Community Service Monitoring Officer

About HIJRA:

Humanitarian Initiative Just Relief Aid (HIJRA) is an international humanitarian and development organization that positively contributes towards improving the living standards and conditions of those adversely affected by disasters and conflict.

Job Summary:

Community-based Sociotherapy is an approach that was developed in Rwanda to improve psychosocial well-being and strengthening interpersonal reconciliation and social cohesion at grass-roots level. Sociotherapy uses groups as a therapeutic medium in the establishment of trust, the creation of an open environment for discussion and the formation of peer-support structures which facilitates mutual learning processes. Sociotherapy groups facilitate community members to identify, acknowledge, share, and manage together their everyday psychosocial problems related to the past history of political violence and its aftermath. The sociotherapy approach has been implemented in Rwanda since 2005. During the first phase of implementation, a scientific quantitative study was conducted to measure the effectiveness of the approach in improving psychosocial well-being, social functioning and social capital of participants in the group sessions. The research provided evidence of the positive impact that sociotherapy had in these areas. In addition to this study, numerous qualitative researches were conducted to assess its impact. Building on these evidences, the sociotherapy approach was extended to four provinces of Rwanda (North, East, South and West) and Muhanga prison in 2013. However, in the context of the refugee camps, there is limited research done to study the effectiveness of sociotherapy in this particular context.

To address this research gap, the organization Community Based Sociotherapy Rwanda (CBS Rwanda) in partnership with HIJRA Uganda, Liverpool University in UK, the University of Rwanda (UR) and Makerere University in Uganda, is currently initiating the research project: Community Based SocioTherapy Adapted to Refugees (COSTAR). The project will design a “Randomized Control Trial” to study the effectiveness of the sociotherapy approach in improving psychosocial wellbeing of Congolese refugees hosted in Nakivale-Uganda refugee and Gihembe Camp in Rwanda. CBS Rwanda will be in charge of implementing sociotherapy approach in Gihembe camp and Humanitarian Initiative Just Relief Aid (HIJRA) will lead the implementation of the sociotherapy approach in Nakivale in close cooperation with CBS Rwanda.

The Monitoring Officer in the camp is a full-time position. S/he will be based in Nakivale Refugee Settlement and may go to different areas in the country when there is a need in the interest of the project**

Reporting Relationships:

The post holder will be responsible to the Project Manager.

Duties:

1. Propose a local strategy for the project implementation, according to the specific context and oversee its implementation once validated;
2. Be responsible for the recruitment of the candidate sociotherapists in the camp;
3. Coordinate the recruitment of sociotherapy participants;
4. Organize the first sociotherapy group sessions in conjunction with the Project Coordinator;
5. Monitor sociotherapy group sessions on a weekly basis;
6. Monitor the personal and professional stability of the sociotherapists and ensure that an adequate working environment is maintained and they have access to psychological support systems;
7. Keep track of all the sociotherapy groups that take place in the camp;
8. Follow the financial and administrative guidelines which were developed by the Finance Manager and the Accountant to accurately manage the financial recourses in reference to financial policies of CBS;
9. Be the direct contact person and representative of CBS Rwanda at the camp level;
10. Keep the Project Coordinator, the Program Manager and the Executive Director of CBS Rwanda informed at all times on the progress and challenges of the operational strategies;
11. Work closely with the researchers and facilitate them in their research activities;
12. Ensure that key operational information circulates properly within CBS;
13. Be an active participant in the camp meetings and other relevant local gatherings;
14. Ensure that the sociotherapy sessions are taking place in line with the sociotherapy method and the manual of operations;
15. Ensure that regular sociotherapy reports are qualitatively and quantitatively provided as required by CBS Rwanda policies;
16. Review the reports of sociotherapists and give observations aiming at the improvement of the quality of implementation;
17. Develop a list used to pay facilitation fees of sociotherapists, based on weekly reports developed by them;
18. Initiate and support sociotherapy groups’ initiatives to maintain the participants’ social and economic cohesion and welfare;
19. Advise sociotherapists in psychosocial problem management through sociotherapy sessions;
20. Doing any other task requested by line managers for the success of the project
21. Any other duties assign by the supervisor.

Competencies, Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

· Bachelor degree in relevant field (e.g. Social Sciences, Psychology, Social Work, Mental Health, Clinical Psychology, Nursing, Public Health, Anthropology, or Conflict/Peace Studies etc.);

· At least 3 year experience in the field of project implementation, preferably in the field of psychosocial interventions;

· Demonstrated knowledge and experience in psychosocial support interventions;

· Demonstrated experience in community mobilization and attitude for field work at grass-roots level;

· Previous experience in a representative position and with networking with local authorities;

· Commitment to the goals and principles of the community-based sociotherapy program and an ability to ensure the mandate underpins our support to participants in the program;

· Strong skills in organization and coordination are essential, including the management of finances;

· Mastering Microsoft Word, Excel and Power point;

· An honest, reliable and very accurate person, who is able to work under pressure;

· Very strong motivation and social skills and excellent communication skills both verbal and in writing;

· Ability to listen, flexible and a strong problem solver;

· Fluent English, both verbal and written and fluency in Kinyarwanda and Swahili would be preferable.

Desirable skills and qualifications

· Having a Master’s Degree in a relevant domain is considered an asset;

· Experience in supervising complex and challenging interventions in fragile communities;

· Experience with coordinating a team at the grass-roots level;

· Having basic knowledge of Randomized Control Trial and/or Participatory Action Research method;

· Experience with working in refugee settings;