Vacancy: Mental Health Expert
Terms of Reference (TOR)
I. General Information
Post/Title: Mental Health Expert
Date of Issue: 02.01.2024
Beneficiary institution: Ministry of Health Development, Somaliland
Duty Station: Department of mental Health, Ministry of Health Development, Hargeisa.
Stream/Band: Stipend commensurate with degree and experience
Duration of Assignment: 12 months (with possible extension).
Deadline for Applications: 21.02.2024
II. Background Information
About MIDA FINNSOM Health Phase V Project.
The past decades have seen continued migration from various African countries, causing a “brain drain” that has debilitated various public sector systems across the continent. Through the IOM Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA) FINNSOM Health project, Somali diaspora professionals have supported institutional capacity building, service delivery, and policy development of health institutions across Somaliland since 2008.
The project is currently in its fifth phase (2022-2025), building on lessons learned from the previous phases, and continues its progress towards improving health outcomes in Somaliland, in close partnership with the Ministry of Health Development. Through the short-term deployment of diaspora health professionals, the objective is to transfer their skills and knowledge to the local staff in targeted institutions. Local professionals will remain an integral part of this project to contribute to sustainable outcomes in the health sector in Somaliland and to benefit from the knowledge and skills exchange with the diaspora professionals.
The new phase of the MIDA FINNSOM Health project aims to strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for women and girls whilst providing mentoring and training opportunities for local health professionals. The project will give particular attention to gender mainstreaming strategies by promoting women´s participation as MIDA experts, their participation in trainings as local staff, and women´s and girls´ access to quality SRHR services as project beneficiaries. The project will target regional and district hospitals in Borama, Berbera, Buroa, Lasanod and Erigavo as well as some district-level health facilities in underserved areas of Zaylac, Badhan, Ainabo, Odwayne, Buhodle, Sheikh, Arabsiyo, Gabilay, Baligubadle and Salahley, under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Development. The project will also continue to support Hargeisa Group Hospital. MIDA FINNSOM Health project is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
About Somaliland Ministry of Health and Development
The Somaliland Ministry of Health Development (MOHD), headquartered in Hargeisa, comprises six main departments: (1) Administration & Finance; (2) Public Health; (3) Reproductive & Child Health; (4) Human Resource Development; (5) Planning & Policy; and (6) Health Facilities & Medical Services. (7) Mental Health Services.
III. Duties & Responsibilities.
The Somaliland Ministry of Health Development, with support from IOM under the framework of the MIDA FINNSOM Health project phase V, seeks to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health Development to provide to provide advice to the Minister and the Director General of the Ministry of Health Development (MOHD) on all issues relating to mental health and provide technical assistance to the department of mental health within the ministry the successful implementation of the ongoing program on mental health in alignment with national mental health policy and strategy to improve mental health outcomes and progress towards universal mental health coverage.
The Mental Health Expert will perform the following duties:
The MoHD Project Coordinator, the MoHD M&E Specialist, and IOM program officer will support this assignment through interaction with the qualified expatriate and beneficiary institution.
Besides the specific outputs mentioned in section III, MIDA FINNSOM Health project phase V is requiring the following deliverables to be submitted throughout the assignment. These are the standard requirements for all assignments under this project:
1. Transfer of skills: The main responsibility of the qualified Somali expatriate—which he/she will be measured against—will be to ensure continuous and systematic transfer of knowledge and skills as related to the assignment. It will have to be agreed with the beneficiary institution which civil servants will have to benefit from this knowledge.
2. Work plan: A work plan must be developed with the Supervisor during the first week of assignment to provide clear and time-bound activities to successfully implement the outputs of the assignment. This work plan will be shared with the MOHD, MIDA FINNSOM Coordinator. This work plan can be revised during the midterm review to reflect new developments or changes in strategy.
3. Midterm Review: There will be a midterm review of the assignment between the incumbent and the beneficiary institution to discuss progress of the assignment and feedback on performance.
4. Quarterly and Final Reports: Quarterly progress reports will be submitted by the incumbent to the Supervisor and to the MOHD, MIDA FINNSOM Coordinator. At the end of the assignment, the Participant must also provide a final report covering the duration of his/her assignment.
V: Qualifications
Level of Education:
Years of work experience in what area(s):
§ Published work in peer reviewed journals in the area of mental health or related disciplines.
§ Demonstrated good experience in policy and strategy development as well as operationalizing mental health program at the field level.
§ Hands-on experience in capacity building.
§ Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team environment, taking initiative and delivering quality inputs within the time-limits.
§ Experience of working with senior government officials at central and regional level.
Languages needed:
§ Fluent in English
§ Fluent in Somali
§ Arabic language will be an advantage.
General Skills / Other Requirements:
VI: Monthly Stipend
The monthly stipend amount will be determined by MIDA FINNSOM Health based on degree and years of relevant experience.
VII: Security and Insurance Modalities
Health insurance—including evacuation due to medical emergency—will be provided by the project. However, experts will be requested to provide a recent medical certificate stating that they are physically fit and able to work in a hardship area in Africa.
Please note that IOM, according to the contract, will not be responsible for the security of the qualified Somali expatriates. The host beneficiary institution will be responsible for the security of the individual.
Before leaving the country of residence or upon arrival in Nairobi or in Somaliland, the qualified Somali expatriate will receive a pre-service briefing including security advice and cultural background.
All applications must be sent to Email:[email protected] With the following reference as a subject in your e-mail: APPLICATION – as mentioned in the vacancy announcement.
To be considered, applicants must provide a cover letter, CV, and the contact information (email and phone number) of two professional references by the closing date of this vacancy. Please save your documents in PDF format. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The closing date of this application is 21.01.2024, at 12.00 PM EAT.
While this project is geared toward the Somali-Finnish diaspora, members of other Somali diaspora communities are also welcomed to apply. Women are highly encouraged to apply and participate in the MIDA FINNSOM Health Project, Phase V.