Action Against Hunger/Action Contre La Faim (AAH/ACF) is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that was created in France in 1979. AAH/ACF has been active in Afghanistan in the medical, nutrition, food security, and water and sanitation fields since 1995.  AAH/ACF improved access to health and nutrition services for the most vulnerable people, who live in remote areas without a local health system. In particular, the country team supported pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under five, who are at greater risk of malnutrition. Nutrition programs rely on an integrated approach, addressing both primary and underlying causes, in order to have a lasting impact on nutritional status.  The country team worked at community level, in villages and at provincial level, strengthening the public health system. It also worked at national level to ensure reliable information about the nutritional situation reached the wider humanitarian community. Covid-19 prevention was integrated into all interventions and additional response activities were implemented, such as the disinfection of health facilities and public places, cash assistance, psychosocial support and the distribution of hygiene kits to affected populations.

We are hiring MHPSS Counselor (Local Recruitment):

Badakhshan            2 vacancy

Goal

To support the Integrated Nutrition / Health and MHCP-GP response to reduce excess child morbidity and mortality in high risky provinces of Afghanistan.

Objective 1: Implement psychosocial support, care practices, protection services to beneficiaries

• Assessment of needs of clients, developing an action plan with clients and supporting them to carry out
• Respond quickly and effectively to clients who need urgent support ensuring their safety
• Follow MHCP-GP guidelines, tools, protocols during counselling services for beneficiaries
• Register clients and fill in the logbook, MHCP-GP register, and carry out initial assessments & screenings using validated tools, and fill out client intake forms / tools during and after sessions
• Conduct psychoeducation (mental health) awareness sessions for beneficiaries
• Provide psychological first aid (PFA) for one-off support for those in need
• Provide 1:1 and group psychosocial support (counselling) sessions for beneficiaries in need
• Identify appropriate IEC materials and ensure the use of it during the each sessions
• Conduct group awareness sessions on child care practices, IYCF-E & COVID-19
• Improve and facilitate mother and child interactions, attachments and relationships by organizing group care practices stimulation sessions (baby bathing, baby massage, child-caregiver play)

Objective 2: Support the integration of MHCP-GP within nutrition and health intervention

• Assess the capacity or potential of psychosocial services within health and nutrition services and contribute to improving these psychosocial services in the MHNT services with on and off site orientation

• Provide on the job training session to health/nutrition staff on MHCP-GP topics, where possible
• Assist teamwork and provide better team working environment with the health and nutrition staff

• Identify the opportunities for lessons learned and evidence based adaption of programs

Objective 3: Referral of vulnerable cases to the pre-identified protection actors

• Identify & refer those cases who need specialised attention to related actors via regularly updated service provider mapping
• Support supervisor, D/PM to update service provider mapping bi-monthly
• Inform the supervisor on weekly basis, the cases identified and provide follow-up of the cases
• Ensure all forms are completed for input into the integrated referral database

Objective 4: Prepare all the material /reporting and documentation

• Ensure all materials are ready (relevant equipment/toys, registers, forms etc.) before going to field
• Keep all items in the field very well, after the field visit, clean, and prepare the using in coming day
• Ensure good understanding and correct use of the client intake form, intake tools, and register
• Update all reporting tools on daily basis and share with supervisor
• Proactivity on proposing different possible solution to adapt and improve the activities
• Ensure confidentiality is maintained and all sensitive information is managed securely, and shared only with relevant personnel
• Keep and maintain a good filing system for all documents, for continued use (e.g. client intake forms, that you will continue to use for each session with this client)
• Prepare daily / weekly / monthly reports as per guidance from supervisor and/or D/PM
• Any other position related activities requested by supervisor and/or D/PM

Background/qualifications

Educational / Professional Background :

• Bachelor degree in psychology (preferred) or health field (doctor, nurse, midwife).
• At least 2 years’ experience in and familiarity in the field mental health and psychosocial support in emergency setting

Skills:

Required Competences & Skills :

• Previous experiences working in mental health / gender / protection
• Good team interaction and positive attitude
• Autonomy and flexibility
• Good clinical judgement and understanding of your responsibilities regarding confidentiality
• Good organization, planning and reporting skills are necessary
• Ability to manage working environment according to local culture
• Fluent in local languages (Dari & Pashto) and English
• High flexibility in deployment, possible with Mahram
• Knowledge of intervention areas is a plus
• Strong interpersonal and communication skill
• Capacity to manage communications via phone
• Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and to multi-task when needed
• Strong empathy and listening skills
• Good coordination, networking, inter-personal and relationship building skills, and diplomacy
• Experience with Microsoft Office (excel, word)

Qualified and interested candidates should submit a CV with three Referees indicating the job title and vacancy number  in the email subject line.

To Human Resources Department AAH office in Kabul and Field Offices, or can also be emailed to:

For Badakhshan     vacancies-bd@af-actionagainsthunger.org  

Eligible candidates are invited to apply by the earliest possible deadline which is set to 04 Jan 2024. 

Do not submit academic certificates with the application. These will be requested if the candidate is selected. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the written test/interview.

Action Against Hunger/Action Contre La Faim is an equal opportunity employer.  We strongly encourage women and people with disabilities to apply.  ACF/AAH has zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, and abuse (SEA).

vacancies-bd@af-actionagainsthunger.org