Consultant Staff Counsellor CST I/II Bamako (Mali)
JOB TITLE : Staff Counsellor
TYPE OF CONTRACT : International Consultancy
UNIT/DIVISION: RBD/Mali CO
DUTY STATION: Bamako, Mali
OPENING DATE: 07.06.2023
ABOUT WFP
The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) is the largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger in the world. WFP's mission is to help the world reach the zero hunger goal by 2030. WFP works every day to ensure that the most vulnerable, especially women and children, can access to the nutritious foods they need to lead productive and healthy lives.
WFP MANDATE AND INTERVENTIONS IN MALI
In Mali, WFP supports government efforts through an assistance strategy aimed at responding to the humanitarian emergency, strengthening the resilience of communities and supporting sustainable development efforts. In collaboration with state institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and partners of the United Nations system, WFP organizes cash or in-kind transfers to meet the food needs of families affected by conflicts or hazards , provides school meals that promote girls and boys' access to education, supports the prevention and treatment of malnutrition, provides technical and financial support to groups of small agricultural producers to improve their production and access at the market.
WFP also provides the air transport service, providing humanitarian and development actors with safe, reliable and economical transport to the regions of Mopti, Gao, Menaka, Timbuktu and Kayes, which provides access to the most vulnerable populations. vulnerable. The world's largest humanitarian agency also supports the government and its partners, through food and nutrition security analyzes, the provision of logistics services, and information and communication technologies.
STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Advanced university degree (Doctorate, Masters or equivalent) in Clinical or Counselling Psychology, Psychiatry or demonstrably equivalent studies from a recognized institution. Registration as a mental health professional in the country of origin is required.
Additional training or certification in a broad range of related fields, such as alcohol/substance abuse, resilience, cross-cultural communication, conflict resolution, mediation, trauma etc. will be an advantage.
Experience:
Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible professional post graduate experience relevant to the field is required.
Experience either working in a hardship location or providing counselling services to staff working under very difficult and insecure environments is an asset.
Knowledge & Skills:
• Specialist expertise in the assessment of mental health needs and the assessment of risk.
• Broad knowledge of all facets of counselling services and demonstrated skills to create a trusted environment in which others can talk confidentially.
• Ability to manage crisis situations which involve diverse actors and stakeholders.
• Ability to identify clients’ needs and suggest appropriate solutions.
• Excellent communication skills (oral, written and presentation).
• Conflict resolution and mediation skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of both genders and diverse national and cultural backgrounds.
• Skills in designing and delivering trainings/information sessions on a number of subjects and ability to adapt those to different audiences.
Language:
Fluency (level C) in French and Intermediate knowledge English language.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
These jobs are located in Headquarters (HQ) and Country Offices (COs). StaffCounsellors report to the Director or the designate, and functionally to the Regional Staff Counsellor. When required, a few large Country Offices may
share one Staff Counsellor. This job requires regular or on short-notice travelling to Country/Area/Field offices.
JOB PURPOSE
To provide efficient and effective psychological counselling to staff requiring support related to work-place difficulties or personal issues. A large emphasis
is placed on extensive engagement with staff and promotion of staff wellbeing.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)
1. Provide active psychological support including during emergencies and/or after critical incidents to ensure continued staff well-being and that managers and staff are provided
with the effective support to manage change.
2. Actively engage with management and staff to establish relationships based on trust andrespect;
3. Provide pre and post deployment briefings to staff deployed to hardship duty stations through briefings, counselling sessions and other activities to ensure proactive support is
extended to staff.
4. Work closely and collaboratively with managers at all levels in the Country to ensure a psychologically healthy work place;
5. Maintain and enhance the country based specific content for the Wellbeing app and provide a range of general and context specific trainings related to resilience, conflict
resolution, team-building and cultural sensitivities to improve morale, health, and team dynamics in the country office.
6. Contribute to the design of policies and guidelines, as well as information / booklets to increase awareness regarding important themes and promote staff wellness.
7. Deliver workshops, trainings, and information sessions on a wide range of topics (e.g. stress management, team-building, problem-solving, conflict resolution, etc) to ensure
that staff regularly receive relevant information and are aware of sources where to find information or assistance.
8. Support and maintain the WFP Peer Support Volunteer Network (PSV) through training and supervision.
9. Maintain the highest ethical standards related to the provision of psychological services consistent with the Wellness Division Ethical Guidelines and Standards of Practice;
10. Prepare comprehensive reports, plan budget for missions, trainings and plan and implement other staff counselling activities to ensure the provision of cohesive counselling
services.
11. Maintain at all times, high standard of professional ethics and confidentiality consistent with the Wellness Division Ethical Guidelines and Standards of Practice, actively engage with management and staff, listen to their concerns, and stay approachable.
12. Other as required.
OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS (details to be determined by Post Managers): This section is optional to describe other duties, skills & knowledge required for the specific job.
4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES
Purpose
Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Utilizes understanding of WFP’s Strategic Objectives to communicate linkages to team objectives and work.
Be a force for positive change: Proactively identifies and develops new methods or improvements for self and immediate team to address work challenges within own work area.
Make the mission inspiring to our team: Identifies opportunities to further align individual contributions with WFP’s mission of making an impact on local communities.
Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Helps colleagues to see the link between their individual tasks and the contributions of their unit’s goals to the broader context of WFP’s mission.
People
Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Is able to identify, support and encourage focused on-the-job learning opportunities to address gaps between current skillsets and needed future skillsets for WFP.
Create an inclusive culture: Recognizes the contributions of teammates, and encourages contributions from culturally different team mates to recognise the value of diversity above and beyond just including it in programming for beneficiaries.
Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Provides and solicits ongoing constructive feedback on strengths and development opportunities to help develop individual skills, whilst also helping others identify areas for improvement.
Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Sets clear targets for self and others to focus team efforts in ambiguous situations (e.g., unprecedented issues and/or scenarios).
Performance
Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Thinks beyond team’s conventional approaches to formulate creative methods for delivering food aid and assistance to beneficiaries.
Focus on getting results: Maintains focus on achieving individual results in the face of obstacles such as volatile or fragile environments and/or organizational roadblocks.
Make commitments and make good on commitments: Takes personal accountability for upholding and delivering upon team’s commitments and provides assurance to stakeholders.
Be Decisive: Demonstrates ability to adjust to team’s plans and priorities to optimize outcomes in light of evolving directives, while also responding quickly in high-pressure environments, such as in emergency settings.
Partnership
Connect and share across WFP units: Demonstrates an understanding of when and how to tactfully engage other units in conversations on impact, timing, or planning.
Build strong external partnerships: Networks regularly with key external partners using formal and informal opportunities to understand each partner’s unique value proposition, and to build and strengthen relationships.
Be politically agile & adaptable: Demonstrates ability to adapt engagement approach in the context of evolving partner circumstances and expectations.
Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Demonstrates ability to articulate to internal and external audiences the value that individual contributions and immediate teams bring to partnerships.
CLOSING DATE: 20.06.2023
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Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply
WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.
No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.
