Position Title: MHPSS Training Consultant
Receiving Agency: UNFPA
P Level: P3/P4
Location: Kabul, Afghanistan
Duration: 2.5 months
Language: English required

Mission Specific Considerations

Remote-Based Deployments (if remote-based please only fill in this table)

Considerations for remote-based deployments
If the deployment is remote-based, is the country office set up to ensure ongoing communication / team integration and appropriate supervision with the deployee from afar? Please explain.	Not applicable

Physical deployments (only fill out if you anticipate surge to physically deploy)

Pre-departure considerations for physical deployments
Does this duty station require candidates to have undertaken SSAFE training? If so, can the office provide training upon arrival?	Yes
Visa Are there any special/new, specific visa considerations that need to be considered?	2 weeks visa processing for extension after arrival in the country
Equipment Is there any equipment that the Surge should become equipped with prior to travel, e.g. PPE such as masks, gloves, sanitizer, etc?	The CO will equip the Surge deployee with PPE while in country and during travel missions.
Is there any other paperwork that the local government authorities require upon entry/re-entry into the country?	There are no government paperwork in addition to entry visa
On mission considerations (for physical deployments):
Accommodation What type of accommodation is available for Surge deployees?	Will reside in the UN Compound in Kabul
R&R Is the duty station on an R&R cycle and if so how often?	Yes, every six weeks
Medical Treatment Are there any government restrictions or limitations that would adversely impact in-country medical treatment plans or medical evacuation?	None
Office arrangement for telecommuting If the Surge needs to telecommute within the country, can the country office demonstrate that the deployee is realistically able to work in terms of remote connectivity, equipment, etc.?	Not applicable

Afghanistan faces a complex geopolitical and humanitarian crisis. The humanitarian crisis is escalating, affecting 22.9 million people in 2025, a situation worsened by large-scale repatriations from Iran and Pakistan. The nation is also increasingly vulnerable to climate change, with projected temperature increases of 2-3°C annually by 2050, threatening more flash floods, landslides, and recurring droughts by 2030. Within this precarious environment, maternal mortality remains shockingly high at 620 deaths per 100,000 live births, and a staggering 46% of Afghan women aged 15-49 endure intimate partner violence.

Since 2021, the Taliban has imposed draconian restrictions on Afghan women's education, employment, and movement, establishing an "institutionalized system of gender-based oppression." This is rigorously enforced by the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Law, effectively eradicating women's public life. While the ban on women working for NGOs is strictly enforced, unofficial but significant restrictions on UN employment fuel widespread uncertainty. The Taliban's latest decree closes public and private medical institutions to female students, including vital midwifery, nursing, and other health programs. This decision not only aims to eliminate women's education but also obliterates a crucial professional pathway and severely limits access to essential maternal and reproductive health services, building upon the September 2021 ban on girls attending school beyond Grade 6. Despite these immense challenges, UNFPA Afghanistan has made remarkable strides in bolstering Gender-Based Violence (GBV) response services within the health sector. Significant progress is evident in the concerted efforts to empower healthcare workers with the skills necessary to deliver survivor-centered care, crucially integrating psychosocial support to ensure holistic physical and emotional well-being. Furthermore, robust referral pathways have been established, ensuring survivors can access specialized medical and/or protective assistance. Yet, the imperative to expand the reach and depth of survivor-centered approaches across all levels of the healthcare system remains critical. The demand for such sensitive and comprehensive care far exceeds current capacity, necessitating sustained investment in service provision, training, and capacity building. UNFPA continues to be the primary provider of GBV services in Afghanistan, delivering 80% of the total available services. Substantial ECHO donor funding to UNFPA underscores the urgent need for dedicated senior-level GBV programming capacity to ensure timely accountability to both donors and affected populations.
The security situation remains fragile, with threats from the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISK), presence of Al Qaeda (AQ), and activities of armed opposition groups like the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF). Tensions with Pakistan due to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) also complicate security. Internal Taliban rivalries add to the instability.

