Description
- Location: Goma, DRC
- Desired start date: October 15, 2026
- Contract duration: 6 months
- Application deadline: September 20, 2026
Handicap International / Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is an independent and impartial international solidarity organization that intervenes in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict, and disaster. Working alongside people with disabilities and those made vulnerable, it takes action and advocates to meet their essential needs and improve their living conditions. It is committed to promoting respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.
Since its creation in 1982, HI has implemented development programs in more than 55 countries and intervenes in numerous emergency situations. Today, we have a budget of approximately 200 million euros and 4,000 employees worldwide.
At Handicap International, we firmly believe in the importance of inclusion and diversity within our organization. That is why we are committed to a disability policy to promote the welcoming and integration of people with disabilities.
Please indicate if you require any special accommodations, including for participating in the initial interviews. Find more information about the association here:
CONTEXT:
HI has been working in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1995. The program implements humanitarian and nexus interventions in several sectors, with particular attention to inclusion, access to essential services and the quality of responses for people with disabilities and crisis-affected populations.
In eastern DRC, persistent conflict, population displacement, insecurity and health emergencies are putting significant pressure on psychosocial well-being, community support mechanisms and access to mental health care.
The needs encompass prevention, community-based psychosocial support, psychological counseling, referrals to specialized services, and capacity building for local stakeholders. These interventions can be implemented independently or integrated with other sectors, depending on the project.
In North Kivu and South Kivu, HI is implementing:
- An integrated project for SMSPS, protection, economic inclusion and rehabilitation in Kitchanga
- An integrated SMSPS and rehab project in Kibabi and Beni
- An integrated SMSPS and protection project in Ruzizi and Alimbongo
- An integrated project for protection, economic inclusion and SMSPS in Mweso
HI has initiated a process of regionalizing and decentralizing its operational governance, aiming to bring decision-making closer to local realities. This evolution is accompanied by increased pooling of resources, harmonization of practices, and strengthened efforts to ensure greater programmatic coherence across the various areas of intervention.
The integration of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into the East Africa region (established in early 2026) is progressing gradually within this framework and should be fully effective by the beginning of 2027. However, the integration of the DRC’s Technical Unit into the regional technical structure is already well underway, having begun in mid-2026. This gradual integration is strengthening collaboration, the sharing of expertise, and the coherence of approaches among the region’s various programs.
In this context, during their six-month mission, the SMSPS Technical Support Officer will provide technical support to the HI program in the DRC, with priority given to teams and projects in eastern DRC and, as needed, to other intervention areas. They will contribute to the harmonization of approaches, quality control, monitoring and learning, project development, technical representation, and emergency preparedness and response. Close collaboration with the Protection Specialist and the Regional Health Specialist is expected to ensure the coherence of the integrated approaches of the HI DRC program.
YOUR MISSION:
Reporting to the Technical Unit Manager, the SMSPS Technical Officer provides technical support to projects, SMSPS teams, and HI partners in the DRC. They work closely with the ECHO Project Managers, HI CDCS, Ground CDCS, DGD (4), SMSPS Technical Officers (3), and other technical program functions.
He/she will be entrusted with 6 main responsibilities:
Responsibility 1: Support the nationalization process of the position
- To participate from start to finish in the process of identifying a national competence,
- Managing induction, ensuring skills transfer and supporting identified staff,
- Ensure the availability of the necessary tools and documentation to enable identified personnel to fully assume their role.
- Ensure a smooth handover of the responsibilities listed below
Responsibility 2: Provide guidance and technical support to projects in accordance with SMSPS technical frameworks and standards.
- Provide appropriate technical advice and support to project managers, the SMSPS field team, and partners.
- Perform technical activities or ensure that the activities of the project(s) are implemented in accordance with internal technical and quality standards and suggest improvements where necessary, in collaboration with the Global SMSPS Specialists and the Regional Health Specialist.
- Adapt the project’s technical documentation according to the needs, in accordance with HI’s technical standards.
- To coordinate and collaborate with the project’s technical partners, as delegated by the Specialist or project managers.
- Propose needs assessments, conduct assessments if necessary, and oversee data collection.
