Psychosocial Support Expert

Mogadishu

Organization: IRC - International Rescue Committee
Location: Mogadishu
Grade: Mid level - Mid level
Occupational Groups:
- Public Health and Health Service
- Social Affairs
Closing Date:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The IRC is seeking a qualified Psychosocial Support Expert to support the implementation of a project aimed at ensuring that GBV services are effectively integrated into the education system in Somalia.

SCOPE OF WORK: The Psychosocial Support Expert will be responsible for ensuring that child, adolescent and adult survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and child abuse—including children and adolescents—and other vulnerable populations receive high-quality, trauma-informed psychosocial support (PSS) services. This role includes designing and implementing PSS interventions, providing technical guidance, and building the capacity of frontline responders, health workers, and community networks to deliver safe, child-friendly care to survivors.

The Psychosocial Support Expert will collaborate closely with community focal points, child protection actors, education personnel, and service providers to ensure a coordinated and child and survivor-centered Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) response that addresses the unique needs of child and adolescent survivors.

The position will be based in Mogadishu, with frequent travel to project sites. The Psychosocial Support Expert will report to the GBV Program Manager.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of inclusive and trauma-informed psychosocial support services, ensuring the integration of child- and adolescent-friendly approaches.
Provide direct psychosocial support and counseling to survivors of GBV/child abuse, including children and youth, using age-appropriate communication and care techniques.
Develop and deliver tailored capacity-building programs for case workers, health staff, education actors, and community volunteers on MHPSS and child-focused support strategies.
Strengthen and expand community-based support structures such as safe spaces, peer groups, and child-friendly environments to provide emotional and social support to survivors.
Integrate MHPSS into GBV and CP case management and referral pathways, ensuring adult and child survivors receive comprehensive care.
Collaborate with school counselors and social workers to ensure that children, adolescents and adults who experience GBV have access to mental health services.
Conduct regular needs assessments to identify mental health gaps among survivors, with a focus on children and adolescents, and adjust services accordingly.
Advocate for improved mental health and psychosocial policies and resource allocation, with a focus on protecting the wellbeing of child survivors in both educational and protection systems.
Ensure all services adhere to ethical principles, particularly confidentiality, informed consent, and child safeguarding standards.
Monitor program quality and effectiveness using survivor-centered indicators and adapt interventions to promote continuous learning and improvement.
Ensure full compliance with IRC policies, donor regulations, and international standards in the implementation of MHPSS activities.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology, Social Work, Mental Health, Counseling, or a related field.
Minimum 5 years of professional experience in providing psychosocial support or supportive counseling to GBV and child abuse survivors.
Proven experience in delivering trauma-informed care, psychological first aid (PFA), and counseling for GBV and child abuse survivors.
In-depth understanding of the ethical principles governing GBV and CP work, including confidentiality, survivor safety, best interests of the child, do no harm and trauma-informed care.
Experience in training and mentoring multidisciplinary teams on GBV and child protection-related PSS.
Knowledge of GBV and Child protection case management, child protection systems, protection frameworks, and humanitarian response mechanisms.
Experience working with government agencies, NGOs, and local service providers to strengthen GBV and CP referral pathways.
Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills, with experience in stakeholder engagement and community mobilization.
Ability to work in complex emergency settings and manage multiple stakeholders.
Excellent command of Somali and English (spoken and written).
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) for documentation and reporting.
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Gender Equality: The IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Diversity and Inclusion: at the IRC, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, physical or mental ability, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, the IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.

Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.

Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.

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