Job Description
Job Purpose
: The MHPSS Officer is responsible for supporting the planning, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) interventions delivered through the Mobile Health and Nutrition Team (MHNT) in targeted woredas. The position holder reports to the MHNT Team Lead and works closely with health and nutrition team members, government health structures, protection actors, and community stakeholders to ensure the provision of quality, timely, and integrated MHPSS services for conflict-affected and vulnerable populations.
The MHPSS Officer conducts mental health and psychosocial assessments, provides Psychological First Aid (PFA), basic psychosocial support, psychoeducation, trauma healing interventions, and individual or group counseling sessions as appropriate. The officer identifies and refers individuals with severe mental health conditions, survivors of violence, children at risk, and persons with protection concerns to specialized services through established referral pathways and follows up on referral outcomes to ensure continuity of care and support.
The position holder facilitates protection-sensitive psychosocial support activities for vulnerable groups, including women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, and displaced populations, promoting safety, dignity, resilience, and social cohesion. The officer also supports community-based trauma healing initiatives and resilience-building interventions to address the psychosocial impacts of conflict, displacement, violence, and other adversities.
In collaboration with health teams and government counterparts, the MHPSS Officer supports the integration of MHPSS services into Primary Health Care (PHC) through capacity strengthening, mentorship, and supportive supervision of health workers on MHPSS, including the use of mhGAP tools, identification and management of common mental health conditions, and referral mechanisms. The officer also strengthens the capacity of community workers, volunteers, and frontline service providers on MHPSS approaches, protection principles, trauma-informed care, and safe referral pathways.
The position holder leads community awareness and sensitization activities aimed at reducing stigma related to mental health, promoting psychosocial well-being, enhancing protection outcomes, and encouraging timely help-seeking behavior. The officer maintains accurate records and case documentation, contributes to routine monitoring and reporting, participates in coordination meetings, and ensures that MHPSS activities are implemented in accordance with national guidelines, humanitarian principles, donor requirements, protection standards, and World Vision policies.
Through these responsibilities, the MHPSS Officer contributes to improving access to integrated mental health, psychosocial support, and protection services, strengthening community resilience, and enhancing the well-being and recovery of vulnerable populations served through the MHNT.
Major Responsibilities
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Operations:
The Project Officer oversees the planning, coordination, and implementation of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) activities at the woreda level, ensuring that interventions are delivered in accordance with approved work plans, timelines, budgets, and quality standards. The officer coordinates the integration of MHPSS services within health, nutrition, protection, and community-based platforms to ensure comprehensive and accessible support for vulnerable populations.
The role includes overseeing the implementation of key MHPSS interventions such as psychosocial support services, Psychological First Aid (PFA), trauma healing activities, individual and group counseling, community awareness campaigns, and capacity-strengthening initiatives for frontline workers and community volunteers. The officer supports the integration of MHPSS into Primary Health Care (PHC) services, including the application of mhGAP approaches and referral pathways for individuals with mental health and psychosocial needs.
The officer works closely with government health structures, protection actors, community leaders, faith leaders, and implementing partners to ensure coordinated, culturally appropriate, and protection-sensitive service delivery. The position also monitors activity implementation, ensures adherence to technical standards and humanitarian principles, supports documentation and reporting, and contributes to strengthening community resilience, psychosocial well-being, and access to quality MHPSS services for conflict-affected and vulnerable populations.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting:
The MHPSS Officer is responsible for monitoring the implementation of MHPSS activities within the MHNT, tracking progress against planned targets and indicators, and ensuring timely, accurate, and complete data collection. The officer applies relevant MHPSS monitoring and reporting tools in collaboration with MEAL teams, participates in mental health and psychosocial assessments, and conducts rapid psychosocial needs assessments when required. The role includes ensuring proper documentation of cases, counseling sessions, referrals, and follow-up actions using approved recording tools and confidentiality standards. The officer prepares and submits high-quality narrative and quantitative reports, including monthly, and donor-required reports, while ensuring data accuracy, consistency, and adherence to established reporting systems and ethical guidelines for MHPSS data management.
Project Quality Assurance:
The Project Officer ensures that all MHPSS activities are implemented in accordance with national guidelines, international standards, donor requirements, and organizational quality benchmarks. This includes providing regular field supervision, monitoring the quality and effectiveness of psychosocial support services, trauma healing interventions, counseling activities, and community-based MHPSS programs, while ensuring adherence to protection principles and a survivor-centered approach.
The officer monitors service delivery processes, referral pathways, case documentation, and data quality to ensure timely, ethical, and effective support for vulnerable populations. The role involves identifying implementation gaps, capacity needs, and operational challenges, and working with technical teams to implement corrective actions and continuous quality improvement measures.
The officer also tracks the utilization of project resources, training materials, and MHPSS supplies, ensuring efficient use, accountability, and compliance with project procedures. Through regular monitoring, supportive supervision, mentoring, and coordination with health, protection, and community stakeholders, the officer contributes to the delivery of high-quality, integrated MHPSS services and improved psychosocial well-being outcomes for affected communities.
Internal and External Coordination:
Internal and External Coordination The officer participates in zonal and woreda-level coordination meetings especially MHPSS TWG and works closely with government health offices, UN agencies, NGOs, and other partners to facilitate smooth implementation of health and nutrition activities. Work closely with National Office MHPSS and Health Specialist He/she provides timely updates on program progress, technical inputs, and challenges, ensuring alignment with national standards and local coordination mechanisms. The officer represents World Vision Ethiopia during partner and donor field visits and supports information sharing and reporting for internal and external stakeholders
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Required Professional Experience
Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience for MSc holders or 4 years for BSc holders in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), psychosocial programming, protection, or related health and social services within an international NGO or similar organization, preferably in emergency or humanitarian response settings.
Experience in delivering community-based MHPSS interventions, including Psychological First Aid (PFA), basic counseling, case identification, referral, and follow-up, is highly desirable. Prior experience working in integrated Mobile Health and Nutrition Teams (MHNT) or similar outreach/emergency health platforms, and coordination with health facilities, protection actors, and community structures is an added advantage
Required Education, training, license, registration, and certification
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Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Psychology, Psychiatry, Mental Health, Clinical Psychology, Psychiatric Nursing, Social Work, Sociology, Public Health, or other related social and behavioral science fields from an accredited university or college.
Additional training or certification in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Psychological First Aid (PFA), trauma-informed care, counseling skills, child protection, or related humanitarian psychosocial interventions is highly advantageous. Registration or licensing with relevant professional regulatory bodies, where applicable, is an added advantage.
Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications
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Knowledge of humanitarian standards including Sphere Standards, IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, and Red Cross/Red Crescent Code of Conduct.
Experience in planning and implementing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) interventions, including Psychological First Aid (PFA), counseling, psychosocial support activities, and community-based mental health programming in emergency or development settings.
Skills in case management, referral pathway coordination, psychosocial assessment, training facilitation, and team coordination.
Ability to work under pressure in remote, unstable, or emergency field conditions and adapt to rapidly changing humanitarian contexts.
Strong communication, interpersonal, facilitation, and negotiation...