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UNFPA-MHPSS Specialist-P3-Dongola, Sudan
Dongola, SudanPosition Title: MHPSS Specialist
Receiving Agency: UNFPA
P Level: P3
Location: Dongola, Northern State, Sudan
Duration: 3 months
Language: English is required. Arabic is desirable.
Key Profile Information: The position will be linked to both UNFPA’s GBViE and SRHiE programming in Sudan. UNFPA is providing humanitarian response in hard to access and crisis affected locations, interfacing with women and girls who have endured hardship and trauma since the onset of the conflict, including sexual violence. As one of the main actors for GBV response services, UNFPA implements comprehensive GBV prevention and response programming. The provision of comprehensive case management services to survivors and women at high risk of GBV is essential, and psychosocial support, as a component of case management, includes safe referrals to specialized services through its implementing partners across the country. UNFPA also provides capacity building training, community sensitization on GBV issues, supports women and girls safe spaces providing entry points for economic and livelihood opportunities, CVA and provision of hygiene/dignity kits to the most vulnerable women and adolescent girls of communities affected by humanitarian crises in Sudan. Linkage of MHPSS to sexual and reproductive health services is imperative, particularly given the need for clinical management of rape (CMR) services, and the number of pregnancies as a result of rape.
Main Tasks and Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of the UNFPA Sudan Country Office Representative, and the direct supervision of the Deputy Representative, the MHPSS specialist will be responsible to support the integration of MHPSS into GBViE and SRHiE programming; to orient SRH and GBV colleagues and partners on MHPSS related issues; to support the GBV subcluster and the SRH working group in strengthening the capacity of partners, particularly the staff of GBV response service providers and clinicians trained in CMR, in order to deliver services in compliance with IASC Guidelines for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings and UNFPA MHPSS draft guidance. The incumbent will also assist in establishing relevant partnerships with other stakeholders, including local authorities in Northern State and the Darfurs.
These activities will include the following:
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.
Receiving Agency: UNFPA
P Level: P3
Location: Dongola, Northern State, Sudan
Duration: 3 months
Language: English is required. Arabic is desirable.
Background Description of Emergency / Justification for Request (Please provide a short paragraph outlining the prevailing humanitarian situation and context)
On April 15th, 2023, military conflict erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict started in Khartoum State and quickly spread to the States of West Darfur, South Darfur, North Darfur, South Kordofan, North Kordofan, Blue Nile, Kassala and the Red Sea. As of the date of this note, the conflict is still ongoing. This conflict has left 30.4 million people in need of assistance and has resulted in the displacement of over 11 million, making it the world's largest internal displacement crisis. Among those displaced are 2.7 million women of reproductive age, highlighting the urgent need for ongoing critical care.
Between November 2024 and September 2025, an estimated 2.6 million people returned to their areas of origin, including approximately 2 million individuals who were internally displaced and 523,845 who returned from outside Sudan. These return movements present emerging priorities for the humanitarian community, requiring a strengthened focus on supporting returnees and facilitating access to essential services in affected areas, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and protection services for women and girls. Protection remains a major issue for women and girls across Sudan as systems and networks have collapsed. Services remain extremely limited and sexual violence is reportedly being used as a weapon of war, targeting women, men, boys and girls, in a number of states. Women continue to be impacted by a lack of access to health care, including emergency obstetric care, as over 80 percent of facilities in areas affected by conflict are non-functional. A lack of critical supplies, skilled health care providers, and access is exacerbating the situation. Risks of gender-based violence (GBV) and exploitation remain high, and malnutrition is increasing in parts of the country. In Darfur and Kordofan states, people living in besieged cities, and within locations of on-going fighting, are struggling to access basic services, including for reproductive health and protection. El Fasher remains under siege, with civilians trapped in increasingly dire conditions. Doctors and midwives continue to save lives under extremely challenging conditions. Across Sudan, UNFPA continues to support 45 health facilities and 75 women and girls’ safe spaces, delivering life-saving protection and health services. From January to the end of September 2025, these services reached over 667,000 women and girls in need.
Security Situation Summary in country and main threats: (i.e armed conflict, terrorism, crime, social unrest, hazard)
On April 15th, 2023, military conflict erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict started in Khartoum State and quickly spread to the States of West Darfur, South Darfur, North Darfur, South Kordofan, North Kordofan, Blue Nile, Kassala and the Red Sea. As of the date of this note, the conflict is still ongoing. This conflict has left 30.4 million people in need of assistance and has resulted in the displacement of over 11 million, making it the world's largest internal displacement crisis. Among those displaced are 2.7 million women of reproductive age, highlighting the urgent need for ongoing critical care.
Between November 2024 and September 2025, an estimated 2.6 million people returned to their areas of origin, including approximately 2 million individuals who were internally displaced and 523,845 who returned from outside Sudan. These return movements present emerging priorities for the humanitarian community, requiring a strengthened focus on supporting returnees and facilitating access to essential services in affected areas, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and protection services for women and girls. Protection remains a major issue for women and girls across Sudan as systems and networks have collapsed. Services remain extremely limited and sexual violence is reportedly being used as a weapon of war, targeting women, men, boys and girls, in a number of states. Women continue to be impacted by a lack of access to health care, including emergency obstetric care, as over 80 percent of facilities in areas affected by conflict are non-functional. A lack of critical supplies, skilled health care providers, and access is exacerbating the situation. Risks of gender-based violence (GBV) and exploitation remain high, and malnutrition is increasing in parts of the country. In Darfur and Kordofan states, people living in besieged cities, and within locations of on-going fighting, are struggling to access basic services, including for reproductive health and protection. El Fasher remains under siege, with civilians trapped in increasingly dire conditions. Doctors and midwives continue to save lives under extremely challenging conditions. Across Sudan, UNFPA continues to support 45 health facilities and 75 women and girls’ safe spaces, delivering life-saving protection and health services. From January to the end of September 2025, these services reached over 667,000 women and girls in need.
Security Situation Summary in country and main threats: (i.e armed conflict, terrorism, crime, social unrest, hazard)
- In Khartoum the primary threats stem from drone attacks and rising crime. Drone strikes by the Rapid Support Forces, RSF, have targeted key infrastructure including the international airport. At the same time, criminal activities have been reported in Khartoum and Omdurman.
- In Dongola, Northern State, the main security threat is remote drone/air strikes targeting infrastructure-logistics sites. The RSF has conducted a marked increase in drone attacks in Northern State, targeting fuel depots and critical infrastructure.
- In Port Sudan, Red Sea State, the dominant threat is aerial/remote attacks directed at its strategic port, airport, fuel depots and electrical infrastructure. The RSF previously launched drone strikes on the container terminal, fuel storage facilities and power substations, causing black-outs and disrupting humanitarian access.
- UNFPA has contingency-planning measures in place across all duty stations in coordination with UNDSS. These plans incorporate evacuation routes, medical evacuation, and business continuity plans.
Main Tasks and Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of the UNFPA Sudan Country Office Representative, and the direct supervision of the Deputy Representative, the MHPSS specialist will be responsible to support the integration of MHPSS into GBViE and SRHiE programming; to orient SRH and GBV colleagues and partners on MHPSS related issues; to support the GBV subcluster and the SRH working group in strengthening the capacity of partners, particularly the staff of GBV response service providers and clinicians trained in CMR, in order to deliver services in compliance with IASC Guidelines for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings and UNFPA MHPSS draft guidance. The incumbent will also assist in establishing relevant partnerships with other stakeholders, including local authorities in Northern State and the Darfurs.
These activities will include the following:
- Assess the current PSS interventions within the scope of UNFPA’s SRH and GBV programmes, and staff knowledge and skills among UNFPA staff and partners.
