Programme Management Specialist (Psycho-Social Support) - Retainer

Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT)

LIFT is embarking on a new strategic period for 2024 - 2028. The LIFT 2024-2028 Strategy builds on the achievements of LIFT's experience as well as recent adaptations and learning in the face of a changing and dynamic context. The new Strategy outlines an approach to tackle structural drivers of poverty and vulnerability, while also considering immediate interventions to secure and maintain Myanmar's previous development gains. LIFT has proven itself as a key delivery partner across Myanmar’s changing contexts – ranging from post-Nargis recovery, a time of political transition, and relief support during COVID-19. LIFT is managed by the United Nations Office for Projects Services (UNOPS) and has received funding from 16 international donors. The current donors are the United Kingdom, the European Union, Switzerland, Australia, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and Denmark.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment 

The effects of the ongoing political crisis have taken a significant economic and psychological toll on Myanmar society as a whole. The consequences of lost income and rising poverty, political turmoil and violence, displacement, and widespread illness and death are placing enormous strain on individuals, families, and communities. Such stresses are compounded by increased levels of gender-based violence, substance abuse, human trafficking, and other criminal activities. In the absence of systematic and comprehensive social protection mechanisms, and psychosocial support services in Myanmar have been a neglected issue. In the aftermath of the coup, more and more individuals are experiencing depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Traditional forms of social support, especially family and community, are severely strained, leaving an increasing number of individuals without much needed support.

LIFT has worked with its Implementing Partners to respond to this worsening situation by providing a range of social protection support and life-saving humanitarian measures, including cash transfers, food assistance, and psycho-social support at communities level.  LIFT recognizes that such short term measures will need to be expanded in a more structured and systematic approach in order to meet the increasing needs of vulnerable individuals, families, and communities and mitigate the adverse  impacts of the current political crisis.  LIFT intends to accomplish this by expanding its support for locally led social protection and humanitarian measures by working through CSOs and CBOs partners. 

In this regard, LIFT is seeking to engage one national expert on a retainer basis to provide a range of activities that inform and advise both the LIFT FMO and IPs about the most effective ways to provide psycho-social support to LIFT target communities. The psycho-social services (PSS) retainer will serve as an important technical and advisory resource for both the LIFT FMO and Implementing Partners. The primary objective for the PSS Retainer position is to provide technical support for implementing partners that provide psycho-social services. Such support may include case-specific consultations, technical back-up and/or programme advisory services, training and capacity strengthening services (e.g., counseling, case management), and programme design and implementation advice.  

The second objective for the PSS retainer position is to provide technical support and programme advisory services for the LIFT FMO, including team leads and programme officers who are engaging with IPs that provide this type of support. Such support may include awareness raising and training about psycho-social support approaches, as well as advice about project design and implementation. Importantly, such support and advice will address cross-cutting issues pertaining to gender and conflict sensitivity.

A third objective for the PSS retainer position concerns technical support for M & E, documentation, knowledge dissemination, and advocacy. The PSS retainer position will engage with IPs, POs, and the LIFT M & E units to help develop monitoring and evaluation tools as needed. The information obtained with such tools will in turn inform LIFT efforts to document need, impact, and lessons learned reporting for the LIFT FMO, FB, and other stakeholders. Such information will also help inform LIFT’s advocacy efforts regarding psycho-social needs with donors and other development partners as well as inform the broader public. 

LIFT is seeking specialist input for its work in social protection, in particular on support for psycho-social services provision, strategic planning, and advocacy. This is relevant at sub-national levels in areas that are affected by ongoing political conflict. The LIFT geographic programmes have several partners/projects providing this type of support and services for vulnerable individuals, families, and communities.     

This support will be managed within the overall guidance of the Fund Board and Fund Director, working closely with relevant LIFT FMO personnel and LIFT’s implementing partners. 

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Specialist (Social Protection and Cash Programming) who oversees LIFT Social Protection portfolio and in accordance with UNOPS policies, procedures and practices, the post holder shall work on the following tasks:   

Support the quality and effectiveness of LIFT-supported interventions 

• Provide advice  and support LIFT’s implementing partners to address psycho-social services in the design, implementation and evaluation phases of projects; 

• Provide advice, training, and awareness-raising for LIFT FMO staff and consultants as well as implementing partners;

• Provide advice and support for LIFT-funded projects to integrate psycho-social support services into monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning plans; 

• Provide advice and support the preparation of appraisals of project proposals that include psycho-social services. 

Strategic direction and planning 

• Advise and support the analysis and direction setting of LIFT’s psycho-social support work, with particular consideration to multi-sectoral progress, inter-agency collaboration, and advocacy; 

• Liaise closely with relevant colleagues in LIFT and in key social protection partner agencies (e.g., UNICEF, UNFPA, Save the Children) and CSOs, including women organizations,  as well as with inter-agency coordination efforts, such as the UN MHPSS Working Group;  

• Provide guidance and support the development of a learning agenda for psycho-social services in conflict-affected areas;  

• Develop documents for and input to LIFT’s planning processes in social protection, including written briefings;  

• Liaise closely with the other Funds (Access to Health, HARP, MHF, JPF) to maximise synergy and coherence. 

Research and Advocacy 

• Contribute to the development, implementation, and/or review of LIFT-supported research concerning psycho-social issues and trends in Myanmar;  

• Provide on request updates to the FMO and FB about psycho-social related trends, including mapping and tracking psycho-social services provided by other actors in Myanmar;  

• In collaboration with the social protection, policy, M&E and communication units, support the development and dissemination of key psycho-social related lessons for key stakeholders based on LIFT’s portfolio of psycho-social support services. 

• Engage with other psycho-social and social protection service providers to share technical expertise and information;

• In collaboration with LIFT’s social protection and policy team, contribute to the development and implementation of LIFT’s psycho-social advocacy efforts in Myanmar. 

Methodology and Deliverables 

The retainer will receive a task note each time a requirement is identified. The Task note will specify the dates, duration, and deliverables.

• A Master's degree in Clinical Counseling, Social Work,Psychology, or a subject relevant to the ToR is required.
• Additional two years of similar experience with a Bachelor’s Degree is considered equivalent. 

Work Experience 

• A minimum of 5 years professional experience in psycho-social related services is required; 

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of gender-sensitive psycho-social programme development and implementation is required; 

• Professional experience and an understanding of psycho-social services in conflict and disaster situations is required;

• Proven track record of producing high quality written reports and other materials pertaining to psycho-social support services is an asset; 

• Demonstrated ability to work with and influence advocacy efforts is an asset, preferably in social protection and psycho-social support services;  

• Experience in social protection and psycho-social services advocacy analysis and engagement is preferred; 

• Experience working with a wide range of service providers and local partners is preferred. 

Language  

• Excellent skills in both written and spoken Burmese are essential, good English writing and spoken skills are important.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.