District Coordinator, Kanungu NGO Jobs – Mental Health Uganda (MHU)

Job Title:  District Coordinator, Kanungu   

Organisation: Mental Health Uganda (MHU)

Duty Station: Kanungu, Uganda

About Organisation:

Mental Health Uganda (MHU) is a local Non-Governmental Organization established by people with a lived experience of mental health problems. It exists to create a unified voice that influences the provision of required services and opportunities, in favour of people with and survivors of mental health problems in Uganda.

About Project:

Since 2020, MHU has implemented Phase I of the project “Amplifying the Voices of Young People with Mental Health Issues in Uganda”. The project seeks to address the problem of accessibility to mental health care in Uganda, particularly for youth (15-35 years) by, among other things, facilitating a national helpline where people with, or caretakers of people with, mental health issues receive counselling and/or guidance on where to find appropriate help. Phase II of the project will commence in January 2025. The project is a national response but will focus on 7 districts i.e. Arua, Gulu, Lira, Soroti Kampala/Wakiso, Mbarara and Kanungu.

Job Summary:   The District Coordinator will be responsible for the overall local implementation of project activities related to mental health awareness creation, facilitating access to care services and human rights advocacy in the district and will therefore carry the operational responsibilities towards project results. S/he will support and supervise ‘Champions’ (volunteers with a lived experience of mental health problems, aged 18-35 years) based in communities. S/he will spearhead all work related to human rights advocacy around mental health in the district and sub-region. S/he will also manage all relationships between the project and all local stakeholders.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Project Implementation

• Support the identification and recruitment of Champions to support the project
• Co-facilitate training of Champions, with the support of the project team
• Provide day-to-day mentoring support and supervise both the quality of work and well-being of Champions in the communities by organizing and presiding over community events
• Support Champions to identify mental health awareness avenues/platforms, develop relevant Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials and deliver agreed activities related to the same
• Support the Champions to increase mental health awareness (tackle stigma) in their communities, on selected occasions
• Facilitate the provision of accurate information to all individuals, presenting all possible alternatives within the spectrum of care, allowing beneficiaries to make informed choices
• Identify and document risks to young people with mental health challenges and propose strategies to mitigate them
• Ensure the functionality of the district referral system, particularly by the Champions so that all individuals who need specialized care and support can access it
• Manage relations between the project and District Local Governments and maintain useful links and dialogue with all other relevant stakeholders to ensure collaboration, synergy, sharing of experiences and that the district delivers a coordinated response for mental health

Advocacy work

• Support the creation/consolidation and operationalization Mental Health Advocacy structures at a district and Sub-regional level
• Co-facilitate localized training related to human rights advocacy around mental health
• Work with and through volunteers and the wider MHU membership to develop relevant Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials to facilitate mental health advocacy at all levels
• Generate content/messages at a district level and working with the Project Coordinator, support the transmission of the same for National level advocacy
• Convene and preside over multi-stakeholder meetings to develop, implement and regularly review a clear localized mental health advocacy agenda

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Organize and manage review and reflection meetings
• Participate in organizing and facilitating project reviews with project key stakeholders
• Coordinate sharing and learning, and document the best practices and success stories
• Undertake surveillance and update MHU and other relevant actors on emerging issues around mental health in the district.

Reporting, Resource Management and Documentation

• Prepare and submit timely work plans and reports
• Support preparation and dissemination of information related to mental health issues, relevant to the project components.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The applicant should hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Development Studies, Gender and Development Studies, Social Work and Social Administration, Social Sciences, Community Psychology and or any other related studies with a minimum of 3 years relevant working experience in a Non-Government Organization. A post graduate counselling and guidance qualification will be an added advantage.

Essential criteria

• Experience in organizing and delivering community engagement and events
• Good understanding of broader disability and youth rights
• Direct or indirect experience of mental health problems and openness to being a visible ambassador for people with mental health issues
• Experience working in partnerships, with demonstrable skills in collaborative working, and relationship management and the ability to identify and rapidly resolve barriers
• Ability to create and maintain a supportive environment at trainings and events and have knowledge and experience in recognizing and responding to personal well-being issues
• Good empathy, perception and listening skills
• Excellent writing (reporting) and presentation skills, especially communicating results
• Experience in multi-tasking, prioritizing competing work and working within deadlines
• Ability to ride a motorcycle, with a valid permit (relevant class).

Desirable criteria

• Experience working at community level with people who have experienced mental health problems, to challenge stigma and discrimination
• Experience in supporting youth-led projects and ensuring youth participation
• Experience in program monitoring and evaluation
• Good IT Skills with familiarity with key Microsoft Office Programs.
• Good IT Skills with strong competencies in Internet, Ms Word, Ms Excel and Power Point.

How to Apply:

Interested individuals should send a motivation letter and CV as one PDF document/file (of maximum 8 pages for the Project Coordinator and 6 pages for all other positions) via email to infomentalhealthuganda.org – subject line is the job title e.g. “Project Coordinator”. Do not send academic documents – heavy files containing academic documents or submitted as images and or late applications will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The CV must also include the details of 2 suitable referees who can comment on the candidate’s ability. MHU is an equal opportunities employer. However, women and Persons with Disabilities are highly encouraged to apply especially those with a lived experience of mental health problems.

Deadline: 29th December 2024 by 11:00pm

Note

• MHU promotes zero tolerance for discrimination/harassment based on gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, religious beliefs etc. All staff and volunteers shall adhere to strict guidelines in order to facilitate “silent” inclusion. They will also adhere to MHU’s safeguarding provisions – a set of procedures and practices designed to ensure that no harm comes to project beneficiaries as a result of contact with MHU’s programs, operations or individuals.
• The number and profiles of these positions is subject to the availability of funding.

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