Protection & MHPSS Officer At Social Development International

Job title

Protection & MHPSS Officer

Job Grade: Officer

Department | Program: Programs

Line Manager or Direct Line Manager: Programs Manager

Duty Location: Syria – Damascus/Aleppo

Type of Work: Full time

Gender: Female or Male

General Description of SDI

Social Development International SDI is a no-profit NGO established in 2015 and daily registered in Turkey, which provides humanitarian assistance to affected people in Syria.

SDI services cover northern Syria through its programs, SNFIs, Health, Nutrition, Education, WASH, Protection, FSL, and CCCM.

General Description of Unit

– The Protection Department provides care and support to individuals and groups most at risk of threats and violations that endanger their safety and rights. The department’s role includes monitoring cases of child protection from violence, exploitation, neglect, and abuse, ensuring they have a safe environment and continuous protection. Also, it structure and supervises MHPSS activities that fit and integrated with other programs.

– Additionally, the Protection Department works to struggle gender-based violence by identification cases of violence directed against individuals based on their gender. It also focuses on enhancing community awareness to prevent these violations and ensure a safe environment free from exploitation and violence.

Purpose of Position

Ensure the effective planning, implementation, and monitoring of protection and psychosocial support interventions, with a strong focus on gender sensitivity, accountability, and addressing the psychosocial needs of the most vulnerable populations, in alignment with international humanitarian standards.

Communication and coordination structure of the position

The Protection and MHPSS Officer operates under the direct supervision of the Programs Manager, who is responsible for program protocols and implementation of activities on a daily basis. The officer is responsible for submitting periodic technical reports as needed. These reports typically include weekly or monthly updates on the progress of activities, identified challenges, and emerging needs.

Internally, the officer maintains direct coordination with the PSS teams, including facilitators and volunteers, as well as the Protection Team, to ensure timely follow-up on referrals and the effective implementation of activities. The role also involves coordination with the Health, Education, and Relief teams to promote the integration of protection and mental health principles across multi-sectoral interventions.

Externally, the officer represents the Social Development International / SDI in the (MHPSS) Technical Working Group, and participates, when required, in the General Protection, Gender WG, Child Protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Working Groups, and other Clusters required. They also engage in ongoing coordination with local and international partners, as well as referral entities, to ensure a safe, effective, and dignified response to vulnerable cases.

PRINCIPAL JOB DUTIES (RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS) – ToR

The following tasks as for explanations, but not limited to:

1- Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)

• Planning and monitoring the implementation of psychosocial support activities in line with project objectives and quality standards.
• Build the capacity of field teams in mental health and psychosocial support through coaching, mentoring, and structured training.
• Leading the preparation and monitoring of mental health awareness campaigns, including events such as World Mental Health Day and Suicide Prevention Day.
• Support the development of culturally appropriate awareness materials and provide technical inputs for community-based activities.

2- Protection

• Monitor protection cases closely with the specialized protection team and ensure timely and safe referrals.
• Supervise and follow up on the implementation of awareness sessions and training on key protection topics, including gender-based violence (GBV), child protection, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA).
• Ensure the integration of protection principles across all project activities and service delivery.
• Provide regular reports on protection-related challenges and recommend appropriate solutions.

3- Coordination and Representation

• Represent the SDI in the (MHPSS) Technical Working Group, and participate in the General Protection, Gender WG, Child Protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Working Groups, and other Clusters required.
• Coordinate with local and international partners on joint initiatives and referrals for protection and psychosocial support.

4- Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI)

• Lead developing and updating gender and social inclusion (GESI) policies within programmatic frameworks.
• Ensure that the specific needs of women and girls, persons with disabilities, and older individuals are addressed and prioritized in all activities.
• Integrate GESI principles into project proposals, work plans, and monitoring tools.

5- Capacity Building:

• Design and implement specialized training sessions for protection and psychosocial support staff.
• Supporting the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and codes of conduct (e.g., Code of Conduct and safeguarding policies).

6- Documentation and Reporting:

• Preparing regular technical reports on progress, challenges, and lessons learned.Contributing to proposal writing related to protection and mental health.

Technical knowledge

1. A university degree and a preferred Psychology background, Social studies, Humanitarian studies, or any related background relevant to Mental Health, Protection or humanitarian Scope of work.
2. Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in programs and projects management, proposal development in the fields of Mental Health, Psychosocial Support, and Protection.

Skills and Abilities (behavioral, interpersonal and personal skills)

• Proven experience in organizing and conducting community-based psychosocial support sessions and awareness-raising sessions on protection.
• Good knowledge of relevant international standards such as the IASC Guidelines, Sphere Standards, CPMS, and GBV Guidelines.
• Ability to represent the organization in technical working groups and coordination meetings with partners.
• Excellent skills in writing programs reports, collecting and analyzing data, and writing proposals.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office programs and data collection tools.
• Fluency in English skills (reading, writing, and speaking) and Arabic is Mandatory.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to manage teams and work in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to travel within Syria.

SDI Commitment on Child Safeguarding – CPS

Actions of Child abuse and exportation violate the universally recognized international legal norms and standards. Thus, SDI considers such actions as serious misconduct, which will constitute grounds for major measures, including summary dismissal and criminal prosecution. SDI prohibits sexual exploitation and abuse of Children and proved cases of such will be meet with Zero tolerance by SDI management.

SDI is an organization working with vulnerable populations, including children, both directly and indirectly. Thus, SDI has a moral responsibility and a duty to protect children within the population that we serve from both intentional and unintentional harm. SDI understands that all staff needs to be aware of this policy even though many of the staff may never have unaccompanied contact with children or young people through their work. It is not possible to eliminate risk entirely, but we are obliged to develop strategies and mechanisms to reduce the risk.

SDI Commitment on Protection of Sexual exportation and Abuse – PSEA

The actions of SEA violate the universally recognized international legal norms and standards. Thus, SDI considers such actions as serious misconduct, which will constitute grounds for major measures, including summary dismissal and criminal prosecution. SDI prohibits sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), and proved cases of such will be meet with Zero tolerance by SDI management.

To the end of meeting with the fundamental values of SDI, this policy is designed to address the behavior of SDI staff, and its collaborators toward the served population and to protect vulnerable populations within the communities served by SDI from any acts of sexual exploitation and abuse which is considered as an element of the accountability that SDI holds towards the served communities.

SDI Commitment on Protection of Sexual Harassments and discrimination – PSHH

The actions of SHH violate the ethical norms and damages the team spirit. Thus, SDI considers such actions as serious misconduct, which will constitute grounds for major measures, including summary dismissal and criminal prosecution if relevant. SDI prohibits SHH, and proved cases of such will be meet with Zero tolerance by SDI management.

To the end of meeting with the fundamental values of SDI, this policy is designed to address the behavior of SDI staff and its collaborators towards one another and to protect staff within the environment of SDI from any acts of sexual harassment and harassment which is considered as an element of the accountability that SDI holds towards its staff.

Safeguarding:

· The position holder is required to commit to SDI’s safeguarding policy, as we will do rigorous background checks to ensure that children are protected from any kind of abuse.

· The position holder is also required to carry out his duties in accordance with SDI anti-harassment policy.