Consultant for Educational and Psychosocial Support Activities

Job Posting Organization:
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) was established in 1951 and is recognized as the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration. It operates as a member of the United Nations system and has a mission to promote humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. IOM provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants alike. The organization has a global presence, with operations in over 100 countries and a workforce of thousands of employees dedicated to addressing the challenges of migration. In Algeria, IOM focuses on assisting migrants, particularly vulnerable groups such as children and adolescents, who face significant psychosocial challenges due to displacement and disrupted access to education. IOM's work in Algeria is crucial in providing support to these populations, ensuring their well-being and integration into society.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a vital role in designing and facilitating educational, cultural, and recreational activities specifically tailored for children and adolescents affected by migration. The position requires a deep understanding of the psychosocial impacts of displacement and the ability to create engaging and supportive learning environments. The consultant will be responsible for conducting participatory assessments to identify the educational gaps and psychosocial needs of the target population. This role will involve developing structured educational activities, such as literacy and numeracy support, and integrating cultural and recreational initiatives to foster resilience and social cohesion. The consultant will also ensure that all activities are inclusive, age-appropriate, and accessible, particularly for girls and children with disabilities. The overarching goal is to provide safe spaces for learning and expression while supporting the psychosocial development of children and adolescents in a challenging context.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct participatory assessments with children, adolescents, and caregivers to identify educational gaps and psychosocial needs.
• Develop and facilitate structured educational activities, including literacy workshops, numeracy games, homework support, storytelling, and language learning.
• Complement educational activities with cultural and recreational initiatives such as arts and crafts, music, sports, cinema screenings, debates, and cultural events.
• Ensure that all activities are age-appropriate, inclusive, and accessible, particularly for girls and children with disabilities.
• Create safe, child-friendly environments that encourage learning, creativity, and social interaction.
• Align all activities with Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) objectives, focusing on resilience-building, emotional well-being, and social cohesion.
• Monitor participation, educational progress, psychosocial outcomes, and feedback from children and caregivers.
• Document challenges, lessons learned, and best practices, and submit monthly progress reports along with a final report containing recommendations for sustainability.
• Maintain a consistent presence at the Protection Center to provide ongoing educational and psychosocial support, facilitating 3 to 4 weekly sessions at the Transit Center following a child-focused MHPSS methodology.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate must possess proven expertise in designing and facilitating educational activities with psychosocial objectives. They should have experience in integrating cultural and recreational activities into child-focused programming. Strong competencies in participatory assessment, child protection, monitoring, and reporting are essential. Familiarity with IOM’s MHPSS framework is highly desirable. The candidate must demonstrate a commitment to the values of inclusion, integrity, professionalism, courage, and empathy as outlined by IOM.

Educational Background:
Candidates are required to have an advanced university degree in psychology, education, pedagogy, social sciences, or related fields. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of child and adolescent development, particularly in the context of migration and psychosocial support.

Experience:
A minimum of three years of professional experience in child and adolescent education, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), or community-based programming is required. This experience should include direct work with children and adolescents in educational settings, particularly in contexts affected by migration or displacement.

Languages:
Fluency in French and English is mandatory, while knowledge of a Sub-Saharan dialect is considered a strong asset. The proficiency in these languages will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments. IOM's official languages are English, French, and Spanish.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy will be based in Algiers, and any offer made to the candidate is subject to funding confirmation. The appointment will require certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, along with verification of residency, visa, and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable. IOM covers consultants against occupational accidents and illnesses under the Compensation Plan (CP) free of charge for the duration of the consultancy. However, IOM does not provide evacuation or medical insurance for non-occupational accidents and illnesses, and consultants are responsible for their own medical insurance for such cases. IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background, or disabilities. IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process and only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM online recruitment system.