Programme Officer (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support)

Job Posting Organization:
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) was established in 1951 and is a Related Organization of the United Nations. It is the leading UN agency in the field of migration, working closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners to promote humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. IOM's mission includes saving lives and protecting people on the move, driving solutions to displacement, and facilitating pathways for regular migration. The organization is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. IOM operates in numerous countries worldwide, providing services and advice to governments and migrants, and has a workforce that reflects diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Job Overview:
The Programme Officer (Mental Health and psychosocial-support" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Psychosocial Support) will play a crucial role in the coordination and implementation of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) activities within transit centres and Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs) in the Central African Republic (CAR). This position requires close collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Chief of Mission, MRC Manager, and the Head of the Global MHPSS-CI Unit at headquarters. The officer will ensure compliance with IOM standards, operational guidelines, donor requirements, and protection principles. The role involves providing technical guidance and supervision to MHPSS staff, developing and implementing MHPSS tools and protocols, and facilitating the integration of MHPSS approaches across migrant assistance activities. The officer will also be responsible for conducting assessments, providing direct psychosocial support, and coordinating with national mental health actors to ensure access to higher-level care when necessary. This position is vital for enhancing the resilience and wellbeing of migrants and returnees, promoting social inclusion, and addressing the mental health needs of vulnerable populations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Programme Officer will have a comprehensive set of duties and responsibilities, including:

• Supporting the coordination and implementation of MHPSS activities within transit centres and MRCs in CAR.
• Providing day-to-day technical guidance and supervision to MHPSS staff, ensuring quality service delivery.
• Developing, contextualizing, and implementing MHPSS tools, SOPs, referral pathways, and operational protocols.
• Conducting service mapping and maintaining coordination with governmental and community actors to strengthen referral pathways.
• Facilitating the integration of MHPSS approaches across migrant assistance activities.
• Designing and implementing community-based psychosocial activities to promote resilience and social inclusion.
• Creating mechanisms for identifying MHPSS needs among migrants and ensuring timely referrals.
• Providing direct psychosocial support interventions and case consultations for complex cases.
• Coordinating with national mental health actors and facilitating access to higher-level care. 1
• Organizing capacity-building activities for frontline workers and community actors. 1
• Contributing to monitoring, data collection, reporting, and analysis of MHPSS activities. 1
• Participating in interagency coordination mechanisms and providing technical recommendations to strengthen programme quality.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology, Clinical Social Work, Psychiatry, Psychological Counselling, or a related field from an accredited institution, along with two years of relevant professional experience. Alternatively, a University degree in the aforementioned fields with four years of relevant professional experience is acceptable. Accredited institutions are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database. Candidates should have experience in designing, implementing, and coordinating MHPSS programming in humanitarian or low-resource settings, as well as experience supervising or providing technical guidance to MHPSS staff. Proven experience in providing direct MHPSS services, working with vulnerable populations, and supporting capacity-building initiatives is also required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology, Clinical Social Work, Psychiatry, Psychological Counselling, or a related field from an accredited academic institution. Alternatively, a University degree in the above fields with four years of relevant professional experience is acceptable. Candidates must ensure that their educational qualifications are from accredited institutions recognized by the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have significant experience in the field of mental health and psychosocial support. This includes experience in designing, implementing, coordinating, or supporting MHPSS programming in humanitarian, migration, or low-resource settings. Candidates should have experience supervising or providing technical guidance to MHPSS or community-based staff, as well as proven experience providing direct MHPSS services such as psychological first aid, supportive counselling, and psychosocial case management. Experience working with migrants, displaced populations, returnees, or vulnerable populations exposed to distress, trauma, or social exclusion is essential. Additionally, experience with IOM, UN agencies, INGOs, or humanitarian coordination mechanisms is desirable, particularly in fragile or conflict-affected settings.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, both oral and written. Working knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is considered an advantage. The proficiency of required languages will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Additional Notes:
This position is part of an expedited recruitment process and is open for applications from internal and internal-equivalent candidates only. Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile, and any offer made to the candidate is subject to funding confirmation. The selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations, and recommended candidates will remain eligible for appointment in a similar position for a period of 24 months. Appointment is subject to all clearances, including medical and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, as well as accreditation and any residency or visa requirements. 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, and discrimination. IOM does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process and only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM WAVE system.