Main Responsibilities​

• Conduct/participate in Mental Health and Psychosocial needs assessment among the affected and marginalized populations. This will include assessments consistent with CHRAJ Psychosocial guidelines and Mental Health Psychosocial WHO assessment toolkit, at different stages of program planning and implementation 

• Initiate interagency coordination mechanisms for the provision of mental health and psychosocial support for stigmatized women and their caregivers and share relevant information. 

• Develop adequate PSS tools 

• Facilitate community conversations and awareness-raising activities using IEC and public events in collaboration with project staff. 

• Develop and implement ideas for psychosocial programs and interventions for women in the stabilization Centre, program sites, and vulnerable groups in target
• Hold focus group discussions and key informant interviews with the social stigmatized and stereotyped population groups in each site in order to assess need, develop projects and identify project leaders to be national psychosocial officers. 
• Support these psychosocial activities by the provision of technical support, training, materials, and supplies to the community leaders and general population. 
• Train primary health care providers and/or first responders on key principles of psychological first aid (PFA) and provide orientation on relevant sheets within the CHRAJ approved guidelines in target sites. 
• Identify and train national PFA trainers through a PFA training of trainers’ program. 
• Set up, monitor and develop community-based Psychosocial (PSS) activities in target sites, providing capacity building on an ongoing basis. 
• Locate and interview potential candidates for all aspects of the psychosocial program. 
• Ensure activities and training, including community-based activities, and PFA training run according to approved protocol and program development. 
• Develop and identify necessary measuring tools to assess success in accordance with indicators of program. 
• Develop M&E tools and analysis of program M&E activities in the field. 
• Work closely with psychosocial staff and logistics officer to ensure that psychosocial and mental health programming and activities in target sites supported technically, logistically and administratively. 
• Program development and recommendations, as required. 
• Ensure programming is on track in absence of direct supervisor; reporting daily on important issues that require supervisor feedback and decision making. 
• Support communications related to gender and social discrimination prevention, gender equality and women’s empowerment, and other gender equality and visibility needs.  ​

Qualifications

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience working with NGOs, healthcare sector, and/or private sector organizations focused on gender, psychosocial support, community governance in human rights, gender equality, risk management and other related programs. 
• Undergraduate Degree in Development Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Public health, Nursing, Social Work, Counseling, or equivalent. 
•  3+ years in setting up or implementing psychosocial programs 

Skills & Experience
Essential: 

• In-depth knowledge of Psychosocial programming in the social stigmatization context 

• Experience implementing psychosocial programming for people affected by social issues and stigmatization 

• Familiarity with IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in institutional settings 

• Commitment to and understanding of Action Against Social Discrimination’s aims, values, and principles 

• Strong organizational and supervisory skills with excellent reporting & writing skills 

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work within different cultural environments 

• Ability to work within a team structure or cultural isolation, a different standard of living, and can cope with stressful workloads and working with limited resources 

• Ability to promote and monitor inclusion of gender-specific objectives, indicators, targets. 
• Exceptional intercultural competencies and attitudes, including patience and respect for local expertise and work culture and intercultural communication. 
• Prepared to live and work in an uncertain security environment. 

Project description and context: 

Crossroads International will engage Canadians, Canadian stakeholders, Crossroads staff and volunteers, local partner organizations and women and men in sub-Saharan Africa to become Gender Equality Champions both in Canada and overseas. 

The Volunteer Cooperation Program (VCP) aims to reduce gender inequalities and alleviate poverty by addressing gender-based violence, inequalities in access to resources and economic opportunities, and barriers in exercising strategic forms of choice, voice, and influence. 

Description of the partner

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice exists to protect fundamental human rights and to ensure good governance for every person in Ghana.

Description the volunteer mandate

The Psychosocial Support Advisor volunteer we are looking for with support, will work with CHRAJ team to support the social stigmatized population and conduct and participate in mental health and psychosocial needs assessment among the affected populations. Currently, women who have been stigmatized based on social issues are being neglected with no psychosocial support. Providing these supports will help ensure the well-being of the affected individuals and improve their health and quality of life

Eligibility criteria 

• •  Be a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident of Canada. 
  • Willing to conduct fundraising and public engagement activities before, during and after the placement 
  • Share the commitment of preventing and addressing sexual misconduct 
  • In good physical and mental health (medical examination required) 
  • The volunteer needs to bring their own computer. 
  • The volunteer must be available to attend an online pre-departure training.

Personalized support before, during and after the mandate provided by an experienced and welcoming team. The Crossroads’ experience includes the following:  

• Daily living allowance (depending of the country of assignment)  
• Plane ticket and local transport   
• Pre-assignment online training.  

Crossroads International is committed to addressing gender-based violence by supporting the innovative work our partner organizations in ending violence against women and girls.  

 JOIN THE MOVEMENT!  

APPLICATION  

To apply for this position, we kindly ask that you fill out Crossroads’ online application form.

Please contact our volunteer mobilization team if you have any question: volunteer@cintl.org  

We thank all applicants but only those selected for interviews will be contacted.