Location: Kigali (with frequent travel to Bugesera District)
Application closing: 7 October, 2020
Interpeace
Interpeace is an international organization for peacebuilding, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Its aim is to strengthen the capacities of societies to manage conflict in non-violent, non-coercive ways by assisting national actors in their efforts to develop social and political cohesion. Interpeace also strives to assist the international community (and in particular the UN) to play a more effective role in supporting peacebuilding efforts around the world through better understanding and response to the challenges of creating local capacities that enhance social and political cohesion. For more information about Interpeace, please visit www.interpeace.org
Background
Rwanda has identified mental health and trauma healing as areas of priority. A 2018 Mental Health Survey revealed high prevalence of mental health disorders, particularly among survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. In addition, the country’s National Unity and Reconciliation Policy recognises “serious levels of trauma” as a major effect of the genocide that still weighs heavily on society today. It identifies the healing of psychological wounds as a guiding principle on which unity and reconciliation are established. High levels of trauma, anxiety and depression make it more difficult for people to trust and forgive each other. Trauma affects the ability to open up, receive and trust others, and it is a major cause of inter-community suspicions, especially between groups of genocide survivors and former prisoners. This has limited people’s ability to cooperate in shared, mutually beneficial economic activities.
Service or Assignment Description and Objective(s)
Given the above context, Rwanda’s 4th Health Sector Strategic Plan emphasises the need for holistic innovative programmes that simultaneously promote mental health service provision, advance social cohesion and support sustainable livelihoods. Interpeace, in partnership with Rwanda National Unity and Reconciliation Commission and Prison Fellowship Rwanda will soon start implementing a programme entitled: ‘’Reinforcing Community capacity for social cohesion through societal trauma healing in Bugesera District’’ Pilot programme, to strengthen social cohesion and sustainable peace through scaling up community-based healing and livelihood initiatives.
The beneficiaries of the programme will include survivors of the genocide against the Tutsi and their families; former prisoners living in Bugesera District (including those who may have been held in other Districts); local leaders, prison officials in Bugesera District; current prisoners from Bugesera prison and their families, as well as youth, in particular those from the families of genocide survivors and perpetrators who may be experiencing the effects of inter-generational transmission of trauma and genocide ideology.
Scope of work
Interpeace is looking for one Senior Expert on Mental Health in Rwanda, who will contribute to the successful implementation of all Mental Health-related activities of the Bugesera Pilot programme.
Their services will be required for up to 120 working days during the period October 2020 to 31 December 2021.
Specifically, s/he will:
- Conduct a mapping of mental health programmes and, where needed, update the protocols/approaches currently being implemented in Rwanda, including through governmental, non-governmental initiatives.
- Identify and curate protocols already in use in Rwanda, for the screening, clinical assessment, prevention and treatment of mental health disorders, as well as the promotion of positive mental health, including through individual, family-based and group-based delivery modalities.
- Contribute to designing new, and / or adaptation of existing assessment and intervention protocols; considering the socio-cultural context of Rwanda while making use of lessons learnt through earlier and current mental health efforts in the country.
- Participate in the recruitment of a team of psychotherapists who will be implementing all mental health-related project activities at the sector level.
- Serve as lead trainer and for all selected psychotherapists and provide clinical supervision to them for the duration of the project.
- Contribute to the establishment of protocols for Randomized Clinical Trials (RCT) of the various mental health modules incorporated within the project and supervise psychotherapists to ensure that the RCT protocols are correctly implemented.
- Contribute to the interpretation of findings from epidemiological studies and clinical trials conducted within the project, and in documenting such findings through policy briefs and scientific reports.
- Participate in meetings and workshops with senior project stakeholders at all stages of the project’s cycle, to ensure that the project’s mental health activities are compatible with its wider objectives.
- Contribute to interpretation of survey findings and impact evaluation research conducted on this aspect within the project, and in documenting such findings through policy briefs, media articles and scientific reports.
- Participate in public events for dissemination of the project’s findings.
Qualifications
Essential qualifications and experience:
- Medical degree with specialization in psychiatry, or doctorate in a related clinical profession (e.g. clinical psychology, psychiatric nursing, social work).
- At least 10 years of professional experience as a mental health expert, of which at least 3 years must have been within the context of Rwanda. Years spent in trainee clinical placements can count towards this total.
- Must be fluent in Kinyarwanda.
Desired qualifications and experience:
- Specialist training and/or experience in conducting epidemiological surveys and/or randomized clinical trials.
- Specialist training and/or experience in designing or implementing protocols for group psychotherapy and / or group psychoeducation.
- Specialist training and/or experience in community-based mental health, child & adolescent mental health, and/or provision of mental health care in forensic settings.
- Specialist training and/or experience in designing public health systems for the advancement of mental health
How to apply
To apply, please send the following by e-mail to recruitment@interpeace.org attaching the following:
- CV (maximum 3 pages).
- Motivation letter (maximum 1 page) outlining your skills and experience relevant to the Terms of Reference and your specific interest in the specific assignment for which you are applying.
- Description of the methodology/approach you will use to deliver on the assignment you are applying for (maximum 2 pages).
- A Financial proposal (Please simply indicate your Daily Fee).
- Two examples of previous relevant work.
- Please include ‘’Senior Expert on Mental Health’’ in the subject line of the application e-mail.
Due to the large number of applications, Interpeace will only be able to respond to short-listed candidates. Thank you for your understanding.
For more information about Interpeace, its values and working principles, please visit its website: www.interpeace.org
