level experience with women in emergency programming, and particularly Women and Girls Safe Spaces activities.
• Familiarity with global guidance on group PSS
• Experience developing group PSS guidance and tools.
• The consultant has a minute understanding of Islam and women’s rights/empowerment.
• Experience with human cantered approaches to design.
• Knowledge of Afghan culture, and time spent in the country.
• Experience implementing group PSS activities
• Experience delivering protection of women and girls   programs and/or survivor support services in Afghanistan.
• Excellent writing skills
• Ability to synthesize technical information and standards into succinct and practical guidance and tools
• Committed to humanitarian principles and principles and approaches of protection of women and girls programming
• Ability to work independently
• Strong organizational and time management skills

Language(s)

• Excellent English writing skills are required.
• Ability to communicate in Pashto and/or Dari beneficial

CODE of CONDUCT

As applicable to this position, an individual must promote and encourage a culture of compliance and ethics throughout the organization and maintain a clear understanding of International Medical Corps’ and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards. Staff are also responsible for preventing violations to our Code of Conduct and Ethics, which may involve Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption or Harassment. If you see, hear or are made aware of any violations to the Code of Conduct and Ethics or Safeguarding Policy, you have an obligation to report. If this is a supervisory position, one must set an example of ethical behavior through one’s own conduct and oversight of the work of others; ensure that those who report to you have sufficient knowledge and resources to follow the standards outlined in the Code of Conduct & Ethics; monitor compliance of the people you supervise; enforce the Code of Conduct & Ethics and International Medical Corps’ policies, including the Safeguarding Policy and the Protection from Harassment, Bullying and Sexual Misconduct in the Workplace Policy, consistently and fairly; support employees who in good faith raise questions or concerns.

SAFEGUARDING

It is all staff shared responsibility and obligation to safeguard and protect populations with whom we work, including adults who may be particularly vulnerable and children. This includes safeguarding from the following conduct by our staff or partners: sexual exploitation and abuse; exploitation, neglect, or abuse of children, adults at risk, or LGBTI individuals; and any form of trafficking in persons.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

International Medical Corps is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.

About the Organization

A A preeminent first responder, International Medical Corps provides emergency relief to those struck by conflict, disaster and disease—no matter where they are, no matter what the conditions—working with them to recover, rebuild and gain the skills and tools required for self-reliance. After the emergency has passed and our disaster-relief effort has ended, we shift from emergency medical response to long-term medical support and training. We provide resources and training to help local staff provide a range of services—including healthcare, food, water and sanitation support—to their communities.

At International Medical Corps, job satisfaction means immunizing the children of an entire village against polio. It means caring for people who have fled their homes and have little more to their names than the clothes they wear. It means training local nurses, doctors and healthcare workers to provide quality care long after a crisis has subsided. Whether at our headquarters offices or in the field, International Medical Corps offers a wide variety of rewarding opportunities for professionals at all stages of their careers. preeminent first responder, International Medical Corps delivers emergency medical and related services to those affected by conflict, disaster and disease, no matter where they are, no matter what the conditions. We also train people in their communities, providing them with the skills they need to recover, chart their own path to self-reliance and become effective first responders themselves.