FAST-TRACK: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Specialist, Kabul, Afghanistan, P3

The Position:

The MHPSS Specialist is based in UNFPA Afghanistan Country Office, as part of the GBViE Unit. S/he shall directly report to the GBViE Programme Specialist. 
 

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
 

Job Purpose:

Under the overall direction of the UNFPA GBViE Program Specialist, the incumbent will be responsible for coordinating technical MHPSS support for UNFPA’s GBV/PSS response programme in Afghanistan.

The purpose of the MHPSS Specialist is to support the Afghanistan Country office and increase the capacity of UNFPA and Implementing partners to deliver services in compliance with IASC Guidelines for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings.

This includes the ongoing assessment of the quality of PSS interventions and staff knowledge and skills in UNFPA’s Psychosocial Counseling Centers (PSCCs), Mother and Child Health Centers (MCHCs), PSS Teams with attention to staff changes, ongoing recruitment, and increase in number of service delivery points. The MHPSS Specialist will also represent UNFPA in MHPSS coordination structures and maintain linkage between the MHPSS Working Group to support information sharing and skills transfer. 
 

You would be responsible for:

A.  Programme Management and Technical Leadership:
●    Carry out MHPSS program implementation, including facilitation of programmatic and technical support staff to ensure timely completion of program objectives.
●    Ongoing assessment of current PSS interventions and staff knowledge and skills in UNFPA’s Psychosocial Counseling Centers (PSCCs), Mother and Child Health Centers (MCHCs) with attention to staff changes, ongoing recruitment, and increase in number of service delivery points. 
●    Lead the design of MHPSS interventions for UNFPA and implementing partners in Afghanistan, including consideration of a cognitive behavior-based approach tailored to staff without formal MHPSS qualifications.
●    Develop training, mentoring and a supervision plan to equip PSS counselors, to deliver specialized interventions that address common psychosocial responses to both long standing and acute trauma and abuse. Deliver training sessions and maintain intensive follow-up/coaching to ensure skill development and application.
●    Lead and support PSS counselors and front line staff with training reviews on PFA and other psychosocial interventions to ensure capacity of staff and community mobilisers to recognise and respond appropriately to MHPSS needs. 
●    Lead and support ongoing self-care sessions of IP front line staff in collaboration with national IP MHPSS Technical managers and officers.
●    Regularly review and modify when necessary existing field manuals and guidance materials to ensure ongoing cultural appropriateness. 
●    Review existing monitoring tools to ensure MHPSS interventions are being carried out in compliance with international guidelines and best practices. 
●    Represent UNFPA in MHPSS coordination structures and maintain linkage between MHPSS Working Group to support information sharing and skills transfer.   
●    Contribute to writing proposals, provide inputs in donor reports and engage in other resource mobilisation efforts.


B.  Capacity Development: 
●    Review specialist training material tailored to the particular MHPSS intervention designed for the UNFPA PSS interventions in Afghanistan and modify as required in collaboration with implementing partners.
●    Provide ongoing support to IP case managers’ capacity-building activities to implementing partners, and health responders, in providing quality psychosocial first aid responses for trauma-related complaints of beneficiaries.
●    Support ongoing monitoring of PSS activities to ensure clear guidelines regarding objectives and evaluation. 
●    Monitor and support UNFPA and partner staff to sustain MHPSS quality through structured supervision and review these mechanisms.
●    Analyse results of monitoring visits and data to identify capacity development needs.
●    Contribute to the development of appropriate IEC material to support the training and programme implementation for MHPSS interventions and review existing IEC materials. 
●    Support the ongoing capacity development of UNFPA staff to respond to emergency/humanitarian crises with awareness of MHPSS needs, referral options, and interventions.  


C.  Monitoring and Reporting:
●    Collect relevant data and information necessary for programme and project planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
●    Contribute to best practices for youth in humanitarian response, including in relation to reproductive health and gender-based violence response. 
 

Carry out any other duties as requested by the GBViE Programme Specialist, Representative and/or the Deputy Representative.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Advanced university degree with specialization in psychology, psychosocial implementation, clinical social work, mental health or other related fields.
 

Knowledge and Experience: 

●    At least 5 years of professional experience in the field of development and population activities, with experience in programme/project management, preferably related to PSS/GBV and management or other relevant experience.
●    Mastery of gender-based violence issues, with a minimum of 5 years of progressive humanitarian experience, at least 2 of which should be field-based or in an emergency context.
●    Professional experience in planning, designing and management of development programmes/projects or related subjects. 
●    Experience in coordination and liaison with local stakeholders, including partners, organisations, NGOs and communities.
●    Demonstrated organizational skills: the ability to work independently and productively with multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
●    Preferred experience in managing GBV case management/multi sectoral services and referral.
●    Knowledge on multi-sectoral support and survivor centered approach.
●    Proven relevant experience in developing training curriculums, modules and materials on data management, GBV case management including Psychosocial (PSS) interventions and Psychosocial First Aid/ GBV multi sectoral services/ GBV prevention and response.
●    Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: the ability to successfully and effectively liaise with people in a wide range of functions in a multicultural environment. 
●    Demonstrated understanding of issues related to confidentiality, data safety and other ethical concerns related to the sharing of sensitive data between humanitarian agencies.
●    Experience in supervision of GBV case workers / PSS Counselors is an advantage. 
●    Demonstrated capacity to analyse data/statistics for humanitarian operations.
●    Excellent Computer skills: MS Word, Excel, Access and database software, including in depth knowledge of pivot table/chart analysis.
●    Good understanding of international GBV programming/ best practices and IASC GBV guidelines.
 

Languages: 

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of other official UN language is desirable.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

•   Exemplifying integrity
•   Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
•   Embracing cultural diversity
•   Embracing change
 

Core Competencies: 

•   Achieving results
•   Being accountable
•   Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen
•   Thinking analytically and strategically
•   Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships
•   Communicating for impact 
 

Functional Competencies:

•   Advocacy/advancing a policy-oriented agenda 
•   Engaging internal/external partners and stakeholders 
•   Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/building strategic alliances and partnerships 
•   Delivering results-based programmes 
•   Internal and External communication and advocacy for resource mobilization 
 

Managerial Competencies:

•    Providing strategic focus
•    Engaging internal/ external partners and stakeholders
•    Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
•    Making decisions and exercising judgment

 

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
 

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.