- Contribute to the drafting of new proposals for new opportunities in SMSPS.
- Develop internal protocols for the identification, handling and referral of protection cases through SMSPS activities.
- Participate in the updating and evaluation of the quality of SMSPS services in HI intervention areas.
Responsibility 3: Ensures technical learning from projects.
- Ensure that Global SMSPS Specialists receive the information they need and collaborate with other technical departments when necessary.
- Coordinate with headquarters to ensure adequate capitalization in order to improve the sectoral methodology globally and gather scientific evidence
- Contribute to technical learning under the responsibility of the project manager, based on best practices.
- Anticipate and prepare for nexus adjustments in your sector.
- Contribute to the terms of reference for the evaluations.
- Contribute to the risk analysis of SMSPS interventions and propose mitigation measures and integration of HGA (Disability, Gender, Age) aspects in your sector
Responsibility 4: Contributes to the development of the professional sector and the strengthening of skills.
- Conduct weekly supervision sessions with SMSPS staff in the field.
- Conduct in-depth skills assessments of HI SMSPS staff in the SMSPS sector
- Contribute to technical recruitment, in cooperation with Global SMSP Specialists (when necessary)
- Complete the necessary technical training in your field. (See above)
- Upgrading the skills of professionals in its sector
Responsibility 5: Contributes to ensuring HI’s technical influence within its scope.
- Contribute to the promotion of HI’s expertise: represent HI’s technical expertise by delegation in relevant local, regional and international networks and with local partners.
- Ensure coordination and collaboration with the project’s technical partners, in cooperation with the Global SMSPS Specialist
- Relaying and contributing to advocacy messages as part of one’s work.
- Supporting the drafting of content for new projects to ensure project continuity within its technical scope.
Responsibility 6: Preparedness for and response to emergency situations.
Contribute to supporting or implementing the program’s emergency preparedness actions and, in the event of an emergency, adapt working methods to contribute to an effective HI humanitarian response.
Requirements
Experience
- You have a minimum of 5 years of practical experience in clinical psychology and SMSPS (implementation of SMSPS programs and strategies)
- You have a minimum of 3 years of experience in humanitarian work.
- You are familiar with the different explanatory models of disability, the international frameworks of human rights, humanitarian action, and strategies for combating exclusion and discrimination.
- You have already contributed to a post nationalization process
SKILLS
- Excellent knowledge transfer and capacity building skills
- Having knowledge of the technical issues, standards and networks in SMSPS
- Ability to manage priorities and work on multiple projects simultaneously while respecting deadlines.
- Demonstrated experience in technical/clinical supervision, supporting multidisciplinary teams and developing the skills of professionals and non-specialist staff;
- Knowledge of the principles of Protection, GBV and Child Protection, particularly for safe referrals and intersectoral coordination:
- Excellent writing, analytical, summarizing and communication skills;
- Proficiency in intercultural work, remote coordination and support of teams spread across multiple areas;
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite;
Formation
- You hold a postgraduate degree in psychology (clinical, social, intercultural) or in a relevant field of mental health, in humanitarian, development or emergency contexts;
LANGUAGES
• Excellent command of spoken and written French
• Professional proficiency in English is an asset but not a requirement
Benefits
At HI, the departure conditions are commensurate with your commitment and tailored to the context of your mission. Particular attention is paid to health issues and your personal situation:
International contract of 6 months ideally starting from October 15, 2026;
The international contract allows for social security coverage tailored to individual needs:
- Unemployment insurance is only levied for EU nationals;
- Retirement insurance;
- Health coverage, repatriation, and insurance are provided by HI and the employee;
- Salary: from €2448 gross/month; depending on professional experience;
- Per diem: 677 euros net/month
- Hardship: €500 net/month
- Paid leave: 25 days per year;
- R&R: depending on mission level: 5 days every 8 weeks
- Unaccompanied position:
- Accommodation: Collective housing provided by HI;
If you are a resident of the country: local package.
The deadlines were relatively short; we will review applications as they come in. So don’t delay in applying.
How to apply
We would be pleased to receive your CV and cover letter via https://apply.workable.com/j/07602BDEF4