MHPSS counselor -Internal/External (2 Positions)

• Duration of the contract Until 6 May /2027
• Reports to project coordinator and Director
• Donor UN-OCHA/EHF

Background

Amhara women’s Association /AWA/ is a nonprofit, nonpolitical and non-religious civic organization established in 1998 to empower women and girls socially and economically in Amhara regional state including Addis Ababa city administration.

AWA is launching twelve /12 -month project with funding secured from UN-OCHA to support internally displaced people and vulnerable house hold in North Shoa Zone, Merhabetie woreda and Shoa Robit town. This initiative aims to provide humanitarian assistance that strengthens protection outcomes, focusing on Protection and CP-GBV interventions. The project reduces protection risks for conflict-affected women, girls, children, and other vulnerable groups through survivor-centered case management, MHPSS, safe referrals, dignity kits and targeted cash for protection, ensuring safe and dignified access to life-saving services and, ultimately safeguarding their dignity and rights. The project will be carried out in North Shoa Zone, Merhabetie woreda and Shoa Robit town. In relation to this AWA wants recruit a full time project coordinator.

The MHPSS counselor will be in charge of facilitating focused, non-specialized Psychosocial support through individual or group support (IASC third layer MHPSS pyramid) to CP-GBV survivors and at risk women and girls as part of AWA’s CP-CP-GBV response to address their emotional, psychological, and social needs. The counselor will work in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to ensure holistic care, provide referral services, and contribute to creating a safe and supportive environment for survivors and those at risk of CP-GBV.

Major roles and responsibilities of the position

Direct support and counseling – Individual and group level

• Following the MHPSS principles identify and monitor various psychosocial concerns of IDP, vulnerable households, women and children located in North Shoa Zone Merhabetie woreda and Shoa Robit town.
• Works with CP-GBV case management officers/workers/ to ensure CP-GBV survivors receive timely survivor centered case management/MHPSS service
• Support survivors in developing coping mechanisms to manage their trauma and stress.
• Collaborate with case managers to develop and implement comprehensive case action plan for survivors.
• Assist in developing psychosocial support tools and resources tailored to the context and needs of survivors.
• She /He will facilitate consultation with women and girls, and other relevant community members/MHPSS providers to identify PSS needs of women and girls
• Providing culturally sensitive, trauma-informed and survivor centered counseling to women and girls survivors and at risk of CP-GBV, including emotional and psychological support through women and girls safe space and child friendly space
• Facilitate group based sessions and structured activities where ever feasible for targeted IDPs, vulnerable households, women, girls, children including PWDs and those participating and accessing WGFS, CFS and health centers.
• Works with and strengthen the referral linkages with Debre-Birhan one stop center/Hospital/ for IDPs vulnerable households, women, and girls, children including PWDs and needing specialized MHPSS interventions.
• Use the recent Psychological First aid and immediate basic Psychosocial support techniques including the PFA manual for IDPs and vulnerable households requiring level three MHPSS interventions.

Coordination with other service providers – for level one MHPSS intervention

• Works in close collaboration with Hospital, health center and health posts in in North Shoa Zone, Merhabetie woreda and Shoa Robit town to ensure dignified support and referral for people with MHPSS symptoms
• Create awareness for other service providers and frontline staffs on creating referral linkages and reduce stigma and create access to basic service for IDPs with primary MHPSS symptoms

Demand creation and awareness raising

• Oversee awareness raising activities through outreach and awareness campaigns on CP-GBV, Mental health, PSEA and SRH.
• Coordinate and support Women and girls at risk of CP-GBV to receive different CP-GBV services and support in all project intervention sites.
• Facilitate and coordinate different skill development, recreation activities for women and girls accessing WGFS and CFS.

Coordination and technical support.

• Ensure coordination with Case Worker when providing PSS individual support to a CP-GBV survivor accessing Case Management services or referred to her by other partners.
• Identify training needs and conduct capacity-building sessions for community volunteers, social workers, and other staff on psychosocial care and survivor-centered approaches.
• Supervise and support CP-GBV case worker and social workers.
• Coordinate and strengthen the technique and steering committee at project location level.
• Represent AWA in relevant CP-GBV and protection coordination meetings at woreda level contributing to information-sharing and advocacy efforts.

Reporting and others

• Prepare weekly, monthly, quarter, biannual and annual reports and submit to project coordinator.
• Prepare checklist and regularly support case workers and community outreach workers.
• Provide regular updates and reports on the outcomes of psychosocial services to program management.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of counseling sessions, case management services, and follow-up care.
• Lead development of success story, best practice and human-interest story.
• Lead and participate in need assessment, supportive supervision, and different short surveys.
• Fulfill any other duties and responsibilities assigned by AWA.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in psychology, social psychology, educational psychology, clinical psychology, psychiatrist behavioral psychology, counseling psychology, community psychology, sociology, Social work, health ( clinical nurse).
• Minimum of 3 years of experience for master’s degree and 5 years for bachelor’s degree working in counseling, CP-GBV case management or social work, particularly with CP-GBV prevention and response programs and other counseling related services.
• Experience of working with NGO, INGO, CSO in humanitarian or conflict affected setting.
• Strong knowledge of CP-GBV, protection principles, and survivor-centered approaches.