Mental Health, Psychosocial Support and Protection (MHPSS) Officer

Company Overview

Action Against Hunger is an international humanitarian organisation committed to ending world hunger. For almost 40 years, across nearly 50 countries, we have been working to fight undernutrition and support communities affected by crisis across the globe.

We carry out innovative, lifesaving programmes in Health, Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Disaster risk reduction, Mental Health and Care Practices, Food security and Livelihoods and Social Protection.

Action Against Hunger began operations in Nigeria in 2010 in response to the high rate of chronic malnutrition in Northern Nigeria, focusing on integrated programming.

In 2011, we expanded our work to begin implementing nutrition development projects in Jigawa and in Yobe. Following the crises in Northeast Nigeria, we further expanded our operations to address the Nutrition, Health, Food security and livelihoods, WASH, and shelter needs of conflict-affected communities.

Action Against Hunger Nigeria programme is supported by FCDO, ECHO, GAC, BHA, SDC, UNICEF, EU, AFD, SIDA and GFFO.

Action Against Hunger is currently looking to fill the role of Mental Health, Psychosocial Support, and Protection (MHPSS) Officer, who will be responsible for providing psychosocial and protection services to vulnerable populations and capacity building to non-specialists at primary health care and community levels. 

Position Details

Reporting to: Nutrition and Health Programme Manager

Proposed start date: August 2025

Work location: Nguru, Yobe State

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct psychological assessments and plan the appropriate interventions and follow-up for the beneficiaries;
• Ensure an appropriate, safe and confidential environment for psychological interventions (framework to discuss highly emotional issues, set up group rules, values, exercises, etc.) , in communities, schools, camps, primary health care centres, community based-organizations, and home visits;
• Ensure the high quality of intervention and care are provided to beneficiaries;
• Ensure regular and proper use of psychometric scales;
• Provide individual and group therapeutic sessions and activities for persons in need, including children, adolescents, adults, families and persons with specific vulnerabilities;
• Strictly follow standard ACF protocols;
• Ensure confidentiality and proper documentation of clinical details in the patient file;
• Ensure referrals to specialized services (MHPSS, Health, Protection etc) when needed, according to ACF protocols and national standards; Follow-up the quality of care provided by partnering agencies and actors; Follow-up closely on protection issues;
• Provide staff care to health workers and community helpers, according to ACF protocols and national policies;
• Provide psychological support remotely if needed (in case of no access to the field);
• Prepare (with the program manager) and conduct trainings for general practitioners, nurses, midwives, health workers, and psychosocial workers in primary health care centers, hospitals, on MHPSS, protection and care practices, according to ACF international standards (like mhGAP, PM+, IPT, Thinking Healthy, child development, basic helping skills, Life skills, Social and Emotional skills, etc);
• Conduct regular on the job and group supervision of trained non-specialists, including technical support, case management, patients assessments, counselling skills;
• Assist the ACF psychosocial workers to prepare and conduct training and technical supervision for community-based organisations and stakeholders (conduct trainings in absence of psychosocial workers);
• Contribute to the training and supervision of ACF psychosocial workers and ACF teams of other department (particularly on Psychological First Aid and psychosocial/protection issues and referral);
• Ensure the high quality standard of capacity building;
• Participate actively in clinical and technical supervision conducted by the Program Manager and HoD MHPSS; proposing monthly case studies;
• Contribute to the design of sectorial guidelines, protocols, SOPs and methodologies of work for tailored interventions;
• As defined by the project manager, contribute to any other project activity, including multi-sectorial integrated activities, psychoeducation and awareness sessions and campaigns, needs assessments, gender and protection risks assessments, mapping of actors and services, workshops, selection of beneficiaries, identification of vulnerable groups, planning of activities, etc;
• Permanently evaluate needs and gaps related to MHPSS and protection, report challenges, suggest project improvements for implementation and propose new interventions;
• Contribute to data collection, monitoring, evaluation and reporting on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, according to ACF tools and processes; Guarantee and ensure the confidentiality of beneficiaries information and data collection at any time, and for any activity;
• Understand and follow the logistic, financial, HR and security procedures enabling the project implementation;
• Collaborate actively with other ACF departments;
• Contribute to represent ACF at the field level through meetings with implementing partners, INGOs and NGOs, cluster and working group coordination, on request of the program manager and HoD MHPSS;
• Ensure adherence to ACF gender requirement; commit and comply with ACF gender, age and diversity principles;
• Support the implementation and the promotion of gender, age and diversity principles at anytime during activities.

Position Requirements:

• Post-graduate degree in psychology, counseling (master's degree and clinical psychology and mental health counseling are assets)
• Minimum 2 years of professional experience;
• Experience related to MHPSS, Protection and/or Care Practices;
• Experience in the humanitarian context, with vulnerable populations, IDPs, refugees, in host communities, camps, and PHCs;
• Experience in psychological assessment, counselling and follow-up;
• Experience in case management and referral.
• Experience in training and supervision;
• Knowledge or experience of MHPSS IASC, WHO and community-based guidelines;
• Technical skills in psychological assessment and testing, counselling, psychotherapy. Knowledge or experience in trauma, severe mental health conditions, SGBV, child development, care practices;
• Training and supervision skills for health workers and community members. Skills in data collection, monitoring and evaluation;
• Excellent communication, listening and observation skills;
• Empathy, tolerance and flexibility; Sensitivity towards protection and confidentiality issues; Capacity for team work and team spirit;
• Autonomy;
• Good knowledge of local customs, norms and culture;
• Fluent English (both oral and written);
  Hausa is an asset (both oral and written);
• Availability of candidate who can work in stressful environment. This position requires field travel at least 80% of the time.