Civil Peace Service (CPS) Advisor (m/f/d) for Dealing with the Past (DwP) and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) at the CPS Regional Programme for Burundi, Eastern DR Congo and Rwanda

Our model for success is a better life for everyone and purposeful tasks for our employees. For more than 50 years, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), as a company of the German Federal Government, has been supporting the implementation of development policy goals worldwide. Together with partner organisations in 120 countries, we are involved in a diverse range of projects. If you want to make a difference in the world and develop yourself in the process, you've come to the right place.

Our Offer

The Civil Peace Service (CPS) is a programme for violence prevention and peacebuilding in crisis and conflict regions. CPS professionals provide long-term support to local organisations in their commitment to promote peace, dialogue and human rights. The GIZ' regional CPS programme "Fostering peace literacy and civil society networks in the Great Lakes Region" aims to create and link existing cross-border civil society peace initiatives in the region. Since 2019, partner organisations (POs) of the three countries form communities of practices to adress conflict issues using collaborative processes and standards to implement peace projects in areas such as youth empowerment and critical thinking, nonviolent conflict transformation and dialogue, sexualised and gender based violence, digital peacebuilding and media literacy. Through annual meetings of all POs and regular exchanges during workshops, trainings and joint activities, a stable regional civil society network has been established, which will be further consolidated and extended in the coming years.

Your tasks

• Capacity development and advice to THARS; supervision of the THARS counsellors
• Support and advice in planning, monitoring and evaluation of THARS projects
• Support and advice for the development of strategies to make the organization (and others in the CPS regional program) economically sustainable
• Facilitation of contact, exchange, cooperation and mutual technical support with the other partner organizations of CPS GIZ and in the Consortium ZFD
• Support of networking activities with other local, regional and international organizations working in the field of peacebuilding, particularly DwP and MHPSS in the region
• Capacity development and advice to other partner organisations of the programme, in the three countries; supervision to other POs who engage in MHPSS
• Accompany all POs in the setup of mental healing within their organisations and as accompanying measure of peacebuilding activities; advice at programme level
• Collect an overview of the situation in each country on needs and available services and resources in relation to DwP and MHPSS
• Advise the programme coordination and develop a concept on how the programme could engage in DwP as a basis for strategic discussion with the partners

Your Profile

Required criteria:

• University degree in psychology, at least Master level
• Certificate/training in Dealing with the Past
• Several years of experience in psychotherapy/counselling
• Several years of experience in project management
• Proven intercultural sensitivity and experience of efficiently communicating and working with colleagues from different cultures
• Driving licence; readiness to frequently travel in the country and in the region
• Resilience in dealing with abrupt changes due to a dynamic political and economic context in the region
• Fluency in French and English

 

Desirable criteria:

• Experience working in a country in the global South is an asset
• Knowledge and experience of conflict sensitive programming
• Knowledge and skills in strengthening the economic sustainability of local organizations are an asset
• Patience and resilience of coping with slow and complicated administrative procedures, rules and regulations
• Readiness to learn Kirundi is desirable, knowledge of German is an asset

Location information

Climate
Burundi has moderate temperatures (from min. 19°C to a maximum of 31°C) and high humidity with heavy cloud formation and frequent, heavy rainfall. In the highlands there is also frost and hail. In the rainy seasons from mid-October to December and February to mid-May, heavy rainfall often leads to flooding and landslides and consequently to impassable roads and bridges. Burundi is located in a seismically active zone, which is why earthquakes can occur.

Healthcare
Burundi is amongst the countries in the East Africa region with extremely inadequate medical care. The care in the capital is fine, in the provinces there are reference hospitals, but their possibilities are very limited. GIZ staff are advised to seek treatment in 1-2 recommended hospitals in Bujumbura and to take a comprehensive first-aid kit with them. Planned operations should only be carried out in Europe. Vaccinations and medicationscan always lead to bottlenecks.

Living conditions
There are plenty of apartments and houses for rent in Bujumbura, but prices – especially for foreigners – are on the rise. Overall, the rents vary greatly depending on the size and requirements. Sports clubs and cultural centres offer a variety of leisure activities. There are numerous supermarkets where you can also find goods imported from Europe. The shortage of fuel continues to have negative consequences on daily life in Burundi. Additionally, there are frequent electricity cuts that impact internet connectivity and water distribution. 

Children
Burundi is a very child-friendly country. Both the Belgian and French schools in Bujumbura go from kindergarten to high school. The language of instruction is French. There is also an international Montessori school, crèche to secondary school (English instruction language).

The security situation requires heightened vigilance. Tailored security risk mitigation measures are in place for GIZ staff in country. GIZ staff must adhere to security measures at all times. Please also check the county-specific information provided by the German Federal Foreign Office. GIZ runs a professional security risk management system in the field of deployment. In some cases, there may be restrictions on freedom of movement that are specific to the environment in which the work is carried out. GIZ does not impose any restrictions on life partners and family members to move with you to the country of deployment. Please note that the general and personal living conditions in the country of assignment may meet with different legal and social acceptance. We gladly support you with our many years of experience.

Further information on country-specific advice from the Federal Foreign Office at https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en.

Notes

GIZ's Development Service is looking forward to applications of candidates with a professional qualification and / or university degree and at least two years of professional experience. In addition you hold the German nationality or the nationality of a member state of the European Union.

Willingness to travel on a regular basis is required.

Driving licence (and driving experience) are required.

For general questions from dependent partners about local employment - please contact us at: map@giz.de

Please observe the provisions of the country-specific vaccination regulations for entry and work in the country of assignment.

Please understand that we can accept and process in principle only applications via our E-recruiting system. Following the confirmation of your succesful application, kindly check your spam / junk mail folder on a regular basis, since some provider classify emails form our recruiting system as spam.

About us

The basis for service as a development worker is the Development Workers Act (EhfG) and a comprehensive package of benefits based on it. This includes, among other things, targeted professional and personal preparation. We offer the opportunity to work in an innovative, globally active development institution. Your competencies are in demand in an interdisciplinary team on site.

GIZ is a signatory of the Diversity Charter. Recognition, appreciation and inclusion of diversity in the company are important to us. All employees shall be valued - regardless of gender and gender identity, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, social background, age or sexual orientation.

We support equal opportunities and welcome applications from people with disabilities.