Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Policy Advisor

Our client is a unique and renowned UK center of expertise; an integrated team, building continental capacity for Peace Support Operations across Africa. A central pillar of their governance is the Gender Policy which articulates the organization's commitments towards Gender Equality and provides a framework for institutionalizing Gender Integration and Women, Peace and Security into all organization's activities and programmes. They are looking for an experienced Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Policy Advisor Consultant for a three-month period.

Responsibilities
- Liaise with our client's Liaison Officer to the AU
- Conduct stakeholder mapping to identify the primary influencers in the Peace Support Operations Department, African Union Commission and more broadly in Crisis Management Division
- Conduct research to understand the MHPSS deficit in Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) and articulate future requirements, making recommendations. Including the existing support and agencies available that can be signposted to.
- Provide several feasible, suitable and acceptable MHPSS policy options for PSOD/the organization's selection.
- Cost and programme selected MHPSS course of action, providing an implementation plan as a business case
- Draft PSOD MHPSS operating procedures.

Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, public health, or a related field.
- Initial Experience working in mental health services or community-based mental health projects.
- Knowledge of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support implementation in a large, multilateral institution
- Knowledge and experience of AU and / or UN Peace Support Operations and experience of the AU and its business practices and organization.
- Experience and knowledge of designing MHPSS policy and/or systems.
- Experience, and a deep understanding of MHPSS issues in complex settings
- Excellent communication skills in fluent English, including the ability to convey complex concepts and recommendations at senior level, both orally and in writing, in a clear, concise style.
- Experience delivering conflict-related projects in fragile conflict zones, preferably in more than one country and in Sub-Saharan Africa with African military within an integrated, civil-military approach.
- Experience of working closely with the UN and other international stakeholders