Vacancy Announcement No: JR126074
Job Title: Staff Counsellor, Mogadishu, Somalia
Contract Type/Grade: Fixed Term ( NOB)
Duty Station: Mogadishu,
Contract Duration: 12 Months (Renewable)
Date of Issue: August 24, 2026, | Closing Date: September 07,2026
BACKGROUND OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
After nearly three decades of political and economic instability, Somalia is on a positive trajectory with significant progress made since the re-establishment of the Federal Government in 2012. However, the country continues to struggle with recurrent food and nutrition crises, widespread insecurity, political instability, underdeveloped infrastructure, and natural hazards such as drought and floods. In February 2015 WFP re-opened the Somalia Country Office in Mogadishu for the first time in 20 years. WFP has presence across Somalia with three operational Area Offices (Mogadishu, Garowe, and Hargeisa) and eight deep field location offices.
PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
WFP Somalia’s greatest strength is its dedicated women and men working tirelessly to reduce hunger, often under difficult conditions where security threats and risks to personal safety are considerable. The Staff Counsellor will provide efficient and effective psychological counselling to staff requiring support related to workplace difficulties or personal issues. A large emphasis is placed on extensive engagement with staff and promotion of staff well-being.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority)
- Provide culturally sensitive psychosocial support to our WFP Somalia staff and employees and/or their immediate family members, to ensure staff are assisted in difficult situations, and that comprehensive assessments and treatment plans are prepared.
• Provide active psychosocial support during emergencies and/or after critical incidents to ensure continued staff well-being.
• Conduct regular missions to Area and Field offices to support staff and managers.
• Actively engage with management and staff to establish relationships based on trust and respect. This includes working cross-functionally and supporting team leaders as required.
• Contribute to staff readiness for deployment to Somalia through briefings, counselling sessions and other activities to ensure proactive support is extended to staff.
• Deliver workshops, trainings, and information sessions on a wide range of topics (e.g., stress management, team building, problem-solving, conflict resolution, etc.) both in-person and remotely, to ensure that staff regularly receive relevant information, and are aware of where to find resources,
information or assistance.
• Actively support Staff Association in their drive the agenda for staff wellness.
• Plan, budget, implement and provide reports on missions, trainings and other staff counselling activities to ensure the provision of cohesive wellbeing services to staff.
• Liaise, collaborate, and proactively maintain relationships with relevant parties Management, National Staff Association, Medical, Wellness Division in HQ, Regional Bureau Nairobi, Family Liaison Officer, PSEA Officer, Security Unit, Human Resources, Ombudsman, etc.
• Complete administrative duties such as maintaining statistics on activities and completing reporting requirements as directed by Staff Wellness Division.
• Maintain at all times, high standard of professional ethics and confidentiality consistent with the Wellness Division Ethical Guidelines and Standards of Practice