Job title: Project Officer (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)) (P)
Location: Kalemie, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Employment schedule: Full time
Posting timestamp: 2026-10-19T04:37:52.000Z
Closing timestamp: 2026-11-01T22:59:00.000Z
Introduction
Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.
IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration.
Applications are welcome from first- and second-tier candidates, particularly qualified female candidates, as well as applications from the non-represented member countries of IOM. For all IOM vacancies, applications from qualified and eligible first-tier candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible second-tier candidates in the selection process.
For the purpose of this vacancy, the following are considered first-tier candidates:
1. Internal candidates
2. Candidates from the following IOM Member States that are not represented among staff members in the Professional and higher categories:
Bahamas, Barbados, Comoros, Congo (the), Cook Islands, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, Iceland, Israel, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Second tier candidates include:
All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states of IOM.
Organizational Context and Scope
Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission (COM) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the direct supervision of the MHPSS Program Coordinator, and in close cooperation with the Head of Sub-Office in Tanganyika (Stabilization, Transition and Recovery), the Project Officer (MHPSS) will be responsible for the overall management, oversight, and coordination of the five-year initiative (2025-29) “Improving the living conditions of population groups in security-critical contexts in DRC.
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for Peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo”, implemented in the Tanganyika province and funded by the German Development Bank KfW under the mandate of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Responsibilities and Accountabilities
1. Manage the overall implementation and budget monitoring of the KfW-funded project while maintaining relevant donor visibility, in line with IOM Rules and Regulations.
2. Provide technical and operational guidance to a multidisciplinary team composed of psychologists, social workers, educators, arts and sports animators, and a social cohesion officer.
3. Develop a capacity-building plan and lead on the training of IOM’s MHPSS and social cohesion programme staff and implementing partners in line with the IOM Manual on Community-Based MHPSS in Emergencies and Displacement and the IOM Technical Note Integrating MHPSS in Peace and Recovery Programming.
4. Liaise closely with governmental and non-governmental counterparts, including the National Mental Health Program and the Ministry of Health (DPS) at the provincial level and other relevant entities in respective health zones.
5. Represent IOM in relevant MHPSS fora, including in other Eastern DRC provinces than Tanganyika.
6. Lead on training activities for governmental and non-governmental stakeholders at provincial level, including Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), community leadership structures, peacebuilding actors focusing on MHPSS and social cohesion.
7. Lead on awareness-raising and communication campaigns fostering psychosocial support, social cohesion, mutual tolerance and peacebuilding initiatives in the project areas.
8. Oversee the rehabilitation plans for primary health care centres, community spaces, etc., as well as the development of small-scale community projects aiming at enhancing social cohesion, in close collaboration with relevant units of the Tanganyika sub-office.
9. Produce quality progress financial, narrative, and other reports related to the project activities by ensuring timely submission and compliance with donor and IOM requirements.
10. Ensure adequate information management on project-related activities, including visibility by providing regular updates, summaries, press releases, and other relevant materials, in coordination with the donor and relevant units at the country office.
11. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Education
- Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Psychiatry, Social Sciences, Anthropology or a related field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience; or,
- University degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience.
- Professional accreditation from a recognized medical, psychological or counselling association-society is an advantage.
Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.
Experience
- Experience in project development, management and reporting;
- Experience in assessing and analysing MHPSS needs in complex emergency and post-conflict contexts;
- Experience in coordinating and providing multi-layered, community-based MHPSS, including via implementing partners;
- Proven experience in integrating MHPSS in post-recovery and activities related to livelihood, social cohesion, disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR), dialogue and conflict transformation and durable solutions;
- Experience in working with peace brokers and small-scale community initiatives;
- Experience in clinical supervision and capacity building of mental health professionals and social workers is an asset;
- Experience working with migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), ex-combatants and other vulnerable groups;
- Knowledge and experience in facilitating training and developing training curricula; and,
- Prior work experience with international humanitarian organizations, non-government or government institutions/organization in a multi-cultural setting.
Skills
- Previous participation in the IOM corporate programme in “Psychosocial Interventions in Emergency and Displacement” will be considered an asset;
- Capacity to effectively coordinate actions with other implementing partners including from the emergency sector;
- Capacity to support adequate levels of information sharing between internal units, cluster partners, IOM and other emergency and post-recovery response actors;
- Demonstrated leadership skills and proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with persons of diverse cultural and national backgrounds;
- Proven interpersonal and teamwork skills;
- Excellent communication and report-writing skills;
- Knowledge of protection principles and IOM policies and procedures is an advantage; and,
- Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Languages
IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish. All staff members are required to be fluent in one of the three languages.
For this position, fluency in English and French is required (oral and written).
Working knowledge of another official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and Spanish) or Swahili is an advantage.
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.
Required Competencies
IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.
Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:
- Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
- Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
- Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
- Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
- Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.
Core Competencies – behavioural indicators Level 2
- Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
- Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action-oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
- Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
- Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
- Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.
Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators Level 2
- Leadership: Provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the Organization’s vision. Assists others to realize and develop their leadership and professional potential.
- Empowering others: Creates an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
- Building Trust: Promotes shared values and creates an atmosphere of trust and honesty.
- Strategic thinking and vision: Works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.
- Humility: Leads with humility and shows openness to acknowledging own shortcomings.
Notes
Previous applicants need not reapply.
Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile. Please refer to this link for guidance on IOM Job Category. Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation. This selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations. Recommended candidates will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.
Appointment will be subject to all clearances, including medical and security, as well as accreditation, any residency or visa requirements. Vacancies close at 23:59 local time in Geneva, Switzerland, on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.
IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and any forms of discrimination. IOM is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.
IOM conducts reference checks and background verification, including through system-wide databases such as ClearCheck, to help ensure that candidates have no record of misconduct, including on sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, or fraud. Candidates are expected to uphold these standards and principles at all times.
IOM does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process—whether for application, interview, processing, training, or otherwise—and does not request any information related to bank accounts.
IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM WAVE system (for internal candidates, link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies.