Internship Announcement: MHPSS Project, Syria Portfolio

Title: Internship in MHPSS Project, Syria Portfolio

Location: Gaziantep, Turkey

Period of assignment: January 1, 2024 – June 30, 2024

Project: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Program for IDPs and Local Population in Syria (MHPSS)

Project objective: The MHPSS program is dedicated to enhancing mental health and psychosocial support services for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the local population in Syria, particularly in the midst of acute violence. The project aims to provide essential psychological and emotional support to individuals affected by the ongoing conflict. The project has four main lines of activities:

1. Collaborating with the target group to design and implement an ongoing process of reflection on effective coping strategies. The outcomes of this reflection will be disseminated and used to adapt the services offered by selected partner organizations.
2. Developing and implementing a needs-based approach to self-reflection, supervision, on-the-job continuing professional development, and staff care for facilitators. This includes the establishment of both face-to-face and virtual advisory groups for colleagues. Staff care measures will be derived from this process and introduced in partner organizations to ensure the well-being of the staff.
3. Creating and delivering Train-the-Trainer (TTT) measures related to supervision and intervision. A feasibility study will be conducted to explore the possibility of institutional mainstreaming of a supervision qualification or capacity.

4. Providing guidance to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and projects from other sectors on integrating MHPSS into their activities. Raising awareness among GIZ (Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) staff about the importance of MHPSS. Additionally, supporting informal and formal groups through Psychosocial Workers (PSWs) and actively networking with the United Nations Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Technical Working Group (MHPSS TWG) and the UN Protection Cluster to ensure comprehensive support and collaboration.

Main Tasks:
The intern will support the GIZ team in the implementation of the project in all lines of activities, with a focus of the assignment on the following tasks:

• Assist in Program Coordination: Support the coordination of MHPSS activities by helping to schedule meetings, prepare agendas, and maintain project documentation. Ensure effective communication among team members and partner organizations.
• Support Training and Capacity Building: Participate in the preparation and organization of training sessions and workshops for MHPSS facilitators. Assist in developing training materials and logistics.
• Administrative Tasks: Handle administrative duties, such as organizing travel arrangements for team members, managing budgets, and procuring necessary supplies for MHPSS activities.
• Documentation and Reporting: Assist in the preparation of regular progress reports and documentation of best practices.
• Networking and Collaboration: Participate in meetings and discussions with partner organizations, NGOs, and other stakeholders to ensure effective collaboration and information sharing.
• Event Coordination: Support the planning and execution of events, conferences, or workshops related to MHPSS.

These tasks will enable the intern to actively contribute to the MHPSS program’s objectives and gain valuable experience in mental health and psychosocial support initiatives.

Requirements, competencies and experience:

• Applicants shall be either Turkish citizen or be resident in Turkey.
• Educational Background: Currently enrolled in or recent graduate of a relevant field such as Psychology, Social Work, Public Health, or a related discipline.
• Skills and Qualities:
  – Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
  – Good communication skills, both written and verbal, to facilitate clear and concise interaction with team members, stakeholders, and target groups.
  – Proficient in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and ability to create visual presentations.
  – Ability to work collaboratively in a team, as well as independently when required.
  – Cultural sensitivity and respect for diverse backgrounds and perspectives, essential for engaging with the local community.
  – Knowledge: Basic understanding of mental health and psychosocial support concepts or a strong willingness to learn and be trained in this area.
  – Adaptability: Willingness to adapt and learn in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, particularly in a conflict-affected region.
  – Availability and Commitment: Availability for the duration of the internship, which may include flexible hours or travel as needed.
  – Language: Fluency in Arabic, Good command of written and spoken English, good command of written and spoken German would be an advantage.
  – Computer Literacy: Familiarity with project management software and data analysis tools is a plus.
  – Cultural Awareness: Awareness of cultural norms and sensitivities in the region of operation.
  – Strong Ethical Standards: A commitment to maintaining the highest ethical standards and confidentiality when dealing with sensitive mental health and psychosocial support matters.

Applications:

Interested and qualified internal candidates are requested to apply through our Job Portal Job opportunities | Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (giz-jobs.com) by filling in the digital application form as well as submitting their CV in GIZ Turkey’s format and a Cover Letter in English, stating their qualifications and previous professional experiences.

The deadline for application is the 14th of December 2023.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

ATTENTION: PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CV IN THE GIZ CV FORMAT. THE APPLICATIONS IN ANY OTHER CV FORMAT WILL NOT BE REVIEWED.