Informal Sector Supporter (Psychosocial) at WASTE Advisers

WASTE Advisers/GEMS (WA/GEMS) is implementing a project funded by the European Union (EU) titled “Building Better! Post-COVID Economic Recovery through a National Recycling Campaign”. This project aims to support vulnerable groups and small businesses by promoting a circular economy in Malawi. Among various initiatives, the project works with waste pickers at landfills and streets in providing social and psychological support along with a subsidy program. Even though these groups are often neglected, they play a crucial role in the waste value chain. Therefore, WASTE Advisers/GEMS is seeking to recruit Informal Waste Pickers Psychosocial Supporter to assist in the execution of this project in Lilongwe.

Scope of Work

A.   Mobilization and grouping of waste pickers

• Mobilizing waste pickers at Area 38 dumpsite and streets. Waste pickers at Mtaya should be respectfully engaged in a manner to develop trust
• Baseline data collection. Conduct face-to-face surveys with waste pickers, focusing on gathering detailed information on their activities, including types of waste collected, quantities, selling prices, and buyers.
• Ensure that the surveys are completed in a manner that is respectful and sensitive to the respondents’ situations.
• Data Entry and Management. Enter the collected survey data into a specified mobile or digital platform promptly and accurately.
• Establishing support groups where waste pickers can share experiences and offer mutual support.

B.    Providing social psychological support sessions

• Carrying out a need assessment
• Helping pickers to understand and recognize the value they have through sessions that tackles following areas.

a.     Self-identity and roles.  They should understand themselves and the roles they play as a parent, worker and community member.

b.     Self-esteem and Self-worth. They should recognize value and build a confidence as an economic contributing member in a society.

c.     Goal setting and personal growth.

d.     Values and beliefs. They should understand what is truly important to individuals and how it guides their behavior and decisions

e.     Rights Awareness: Educating waste pickers about their legal rights and available services

·       Supporting waste pickers through livelihood and trauma healing sessions

C.   Providing entrepreneurship and finance management trainings
·       Providing training sessions that focus on the following areas

a)    Basic financial management (budgeting, savings and loans)

b)    Entrepreneurship. Adding a value of waste and growing the business

c)     Recycling of waste. Facilitating compost training

d)    Marketing strategies

·       Networking and partnership. Linking waste pickers to schools, private waste operators and recyclers to improve the collection and recycling of waste.

Required Qualifications

·       A bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Theology, Community Development, Public Health, Social Science, Arts in Humanities, Environmental Sciences and any other related field.

·       More than 3 years working experience related to working with communities, informal waste pickers

·       Those that have worked in an environment of providing counselling shall have an added advantage.

·       Ability to collect data using tools like KoboCollect or mWater.

·       Ability to work in an informal environment

·       Good command of oral and written English and Chichewa

·       Skilled in writing comprehensive professional reports.

Method Of Application