Protection Officer/Psychologist At RET International

Position: Protection Officer/Psychologist
Duty Station: Bassikounou, Mauritania (Mbera Refugee Camp)
Contract Duration: 10 months (renewable)
Supervisor: Project Manager

Context

RET International is an organization committed to working in emergencies, protracted crises and fragile contexts to alleviate suffering, strengthen people’s resilience and improve their self-reliance. As part of its interventions in Mauritania, RET is recruiting a psychologist specializing in community protection to strengthen psychosocial care for vulnerable populations in the Mbera refugee camp.

Main responsibilities

The Protection Officer / Psychologist will be responsible for providing comprehensive psychosocial support tailored to the specific needs of refugees, with a particular focus on survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), children in vulnerable situations, as well as people living with mental disabilities. Their role will involve the following responsibilities:

• Provide individual and collective psychosocial support : Provide personalized support based on identified needs, including individual interviews and support groups adapted to the different situations experienced by beneficiaries, while taking into account cultural specificities and individual vulnerabilities.
• Organize group counseling and therapy sessions : Set up discussion groups and therapeutic sessions for survivors of gender-based violence, ensuring confidentiality and respect for the dignity of participants, and offer psychological support to children at risk.
• Support community relays and community structures : Provide training and advice to community actors in order to facilitate the identification and referral of protection cases. The psychologist will also have to work closely with local structures to strengthen protection mechanisms.
• Strengthening the capacities of social workers and protection staff : Organize training, mentoring and skills-building sessions for social workers and protection staff, with a focus on psychosocial care for refugees, particularly those in situations of vulnerability or trauma.
• Participate in coordination and case management mechanisms : Work closely with other humanitarian actors to ensure coherent and well-coordinated case management. This involves participating in coordination meetings, sharing relevant information and collaborating with other specialists.
• Ensure documentation and case monitoring : Maintain an accurate and confidential file of beneficiaries, while respecting the ethical standards and procedures established by RET International and UNHCR, in terms of protection of personal data and monitoring of psychosocial cases.
• Contribute to awareness-raising and psychosocial risk prevention activities : Actively participate in awareness-raising campaigns aimed at preventing psychosocial risks, promoting mental well-being, and informing refugees about available resources, with a particular focus on resilience mechanisms in the face of collective trauma.
• Monitor and report: Elaborate periodical reports on the impact of psychological activities, assuring the compilation of ethical and respectful data. Participate in coordination meetings and contribute to the planning of project activities.

Required profile

• University degree in clinical psychology or social psychology.
• At least 3 years of experience in psychosocial care in a humanitarian context, preferably with refugees or displaced populations.
• Good knowledge of approaches to supporting survivors of gender-based violence and children in vulnerable situations.
• Experience in training and capacity building of community actors.
• Excellent communication skills, active listening and empathy.
• Proficiency in French is required; knowledge of Arabic or Fulani is an asset.