Programme Officer (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support)
Organizational Context
UNICEF operates in over 190 countries, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them reach their full potential. We are committed to promoting the rights of every child, viewing it as a calling. UNICEF offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development, fostering a sense of purpose while serving children globally.
Job Purpose
The Programme Officer (MHPSS) will support the design, implementation, coordination, and monitoring of UNICEF’s Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) programme in Colombia. This role contributes to national and subnational efforts to strengthen sustainable, community-based support systems for children and adolescents. Working collaboratively with government counterparts, partners, and UNICEF teams, the officer will drive strategic partnerships, provide technical assistance, generate evidence for informed decision-making, and promote quality, evidence-based interventions. The position emphasizes a rights-based and multisectoral approach, integrating health, education, child protection, and social welfare systems to enhance protective environments, reduce inequalities, build resilience, and advance policies that improve mental health outcomes for children and adolescents.
Responsibilities
Key functions include programme planning, implementation, and coordination, ensuring alignment with UNICEF's strategic objectives and national priorities. The role involves providing technical assistance and promoting the multisectoral integration of MHPSS across various sectors like health, education, and child protection. Responsibilities extend to evidence generation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting to track progress and inform future strategies. Capacity strengthening and knowledge management are crucial, involving training partners and disseminating best practices. Furthermore, the officer will foster partnerships, engage in advocacy efforts, and provide technical support to government and civil society organizations. This includes identifying needs, developing proposals, and ensuring the effective and efficient delivery of MHPSS services, particularly for vulnerable populations, contributing to the overall well-being and resilience of children and adolescents in Colombia.
Work Experience
A minimum of two years of professional experience in programme planning, management, and implementation in the field of mental health and psychosocial support, preferably in a humanitarian or development context. Experience working with children and adolescents is essential.
Skills
Programme Management, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Child Protection, Public Health, Intersectoral Collaboration, Capacity Building, Monitoring and Evaluation, Advocacy, Partnership Development, Evidence-Based Interventions, Report Writing, Cross-cultural Communication