MHPSS Officer

Location: Hirna, Ethiopia

Organization: World Vision International

Deadline: October 15, 2026

Job Description

Employee Contract Type: Local – Fixed Term Employee (Fixed Term)

Major Responsibilities /Job Description:

40% | Operations

End Result

Improved access to quality Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services for vulnerable and conflict-affected populations through effective implementation of project interventions. Individuals with mental health and psychosocial needs are better identified, supported, and referred; community awareness is increased; stigma is reduced; and service quality, documentation, and reporting comply with national guidelines and World Vision standards.

Activities

Plan, coordinate, and implement MHPSS activities at woreda level in line with approved work plans, timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
Integrate MHPSS services within health, nutrition, protection, and community-based platforms to provide comprehensive and accessible support to vulnerable populations.
Oversee psychosocial support services, Psychological First Aid (PFA), trauma-healing activities, individual and group counseling, community awareness campaigns, and capacity strengthening for frontline workers and community volunteers.
Support the integration of MHPSS into Primary Health Care (PHC), including application of mhGAP approaches and functional referral pathways.
Coordinate with government health structures, protection actors, community and faith leaders, and implementing partners to ensure culturally appropriate and protection-sensitive services.
Monitor implementation, promote compliance with technical standards and humanitarian principles, and support documentation and routine reporting.
Contribute to strengthening community resilience, psychosocial well-being, and access to quality services for conflict-affected and vulnerable populations.

30% | Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

End Result

Timely and accurate monitoring data and reports are produced for MHPSS activities, with improved tracking of indicators, well-documented cases and referrals, and high-quality reporting that supports evidence-based decision-making and accountability in line with MHPSS standards and donor requirements.

Activities

Monitor implementation of MHPSS activities and track progress against approved targets and indicators.
Ensure timely, accurate, complete, and confidential data collection using approved MHPSS monitoring and reporting tools in collaboration with the MEAL team.
Participate in mental health and psychosocial assessments and conduct rapid psychosocial needs assessments when required.
Maintain proper documentation of cases, counseling sessions, referrals, and follow-up actions in accordance with approved recording tools, ethical requirements, and confidentiality standards.
Prepare and submit high-quality monthly and donor-required narrative and quantitative reports.
Verify data accuracy and consistency and ensure compliance with established reporting systems and ethical MHPSS data-management guidelines.

15% | Project Quality Assurance

End Result

High-quality and compliant project implementation is maintained through effective supervision, timely identification and correction of implementation gaps, and improved efficiency and accountability in service delivery and resource utilization.

Activities

Ensure all MHPSS activities comply with national guidelines, international standards, donor requirements, and organizational quality benchmarks.
Provide regular field supervision and monitor the quality and effectiveness of psychosocial support, trauma-healing, counseling, and community-based MHPSS interventions.
Ensure adherence to protection principles and a survivor-centered approach throughout service delivery.
Monitor referral pathways, case documentation, and data quality to ensure timely, ethical, and effective support for vulnerable populations.
Identify implementation gaps, capacity needs, and operational challenges, and work with technical teams to implement corrective actions and continuous quality-improvement measures.
Track the use of project resources, training materials, and MHPSS supplies to ensure efficiency, accountability, and compliance with project procedures.
Provide supportive supervision and mentoring and coordinate with health, protection, and community stakeholders to improve integrated MHPSS services and psychosocial well-being outcomes.

15% | Internal and External Coordination

End Result

Strengthened coordination and collaboration with government and partners, enabling timely information sharing, alignment with national and humanitarian frameworks, and improved visibility and effectiveness of project interventions through active participation in coordination platforms and stakeholder engagement.

Activities

Participate in zonal- and woreda-level coordination meetings, particularly MHPSS Technical Working Group meetings.
Work closely with government health offices, United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other partners to facilitate smooth implementation of MHPSS, health, and nutrition activities.
Collaborate with the National Office MHPSS and Health Specialists and provide timely updates on program progress, technical matters, and implementation challenges.
Ensure project activities remain aligned with national standards and local coordination mechanisms.
Represent World Vision Ethiopia during partner and donor field visits.
Support timely information sharing and reporting for internal and external stakeholders.

Work Location: Midhega Tola (East Hararghe Zone)

Number positions required: 1 (One)

Required Education, training, license, registration, and certification:

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology, Psychiatry, Mental Health, Clinical Psychology, Psychiatric Nursing, Social Work, Sociology, Public Health, or other related social and behavioral science fields from an accredited university or college.
Additional training or certification in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Psychological First Aid (PFA), trauma-informed care, counseling skills, child protection, or related humanitarian psychosocial interventions is highly advantageous.
Registration or licensing with relevant professional regulatory bodies, where applicable, is an added advantage.

Required Professional Experience:

Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience for MSc holders or 4 years for BSc holders in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), psychosocial programming, protection, or related health and social services within an international NGO or similar organization, preferably in emergency or humanitarian response settings.
Experience in delivering community-based MHPSS interventions, including Psychological First Aid (PFA), basic counseling, case identification, referral, and follow-up, is highly desirable.
Prior experience working in integrated Mobile Health and Nutrition Teams (MHNT) or similar outreach/emergency health platforms, and coordination with health facilities, protection actors, and community structures is an added advantage

Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications

Knowledge of humanitarian standards including Sphere Standards, IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, and Red Cross/Red Crescent Code of Conduct.
Experience in planning and implementing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) interventions, including Psychological First Aid (PFA), counseling, psychosocial support activities, and community-based mental health programming in emergency or development settings.
Skills in case management, referral pathway coordination, psychosocial assessment, training facilitation, and team coordination.
Ability to work under pressure in remote, unstable, or emergency field conditions and adapt to rapidly changing humanitarian contexts.
Strong communication, interpersonal, facilitation, and negotiation skills, with commitment to safeguarding, confidentiality, and World Vision values and ethics.
Fluency in English and local languages, with basic computer skills (MS Office, reporting tools, and data entry systems) considered an advantage

Language

Fluent in oral and written Amharic, English and Afan Oromo
Knowing the local culture and language is mandatory

World Vision is a child-focused organization that is committed to safeguarding all children as well as adult beneficiaries and has zero tolerance for incidents of violence or abuse against children or adults, including sexual exploitation or abuse, committed either by employees or others affiliated with our work. Therefore, World Vision does not hire staff whose background is not suitable for working with children or vulnerable adults, even if their role does not interact directly with them.

Disclaimer: World Vision Ethiopia is a reputable organization that values transparency and fairness in its recruitment process and does not solicit any money for any job application. We encourage all job seekers to be cautious of any job ads that require payment or personal information upfront. If you have any questions or concerns about our job ads or recruitment process, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.

Applicant Types Accepted:

Local Applicants Only