Plan International has working in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas, Plan aims to reach as many children as possible, particularly those who are excluded or marginalized; with high quality programs that deliver long lasting benefits, working in partnership with others and operating effectively. Following the new CSP of Plan Ethiopia, the Emerging emergency humanitarian response, Plan is in vast emergency and recovery response throughout the country in all the Program areas including Afar and Assossa project sub offices.

The MHPSS Counsellor is responsible for designing and implementation of all emergency and recovery Health related activities at local level using participatory and community based approaches. S/he is also responsible to provide surge technical support and guidance at local level to Wereda health office experts and other staff working in the area of MHPSS. S/he is also responsible for compiling progress reports and documentation and sharing of best practices and lessons learnt in livelihoods.

Objective 1: Promote mental health and appropriate psychosocial supports among beneficiaries, stakeholders and communities

Key accountabilities:

• Implement and facilitate awareness-raising sessions at centers and community levels, based on a guidebook; particularly on child development, mothering practices, mother and child interactions and breastfeeding practices
• Participate in elaborating key messages and adapting them according to the context and the target population
• Be able to describe MHPSS project and objectives in a clear, understandable and culturally adapted manner
• Supervise daily the proper transmission of project information and key messages by beneficiaries to the community, by supporting them on awareness raising methods, sense of responsibility and motivation
• Promote the full range of care practices including aspects of hygiene practice and infant & young child feeding practices (IYCF)

Objective 2: Organize and conduct mental health and psychosocial support with the beneficiaries

Key accountabilities:

• Conduct group discussions and support groups with the beneficiaries on mental health, care practices and psychosocial issues, by using recommended guidelines and tools
• Conduct stimulation activities (therapeutic play sessions and others) for mothers and children according to beneficiaries needs
• Contribute to develop interactive teaching methods (like role playing etc.) for group facilitation, in order to have an impact on behavior change
• Stimulate group dynamic by favoring exchanges and participation among beneficiaries in group sessions on a particular theme
• Be able of receiving and restraining expressions of strong emotions
• Be able to observe, evaluate and analyze the content of a group session with an evaluation grid
• Evaluate the beneficiaries’ knowledge and skills before and after the group sessions

Objective 3: Ensure center-based and community-based individual psychosocial follow-up for beneficiaries

Key accountabilities:

• Conduct individual support and counselling activities for the beneficiaries, according to an adapted action plan, and based on MHCP psychosocial approach of care practices
• Ensure the follow-up and support of beneficiaries at household level, involving when necessary the family members
• Be able to assess individual MHPSS skills and practices of the beneficiaries, by using recommended tools, scales and questionnaires
• Be able to adequately refer beneficiaries to existing available resources in case of need
• Contribute actively to MHPSS group supervision and case management sessions, by helping to identify beneficiaries’ difficulties and action plan for the follow-up

Job Requirements

• Diploma in Health, Psychological and other relevant fields of study
• Minimum over 3 year’s relevant experience and with this at least 1.5 years relevant experience in an international NGO or similar organization Knowledge of policy and practice in the field of emergency nutrition intervention, MHPSS, IYCF and health.
• Computer literate in word processing and excel packages
• Experience in developing and monitoring budgets
• An understanding of child rights and their protection and fulfilment in the development context
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; both in English & Amharic

Desirable

• Experience on pastoral community in particular in emergency project Afarigna is an advantageous. 

How to Apply

The closing date for the application in November 01,2021. Qualified candidates should submit the application form found with this CLICK HERE

This position is only open to Ethiopian Nationals, who must be eligible to live and work in Ethiopia. 

More information about Plan International can be found on the website

References will be taken and background and anti-terrorism checks will be carried out in conformity with Plans Child Protection Policy. Plan operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all persons meeting the skills and experience required.

As an international child centered community development organization, Plan International is fully committed to promoting the realization of children's rights including their right to protection from violence and abuse. That means we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we as an organization, do everything we can to keep children safe. We must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.