Hi, I’m
Iyad Zaqout
Psychiatrist
Currently in Cairo
Summary
I am a dedicated professional with extensive experience in gender-based violence in emergencies (GBViE) and mental health programming. I excel in leading teams, developing strategic partnerships, and implementing survivor-centered interventions. My expertise in resource mobilization and capacity building ensures effective program delivery in complex humanitarian contexts.
Overview
24
years of professional experience
1
Certification
Work History
United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA)
Head, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Unit
09.2018 - Current
Job overview
- As the Head of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Unit, I guide the strategic vision by leading the creation of yearly operational plans for MHPSS initiatives in UNRWA Schools, with a strong emphasis on gender integration and tackling Gender-Based Violence (GBV);
- Enhancing MHPSS programs, including counseling skills, by implementing best practices and training sessions, while building capacity and systems to support MHPSS activities, especially in addressing GBV;
- Strategically designing, organizing, and overseeing training activities based on assessed training needs and within the framework of the staff development plan, ensuring gender considerations are embedded;
- Directing and supervising the formulation and updating of procedures and guidelines for MHPSS interventions, integrating strategies to combat GBV;
- Engaging actively in Agency-wide initiatives concerning MHPSS procedures and practices, with a focus on gender sensitivity and GBV prevention;
- Leading the sharing of best practices and effectively communicating with stakeholders about the unit's initiatives, emphasizing gender mainstreaming and GBV efforts;
- Supervising and evaluating, in collaboration with Education MHPSS staff, the performance of school counselors, ensuring they are prepared to address gender-related issues and GBV;
- Guaranteeing that the quality assurance system improves MHPSS and counseling practices, with a focus on gender sensitivity and GBV;
- Partnering with other units and Area Officers to provide exceptional MHPSS counseling services, ensuring these services adhere to UNRWA quality standards and address gender and GBV issues;
- Overseeing the collection and analysis of data to generate reports and updates on MHPSS interventions, with a focus on gender and GBV;
- Representing the Education Programme in MHPSS-related meetings within UNRWA and with external partners, advocating for gender mainstreaming and GBV prevention;
- Coordinating with government, local authorities, and UN/NGOs to ensure collaboration and support in the development and implementation of MHPSS activities in UNRWA, with a focus on gender and GBV;
- Leading, managing, and motivating unit staff, guiding their efforts towards achieving unit goals, and utilizing data to enhance counseling services, with a focus on gender mainstreaming
Intersectoral Workgroup
Co-Lead MHPSS Technical Workgroup
02.2023 - 09.2024
Job overview
- In my role as a co-lead of the intersectoral technical workgroup spanning Education, Health, Gender, and Protection Sectors, I was instrumental in crafting a framework to streamline MHPSS TWG activities
- This initiative established a forum for humanitarian MHPSS partners to engage in technical discussions and bolster their capabilities, with a particular emphasis on tackling GBV across various sectors
- We formulated guidelines and standards to guarantee the delivery of high-quality MHPSS in conflict zones, seamlessly integrating GBV considerations into our strategies
- Our endeavors included championing the integration of MHPSS IASC guidelines into planning, coordination, and emergency response, ensuring the inclusion of GBV and gender markers
- We facilitated the collection and sharing of data to support collaborative planning, execution, monitoring, evaluation, and advocacy efforts, all aimed at addressing GBV
- We fostered collaboration with the Mental Health Thematic Group, under the leadership of the MoH, and other stakeholders, ensuring GBV issues were addressed
- Finally, we ensured that MHPSS was comprehensively represented in the HNO and HRP, consistently addressing GBV across all sectors
United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA)
Internal MHPSS Expert (seconded)
03.2020 - 11.2020
Job overview
- Led virtual training and supervisory initiatives for Temporary Staff Counselors working across five UNRWA fields.
