Psychosocial Support (PSS) Officer at Grassroot Researchers Association (GRA) – 3 Openings

Grassroots Researchers Association (GRA) is a nonprofit and non-political rights-based organization registered in 2016 with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria as a local content hub aimed at facilitating evidence- based grassroots initiatives and actions that promote development, justice and victims support in the communities. Our mission is to be an active grassroots mobilizer towards improving the total quality of human life and social justice in Nigeria. Our programmes are spread across Climate Change, Conflict, Security and Justice, Social Economic Development and Governance. For more information, visit: www.grassrootresearchers.org

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Psychosocial Support (PSS) Officer

Reference Number: CGE -PSS/BAY/2022/002
Location: Maiduguri – Borno, Yola – Adamawa & Damaturu – Yobe
Employment:Type: Full Time
Duty Station: BAY – States
Project Duration: 5 Months

National Consortium Partners

• Centre for Girls Education (GCE)The Center for Girls’ Education (CGE) is a non-governmental organization that has been advancing the education of adolescent girls in Northern Nigeria’s rural communities since 2007. They specialized in innovative programming, advocacy, research, and strategic partnerships to create a safe space for girls to express themselves without fear of judgment or intimidation in a confidential setting and to increase girls’ educational attainment, build girls’ voice, and promote their future vocational aspirations.
• Grassroots Researchers Association (GRA) is a non-profit organization which facilitates community-led initiatives promoting gender equality and advancing the status of women and girls in northern Nigeria. GRA partners with local and international NGOs to support victim-led initiatives to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, particularly survivors of CRSV, female genital mutilation/circumcision, E/FM, as well as persons living with disability in north east Nigeria.
• The Youth Initiative Against Terrorism(YIAT, formerly YOCAT) is a youth NGO that aims to weaken the appeal of Boko Haram in northern Nigeria through counter-radical peace education, skills training for vulnerable youth, and counselling services to victims of terrorism. Formed in 2010 as a volunteer-led network, the majority of their volunteers were themselves victims of terrorism.

Project Background

• The Global Survivors Fund(“GSF”) was launched in October 2019 by Dr. Mukwege and Ms. Nadia Murad. Its mission is to enhance access to reparations for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence around the globe, responding to a gap long identified by survivors of such violence.Theaim of funding this projectis to act, advocate and guide states and civil society organisations to enhance access to reparations to all survivors.
• In Nigeria, thousands of girls and young women have been abducted, including from their schools, such as was the case in Chibok and Dapchi, others from their homes, villages and on the way to school. In slavery, the girls are subjected to horrendous ordeals, including systematic sexual violence, often for prolonged periods. For girls no longer enslaved, the suffering and impact does not end after their captivity. Instead, they continue to experience a wide range of harmful repercussions, including stigma, rejection of their children born in captivity, and severe psychological and physical health problems.
• A mapping of the possible pathways for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence to resume their education in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, based on existing needs assessments Many girls cannot return to the schools they attended and from which they were abducted. Yet, theycanenroll in the formal education system or in adapted learning programmes tailored to their needs, in safe areas, if certain conditions are met. For some, it means accelerated learning or catch-up classes to finalize primary school or resume or start secondary school; for others this will involve attending vocational programmes and for yet others this means going to university.

Job Summary

• The Center for Girls Education (CGE), Grassroot Researchers Association (GRA), and Youth Initiative Against Terrorism (YIAT) have joined forces on this consortium scoping study, which is supported and funded by Global Survivor’s Fund (GSF).
• The PSS officer will coordinate with the volunteers and the research team in responding to the psychosocial needs of the survivors and work with the volunteers to facilitate referral to activities, advocacy and sensitization effort that prevent, mitigate, and respond to risk for safety and wellbeing of affected survivors. The PSS officer will train data collectors on working with survivors and PSS.

Key Responsibilities of PSS – Officer

• Conduct specific research-focused activities for psychosocial well-being and building resilience for the research participants (survivors).
• Mobilize survivors to launch empowering participation method that suit their interests, promote their psychosocial well-being and create an opportunity for their direct social engagement at the community level.
• Conduct emotional group support sessions for participants where necessary
• Provide basic counseling sessions to support survivors participating in the scoping activities to better cope with difficulties, and distress and enhance their resilience.
• Identify vulnerable participants in a need of protection or support and conduct referrals to the case management team and/or education team as appropriate.
• Establish and maintain positive and efficient relations with target beneficiaries, community members, humanitarian actors, and all the other key stakeholders for the successful delivery of PSS component.
• Prepare weekly activity schedule, keep a record of newly registered beneficiaries, fill beneficiaries’ daily attendance lists, and other reports as required by the line manager and ensure accuracy and timely submission.
• Conduct participatory monitoring activities to collect participants’ feedback and opinions on the quality and satisfaction of activities.
• Provide supervision, mentorship, and guidance to enumerator working with survivors
• Perform any other job-related duties as requested by the NRC

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

• University Degree in Psychology, Sociology, Social Studies, or any other related discipline.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in the field of GBV/Child Protection in emergencies with previous experience implementing psychosocial support activities in an NGO/INGO/UN
• Fluency in local languages and in English (speaking/reading/writing).
• Good analytical and writing skills.
• Good knowledge of MS office software package.

Most Preferred Skills:

• Good capacity building with good supervisory / team management skills.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently in a fast-paced environment
• Results-oriented, professional, accountable and proactive
• Attention to detail and ability to deliver to a deadline
• Must be able to work independently with little supervision
• Strong interpersonal and decision-making skills
• Excellent communication skills

Core Required Competency:

• Collaborative spirit
• Relationship Builder
• Analytical
• Strategic problem-solver
• Innovator
• Agile and flexible
• Active communicator.

Application Closing Date
4th July, 2022.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Applications to “the Joint Recruitment Committee (JRC)” via: centerforgirlchildeducation@gmail.com and copy: career@grassrootresearchers.org and admin@yiat.org using the Job Title and Reference Number as the subject of the mail.

Note

•  Any candidate who failed to correctly quote the reference number will be disqualified.
• All applicants must provide a curriculum vitae (4 pages maximum) with a one-page cover letter.
• Applications must be submitted as a single PDF or MS Word attachment by 12:00pm on July 4th, 2022. (WAT).
• Please be aware that this post can be filled before the application deadline. Applications would be evaluated continuously.
• Due to the high volume of applications submitted, only those selected for an interview will be notified.