Whereas:

HHWO is a humanitarian and development non-profit, nongovernmental organization founded in 2014 with the slogan of “We are here to serve humanity” and operates around Afghanistan.

At HHWO, we envision to build a future in which all Afghans regardless of their gender, age, race, ethnicity, or religion, experience a life of dignity and comfort, free from hunger, poverty, ignorance, illiteracy, violence, and backwardness.

Our overall mission is to eliminate hunger, reduce poverty, provide and promote social civic services (health care, education, WASH…), promote gender equality/equity, provision of women and child empowerment assistance, and promote household and local sustainable economy via livelihoods interventions and design & Implementation of development programs.

The Psychosocial Support Counselor will provide critical psychosocial support and case management services to vulnerable women and girls in Badakhshan province. The role involves offering individual counseling, follow-up support, referrals, and disseminating information on available services to facilitate access. Working closely with the Project Manager and provincial coordinator, the counselor will oversee the implementation of psychosocial/group support activities, skills-building sessions, and recreational activities in collaboration with local partners.

Key Responsibilities:

Psycho-social Support Services:

• • Conduct individual and group counseling sessions tailored to address trauma recovery, stress management, and overall psychosocial well-being.
  • Conduct regular awareness raising sessions on MHPSS.
  • Maintain proper record with full details of the conducted sessions.
  • Fill/submit monthly statistics form and reports to provincial officer to finalize the data into the report hub.
  • Report on the weekly, monthly and quarterly basis to immediate supervisor.
  • Provide crisis intervention and emotional support for individuals experiencing acute distress or mental health crises.
  • Design and implement personalized psychosocial support plans that align with the needs, cultural norms, and resilience capacities of beneficiaries.
  • Facilitate psycho-educational workshops on emotional regulation, stress coping strategies, and resilience-building.

Assessment and Case Management:

• • Conduct initial psycho-social assessments and regular follow-ups to monitor progress and adjust support interventions as needed.
  • Maintain confidential and accurate case records and documentation, ensuring compliance with ethical standards and data protection protocols.
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop holistic care plans for beneficiaries, integrating psycho-social support with other services.

Capacity Building and Training:

• • Provide training and capacity-building sessions for local staff and community volunteers on basic psycho-social support techniques and psychological first aid.
  • Support the integration of psycho-social considerations into the overall program activities and community-based initiatives.

Networking and Referral Coordination:

• • Establish and maintain effective partnerships and referral pathways with relevant stakeholders, including health facilities, social services, and community-based organizations.
  • Coordinate referrals for beneficiaries requiring specialized mental health services, ensuring continuity of care and support.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting:

• • Monitor and evaluate the impact of psycho-social interventions through regular assessments, case reviews, and beneficiary feedback mechanisms.
  • Prepare timely and accurate reports on psycho-social activities, outcomes, and challenges for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Contribute to the development of best practices and lessons learned in psycho-social support programming.
  • Maintain confidentiality and accurate documentation of all client interactions and case management activities.

Ethical and Professional Standards:

• • Uphold ethical principles, confidentiality, and the rights of beneficiaries in all interactions and interventions.
  • Adhere to professional codes of conduct and guidelines for psycho-social counseling and mental health support.
  • Ensure all interactions and interventions with clients adhere to organizational and donor-approved policies, protocols, and ethical standards.

Community Engagement and Advocacy:

• • Engage with community leaders, local authorities, and beneficiaries to promote awareness and understanding of mental health issues and psycho-social well-being.
  • Advocate for the integration of mental health and psycho-social support into broader humanitarian and development agendas.

Continuous Professional Development:

• • Stay updated on best practices, research findings, and developments in psycho-social support and mental health fields.
  • Participate in relevant training, workshops, and supervision sessions to enhance skills and competencies.

Organizational Responsibilities:

Policy Adherence:

• • Adhere to the Code of Conduct, uphold humanitarian principles, and respect international humanitarian law in all activities.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA):

• • Promote PSEA standards within Helping Hands for Women Organization (HHWO) and ensure beneficiaries are aware of their rights and protections.

Compliance & Ethics:

• • Maintain a thorough understanding of compliance and ethics standards relevant to the position and uphold the highest level of integrity in all work.

Safeguarding:

• • Fulfill the shared responsibility to safeguard and protect populations served by HHWO from exploitation, abuse, neglect, and trafficking.

Education:

• • Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, or related field.

Experience:

• • Minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience in providing psycho-social counseling and support, preferably in humanitarian or development contexts.
  • Proven experience in trauma-informed care, psychological first aid, and crisis intervention.
  • Experience in conducting psycho-social assessments and developing individualized support plans.
  • Strong understanding of and sensitivity to cultural contexts and gender dynamics in psycho-social support work.

Skills: 

• • Excellent counseling and interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish rapport and build trust with beneficiaries
  • Strong understanding of community dynamics, local governance structures, and cultural sensitivities in Afghanistan.
  • Excellent facilitation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
  • Commitment to humanitarian principles, confidentiality, and ethical standards in psycho-social work.

Languages: Written and spoken fluency in English and Farsi-Dari, both.

Location: Badakhshan

• Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and CV to hr.hhwo@gmail.com
• Please write the Job title and Vacancy Number in the subject line of your email.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered
• ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED