ACBAR

SCAWO, established in 2014 and registered with the Ministry of Economy, is a national non-governmental and non-profit organization dedicated to supporting vulnerable Afghan populations, particularly women and marginalized groups. SCAWO focuses on emergency response, health services, food security, and psychosocial support. Through mobile health clinics, psychosocial care, distribution of essential items, WASH services, and multipurpose cash assistance, SCAWO delivers life-saving support across Afghanistan. The organization also promotes youths’ participation in crisis response and ensures community accountability through inclusive planning and feedback mechanisms.

The Psychosocial Counselor (Female) will be responsible for providing direct mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) to women and girls affected by conflict, displacement, trauma, and emergency conditions. As part of the mobile health team, the counselor will deliver culturally sensitive, gender-responsive, and confidential individual and group counseling sessions. She will contribute to the identification of protection risks, promote psychosocial well-being, and refer severe cases to specialized care where necessary.

1. Purpose of the Position

The Psychosocial Counselor (Female) will be responsible for providing direct mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) to women and girls affected by conflict, displacement, trauma, and emergency conditions. As part of the mobile health team, the counselor will deliver culturally sensitive, gender-responsive, and confidential individual and group counseling sessions. She will contribute to the identification of protection risks, promote psychosocial well-being, and refer severe cases to specialized care where necessary.

2. Key Responsibilities

Psychosocial Support Services

• Provide individual and group counseling sessions for women and girls experiencing psychological distress or trauma
• Conduct psychosocial first aid (PFA), stress management, and emotional support sessions during emergencies and displacement
• Facilitate mental health awareness and well-being promotion activities, especially targeting adolescent girls and mothers
• Design and deliver psychoeducation sessions addressing coping strategies, emotional regulation, grief, and gender-based violence

Referral and Case Management

• Identify and assess clients in need of specialized psychological or protection services
• Work closely with the Medical Doctor, Midwife, Community Mobilizers, or relevant actors to refer complex cases to qualified service providers
• Follow up on referred cases and ensure clients receive timely support
• Maintain a survivor-centered and confidential case management approach throughout service provision

Community-Based Mental Health Engagement

• Conduct community outreach and awareness sessions with women’s groups, IDP communities, and local leaders to reduce stigma around mental health
• Collaborate with Community Mobilizers to identify individuals in need of psychosocial support and promote help-seeking behavior
• Support mental health messaging that is culturally and linguistically appropriate

Coordination and Capacity Building

• Participate in training, case review meetings, and technical supervision organized by SCAWO or external partners
• Coordinate with the Project Manager on the Health and Protection clusters and other service providers as needed
• Contribute to the development of staff and community training materials on MHPSS and GBV risk mitigation

Monitoring, Documentation, and Reporting

• Maintain accurate and confidential records of all counseling sessions, referrals, and support provided
• Prepare regular reports for the Medical Doctor and MEL team, disaggregated by age, type of support, and referral pathways
• Contribute to assessments, feedback mechanisms, and learning activities related to psychosocial support

Safeguarding and Protection

• Uphold SCAWO’s safeguarding and protection policies in all interactions with beneficiaries and staff
• Immediately report safeguarding or GBV-related concerns using established referral and response mechanisms
• Ensure that all activities promote dignity, safety, and the best interests of women and girls

3. Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, Mental Health, or a related field

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of experience providing psychosocial counseling or mental health support, preferably in emergency or conflict-affected contexts
• Prior experience working with women, girls, and GBV survivors is essential
• Experience working in mobile outreach teams or community-based MHPSS programming in Kandahar is required.
• Familiarity with humanitarian coordination and protection standards is an asset

Skills and Competencies

• Strong interpersonal and active listening skills, with cultural and gender sensitivity
• Ability to manage emotionally challenging cases with professionalism and confidentiality
• Good written and verbal communication skills in Pashto and Dari (required); basic English an advantage
• Knowledge of psychological first aid, trauma-informed care, and basic case management principles
• Ability to work independently in insecure, rural, or remote locations

4. Working Conditions

This position is based in Kandahar Province and involves frequent travel to community outreach sites and IDP settlements. The counselor must be comfortable working with vulnerable women and girls in culturally conservative settings. The position requires high emotional resilience, discretion, and strict adherence to SCAWO’s safety and safeguarding protocols.

5. Equal Opportunity Statement

• SCAWO is an equal-opportunity employer with a strong commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace.
• We are committed to ensuring fair, transparent, and merit-based hiring processes for all applicants, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, race, religion, disability, marital status, nationality, social or economic background.
• SCAWO does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.

5. Submission Guidelines

• Interested candidates should submit their cover letter and updated CV to hr@scawo.org by the application deadline with “Psychosocial Counselor (Female) – Kandahar” in the subject line.
• Incomplete applications or those without a proper subject line will not be considered.
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may be conducted before the closing date if qualified candidates are identified.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview. No telephone inquiries will be accepted.

hr@scawo.org