Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support Advisor – Kabul – AFGHANISTAN at Première Urgence Internationale

Fixed-term contract – 9 months

Starting date : ASAP

PUI all around the world

With its 40 years of experience, Première Urgence Internationale :

Supports close to 6 millions beneficiaries
With more than 100 Millions € yearly budget
Present in 22 countries, on 5 continents

Thanks to the work and commitment of :

More than 2000 national staffs
Around 200 expatriates from 45 different nationalities
And 90 employees at HQ

PUI works in 10 areas of intervention and distinguishes itself by the implementation of an integrated approach in its response. This method aims to identify and understand the needs of all those affected by a crisis. Our teams come together to bring a rapid global response to the basic needs of populations affected by humanitarian crises to help them regain independence and dignity.

Learn more on our history, our values, our areas of intervention.

Focus on our activities in Afghanistan

Our mission in Afghanistan has been open since 1980. PUI is developing its integrated approach in Health, Nutrition, MHPSS and Water-Hygiene-Sanitation. In addition, PUI works on a fixed-site intervention via primary health centers or first aid centers, in support of certain hospitals, or via the deployment of mobile clinics in the most remote areas. Today, the mission consists of 6 main projects, some of which are linked.

What about the Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support Advisor – Kabul?

As Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Advisor, you will be responsible for the technical capacity building, supervision and standardization of PUI MHPSS activities. You will provide guidance for the development as well as for ensuring the quality of current and future MHPSS programmes at the design, implementation monitoring and evaluation phases. You will also provide technical guidance to the coordination and project teams and in particular to the MHPSS Project Managers in a functional relationship. You will represent PUI to the authorities, humanitarian actors and donors for the MHPSS sector.

For this purpose, you will be responsible for :

Context analysis / Strategy / Development: You will support HoM/DHoMP in the design and inclusion of MHPSS activities in PUI programs and strategy and contribute to the design of relevant MHPSS interventions on the mission, based on the identified MHPSS needs in the country and in line with PUI MHPSS intervention framework. In coordination with the MHPSS team, you will analyse the strengths and weaknesses of PUI’s MHPSS activities in the country.
Programmes quality: You will provide technical support in your field of expertise to the programme teams and ensure the quality and effectiveness of the mission’s MHPSS programmes. You will aim at strengthening, structure and frame PUI’s MHPSS interventions following international, national and internal standards.
Representation / Coordination: You will ensure PUI’s external representation for the MHPSS sector to partners, donors, national authorities and local actors. You will represent PUI in relevant Clusters (Health, Protection) or MHPSS sector coordination group meetings. You will also contribute to the good information sharing within the MHPSS sector.
Human Resources / Training: You will develop PUI internal capacity on MHPSS and provide technical support to the project teams and in particular to the MHPSS teams. When appropriate, you will provide support to the project managers for the recruitment of key technical staff in MHPSS. You will design and supervise the content of MHPSS training and ensure the overall quality of MHPSS activities on the basis of identified needs.
Logistics and Administration: When necessary and in support to the Project Managers, you will contribute to identify and communicate on the needs and gaps regarding logistic and administrative procedures.
Security: You will contribute to the compliance with security rules on the mission and share all information related to security to your line manager and/or to the mission’s security manager.

The challenges that await you :

A relatively broad portfolio of donors: BHA, ECHO, WHI, CDCS, WFP, AHF. apart from this, new donors are in the pipeline Complex programing that involves integrated health with nutrition, WaSH, PSS as well as protection and gender mainstreaming. The mission also aims to build capacity with regard to ecological considerations. Remote work might be needed to a larger extent in the coming months until the end of the year.

What you will need to succeed

Training : You hold a Clinical Psychologist degree or similar background in Mental Health. A training in project management, some knowledge of evidence-based MHPSS interventions programs (such as mhGAP, PM+, Children Resilience) and/or a training in psychological interventions such as Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy will be appreciated.
Experience : You are strengthened by minimum 3 years of clinical practice in mental health, psychiatry and/or psychosocial care. You have a previous humanitarian experience with (I)NGO, a previous working experience abroad and you have already managed MHPSS-related projects. All the better if you have clinical experience with refugees/displaced people, victims of conflicts, survivors of S/GBV and/or survivors of torture, an experience in working in consortium and/or an experience in negotiating with local authorities, partners and staff. You already worked with Première Urgence Internationale? It would be a definite asset!
Skills : You have excellent written and communication skills and knowledge of program management. Some knowledge of procedures of institutional donors (BHA, ECHO, UN agencies, etc) will be appreciated.
Qualities : You are able to work independently and to take responsibility in a proactive approach. You are self-motivated, flexible and adaptable to the needs of the team and organization in addition to having strong commitments in humanitarian principles. You show diplomacy and open-mindedness, resilience to stress and have good analytical skills. You are organized and able to manage priorities and varied workload, have an ability to delegate and to guarantee effective timely outputs. You have problem solving and leadership skills, and you can work and manage professionally and maturely. You are able to integrate into the local environment, taking account of its political, economic and historical characteristics, and have a proactive approach to making suggestions and identifying solutions.
Languages : English has no secrets for you ? All the better, it is mandatory for this position! If you speak Arabic and/or French, it would be a definite asset.

Please note that vaccination against Covid-19 is mandatory for this country for security and safety reasons. Compliant vaccines are those validated by the World Health Organization

A word from the manager

« In all three locations when the expatriates stay: Kabul, Jalalabad, Amman, the guesthouses are equipped and spacey. Access to the gym is provided. In Jalalabad, the compound offers a nice garden. In the eastern region, freedom of movement is restricted severely (project site visits, movement for certain/pre-validated meetings) is allowed. In Kabul, social life is rather vibrant (unless impacted by the pandemic waves). Amman offers usual after-work hours conditions and access to restaurants, sport facilities, travel inside the country. We all look forward to greet you in person and have you introduced to specificities of our Mission – what we do and who we are. Lots of good wishes for upcoming months and new assignment. »

PUI will offer you

Status : Employé(e) with a Fixed-Term Contract
Monthly Gross Income : 1 980,00 – 2 310,00 EUR depending on your experience in International Solidarity + 50€ per semester of seniority with PUI
Insurance including medical coverage and complementary healthcare, 24/24 assistance and repatriation
Housing in collective accomodation
Daily Living Expenses (“Per Diem”)
Break Policy : 5 working days at 2, 4, 8 and 10 months + break allowance
Paid Leaves Policy : 5 weeks of paid leaves per year + return ticket every 6 months

Our commitments

Première Urgence Internationale sees diversity of nationalities, genders, beliefs, profiles and statuses among its Human Resources as a major asset for its humanitarian action, and therefore compels itself to the strict observance of the principle of non-discrimination throughout its recruitment process.

Première Urgence Internationale applies a policy of zero tolerance towards exploitation, sexual abuse and mistreatment, in all its forms, of women, children and all other vulnerable persons. It engages all its staff to promote, disseminate and respect the principles set out in its ethical charter.

Please note that Première Urgence Internationale shall not in any case request a financial contribution for administrative costs related to recruitment. Any such information would be fraudulent, please disregard it.

You recognize yourself in this profile and you adhere to our commitments ? You feel ready to take up the challenge and to join PUI great family ?