Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer (UG) Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Position Title: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer

Duty Station: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Classification: Professional Staff, Grade UG

Type of Appointment: Special short-term ungraded, 6 months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 18 February 2024

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

Internal and external candidates will be considered for this vacancy. For the purposes of this vacancy, internal candidates are defined as staff members holding a regular, fixed-term or short-term graded or ungraded contract, including Junior Professional Officers (JPOs), staff on Special Leave Without Pay (SLWOP), and staff members on secondment/loan released by the Organization, unless otherwise specified in their contract. Staff members holding a regular, fixed-term or short-term graded contract will not retain their contract type if appointed to an ungraded position.

Context:

Launched in December 2016 with funding from the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration has been the first comprehensive programme to save lives, protect and assist migrants along key migration routes in Africa. The EU-IOM Joint Initiative enabled migrants who decided to return to their countries of origin to do so safely and dignifiedly, in full respect of international human rights standards and the principle of non-refoulement. In close partnership with state and non-state actors, it provided assistance to returning migrants to help them restart their lives in their countries of origin through an integrated approach to reintegration that seeks to address returnees’ economic, social and psychosocial needs while at the same time including communities of return in the reintegration process.

In 2022, the Migrant Protection, Return and Reintegration Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa (MPRR-SSA) was developed to continue addressing some of the most pressing challenges relating to migration and mobility between the EU and the African continent, and within the African continent. It is implemented in sixteen (16) countries across three regions: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Sudan.

In Côte d’Ivoire, the programme aims to provide direct support to returnees, including mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), upon arrival and through reintegration assistance and strengthen the technical capacities of authorities and organizations involved in the provision of this support. Furthermore, MHPSS activities are included in other mission programmes such as counter-trafficking, social cohesion, emergency preparedness and response.

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission (CoM) and the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer will be responsible and accountable for providing technical support, implementing, coordinating and supervising mental health and psychosocial support activities in IOM Côte d’Ivoire Country Office (CO), mainly under the MPRR-SSA and protection programmes implemented in the Country Office.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Oversee case management for returning migrants with mental health needs, ensuring compliance with IOM Côte d’Ivoire’s MHPSS case management procedures and protection principles.
2. Oversee the monitoring of individual cases, in particular by providing individual mental health support, restoring family links, ensuring that specific needs are covered, and ensuring safety.
3. Centralise data and reporting on MHPSS activities carried out.
4. Develop MHPSS activities for migrant returnees and host communities including through the identification of and collaboration with relevant partners. As appropriate, conduct regular individual and group counselling sessions, make referrals to specialised mental health care services, and conduct focus group discussions and information/awareness sessions with beneficiaries on mental health-related issues.
5. Provide technical support and guidance on MHPSS within IOM Côte d’Ivoire, and among local partner organizations and institutions.
6. Identify relevant local organizations and institutions specialised in MHPSS and establish collaboration agreements.
7. Evaluate the capacity of the reintegration and other relevant staff in basic MHPSS skills, contribute to the staff capacity building plans in line with the strategic objectives of programmes, prepare training materials and train staff and produce training reports.
8. Provide technical supervision to staff providing MHPSS services in IOM Côte d’Ivoire.
9. Provide regular reports on the MHPSS activities developed and participate in the drafting of project reports and new projects if necessary.
10. Submit information about the programme, including data and success stories to promote visibility.
11. Participate in relevant regional and national networks on MHPSS, such as technical working groups.
12. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Psychology (clinical and counselling), Social Work, Anthropology or related field from an accredited academic institution with two years of relevant professional experience; or,
• University degree in the above fields with four years of relevant professional experience.
• Professional accreditation with a recognized psychological or mental health association society is a distinctive advantage.

Experience

• Experience in implementing and coordinating mental health and psychosocial support programmes;
• Experience in providing mental health and psychosocial support;
• Experience in clinical counselling psychology, or psychotherapy and counselling for social workers;
• Experience in working with migrants, persons with different cultural background, victims of trafficking and other vulnerable groups;
• Experience in supporting migrants in the context of return and reintegration;
• Experience in working in a multi-cultural environment;
• Experience in team coordination;
• Working experience in the region and in a humanitarian setting is an advantage;
• Knowledge and experience in facilitating training and developing curricula in MHPSS; and,
• Work experience in technical writing, editing, and reporting in English and French.

Skills

• Sound communication skills and the ability to work in multicultural environments, showing cultural sensitivity and understanding;
• Ability to work with minimum supervision, manage own time effectively, multi-tasks and meet deadlines;
• Ability to quickly adapt to job and organizational changes;
• Proven IT skills and proficiency in MS Office; and,
• Good knowledge of IOM/UN.

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish. All staff members are required to be fluent in one of the three languages.

For this position, fluency in English and French is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish) is an advantage.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Notes

Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database (https://whed.net/home.php).

Required Competencies:

Values – all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators

• Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
• Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators

• Leadership: Provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the Organization’s vision. Assists others to realize and develop their leadership and professional potential.
• Empowering others: Creates an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
• Building Trust: Promotes shared values and creates an atmosphere of trust and honesty.
• Strategic thinking and vision: Works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.
• Humility: Leads with humility and shows openness to acknowledging own shortcomings.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.

https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.p df

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Other:

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile. Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

For this staff category, candidates who are nationals of the duty station’s country cannot be considered eligible.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and background verification and security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required for individuals hired on or after 15 November 2021. This will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.

Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.