ACBAR

Hagar was established in 1994 in Cambodia to serve and support women and children who have survived severe exploitation and human rights abuses. In 2009, Hagar expanded its unique whole journey model of long-term, individualized care to Afghanistan and Vietnam. In 2015, Hagar also started delivering services in Singapore, Myanmar, and the Solomon Islands. We walk the whole journey of restoration with each survivor, empower communities to prevent exploitation, and strengthen systems to protect the vulnerable.

Hagar International in Afghanistan implements several integrated programs designed to help survivors recover from trauma and rebuild their lives. These include running Child-Friendly Spaces in IDP camps, economic empowerment initiatives and resilient livelihoods programs, community-based child protection programs, humanitarian relief projects, primary health care services, and emergency response activities.

Position Purpose

The Psychosocial Counsellor is responsible for providing high-quality, confidential, and ethical psychosocial support and counselling services to the RHRL project's beneficiaries in targeted health facilities. These beneficiaries include returnees, survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), human trafficking, and other forms of extreme abuse and trauma. The counsellor will employ a survivor-centred approach to improve beneficiaries' mental well-being, foster resilience, and support their journey toward recovery and successful rehabilitation within their communities.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments and develop individualized, culturally-sensitive counseling and rehabilitation plans for beneficiaries in Kabul, Nangarhar, and Laghman provinces.
• Facilitate structured individual and group counseling sessions, utilizing strength-based and trauma-informed approaches to foster resilience and support recovery.
• Maintain detailed, accurate, and confidential case files, documenting all sessions, progress, and updates in a timely manner and in line with data protection protocols.
• Organize and lead culturally appropriate psychosocial support activities and group sessions to promote positive coping mechanisms and improve mental well-being.
• Work in close coordination with the project team to ensure an integrated and holistic approach to service delivery for each beneficiary.
• Systematically record all counseling data and provide regular situation updates to the Provincial Coordinator.
• Prepare and submit timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports, as well as annual and ad-hoc reports, to the line manager.
• Identify needs for specialized support and facilitate confidential referrals to psychiatrists, medical services, and other relevant protection or specialized care providers.
• Actively participate in capacity-building trainings organized by the organization and its donors to enhance professional skills and service quality.
• Perform any other relevant duties as assigned by the line manager.

Education:

• Must have a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
• Must be knowledgeable of different therapeutic methods and be able to switch between different approaches to meet each adult’s needs.
• Understand children's and women's rights.
• Knowledge of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an advantage.
• Knowledge of issues facing vulnerable women and children in Afghanistan. Training in counselling, psychology, and/or social work is an advantage.

Experience:

• A minimum of three years of professional experience in counselling and training, and at least two years of working experience with adults are required.
• Having experience with an international and/or local NGO in the counselling of paediatrics is a preference.
• Experience working in a challenging environment.
• Experience in diagnosis and counselling treatments of mental illness (such as PTSD and depression) and trauma is an advantage.

Skills and Personal Attributes:

• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work with beneficiaries coming out of difficult backgrounds, with empathy, respect, and care.
• Good counselling skills for individual, group, and family
• Sensitivity and adaptability skills
• Resilient
• Fluency in the local language are required. 
• Willing to travel to provinces if necessary.

Interested qualified applicants should send their updated CV along with cover letter to Hagar International HR Email. Please write the job title and vacancy number in the subject line of your email.

Only qualified applicants who closely meet the above criteria will be notified for written test/interview.

Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

recruitment.afg@hagarinternational.org