Job description

TITLE: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Advisor
TEAM/PROGRAMME: PDQI LOCATION: Cairo
GRADE: 2  CONTRACT LENGTH: Calendar year, with possibility of renewal

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: (select only one)

Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g.

once a week or more) or intensively (e.g., four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Advisor is responsible for providing strategic and technical leadership for MHPSS programming in both development and humanitarian contexts. Under the general direction and guidance of the Director of Program Development, Quality and Impact, the role provides thematic leadership to ensure that MHPSS programming is evidence-based, well monitored, technically sound, and contributes to quality programming, donor engagement evidence generation, learning, advocacy, and program development. The post holder is expected to lead the development and periodic review of the MHPSS strategy and thematic plan aligned with the Country Strategic Plan; support sectoral and multi-sectoral assessments; guide program design, proposal development and master budgeting; provide overarching technical assurance, defining standards of integrated MHPSS program design and delivery, and supporting adherence to such standards in collaboration with fellow thematic advisors and senior operation roles; and represent Save the Children in relevant technical and Inter-agency fora. Collaborate with MEAL to ensure safe and accurate measurement and reporting of MHPSS results. The role also promotes integration of MHPSS across sectors including child protection, health, education, livelihoods, and social protection, while strengthening referral pathways, safeguarding, inclusion, and meaningful participation.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: PDQI Director

Staff reporting to this post: Technical program staff (dotted line)

Other collaboration: Continuous engage and collaborate with global and member MHPSS Advisors as needed.

Budget Responsibilities: No

Field Travel: The TA is expected to spend at least 30% of his/her time in the field in the governorates of Greater Cairo, Aswan, Alexandria, Minia and Assiut.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

Developing Strategy and Thematic Plan

· Lead the development, periodic review, and implementation of the country MHPSS strategy, thematic plans, and emergency preparedness priorities, ensuring alignment with the Country Strategic Plan and evolving contextual needs.

· Provide strategic leadership on the MHPSS component of the Country Strategic Plan, ensuring coherence across psychosocial support, focused non-specialized services, referral pathways, child protection, health, education, and other integrated programming priorities.

· Monitor changes in national and humanitarian contexts and guide timely strategic adjustments that maintain program quality, relevance and impact for children, adolescents, and caregivers, in line with available and evolving technical and programmatic evidence.

Program Planning, Support and Quality

· Provide technical leadership and advisory support to ensure the quality, integration, and effectiveness of MHPSS programming across development and humanitarian responses, including community-based MHPSS, case-focused support and safe referrals for children and caregivers.

· Guide the design and integration of appropriate and evidence-based MHPSS interventions, ensuring that safeguarding, inclusion, disability, gender, and resilience considerations are reflected in program design and implementation.

· Provide technical review and quality assurance of program designs, concept notes, proposals, -, evaluations, and learning products prior to submission.

· Ensure integration of MHPSS across the continuum of care and across sectors including child protection, health, education, livelihoods, and social protection.

· Ensure MHPSS programs adhere to international, national, and organizational standards, including safeguarding requirements, ethical practice principles, and relevant Inter-agency guidance.

Providing Strategic and Technical Guidance and Oversight

· Ensure that a robust quality assurance mechanism is in place, and effectively implemented by program teams

· Conduct regular field visits to monitor program quality, safe implementation, and compliance with relevant standards; provide mentoring and technical support; and identify emerging needs to inform program adaptation.

· Provide or oversee technical guidance for focused MHPSS support to complex cases, ensuring appropriate referral pathways, confidentiality, do-no-harm practice, and links with specialized services where needed.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

· In collaboration with the MEAL team, support the development and implementation of an MHPSS MEAL plan that links reporting requirements and strengthens the capacity of staff and partners to monitor outcomes and quality.

· Ensure the systematic and robust measurement and reporting of MHPSS results, against Country Strategic Plan and project-level targets

· Lead on MHPSS or multi-sectoral technical assessments, ensuring findings are documented and that all assessments include a clear analysis of children’s, adolescents’ and caregivers’ mental health and psychosocial support needs.

· Drive the MHPSS innovation, learning and evidence agenda, including documentation and application of lessons learned with MEAL support.

