December 12, 2023

Action Coordinator For “Rights, Services, and Participation: Fostering a Comprehensive Mental Health Framework in Armenia” project

Position: Action Coordinator

Duration: January 2024 – December 2026

Action Title: “Rights, Services, and Participation: Fostering a Comprehensive Mental Health Framework in Armenia”

Summary

The Democracy Development Foundation (DDF) is looking for a skilled and enthusiastic Action Coordinator to join its vibrant team and spearhead the Foundation’s newly started multifaceted initiative in the area of mental health.

Action Background

The Democracy Development Foundation (DDF), in cooperation with Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor (HCAV), “Disability-Rights Agenda” (DRA) NGO, and the Armenian Mental Health Association (AMHA), is launching a three-year-long initiative (hereafter: Action) to address relevant mental health issues in Armenia with the support of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia. The measures taken in the framework of this Action are to achieve the following objectives:

  • Develop rights-based mental health policies and instruments in line with the UN conventions and international standards;
  • Collectively advocate for the introduction and revision of policies and instruments from a rights-based perspective;
  • Revise and upgrade existing psychosocial services across Armenia.
  • Develop and pilot new community-based mental health services and early identification mechanisms in Armenia;
  • Increase the awareness and interest of the public concerning mental health issues with an emphasis on reducing the existing stigmatized attitude.

DDF will primarily carry out the activities related to the provision of financial support to third parties, as well as the policy development and advocacy-related measures planned in the framework of the Action.

Organizational Background

The Democracy Development Foundation (DDF), the spin-off of the Open Society Foundations, aims to contribute to the advancement of democracy, security, and human rights in Armenia. DDF efforts are centered around the vision of a country, where people live in dignity and enjoy peace, safety, freedoms, civic engagement, and social justice.

Registered in December 2022 as an independent, non-profit foundation, DDF works towards the above-mentioned mission with a strong commitment to open society values and ideals. DDF efforts are focused on supporting pro-democracy actors and creating partnerships based on shared values and expertise. In doing so, DDF empowers a vibrant community of civil society actors and exercises its convening power to cultivate robust alliances for effective local policy and international advocacy efforts.

DDF executes its strategy by means of our in-house operational programs, grants provided to partner organizations, and by securing external funding, which also includes sub-granting.

Reporting

The Mental Health Action Coordinator (AC) will report to the Director of DDF (also the Action Manager of the respective initiative from DDF). The AC will liaise with other DDF staff members (e.g., Senior Program Manager, other Portfolio Managers, Head of Operations, and Grants Manager) on areas/programs of mutual interest or overlapping responsibilities.

Responsibilities

The Action Coordinator is responsible for:

  • Providing organizational and technical support to daily activities;
  • Monitoring the respective timelines of the Action;
  • Facilitating communication within the team and with other stakeholders;
  • Submitting regular reports on the progress made in the framework of the Action;
  • Supporting the work of the expert committee by:
    • organizing regular committee meetings,
    • reviewing proposals and preparing documentation for experts,
    • maintaining records on committee deliberations (protocols),
    • facilitating communication between the expert committee, Director, and Board of Directors;
  • Managing proposal review cycles, according to DDF’s Board calendar, by setting deadlines for receipt of proposals, committee review, final review by the Director, and document submission for the Board review;
  • Maintaining contact with grant seekers by:
    • holding office hours for meetings with prospective grant seekers,
    • filing proposals and related decisions made by expert committees,
    • composing grants letter “purposes” and “publication statements,”
    • in consultation with the Grants Manager, advising respective grant recipients of their obligations,
    • monitoring the progress of the respective grant and compliance (in consultation with the Grants Manager);
  • Gathering information relevant to programs by:
    • assessing the program-related field(s) regularly
    • keeping regular contact with main stakeholders in NGO, donor, and governmental communities,
    • attending relevant meetings in Armenia and abroad, and reporting on those meetings to the Director,
    • submitting all required documents to the Head of Operations, Chief Accountant and Grants Manager to ensure full compliance with Armenian law and DDF’s required financial/grants management practices.

 

Qualifications

  • At least three years of experience in project management/coordination. Experience in working in the civil society sector is an asset;
  • University degree (bachelor’s or higher) in social sciences/public health/human rights or similar discipline;
  • Excellent communication and negotiation skills;
  • Full command of Armenian and English;
  • A rights-oriented perspective on mental health issues;
  • A principled attitude in regard to inclusion and anti-discrimination;
  • Strong organizational and facilitation skills, whether face-to-face or remotely with diverse stakeholders;
  • Experience conducting needs assessments, reviews, and documentation of best practices;
  • Experience in facilitating meetings and workshops;
  • Comfortable to work independently while coordinating closely with different teams;
  • Ability to listen and mediate differing opinions and approaches;
  • Ability to travel across Armenia and internationally;
  • Experience in working with vulnerable groups is an asset.

 

How to Apply

Send your CV (including two references) and Cover Letter to [email protected] by EOB January 10, 2024. In the cover letter (one page max), you are requested to provide details of one successful project in which you were involved and the particular role you played.

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