Job Title: Stress Counselor
Organization: UNDP
Job Identification: 13482
Location: Sana'a, Yemen
Apply Before: 09/21/2023, 06:59 AM
Job Schedule: Full time
Grade: P3
Vacancy Type: Fixed Term
Practice Area: Crisis management / Country Management
Support
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Arab States
Contract Duration: 1 Year with Possibility for extension
Education & Work Experience: Master's Degree - 5 year(s)
experience
Required Languages: Proficiency in Oral and written English
Language.
Desired Languages: Proficiency in Oral and written Arabic
Language.
Vacancy Timeline: 2 Weeks
Mobility required/no mobility: mobility required
Job Description
Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at
UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations
and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all
personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and
fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our
diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations.
People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are
strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our
values and inspiring
stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any
kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All
selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background
checks.
The Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) is responsible for providing
leadership, operational support, and oversight of the United Nations security
management system (UNSMS) globally. As a global leader in security risk
management principles, UNDSS enables the safe and effective delivery of United
Nations programmes and activities in the most complex and challenging
environments, while maximizing precious resources.
Yemen is currently a critical and complex context. The level
of stress among the national staff and the international staff as well is very
high. An international Stress Counsellor is needed for Yemen to implement an
annual work plan of the stress counselling unit under the technical supervision
of UNDSS/CISMU according to the activities described below for mitigating the
impact of the stressful factors on the staff’s mental health and wellbeing. The
stress counsellor is being sought to support the psychosocial and
organizational behavior of UN staff in Yemen.
Position Purpose
Under the overall supervision of the Chief Security Adviser
(CSA)/ Deputy CSA and the technical guidance of the CISMU Regional counsellor,
counsellor will administrate a wide range of stress management activities,
actively participating in emergency preparedness in the country in
collaboration with UNDSS, Crisis Management Team, HR and UN medical services,
the stress Counsellor will develop and maintain a sustainable stress management
system applicable to all UN Agencies operating in Yemen and improve the
critical incident stress management preparedness of the UN security system in
case of emergencies and provide efficient and effective psychological
counselling to staff requiring support related to work-place difficulties or
personal issues. A large emphasis is placed on extensive engagement with staff
and promotion of staff well-being.
The challenges of working in difficult conditions to bring
the much-needed support to our recipients while inherently rewarding, can place
a great deal of pressure and stress on UN staff particularly those working in
challenging environments.
Duties and Responsibilities
Plan, develop, and implement stress management training programs for UN
staff in the country:
- Prepare
stress management training strategy and develop the specific training
program to include the curriculum, modules, and support materials.
- Develop
and implement a stress management plan applicable to all UN Agencies in
the country.
- Act as
principal instructor, when necessary, coordinate appropriate resource
support, establish procedures for identifying training deficiencies and
provide appropriate corrective actions as well as stress management
briefings to staff proceeding on assignment.
- Plan
and facilitate preventative stress management training on a variety of
stress related is applicable to UN staff in the country and circulate
useful reading resources related to stress periodically.
- Assist
in establishing the Critical Incident Stress Intervention Cells (CISICs)
including selecting Peer Helpers and family focal points; facilitating
peer helper training sessions (jointly with UNDSS CISMU); and coordinating
and following up on all relevant activities.
Coordinate, plan and implement stress management
programmes for UN staff in the country:
- Undertake
assessment missions in the field to evaluate measures for reducing stress
and make appropriate recommendations and arrangements for the improvement
welfare and wellbeing of the UN staff in UN field offices.
- Consult
with Security Management Teams and discuss stress management arrangements
to be taken in each specific case.
- Undertake
missions as required to provide emergency, on-the-spot stress management
assistance; and advocate before Security Management Teams to implement the
CISMS strategic framework.
- Liaise
with local experts and institutions in the country for referral purposes.
Collaborate with UN managers, medical doctors, and local physicians on
psychosocial issues with the objective of establishing a network of
professionals ready to support and intervene in case of need.
Research, assess and monitor factors which could lead to
stress related problems of UN staff in the country:
- Closely
monitor and assess stressful situations; identify and study stress related
problems and emerging trends; research documentation related to
resolutions, decisions, personnel directives, administrative instructions
and incidents in the area of stress management.;
- Identify
developments that have had a positive effect on reducing stress and keep
abreast of technical literature in the area stress management.
- Advise
UN Management System in the country on stress mitigating strategies and
activities.
- Perform
ongoing assessments and monitor the determinants of stress in the UN staff
to include activities such as data collection, analyses and related
documentation.
Follow up activities of UN stress counsellor unit the
country:
- Identify,
address and follow up on critical incident stress cases among the UN staff
and the dependents in the country.
