UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, the wellbeing

The UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Region is disproportionately affected by various hazards leading 12-18 of the 21 countries in the region to respond to declared and undeclared emergencies. In addition to these factors of stress, and due to the nature and location of their work, UNICEF staff are frequently exposed to high levels of day-to-day cumulative stress, including those stressors related to their workload as well as critical incidents related to living and working in a multicultural, often unstable and insecure environment.

The Staff Counsellor (NO-C) will assist in further developing and implementing the elements of the staff well-being and resilience-building programme for the Southern Africa sub-region. S/He will facilitate effective management of work-related stress and critical incident stress for all staff and family members. 

How can you make a difference?

Reporting to the ESARO Regional Staff Counsellor (P-4) in Nairobi, the Staff Counsellor (NO-C) will:

1) Providing staff/family members with individual and/or group counselling (i.e. assessment, short-term intervention, referral), following self-referral or referral by the supervisor or another professional. Facilitating the treatment of psychiatric disorders primarily through referrals, including to the medical services division, and through guidance to supervisors and senior management, where appropriate. Identifying competent local resources for referrals whenever necessary.

2) Coordinate and further develop the Southern Africa sub-regional network of Peer Support Volunteers (PSV’s) by: Providing regular support and technical supervision to all Peer Support Volunteers. Delivering Basic and Advanced PVS training in the region. Revise and further develop PSV training manuals on the basic and the advanced level.  Support Country Offices in recruitment including the nomination process and selection.

3) The Staff Counsellor will provide emergency psychosocial support to staff who have been involved in critical incidents by: Contacting the affected staff member(s) by e-mail or phone, offering information about typical stress reactions, stress disorders, support and referral information Facilitating appropriate traumatic stress interventions, following traumatic events. Recommending and arranging for individual and/or group follow-up support to staff and their dependents. Training and awareness raising on stress management issues.

5)Through field missions to Country Offices in the Southern Africa sub-region the Staff Counsellor will facilitate regular resilience building training activities to increase staff awareness regarding the manifestations of stress and to promote individual, team and office resiliency building by:

a) cooperating with Human Resource and Country Offices in their activities aimed at integrating stress management into their learning strategies;

b) developing/revising training modules, as well as assemble other materials for training on stress management issues;

c) developing and disseminate information and materials about stress and stress management;

d) contributing to effective policies on staff well-being;

e) establishing, develop and maintain a resource inventory of stress management information;

f) serving as the focal point for the exchange of information between COs on stress management approaches and referral and consultant resources.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s or higher) in counselling, clinical psychology or related mental health profession. Additional training or certification in staff support and traumatic/critical incident stress as well as a broad range of related fields, such as alcohol/substance abuse, family counselling, training, stress management. Additional training in traumatic / critical incident stress as well as a broad range of related fields desirable.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in staff support, mental health, cross-cultural communications, counselling and related areas, preferably gained within the UN system or international development/humanitarian aid sector. Professional experience with delivering alcohol/substance abuse and family counseling is an advantage.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.