Project Officer (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)) (P)

Introduction

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants. 

IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.

IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration.

Applications are welcome from first- and second-tier candidates, particularly qualified female candidates as well as applications from the non-represented member countries of IOM. For all IOM vacancies, applications from qualified and eligible first-tier candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible second-tier candidates in the selection process. 

For the purpose of this vacancy, the following are considered first-tier candidates:

1. Internal candidates

2. Candidates from the following IOM Member States that are not represented among staff members in the Professional and higher categories: 

   Bahamas, Barbados, Comoros, Congo (the), Cook Islands, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, Iceland, Israel, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Vanuatu 

Second tier candidates include:
All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states of IOM.

Organizational Context and Scope

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to face one of the world's most complex and protracted humanitarian emergencies. Armed conflict in the eastern provinces (North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, Tanganyika), recurrent epidemic outbreaks (mpox, cholera, measles, Ebola), climate-related shocks and chronic structural vulnerabilities have led to the forced displacement of over six million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in addition to significant cross-border refugee and returnee movements. These compounded shocks have substantially increased the burden of mental, neurological and substance-use conditions and of psychosocial distress, while access to specialized mental health services remains severely limited, particularly in conflict-affected and remote areas. 

Within this context, IOM DRC has agreed with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to provide post-arrival assistance to Third-Country Nationals (TCNs) in transit towards their countries of origin or other eligible countries under its Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme. Therefore, under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission, the direct supervision of the MHPSS Officer, and the technical guidance and coordination of the MHPSS Program Coordinator, the Project Officer (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)) will contribute to the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of MHPSS activities integrated within the AVRR programme, with particular attention to the psychosocial needs of vulnerable migrants and returnees.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, Counselling, or related fields from an accredited academic institution with three years of relevant professional experience; or,
• University degree in the above fields with five years of relevant professional experience.
• Professional accreditation from a recognized medical, psychological, or counselling association or society is an advantage.

Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

Experience

• Proven experience in integrating MHPSS in migrants’ post-assistance and Migrant Reception Centers (MRCs).
• Experience in clinical supervision and institutional capacity building is an asset;
• Experience working with migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and other vulnerable groups;
• Knowledge and experience in facilitating training and developing training curricula; and,
• Prior work experience with international humanitarian organizations, non-governmental or government institutions/organizations in a multi-cultural setting.

Skills

• Capacity to effectively coordinate actions with other implementing partners, including institutional counterparts;
• Capacity to support adequate levels of information sharing between internal units, cluster partners, IOM, and other emergency and post-recovery response actors;
• Proven interpersonal and teamwork skills;
• Excellent communication and report-writing skills;
• Knowledge of protection principles and IOM policies and procedures is an advantage; and,
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Languages

For this position, fluency in English and Spanish is required (oral and written). 

Working knowledge of another official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, and Russian) is an advantage.

Proficiency in language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Required Competencies

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.

Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

• 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.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators Level 2

• 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.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators Level 2, if with direct reports

• Leadership: Provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example, and demonstrates the ability to carry out the Organization’s vision. Assists others to realize and develop their leadership and professional potential.
• Empowering others: Creates an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
• Building Trust: Promotes shared values and creates an atmosphere of trust and honesty.
• Strategic thinking and vision: Works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.
• Humility: Leads with humility and shows openness to acknowledging own shortcomings. 

Notes

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile. Please refer to this link for guidance on the IOM Job Category. Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation. This selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations. Recommended candidates will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.

Appointment will be subject to all clearances, including medical and security, as well as accreditation, any residency or visa requirements. Vacancies close at 23:59 local time in Geneva, Switzerland, on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.

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, harassment, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and any forms of discrimination. IOM is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

IOM conducts reference checks and background verification, including through system-wide databases such as ClearCheck, to help ensure that candidates have no record of misconduct, including on sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, or fraud. Candidates are expected to uphold these standards and principles at all times.

IOM does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process—whether for application, interview, processing, training, or otherwise—and does not request any information related to bank accounts.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM WAVE system (for internal candidates, link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies.

Under the supervisory arrangements described above, the MHPSS Project Officer based in Kinshasa will perform the following duties:

1. Identify protocols to promote mental health and psychosocial support and design operational plans to enhance access of vulnerable migrants and TNCs to MHPSS specialized and focused services based on rapid MHPSS assessments and diagnostic

2. Provide initial screening of migrants in distressed and preexistent mental health conditions, with particular focus on suicidal risk assessments and suicidal preventive measures.

3. Provide specialized and focused MHPSS services to vulnerable migrants and referral of those migrants who might require psychiatric and/or health care, including referral to mental health institutions/specialists and follow-up on case management modalities.

4. Identify migrants who might require protection services and refer them to the IOM DRC protection unit and/or other national and international service providers in Kinshasa (CRS, UNHCR).

5. Support cultural orientation activities in coordination with IOM colleagues in charge of operations and local associations, including faith-based organizations, diaspora groups, and sports-arts clubs. 

6. Support the IOM-assisted voluntary return program with dedicated psychosocial sessions to emotionally and psychologically prepare migrants to travel, reintegrate in the communities of origin, or integrate in those of the final destination. 

7. Provide specialized technical guidance and oversight to the design,