MHPSS Officer

Job Summary The MHPSS Officer will provide technical support for the project's psychosocial support, Psychological First Aid (PFA), protection-risk awareness, and referral activities. The officer will work closely with community focal points, female community mobilizers, legal staff, and relevant service providers to ensure vulnerable individuals receive appropriate and safe support. Key Responsibilities MHPSS Technical Support Lead the technical implementation of community-based MHPSS/PSS activities. Support identification of women, girls, returnees, IDPs, and vulnerable households requiring psychosocial support. Provide group-based PFA, stress management, coping, and psychosocial wellbeing sessions within the project scope. Ensure activities are culturally appropriate and safe. Capacity Building Develop and deliver training/ToT for community PSS focal points. Train focal points on: Psychological First Aid; Stress management; Basic psychosocial support; Safe community support; Identification of individuals requiring referral; Referral mechanisms. Provide ongoing mentoring and technical supervision to PSS focal points. Protection and Referral Support community awareness on protection risks affecting vulnerable groups. Maintain updated mapping of available MHPSS, health, legal, and protection services. Establish and maintain safe referral pathways. Coordinate referrals with appropriate service providers. Ensure confidentiality and survivor-centered approaches where applicable. Coordination and Reporting Coordinate closely with the Legal Mentor and Community Mobilizers. Participate in relevant coordination mechanisms as required. Maintain appropriate activity and referral records. Prepare MHPSS activity reports and contribute to project reports. Ensure PSEA, safeguarding, Do No Harm, and confidentiality principles are integrated into all activities. Job Requirements Required Qualifications and Experience Master’s degree in Psychology, Psychosocial Support, Public Health, Mental Health, Social Work, or a related field preferred. Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Public Health, Social Work, or a relevant discipline may be considered with additional relevant experience. Minimum 4 years of relevant experience with a Master’s degree or 6 years with a Bachelor’s degree. Demonstrated experience implementing community-based PSS/MHPSS programmes. Experience in PFA, stress management, counselling, or psychosocial support. Experience providing training and capacity building to community volunteers/focal points. Experience working on protection-related programmes is highly desirable. Experience with GBV, safeguarding, and survivor-centered referral approaches is an advantage. Training/certification and registration/roster status with the relevant MHPSS coordination mechanism in Afghanistan is required/preferred in line with project requirements.