Key Profile Information: Under the overall direction of the UNFPA International Humanitarian Coordinator, and the day-to-day supervision of the GBViE Specialist, the incumbent will be responsible for strengthening the understanding and capacities of health care workers in MHPSS including capacity strengthening on Psychological First Aid, Psychosocial Support, Case Management, Suicide Prevention, Self-Disclosure, Caring for Child Survivor, Self-Care, PSS Core Concepts and PSS supervision.
Main Tasks and Responsibilities
Refinement of training plan and session plans; review and updating of training materials and resources. Adapt a training design and planning by developing a criterion for the participants' selection, training agenda, session plans, and training content, including all relevant resources such as end-of-training evaluation, pre- and post-training tests, etc.
Facilitate training for 375 health workers including PSS Counselors. Develop a training report and a post-training follow-up and supervision to enhance skills acquisition for the health and non-health workers reached.
Planning, coordination, monitoring, and assessment of GBV/PSS  capacity building initiatives will be conducted through the use of available guidelines and standards, and will be in line with UNFPA’s Minimum Standards for Addressing GBV in Emergencies.

These activities will include the following:
Training Design and Delivery Oversight:

• Coordinate with UNFPA GBViE Unit, and Health Cluster partners to finalize participant lists and training plans.
• Ensure quality assurance through multiple levels of evaluation using pre- and post-tests, direct observation, and overall training evaluation

Training Facilitation, Monitoring, and Supervision:

• Facilitate training using competency-based skills and adult learning methodologies that promote learner retention of knowledge, attitude (behavior), and practices.
• Conduct regular observation during training/s sessions to ensure active engagement, inclusive participation, and methodological diversity.
• Monitor knowledge acquisition, aiming for a minimum 60% increase in participant understanding.

Mentorship, Technical Support, and Continuous Improvement

• Provide ongoing mentorship and technical support to trainees during and after training sessions.
• Facilitate group supervision and post-training follow-up to reinforce learning and improve service quality.
• Develop a post-training checklist that will be used to identify gaps in service delivery and tailor support accordingly
• Organize refresher training/s based on supervision findings and post-training assessments.
• Identify strengths and gaps in service delivery and tailor follow-up support accordingly.

Action Plan Development and Follow-Up:

• Ensure that 375 targeted health personnel develop actionable plans to integrate GBV Minimum Standards into their services.
• Conduct follow-up meetings to support implementation and monitor progress.

Reporting:

• Following the completion of the training sessions, the consultant will compile a comprehensive report that details the outcomes of the training, evaluates participant engagement and learning, and assesses the overall effectiveness of the sessions.
• The report will be submitted to the UNFPA GBV Team for review. It will serve as a crucial tool for measuring the training's success against established project indicators. Key elements of the report will include participant feedback, pre-test and post-test results, and an analysis of learning challenges encountered during the sessions. Additionally, the report will provide actionable recommendations for future training initiatives.

 Qualifications and Skills Required

• Master’s degree with specialization in psychology, mental health, or a related area.
• At least 5 years of specialized experience in psychosocial support interventions, particularly as it relates to GBV and SRH;
• Experience in GBV/MHPSS at an international level in a humanitarian context.
• Demonstrated knowledge of IASC 2015 Guidelines on MHPSS in Emergency Settings,  MHPSS Minimum Service Package, and Minimum Initial Service Package
• Demonstrated experience in adapting/designing, facilitating, and evaluating training is needed.
• Demonstrated experience in working with community-based psychosocial support actors and health care providers is an added advantage
• Experience in mentoring of non-professional counseling staff and PSS actors.
• Ability to work within a team structure, maintain flexibility, and cope with a stressful workload;
• Ability to manage and plan their time and work to meet deliverables is expected
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work within different cultural environments;
• Strong knowledge of humanitarian coordination mechanisms, and strong cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English. Another UN language is an added advantage.
• A male candidate is sought for this workstream.

CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.