- Offering counseling services to HQ staff requiring Psychosocial Support related to COVID-19
- Facilitating online group sessions to support frontline staff and managers
- Collaborating with international experts to create essential guidelines and educational materials for UNRWA staff to manage COVID-19 stressors
- Assisting social workers who interact directly with individuals affected by COVID-19 via local staff counselors
- Playing a role in the Social Work Reform at UNRWA by developing Standard Operating Procedures for Social Workers and Area Social Work Supervisors, with a focus on addressing GBV
- Ensuring that staff members who are GBV survivors receive the necessary care
United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA)
Senior Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist
09.2015 - 08.2018
Job overview
- Overseeing the delivery of MHPSS and protection services by five MHPSS 'Area teams' throughout Gaza, ensuring GBV survivors receive necessary care
- This includes field visits, evaluations, interventions, and supervision for complex cases
- Additionally, offering advice and guidance to Area MHPSS Supervisors and their Assistants
- Leading support initiatives for UNRWA Departments, such as staff counseling, stress management, and training, focusing on MHPSS assessments and interventions for UNRWA staff, with an emphasis on GBV considerations
- Delivering expert mental health, psychosocial support, protection advice, and supervision to Field Community Mental Health staff, MHPSS Area Supervisors, Assistant MHPSS Supervisors, and other UNRWA Departments, ensuring GBV considerations are integrated into these roles
- Performing psychiatric evaluations and overseeing complex psychiatric or MHPSS assessments as needed; offering recommendations and developing or adjusting care plans to support complex and protection cases, including those involving GBV; providing guidance on terminating interventions or referring cases
- Spearheading the development of MHPSS and protection-related interventions, including counseling skills and approaches, through the creation and implementation of best practices and training programs, building capacity and mechanisms in all Areas to support MHPSS activities and interventions, with a focus on GBV
- Planning, organizing, and overseeing training activities that incorporate GBV awareness and response
- Contributing to the creation or revision of policies, procedures, and guidelines related to MHPSS interventions and practices, ensuring that GBV is adequately addressed
- Providing advice on and monitoring the implementation of new interventions to ensure consistency and quality of services, with a focus on GBV
- Engaging with government, local authorities, and UN/NGOs to secure their cooperation and support in the operation of Community Mental Health services, highlighting the importance of GBV considerations
United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA)
Manager for Community Mental Health Programme
10.2006 - 08.2015
Job overview
- Offering expert advice and direction in planning, managing, developing, and coordinating UNRWA's community mental health program, while supervising staff to align with the Agency's goals and strategies, ensuring gender issues and GBV are addressed
- Assisting in planning, organizing, and overseeing training activities locally and internationally, in collaboration with program supervisors by liaising with resource training institutions and organizing training for selected staff based on capacity-building needs, emphasizing gender issues and GBV
- Advocating for a multidisciplinary, community-focused approach to mental health in partnership with key stakeholders in the Gaza Strip, including governmental, non-governmental, and international organizations, particularly the Ministry of Health, to ensure interventions are coherent and complementary at all levels of care, in line with UNRWA strategies and the national mental health plan, while incorporating gender issues and GBV considerations
- Managing the creation of training materials for UNRWA health, teaching, and social workers, as well as educational resources for targeted population groups, integrating gender issues and GBV awareness
- Providing guidance on selecting NGOs for program activities and monitoring their contributions through Field and Assistant Supervisors, ensuring gender issues and GBV are addressed
- Coordinating program activities and tracking action plans among various program actors; the three UNRWA Departments (Education, Health, Relief and Social Services), other partners, and community-based organizations, focusing on gender issues and GBV interventions
- Offering advice and guidance in maintaining operational records, compiling necessary statistical data, and overseeing the design of operational research for periodic evaluation of program activities and outcomes with supervisors, preparing monthly reports based on feedback from program supervisors and UN/NGOs to ensure cooperation and support in the Community Mental Health services, with particular attention to gender issues and GBV
International Medical Corps
Mental Health Programme Manager
09.2005 - 09.2006
Job overview
- Establishing and maintaining Mental Health Services in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka affected by Tsunami and internal conflict
- Integrating mental health services into primary health care, including midwives and health inspectors
- Building mental health skills for health workers in Tsunami-affected and conflict areas, focusing on survivors of GBV and females affected by the disaster
- Developing manuals, curricula, and training courses for health workers, ensuring consistency with gender issues
- Providing supervision and training for Medical Officers of Health and other health workers, including midwives, with special attention to females of child-rearing age and their needs
