International Consultant, Staff Counsellor, Kabul, Afghanistan

In response to numerous issues concerning the mental health and wellbeing of staff and their family members of Afghanistan Country Office, it was decided to employ a dedicated consultant counsellor to provide remote individual and group psychosocial support sessions upon request.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, resilience.

Working for UNICEF: https://youtu.be/43aiG4w2q_M?t=2 

UNICEF in Afghanistan: https://www.unicef.org/afghanistan/ 

How can you make a difference?

The Staff Counsellor will be expected to provide counselling and psychosocial support sessions to individual staff members and groups of staff, as required, with a particular focus on national and female personnel.

This will include response to acute crises, as well as mental health awareness sessions for the wider ACO staff population.

The selected counsellor will be engaged for a maximum of 70 session (50 individual and 20 for groups), and will be paid against submitted invoices for actual services rendered.   

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s) in counselling, clinical psychology, or related mental health profession.
• Minimum 8 years of professional experience in staff support, mental health, cross cultural communications, counselling, and related areas, preferably gained within the UN system or international development/humanitarian aid sector.
• Resourcefulness and keen social awareness and sound judgement pertaining to common counselling areas of intervention, including, but not limited to burnout, anxiety, depression, self-care., addiction, domestic violence;
• Non-judgemental clinical approach, with strictest adherence to staff’s confidentiality;
• Understanding of the Afghanistan context an advantage
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.