Capacity Strengthening of staff and partners

· Identify MHPSS staffing and capacity needs in collaboration with Human Resources and contribute to workforce planning that supports program quality, duty of care and sustainability.

· Ensure that a robust supervision framework is in place and implemented;

· Capacitate and guide senior MHPSS staff and partners to provide regular, structured supervision to junior/frontline staff.

· Lead learning needs assessments and develop capacity strengthening plans for Save the Children and partner staff, including training on psychosocial support, safe and ethical practice, case-focused support, referrals, staff care and inclusion.

· Oversee the development and delivery of technical guidance and training materials that improve program quality and technical consistency across MHPSS interventions.

· Provide technical support and advice to HR in designing appropriate staff well-being policies, mechanisms, and practices, to reduce the risk burnout and strengthen quality of care.

Networking, Coordination and External Communication

· Represent Save the Children in inter-agency coordination mechanisms, MHPSS technical working groups and sector forums, contributing to harmonization of approaches, standards, and referral pathways.

· Ensure Save the Children’s program results, learning and evidence are effectively shared to inform sector practice, collective decision-making, and national dialogue on MHPSS.

· Support the development of external communications and media products related to MHPSS programming, acting as a technical spokesperson when appropriate and in line with safe practice principles.

Advocacy and Fundraising

· Identify MHPSS priorities, evidence gaps and funding opportunities and support fundraising and proposal development in close collaboration with members, awards colleagues, and donors.

· Ensure advocacy initiatives are informed by program evidence, learning and assessments, with a focus on improving equitable access to quality MHPSS services, strengthening referral systems, and promoting child- and adolescent-responsive approaches.

· Proactively identify advocacy opportunities, case studies and research themes aligned with organizational objectives and turn them into action in collaboration with advocacy and communications colleagues.

General Roles

· Contribute to country office risk management, including identification, mitigation and communication of program, safeguarding and duty-of-care risks related to MHPSS programming.

· Develop and maintain strong internal relationships with program managers, project teams, finance, and program support services teams, and contribute to high-quality planning, reporting, and technical review processes.

· Comply with all Save the Children policies, values and standards and contribute to a culture of learning, accountability, and technical excellence.

Safeguarding Policy:

· Support the mainstreaming of Save the Children’s safeguarding policy within MHPSS program design and implementation, including identifying and addressing risks to children and adults that may be caused or exacerbated by program design and interventions.

· Collaborate with the Program Operations teams to ensure that activities are safe for children and adults, and that all steps are taken to ensure their meaningful and safe participation.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

· Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving results, and role modelling Save the Children values.

· Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities, giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance, and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

· Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development, and encourages their team to do the same.

· Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.

· Future orientated, thinks strategically, and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

· Builds and maintains effective relationships with their team, colleagues, Members, and external partners and supporters.

· Values diversity and sees it as a source of competitive strength.

· Approachable, a good listener, and easy to talk to.

Creativity:

· Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.

· Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

· Honest, encourages openness and transparency; and demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS

· Master’s degree in psychology, psychiatry, mental health, -, public mental health, or a related field.

· Relevant professional registration or clinical qualification in psychology or psychiatry is a strong asset.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

· Minimum 8 to 10 years’ experience working in MHPSS programs in development and/or humanitarian contexts.

· At least 3 to 5 years’ experience providing technical support to MHPSS programming for children, adolescents and caregivers, including community-based support and referral systems.

· Strong knowledge of evidence-based MHPSS approaches, public mental health systems in Egypt, and inter-agency standards and guidance relevant to MHPSS.

· Proven capacity for mentoring, coaching, and training staff and partners on MHPSS-related topics, including safety and ethical practice, inclusion, and staff care.

· Experience in program design, proposal development, technical quality assurance, and donor engagement.

· Experience in senior-level representation with government, donors, technical working groups, and inter-agency forums.

· Ability to write clear, well-argued assessments, concept notes, reports, and learning products.

· Excellent communication and people skills, with the ability to influence change at operational and strategic levels.

· Fluency in Arabic and proficient written and spoken English.

· Ability to work under pressure and deliver results within tight deadlines.

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities 

The role holder is required to perform the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Safeguarding our Staff:

The post holder is required to perform the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to perform the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.