- Lead the design of standard and contextual inter-agency MHPSS interventions for GBV and SRH partners, including consideration of a cognitive behavior-based or common elements support approach tailored to staff without formal MHPSS qualifications.
- Develop a training, mentoring and supervision plan to equip GBV caseworkers and case managers, including local authorities, to deliver specialized interventions that address common psychosocial reactions to trauma and abuse, including suicide, bereavement, and depression. Deliver training sessions and develop follow up/coaching plans for the partners to ensure skill development and application.
- Lead and facilitate inter-agency level training on PFA and other psychosocial interventions in the Northern State and within the Darfurs (if feasible) to develop the ability of health staff, WGSS facilitators, and community mobilisers to recognize and respond appropriately to MHPSS needs.
- Design and develop IEC material to support implementation of MHPSS interventions within the scope of SRH and GBV programmes, and link to digital support platforms.
- Develop monitoring tools to ensure MHPSS interventions are carried out in compliance with international guidelines and best practices, and support the partners in ensuring safe and confidential collection, storage, and reporting of data.
- Participate in MHPSS coordination to ensure that UNFPA’s interventions, trainings, and tools are harmonized with other partners, sister agencies, local authorities, and national organizations.
- Develop/adapt specialist training material tailored to the particular MHPSS intervention designed for the GBV and SRH
- Provide capacity building to implementing partners, including GBV and health responders, for improving good practices (quality of communication, respect, privacy….) to reduce negative psychological impact, and in providing quality psychosocial first aid responses for survivors of GBV and other psychologically distressing situations
- Analyze results of monitoring visits and data to identify capacity development needs
- Support the capacity development of UNFPA staff, programme and coordination partners, and local authorities to respond to the humanitarian crises with sensitivity and awareness of MHPSS needs, referral options, and interventions
- Prepare and support humanitarian stakeholder collaboration towards ensuring sustainable and quality MHPSS through structured supervision and continuous improvement reviews
- Actively participate in and support the inter-agency, multi-sectoral GBV, SRH and MHPSS coordination groups, in Northern State and including within Darfur, if feasible.
- Contribute MHPSS perspective and inputs in assessments, planning and reporting undertaken by intersectoral partners and other relevant clusters / working groups.
- Identify a range of MHPSS services available for inclusion in GBV and SRH referral pathways, determine protocols for triage and referral to these services and propose appropriate needs-based referral mechanisms that are effective in addressing specific issues; engage with WHO, IOM, UNHCR and other agencies who provide specialized psychosocial support services to coordinate and update referral pathways
- Document training and supervision using tracking tools designed in collaboration with the GBV and SRH sectors. Create records of participants’ progress. Report on effectiveness of training materials and process, and assess and address gaps through iterative improvements to training protocols.
- Supervise the development of monitoring tools for MHPSS interventions within the scope of GBV and SRH, to support quality programming in compliance with international standards.
- Conduct monitoring visits and provide reports on compliance and challenges.
- Produce inputs to regular progress reports and Sit Reps as required.
- Provide technical assistance and capacity development support to UNFPA SRH and GBV staff and coordination partners.
- Provide technical updates and training to GBV partners in relevant technical areas related to the MHPSS component of the GBV response.
- Master’s degree with specialization in psychology, mental health or related area.
- At least 5 years of specialized experience in psychosocial support interventions particularly as it relates to GBV;
- Experience in GBV/MHPSS at an international level in a humanitarian context.
- Demonstrated knowledge of IASC Guidelines on MHPSS in Emergency Settings;
- Demonstrated experience of training, supervision, and mentoring of non-professional counseling staff;
- Ability to work within a team structure, maintain flexibility, and cope with a stressful workload;
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work within different cultural environments;
- Strong knowledge of humanitarian coordination mechanisms; and strong cultural awareness and sensitivity.
- Fluency in oral and written English; working knowledge of Arabic is a plus.
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.