Mental Health, Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer Sokoto

Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria

Full Time

Nutrition and Health

Mid Level

Company Overview
Action Against Hunger is an international humanitarian organization committed to ending world hunger. For almost 45 years, across countries, we have been working to fight undernutrition and support communities affected by crisis across the globe.

We carry out innovative, lifesaving programs in Health, Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Food Security and Livelihoods and Social Protection.

Action Against Hunger began operations in Nigeria in 2010 in response to the high rate of chronic malnutrition in Northern Nigeria, focusing on integrated programming. Action Against Hunger currently implements multi-sectorial humanitarian and development interventions in Northeast and Northwest Nigeria, funded by AFD, EU/ECHO, French Government, GAC, GFFO, SIDA, US Government, and WAM Foundation.

Action Against Hunger is currently looking to fill the role of a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Officer whose primary role is to provide high-quality psychological assessments, interventions, and care to vulnerable populations, including children, adolescents, adults and families in Sokoto.

Position Details

Reporting to: MHPSS Programme Manager
Proposed start date: 5 January 2026
Work location: Sokoto, Sokoto State

Key Responsibilities:

Conduct psychological assessments and plan the appropriate interventions and follow-up for the beneficiaries.
Ensure an appropriate, safe and confidential environment for psychological interventions (framework to discuss highly emotional issues, set up group rules, values, exercises, etc.), in communities, schools, camps, primary health care centres, community-based organizations, and home visits.
Ensure the high quality of intervention and care are provided to beneficiaries.
Ensure regular and proper use of psychometric scales.
Provide individual and group therapeutic sessions and activities for persons in need, including children, adolescents, adults, families and persons with specific vulnerabilities following strictly standard ACF protocols.
Ensure confidentiality and proper documentation of clinical details in the patient file.
Ensure referrals to specialized services (MHPSS, Health, Protection etc) when needed, according to ACF protocols and national standards; Follow-up the quality of care provided by partnering agencies and actors; Follow-up closely on protection issues.
Provide staff care to health workers and community helpers, according to ACF protocols and national policies.
Provide psychological support remotely if needed (in case of no access to the field).
Prepare (with the program manager) and conduct trainings for general practitioners, nurses, midwives, health workers, and psychosocial workers in primary health care centers, hospitals, on MHPSS, protection and care practices, according to ACF international standards (like mhGAP, PM+, IPT, Thinking Healthy, child development, basic helping skills, Life skills, Social and Emotional skills, etc).
Conduct regular on the job and group supervision of trained non-specialists, including technical support, case management, patients' assessments, counselling skills.
Assist the ACF psychosocial workers to prepare and conduct training and technical supervision for community-based organizations and stakeholders (conduct trainings in absence of psychosocial workers).
Contribute to the training and supervision of ACF psychosocial workers and ACF teams of other department (particularly on Psychological First Aid and psychosocial/protection issues and referral).
Ensure the high-quality standard of capacity building.
Participate actively in clinical and technical supervision conducted by the Program Manager and HoD MHPSS; proposing monthly case studies.
Contribute to the design of sectorial guidelines, protocols, SOPs and methodologies of work for tailored interventions.
As defined by the project manager, contribute to any other project activity, including multi-sectorial integrated activities, psychoeducation and awareness sessions and campaigns, needs assessments, gender and protection risks assessments, mapping of actors and services, workshops, selection of beneficiaries, identification of vulnerable groups, planning of activities, etc.;
Permanently evaluate needs and gaps related to MHPSS and protection, report challenges, suggest project improvements for implementation and propose new interventions.
Contribute to data collection, monitoring, evaluation and reporting on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, according to ACF tools and processes; Guarantee and ensure the confidentiality of beneficiaries' information and data collection at any time, and for any activity.
Understand and follow the logistic, financial, HR and security procedures enabling the project implementation.
Collaborate actively with other ACF departments.
Contribute to represent ACF at the field level through meetings with implementing partners, INGOs and NGOs, cluster and working group coordination, on request of the program manager and HoD MHPSS.
Ensure adherence to ACF gender requirement; commit and comply with ACF gender, age and diversity principles.
Support the implementation and the promotion of gender, age and diversity principles at any time during activities.

Additional Responsibilities

This job description is not intended to be all inclusive and the employee will also perform other related tasks as required and responsible for reporting and communication of progress and achievement of the specific assigned task;
Maintenance of high technical standards;
Conduct all duties in a professional manner following ACF Nigeria mission staff regulations, ACF mandate and charter including promotion of gender equality.

Position Requirements:

Degree in psychology, counselling (master’s degree and clinical psychology and mental health counselling are assets)
Minimum of 2 years professional experience in MHPSS, protection and/or care practices, covering psychological assessment, counselling, follow-up, case management and referral
Experience in humanitarian context, with vulnerable populations, IDPs, refugees and/or host communities, MHPSS IASC, WHO and community based guidelines
Has experience in training and supervision of health workers and community members
Good communication skills, including fluency in Hausa and English Languages
Willingness and ability to travel in remote areas, where services are limited.

At Action Against Hunger, we foster a work culture that champions diversity, equity and inclusion. We are committed to creating an environment where every employee feels valued, respected and empowered to thrive

Application Deadline:
Monday, 16^th December 2025 at 05:00 pm (Nigerian Time)

Important Notice:
Action Against Hunger does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process – this includes application, interview, or processing fees.

Our Commitment:
We are dedicated to preventing all forms of unwanted behavior in the workplace, including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity, and financial misconduct. We are equally committed to safeguarding the welfare of children, young people and adults. We prioritize hiring individuals who embody and uphold our core values.

Equal Opportunity Employer:
Action Against Hunger is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability or genetic information.
Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Recruitment Process:
All shortlisted candidates will undergo thorough reference and background checks, and are expected to adhere to organizational standards and principles.

Employee Benefits Include (but are not limited to):

100% health care coverage
Free and direct access to Talent Soft e-learning platform
Maternity or Paternity leave
Compassionate leave for a hospitalized child
Creche facilities for babies

Application Instructions:
All applicants MUST answer every question in the application form. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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Conflict of Interest Declaration:
Do you have any relatives (e.g. 1st and 2nd degree of consanguinity or affinity) that currently work for Action Against Hunger? Yes or No Do you know anybody (e.g. friends, former co-workers, classmates, etc) that are currently working for Action Against Hunger? Yes or No*

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YOU HAVE TALENT AND PASSION. WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES.TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD!

Mental Health, Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer Sokoto

Apply for this position

YOU HAVE TALENT AND PASSION. WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES.

TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD!