MHPSS Consultant: Child & Adolescent Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (Education, Cultural and Recreational Activities)
Algiers
- Organization: IOM - International Organization for Migration
- Location: Algiers
- Grade: Senior Executive level - Assistant Director - General level - Internationally recruited position
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Occupational Groups:
- Public Health and Health Service
- Social Affairs
- Humanitarian Aid and Coordination
- Education, Learning and Training
- Culture and Sport
- Children's rights (health and protection)
- Refugee rights and well-being
- Sexual and reproductive health
- Closing Date:
Job Description
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), established in 1951, is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and a member of the United Nations system. In Algeria, IOM provides assistance to migrants, including children and adolescents who are particularly vulnerable to the psychosocial impacts of displacement, trauma, and disrupted access to education.
Children and adolescents often face interrupted schooling, loss of safe learning environments, and limited opportunities for structured development. These challenges can negatively affect their psychosocial well-being, emotional growth, and future prospects.
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services for children and adolescents must therefore prioritize educational activities, complemented by cultural and recreational initiatives. Structured learning opportunities, creative workshops, and play-based activities can restore a sense of normalcy, foster resilience, and strengthen social cohesion.
This consultancy will focus on the design and facilitation of educational, cultural, and recreational activities tailored to children and adolescents. Activities will include literacy and numeracy support, educational games, storytelling, arts and crafts, sports, cinema sessions, debates, and cultural celebrations. These initiatives will provide safe spaces for learning, expression, and social interaction, while supporting psychosocial development.
Migrant Assistance and Protection Unit (PXD)
Responsibilities
1. Needs Identification
- Conduct participatory assessments with children, adolescents and caregivers to identify educational gaps and psychosocial needs.
- Assess preferred cultural and recreational activities that complement learning.
2. Activity Design and Facilitation
- Develop and facilitate structured educational activities (literacy workshops, numeracy games, homework support, storytelling, language learning..etc).
- Complement education with cultural and recreational activities (arts and crafts, music, sports, cinema screenings, debates, cultural events).
- Ensure activities are age-appropriate, inclusive, and accessible, particularly for girls and children with disabilities.
- Create safe, child-friendly environments that encourage learning, creativity, and social interaction.
3. Strategic Alignment
- Align all activities with MHPSS objectives, focusing on resilience-building, emotional well-being, and social cohesion.
- Integrate educational support into broader psychosocial programming to restore continuity of learning.
4. Monitoring and Reporting
- Monitor participation, educational progress, psychosocial outcomes, and feedback from children and caregivers.
- Document challenges, lessons learned, and best practices.
- Submit monthly progress reports and a final report with recommendations for sustainability.
5. Programme Structure
Ensure daily presence at the Protection Center to provide consistent educational and psychosocial support.
Facilitate 3 to 4 weekly sessions at the Transit Center, following a child-focused MHPSS methodology.
- Identification of educational needs and preferred cultural/recreational practices.
- Implementation of age-appropriate and inclusive educational activities.
- Clear alignment of activities with MHPSS objectives.
- Consistent presence at the Protection Center and facilitation of 3–4 weekly sessions at the Transit Center.
- Timely submission of monthly and final reports.
- Quality and accuracy of documentation.
Qualifications
- Advanced university degree in psychology, education, pedagogy, social sciences, or related fields.
- Minimum of Three years of professional experience in child and adolescent education, MHPSS, or community-based programming.
- Proven expertise in designing and facilitating educational activities with psychosocial objectives.
Experience in integrating cultural and recreational activities into child-focused programming.
Strong competencies in participatory assessment, child protection, monitoring, and reporting.
Familiarity with IOM’s MHPSS framework is highly desirable.
- Fluency in French and English; knowledge of a Sub-Saharan dialect is a strong asset.
- The consultancy will be based in Algiers
- 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.
- 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.
- Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.
- Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, verification of residency, visa, and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable.
- IOM covers Consultants against occupational accidents and illnesses under the Compensation Plan (CP), free of charge, for the duration of the consultancy. IOM does not provide evacuation or medical insurance for reasons related to non-occupational accidents and illnesses. Consultants are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accident or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work.
- IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.
- IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.
- IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM online recruitment system. The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.
Required Skills
Job info
Contract Type: Consultancy (Up to 11 months)Initial Contract Duration: 3 months with possibility of extension
Vacancy Type: Consultancy
Recruiting Type: Consultant
Grade: UG
Alternative Required Language 1: Arabic
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.