National Stress Counsellor (Open to all applicants)

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in 170 countries and territories, supporting national efforts to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, strengthen resilience, and accelerate sustainable development. As the development arm of the United Nations, UNDP collaborates with governments, civil society, the private sector, and communities to build inclusive and resilient pathways for human development.

In Mozambique, UNDP has been a trusted partner since 1976, working with national and local authorities, UN entities, civil society, and communities to promote inclusive growth, resilience, and sustainable development. Guided by the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, UNDP develops targeted and innovative solutions to address the country’s evolving development challenges.

Our Country Programme Document is structured around four interconnected pillars: i) human development, multidimensional poverty, gender equality and public health management; ii) inclusive economic recovery, diversification and sustainable livelihoods; iii) climate resilience and natural resource management; and, iv) inclusive and decentralized governance, justice, peace and social cohesion.

These focus areas reflect UNDP’s comparative advantage in Mozambique and align with national development priorities and the UNSDCF. The Country Office works both upstream and downstream to build resilience and expand opportunities, particularly for women and youth. This includes strengthening community resilience to disasters and conflict, scaling area‑based models for integrated recovery and service delivery, and leveraging stabilization efforts in Cabo Delgado to support post‑conflict recovery, institutional strengthening, and locally led economic revitalization.

The CO has also been carrying out a review of its structure and organogram to achieve an optimal and sustainable configuration that aligns staffing to respond to new challenges and the expected growth of the CO to enable UNDP effectively support Mozambique’s current and emerging development priorities. 

UNDP upholds the highest standards of integrity and accountability. We maintain a zero‑tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment (including sexual harassment), and discrimination. All selected candidates undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are foundational to UNDP’s mandate and integral to everything we do. Across all programmes and operations, UNDP promotes equal opportunities, inclusive participation, and the advancement of women and marginalized groups so that development gains are equitable and sustainable.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

At the upstream level, emphasis was to explore market-based solutions for growth and development of SMEs and the informal economy, building social capital by enhancing knowledge, vocational skills and capacities will support more diverse and sustainable livelihoods. In this respect, UNDP envisaged offering support to SMEs, particularly the growth- oriented ones, and those led by women, to access digital financial services and exchange technologies. Currently, the CO is piloting this via the Informal Sector project, using it to scale up its work in fostering an enabling environment for expanded job creation, promoting entrepreneurship and creating space for the private sector (especially MSMEs).While investments in livelihoods and economic empowerment are integral part of the on-going programmes especially the MRF and the stabilization, these are not linked together to constitute a structured and coherent offer on inclusive growth and economic recovery/transformation as envisaged under the CPD. One key reason for this is the absence of adequate capacity and expertise centrally to cover this segment of the CO’s portfolio. Even the RBA mission in 2023 made this conclusion, noting a gap on UNDP’s support to economic transformation and economic diversification at the national and sub-national levels’’. This makes the case for strengthening this part of the CO’s work, growing it and creating a portfolio of projects around it vesting this under the leadership of a Programme Specialist/Inclusive Growth, thus the rationale for this position and a dedicated unit, the Inclusive growth Unit.

Position Purpose

Under the administrative supervision of the Chief Security Adviser and the technical supervision of the CISMS Regional Stress Counsellor, the National Stress Counsellor will administrate a wide range of stress management activities, actively participating in emergency preparedness in the country in collaboration with UNDSS and the UN emergency coordination group as per the UNDSS CISMS standard operational procedures on the Management of Stress and Critical Incident Stress (MSCIS). 

Duties and Responsibilities

The National Stress Counsellor will be responsible for the following duties:

1) Stress Prevention, Counselling and Case Management

• Develop and implement a country-wide stress prevention and management plan for all UN Agencies in the country;
• Provide individual and group stress management and critical incident counselling to UN personnel and dependents; 
• Identify, address, and follow up on high-stress and critical incident stress cases.

2) Training, Awareness and Preventative Interventions

• Plan, facilitate, and deliver preventative stress management training on a range of stress-related topics for UN personnel; 
• Circulate relevant reading and awareness materials using new and available technologies; 
• Regularly visit UN offices and sub-offices to support training delivery and provide technical consultations as needed.

3) Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Coordination

• Assist in establishing and supporting Critical Incident Stress Intervention Cells (CISICs), including the selection and training of Peer Helpers under the guidance of the CISMS Regional Stress Counsellor; 
• Coordinate all CISM activities with relevant stakeholders at the country level.

4) Stakeholder Engagement, Partnerships and Advisory Support

• Collaborate with UN managers, agency counsellors, medical doctors, local experts, and institutions to build a psychosocial support network; 
• Support the Staff Association when organizing welfare activities; 
• Advise UN management on stress mitigation strategies and organizational wellbeing initiatives.

5) Monitoring, Knowledge Management and Reporting

• Conduct ongoing psychosocial needs assessments and monitor stress determinants through data collection, analysis, and resource mapping following the guidance from CISMS HQ; 
• Coordinate collective psychosocial capacity across UN agencies and partners; 
• Prepare and submit monthly activity reports to the Chief Security Adviser, with copies to UNDSS CISMS at Headquarters.

The National Stress Counsellor will be required to perform other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry or a relevant related field is required.  
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A valid certification to practice at national level in clinical psychology or psychiatry is required. 

Experience:

• Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in stress counselling, clinical psychology, psychiatry, at a national level with cross border experience;   
• Previous relevant work experience in UN will be an asset. Qualifying years of experience are calculated after the receipt of an accredited advanced level degree recognized by the United Nations;
• Experience in crisis coordination and emergency response would be highly desirable;
• Additional training or experience in a broad range of related fields, such as alcohol/substance abuse, stress management, critical incident stress and cross-cultural communication would be an asset;
• International experience would be an asset.

Required Language(s):

• Fluency in English and Portuguese is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

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