Integrated Development Worker (m/f), Liberia #3049

Development cooperation - your concern?

You understand the strong need for direct dialogue between people when it comes to initiating and furthering development processes. You are looking for a job which focuses on the concerns and hardships of people, organisations and communities. And you are ready for a challenging new position with a high level of personal responsibility. If this describes you, then we can offer you the following position:

Integrated Development Worker (m/f) to develop a
graduate programme at the Mother Patern College of Health Scienes in Monrovia, Liberia #3049

Liberia is still in a period of recovery following the fourteen-year civil war (1989 - 2003), which, among other things, left behind militarised youth and a brutalised society. As a result, Liberia was characterised by ethnically motivated conflicts, a culture of impunity, and the large-scale destruction of social and state structures. The civil war cost an estimated 270,000 human lives, hundreds of thousands of people were displaced from their homes and virtually all infrastructure, the social system, and traditional norms and ways of life were destroyed.Domestic violence, as well as rape and violence against girls and women, sadly continue to be part of daily life. Disabled people or those infected with HIV are marginalised and often the victims of physical violence.Due to the Ebola epidemic in 2014/2015, with more than 10,000 cases of infection and almost 5,000 deaths, huge pressure has been put on the traditional social structure, to the point of disintegration. Ebola survivors are often stigmatised by their families and communities.

Even today, violence is widely used to assert interests or to "resolve" conflicts. Studies show alarmingly high percentages of people who are suffering from traumatic stress disorders and depression. The church and state institutions in Liberia are in agreement that there is a huge need for further training in trauma therapy, in particular for social and healthcare workers.

The Mother Patern College of Health Science (MPCHS) is affiliated with the Catholic archdiocese Monrovia and works with the Liberian government to improve healthcare in both the physical and psychological field. In cooperation with our client, the German Catholic Bishops' Organisation for Development Cooperation MISEREOR, the MPCHS offers a post-graduate programme in trauma therapy for social workers, which it wants to develop into a Master's programme. An integrated development worker is to be incorporated into the academic staff of the MPCHS and will work as an instructor for clinical social work and supervisor.

Your tasks:
Specifically, you will carry out the following tasks:

• Developing teaching materials and securing the academic quality of the post-graduate programme,
• Liaising with the medical association in cooperation with the National Association of Liberia Social Workers, with the objective of developing processes for the certification of the social work and post-graduate programme,
• Supporting and supervising qualified social workers in their clinical social work,
• Shared responsibility for the management of the Clinical Social Work faculty, in close cooperation with the head of the Social Work Department.

Your profile:

• You have a PhD in Psychology and can demonstrate academic and practical experience in clinical social work.
• You have experience working in academia and strong teaching skills. You are interested in reviewing and developing your knowledge in the realities of life in Liberia, as well as passing this knowledge on to social work students.
• You are willing and able to encourage and support your Liberian colleagues.
• You are physically and psychologically healthy and capable of working under stressful conditions.
• You are an EU or Swiss citizen. As a member of a Christian church you demonstratively share the goals and concerns of church-related development cooperation.

What we offer:
We offer you a meaningful role within a challenging intercultural environment. Your place of residence and work is Monrovia and your assignment is scheduled for three years. We will prepare you thoroughly and individually for your work. As per the German Development Aid Workers Act (Entwicklungshelfergesetz), you will receive an employment contract, including social security and a remuneration commensurate to the position.

The Association for Development Cooperation (AGEH e.V.) is the personnel service of the German Catholics for Development Cooperation. For over 50 years, we have been selecting professionals and placing them in development organisations and projects in more than 60 countries.

We look forward to receiving your application by September 15, 2015 via our online application form at www.ageh.de.
If you are unable to use this form for technical reasons, please apply with your CV and letter of motivation to jobs@ageh.org.

Association for Development Cooperation (AGEH e.V.), PO Box 210128, 50527 Cologne, Germany