- Liaising with health organizations to coordinate relief efforts for Tsunami and conflict victims, ensuring gender-related issues are sensitively reflected in diverse cultures
- Developing projects and proposals to enhance mental health services on the East Coast of Sri Lanka, emphasizing gender-related mental health matters
- Monitoring and evaluating training courses and treatment strategies
- Developing action plans, budgets, cash flows, and other managerial issues
Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP)
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
11.2003 - 08.2005
Job overview
- Tracking GCMHP projects to meet implementation and documentation standards
- Monitoring therapeutic processes and training outcomes, including SPSS data entry and analysis
- Writing evaluation reports for departmental feedback
Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP)
Crisis Intervention Project Coordinator, Mental Health Specialist
11.2000 - 11.2003
Job overview
- Leading mental health initiatives aimed at supporting Palestinian victims affected by the uprising, providing therapeutic care to individuals dealing with trauma and stress, including survivors of gender-based violence, by employing therapeutic techniques and family interventions to assist them in overcoming their challenges
- Conducting home, hospital, and clinical visits
- Delivering and monitoring public mental health education campaigns, including meetings and media activities
- Developing mental health awareness materials
- Managing the project and report writing for donors and the Ministry of Health
- Networking with humanitarian and health organizations to strengthen relief efforts
- Representing GCMHP in international events and media to reflect the mental health of the population and GCMHP's efforts to ameliorate suffering
- Supervising and monitoring team members as they carry out activities
- Developing action plans, budget, job descriptions, reporting, and other managerial requests for the project
Education
Suez Canal University, Medical School
Masters from Psychiatry, Research
11.2004
Suez Canal University
Master's Degree from Psychiatry
01.2004
Gaza Community Mental Health Programme
Postgraduate High Diploma from Community Mental Health and Human Rights, Counselling
01.2001
Hacettepe University
M.D. from Medicine
10.1997
Skills
- Resource Mobilization
- Capacity Building
- Psychosocial Support and Mental Health Programming
- Project Management
- Leadership
- Communication
- Specialized Interventions
- Emergency and Risk Case/Care Management
- Networking
- Negotiation
Certification
Certificate of Supervision, 2005, Institute for Communication, Mediation, and Supervision
Languages
Arabic
Proficient
C2
English
Proficient
C2
Turkish
Advanced
C1
Contact
Naser City, Cairo 11586
Availability
See my work availability
Not Available
Available
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Accomplishments
I facilitated the integration of mental health and psychosocial support across all UNRWA service sectors, encompassing health, education, relief, and social services covering 80% of Gazan population.
I contributed to establishment of comprehensive emergency preparedness plan for mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services in Gaza has been established, incorporating collaboration among the United Nations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international NGOs (INGOs), and public sector entities.
I spearheaded the development and implementation of child-centered practices within the UNRWA school counseling system, impacting approximately 190,000 children and their families. This initiative involved collaboration with roughly 13,000 teachers, 550 school principals and deputies, 250 school counselors, and 22 MHPSS specialists.
I facilitated the implementation of the mhGAP intervention in UNRWA primary health care centers via a pilot program involving health staff. This pilot program was subsequently replicated across 22 health centers in the Gaza Strip.
I played a significant role in UNRWA's social work reform initiatives, leading the development of social services for Palestinian refugees throughout its five fields of operation: Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.
During COVID 19, I contributed to the development and implementation of a comprehensive staff care program for local staff across all UNRWA fields, benefiting approximately 30,000 employees.
I contributed to the establishment of mental health services in the eastern Sri Lankan healthcare system by training approximately 700 health staff and establishing the province's first specialiszed mental health center in PHC, serving nearly 1.8 million people.
Timeline
Co-Lead MHPSS Technical Workgroup
Intersectoral Workgroup
02.2023 - 09.2024
Internal MHPSS Expert (seconded)
United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA)
03.2020 - 11.2020
Head, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Unit
United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA)
09.2018 - Current
Senior Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist
United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA)
09.2015 - 08.2018
Manager for Community Mental Health Programme
United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA)
10.2006 - 08.2015
Mental Health Programme Manager
International Medical Corps
09.2005 - 09.2006
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP)
11.2003 - 08.2005
Crisis Intervention Project Coordinator, Mental Health Specialist
Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP)
11.2000 - 11.2003
Suez Canal University
Master's Degree from Psychiatry
Gaza Community Mental Health Programme
Postgraduate High Diploma from Community Mental Health and Human Rights, Counselling
Hacettepe University
M.D. from Medicine
Suez Canal University, Medical School
Masters from Psychiatry, Research
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