Social Workers
Partnership For Pastoralists Development Association (PAPDAAbout This Role
This is a field-based mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) position embedded within a mobile health and nutrition team, meaning the day-to-day work happens in communities rather than offices. PAPDA is a pastoralist-focused development organization, so the context here is humanitarian response in Ethiopia's lowland areas — the kind of setting where displacement, drought, and limited services shape nearly every case you handle. It suits a social worker who can operate independently, travel frequently, and adapt clinical knowledge to a resource-constrained environment.
What the Requirements Say About This Role
The mid-level framing signals that PAPDA wants someone who has already done this work in a humanitarian or NGO context and can step in without extensive hand-holding. The mention of training health staff and integrating MHPSS into nutrition programming points to a profile that blends direct case work with capacity-building — not a purely clinical background, but someone comfortable training others and working across sectors. Because the role reports to a Health and Nutrition Officer rather than a social work supervisor, the employer likely values people who are self-directed and can justify their decisions to colleagues from different technical backgrounds.
How to Approach This Application
Your application should foreground field experience in pastoralist or hard-to-reach settings, since the location itself filters out many candidates and demonstrating you understand that context sets you apart. Emphasize any work you've done integrating mental health into other services — nutrition, health, protection — because that cross-sector angle is clearly central to this role. Given the reporting line, also show that you can document, plan, and communicate in a coordinated team structure, not just deliver services one-on-one.
Who This Role Suits
This role is best suited for a social worker with three to five years of humanitarian or community health experience who is genuinely willing to live and work in a remote woreda. Competition is likely moderate — the location deters many applicants, but those who do apply often have strong field credentials, so relevant pastoralist-area experience will matter more than volume of applications.
Position Title: Social Workers
Duration of Assignment: 12 months
Reporting Line: Reports to the Health and Nutrition Officer
Number of Position: One
Duty station: Liben woreda of East Borena zone
A. Purpose of the Role
The MHPSS Officer will provide technical support and coordination for mental health and psycho-social support services within the Mobile Health and Nutrition Team (MHNT). The role involves delivering community-based psychosocial interventions, supporting vulnerable populations, training health staff, and integrating MHPSS into health and nutrition programs to improve holistic well-being.
B. Key Responsibilities and Duties
1. Planning
- Contribute to the development of annual, quarterly, and monthly MHNT plans integrating MHPSS activities.
- Identify human, material, and financial resources required for MHPSS interventions.
- Plan community outreach sessions and psychosocial support activities in coordination with the MHNT.
2. Health Service Delivery & MHNT Management
- Provide direct psychosocial support and counseling to individuals, families, and groups.
- Support integration of MHPSS services into routine health and nutrition activities.
- Assist in supervision and guidance of MHNT staff on MHPSS approaches.
3. Nutrition Program Management
- Integrate psychosocial support considerations into nutrition programs, including CMAM and IYCF-E activities.
- Address psychosocial barriers to service uptake and adherence.
- Support caregivers and community members with counseling and stress management techniques.
4. Capacity Building
- Conduct training, coaching, and mentorship for MHNT staff, HEWs, and facility staff on MHPSS principles and interventions.
- Strengthen community-level psychosocial capacity by training volunteers and community committees.
5. Disease Surveillance, Outbreak Prevention & Response
- Identify and respond to psychosocial needs during emergencies.
- Support community awareness and stress management interventions during crises.
- Collaborate with health teams to ensure MHPSS needs are integrated into emergency response plans.
6. Coordination and Representation
- Liaise with government, NGO, and community partners for coordinated MHPSS service delivery.
- Represent the MHNT in technical meetings and forums related to MHPSS.
7. Monitoring, Reporting, Data Management and Documentation
- Maintain accurate records of MHPSS activities, counseling sessions, and follow-ups.
- Prepare weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports on MHPSS interventions.
- Document lessons learned, success stories, and best practices.
8. Supply Chain & Logistics
- Support the planning and management of MHPSS materials, IEC tools, and relevant supplies.
- Ensure availability and proper use of materials for community and facility-based MHPSS activities.
9. Safeguarding, Protection & Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)
- Adhere to safeguarding and protection policies.
- Ensure confidentiality, dignity, and safety of beneficiaries during all MHPSS interventions.
- Promote accountability to affected populations by responding to feedback and complaints appropriately.
C. Expected Deliverables and Outputs
- Weekly and monthly reports on MHPSS activities.
- Documentation of trainings, coaching, and mentorship sessions.
- Records of psychosocial support provided to individuals and communities.
- Reports on MHPSS integration into health, nutrition, and emergency interventions.
- Lessons learned, best practices, and success stories.
- Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, or related field.
- Five years Experience in MHPSS service delivery in humanitarian or community settings.
- Knowledge of psychosocial support, mental health interventions, and community-based approaches.
- Strong communication, counseling, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work in remote and challenging environments.
- Experience in training, coaching, and mentoring staff and community volunteers.
E. Work Conditions and Requirements
- Field-based position requiring travel to remote and hard-to-reach areas.
- Exposure to challenging environmental and security conditions.
- Flexible working hours including nights or weekends during emergencies.
- Ability to conduct field visits, community sessions, and psychosocial support interventions.
How To Apply
How to Apply
Interested and qualified applicants can apply using the link till the deadline October 26, 2026.
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Social Workers
Partnership For Pastoralists Development Association (PAPDA
