Mental Health Psycho-Social Support Analyst , Uvira, Democratic Republic of Congo , NOA

The Position:

The Mental Health Psycho-Social Support Analyst is based in Uvira and is part of the team in of UNFPA decentralized office in Eastern DRC, (Goma, Bukavu, Beni and Bunia) and will work closely with the SRHie Specialist, GBV programme team including the GBV AoR Interagency Coordinator and, She/He will provide mental health and psycho social support in the interventions related, including She/he will be part of the UNFPA Programme team and work in collaboration with relevant colleagues and create synergies between the development nexus and humanitarian response.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies. 

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

 UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Analyst within UNFPA plays a crucial role in the integration or strengthening of MHPSS in GBV and SRH programs, ensuring the promotion of well-being and prevention of mental health conditions for GBV and SRH service users affected by crises and humanitarian emergencies in the Eastern DRC. The incumbent focuses on supporting the implementation of the Strategy to strengthen MHPSS in SRH and GBV interventions, including strengthening the capacity of UNFPA and its partners to strengthen MHPSS services, particularly in the context of gender-based violence (GBV), including conflict related sexual violence, and in sexual and reproductive health (SRH). The incumbent works to integrate MHPSS into various activities, ensuring that affected populations receive appropriate support and that services are delivered in line with the MHPSS minimum service package (MSP), IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, 2007 and other international guidelines.

You would be responsible for:

• Assess the current MHPSS interventions of UNFPA implementing partners within the scope of SRH and GBV, staff knowledge and skills and support and strengthen the capacity of implementing partners on MHPSS.
• Provide technical guidance and support to the design of MHPSS interventions being implemented by SRH or GBV partner organizations.
• Assess capacities of GBV and SRH outreach teams and provide technical assistance to integrate basic psychosocial skills and psychosocial first aid (PFA) into their work.  
• Contribute MHPSS perspective and inputs in assessments, planning and reporting undertaken and strengthen linkages across the continuum of care for MHPSS services supported by the project. 
• Provide technical assistance to implementing partners to ensure seemless referral to  specialized mental health services for GBV survivors, and especially of conflict-related sexual violence survivors, adhere to best practices and international standards on MHPSS and GBV and are aligned with national protocols as well
• Support UNFPA’s MHPSS partners to organize sustainable supervision and review mechanisms for MHPSS actors providing services to survivors of CRSV.
• Support adaptation of monitoring tools to ensure MHPSS interventions follow international guidelines and best practices.
• Support IP management, and fund code management when needed, and according to responsibility attributed by the Representative 

Training and Capacity Building

• Assess capacities of UNFPA IP  to integrate psychosocial design and skills into their work, and provide guidance and training as needed.
• Develop/adapt  specialist training material tailored to  the particular MHPSS intervention designed for the GBV and SRH actors

Knowledge Management and Networks

• Document good practice examples of the project support to MPHSS including innovative approaches on MPHSS, especially on conflict related sexual violence
• Engage with the MHPSS actors and working group within the Health Cluster to contribute to coordination and collaboration with actors providing complementary services.
• Actively participate in and support the inter-agency, multi-sectoral GBV,  and MHPSS coordination groups, and SRH WG and contribute MHPSS perspective and inputs in assessments, planning, and reporting undertaken by GBV Sub-Sector partners, SRH WG, and other relevant interagency initiative
• Perform other relevant duties assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Master’s degree with specialization in areas such as clinical psychology, clinical social work or mental health. Training on global mental health or a Master’s in Public Health is desirable.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 3 years of specialized experience in community based psychosocial support interventions particularly as they relate to GBV, and experience in this field in a humanitarian context.
• She/he will have a minimum of 3 years of progressively relevant experience implementing the minimum humanitarian standards for Prevention and Response to Gender-based Violence and liaising with counterparts in SRH and other cross-cutting sectors. 
• Demonstrated experience on Counseling skills and clinical supervision of lay counsellors
• The candidate will be experienced working with government institutions and donor organizations and be familiar with cross-cutting issues on populations, sexual reproductive health, and youth.  Familiarity with UNFPA/UN country operations and procedures is an asset.
• Candidate with experience in implementing GBV or SRH programs is an asset 
• Being familiar with the geographical, social and cultural environment of the East of DRC and fluent in Swahili is an asset. 

Languages: 

Fluency in French  is required; knowledge  Swahili and of other official UN languages, preferably English is desirable. 

Required Competencies: 

Values :

• Exemplifying integrity
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
• Embracing cultural diversity
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

•  Achieving results
• Being accountable
• Developing and applying professional expertise/ business acumen
• Thinking analytically and strategically
• Workings in teams/ managing ourselves and our relationships
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda relevant to effective use of data for programming and decision making 
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Delivering results-based programme
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization

Managerial Competencies 

• Providing strategic focus on data analysis as related to reproduction health, population and development and gender.
• Engaging internal/ external partners and stakeholders
• Leading, developing and empowering people/ creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary inclusive health insurance and other benefits as applicable.  

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.