- Promote
welfare activities for UN staff in the country in collaboration with the
existing Staff Association.
- Provide
individual, group and critical incident counselling sessions to the staff
and dependents as/when needed.
- Provide
monthly/ Quarterly reports to the Chief Security Adviser/ Security
Management teams in the country with copies to UNDSS CISMU on all its
activities.
- Manage
the stress counsellor unit on a day-to-day basis.
- Other
tasks and duties deemed necessary by Chief Security Advisor (CSA)/ Deputy
CSA.
The incumbent of the position should avoid any kind of
discriminatory behavior including gender discrimination and ensure that:
- Human
rights and gender equality is prioritized as an ethical principle within
all actions.
- Activities
are designed and implemented in accordance with “Social and Environmental
Standards of UNDP”.
- Any
kind of diversities based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation,
disability, religion, class, gender is respected within all
implementations including data production.
- Differentiated
needs of women and men are considered.
- Inclusive
approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that
sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as
disability gender language barrier is created.
- Necessary
arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings,
trainings etc. introduced
Competencies
Core Competencies:
Achieve Results - LEVEL 3: Set and align
challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
Think Innovatively - LEVEL 3: Proactively
mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
Learn Continuously - LEVEL 3: Create and act on
opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
Adapt with Agility - LEVEL 3: Proactively
initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
Act with Determination - LEVEL 3: Think
beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
Engage and Partner - LEVEL 3: Political savvy,
navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
Enable Diversity and Inclusion - LEVEL 3: Appreciate
benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Direction & Strategy-System Thinking:
Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how
interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to
consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Business Managment-Risk Management: Ability
to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing
risks.
Business Managment-Communication: Ability to communicate in a
clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal
communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on
the audience; Ability to manage communications internally and externally,
through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
Digital & Innovation-Behavioural insights: Knowing
when it is appropriate to use behavioural insights, having theoretical
knowledge and a basic understanding of principles of human behaviour; being
aware of both the benefits and limitations of Behavioural Insights and adhere
to ethical standards and guides when using them. Being able to define specific
behavioural goals (what to change), explore and understand barriers and
contextual factors to desired behaviours, use principles from behavioural
science to generate ideas for nudges and interventions, use experimental
methods to improve ideas (prototyping) or evaluate impact (trials). Use these
results to develop a scaling strategy for interventions that work or inform
policy design.
Digital & Innovation-Design thinking: Solving
problems by putting people at the center, visualizing ideas and making them
tangible in order to improve them through and iterative process of developing
and testing. Strong empathy skills, being able to put yourself ""in
someone else's shoes"", understand needs, abilities, preferences,
motivations, (everyday) experiences from different perspectives as well as
their cultural, social, economical and political contexts. Ability to identify
and challenge assumptions, (cognitive and social) biases and dominant mental
models by generating new perspectives and frames that help redefine the
problem, solution and opportunity space. Being able to work with incomplete
information, ambiguity and opposing views, needs and constraints and synthesise
them into solutions that are viable, technically feasible and useful.
Ethics-UN policy knowledge: Knowledge and
understanding of the UN Staff Regulations and Rules and other policies relating
to ethics and integrity.
Communications-Creative direction and copywriting: Ability
to creatively communicate concepts in an engaging and simple way.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Master
in a relevant discipline, such as psychology or psychiatry is
required.
Experience:
- A
minimum of five (05) years of progressively responsible experience in
clinical psychology, psychiatry, or related fields with at least three
years at the international level or at a national level with cross-border
experience is required.
- Experience
in crisis or emergency psychosocial support is an asset.
- A
minimum of two years’ experience in managing, planning, and organizing
mental health programmes or projects is an asset.
- Experience
in providing stress counselling within the United Nations system or any
other International Organization is an asset.
- Field
experience in crisis and post-crisis countries is an advantage, and
experience in and knowledge about Yemen is an asset.
- Certification
or country-specific licensure authorizing the incumbent to deliver mental
health services is an asset.
- Additional
training or experience in a broad range of related fields, such as
alcohol/substance abuse, stress management, critical incident stress and
cross-cultural communication is an asset.
Language:
- Proficiency
in Oral and written English Language is required.
- Proficiency
in Oral and written Arabic Language is an asset.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the
initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a
probationary period.
Disclaimer
Important
information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position
with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for
US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level
posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a
G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to
commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on
applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the
advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more
candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain
applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar
positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description,
experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation
and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected
candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks,
and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that
does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion,
nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age,
language, social origin or other status.
Scam warning
The United Nations does not charge any application,
processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the
application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the
payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems,
logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are
advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the
web.
