Jobs at Medecins Sans Frontieres

Main Objective of the position

• To Perform counseling and/or education sessions to patients, following different medical and mental health MSF protocols and procedures, in order to improve their psychosocial condition.

General Accountabilities

• Identify and address the psychosocial, socio-economic, and administrative needs of patients.
• Provide individual or group counseling and psycho-educational sessions to patients and their families.
• Refer patients to specialists or institutions for additional support when necessary.
• Maintain records of activities, ensure confidentiality, and participate in team meetings.
• Support training, supervision, and sensitization activities on mental health and psychosocial issues.

MSF Section/Context Specific Accountabilities:

• Ensure individual and/or group counselling and psychosocial support (awareness, psychoeducation) to the patients and caregivers at Sokoto Specialist Hospital (ITFC unit patients and caregivers, as set by the project) and other MSF Sokoto project target populations. To identify the psychological, emotional and behavioural needs and develop a treatment plan, according to the protocol and universal survivor centred principles.
• Conduct in-take and psychosocial assessments of each client
• Provide PFA, Psycho-stimulation, support group sessions, and one-on-one emotional support counselling and guidance to caregivers and malnourished children, survivors of violence, SV and IPV (children, adolescents, adults and elders) and other vulnerable groups.
• Provide group counselling when needed
• Provide referrals for clients in need of additional specialized mental health support.
• Develop action plans to address patients’ physical, emotional, psychological, social, protection, and financial needs and provide follow up to ensure provision of needed services.
• Give survivors information (psychoeducation) and help them identify their needs and options (coping mechanisms).
• Participate in the setting, implementation and reporting of psychosocial activities and other group interventions with specific target population (Survivors of violence, ITFC patients, ITFC caregivers, others).
• Seek out patients that have defaulted while in collaboration with the outreach team.
• Ensure that in providing psychosocial support to the patients, their rights, needs and wishes are prioritized:
  • To be treated with dignity and respect
  • To allow them choose a course of action in dealing with the violence
  • To ensure privacy and confidentiality
  • To ensure non-discrimination
  • To provide comprehensive information to help make their own decision
  • Treat patients and other vulnerable beneficiaries with respect, kindness and in a caring manner, always maintaining confidentiality and based on patients’ needs and wishes.
• Work in close collaboration with the other team members - health promotion (HP) team, medical team and other actors regarding community awareness raising about SV/IPV and the importance of MHPSS component on ITFC interventions, stigma, health consequences, comprehensive medical support, including psychosocial needs and importance of access to care, and assisting with sensitization of new staff on the importance of Mental Health in Sokoto MSF interventions.
• When possible, ensure the awareness raising activities in the community in conjunction with the HP team so that they can understand about the involvement of MH in SGBV, Malnutrition, and promote initiatives to get the support.
• Conduct focus group discussion with family members, community members and neighbours in the field or in the health care centre to understand specific needs.
• Work in collaboration with the medical team (doctors, nurses, midwives and other actors) to ensure comprehensive support for the patients and caregivers at ITFC unit (based on MSF MHPSS intervention plan).
• If needed, support referral pathway, with MTL support when patients’ needs requires more specialized MHPSS support (psychiatric/pharmacological care).
• Assist with initiation of culturally sensitive community support programs in collaboration with the outreach team.
• Take an active role in trainings/interventions and support the MHS, MHAM, MTL when necessary in doing sensitization for MSF staff or external partners about MHPSS.
• Perform duties observing the MSF policies and in compliance with relevant SOPs of the department, and immediately reporting to supervisor whenever compliance is or cannot be met.

Data and reporting:

• Ensure regular reports on activities, assessments, follow-up and other related documents to ensure the quality and reporting of the project data.
• Support MHS to set inputs for MHPSS reports (MMR, 12M, others), and set the reports when needed.
• Maintain and ensure strict confidentiality of the patients’ data, report and everything as well MSF documents.

Supervision/meetings:

• Participate in weekly supervision for cases from MH supervisor/MHAM/MTL and share challenges with supervisor in an immediate manner.
• Attend and actively participate in group and individual clinical supervision with the MHAM/MH supervisor
• Attend the project meeting on daily, weekly or monthly basis and share the update of activities.
• Any other responsibilities assign by supervisor based on need.
• Vacancy Announcement: Counselor Educator 16 July 2025

Requirements
To apply for this role applicants MUST meet the following criteria:
Education;

• University Degree in Psychology or other similar degree/diploma.

Experience:

• At least 1-year experience is essential. Experience with NGO desirable.

Languages:

• English language is essential; Local language also essential

Knowledge:

• Essential computer literacy (word, excel and internet)

Competencies:

• Results, teamwork, flexibility, commitment to MSF Principles, Service Oriented

go to method of application »

Main Purpose of the position

• Carrying out all activities involving social support to individual patients/survivors and linking them with other relevant support services and communities at large, according to MSF principles and guidelines. Enhancing the target population’s social condition to have an impact on health-related outcomes.

General Accountabilities

• Conducting social assessments, identifying the social support needs of patients/survivors, including legal, protection, shelter/housing, financial/vocational, food security, and access to medical and psychosocial support services beyond the project intervention scope.
• Supporting the provision of comprehensive care to patients and their families, by actively coordinating their work with the other members of the MSF multidisciplinary team (eg. medical, MHPSS) and linking with multi- sectoral services such as protection, safety, security, legal, justice, education, and livelihood.
• Providing direct social support based on social assessments and facilitating referrals to evaluated external re- sources. Provide systematic follow up care regarding attendance of clinical appointments, and following up on referrals made to relevant multi-sectoral services aimed at improving the quality of life of patients/survivors.
• Participating in the creation and maintenance of any material needed for the activities of social workers, including facilities and equipment in order to ensure continuity. Mapping and regular updating of formal and informal support services.
• Assess quality of existing support services, with identification of gaps and advocacy for an improved culturally appropriate social response
• Maintaining records, statistics, files, and reports on all social work activities and follow up care either provided by MSF or other support services. Identifying gaps in the available services and with the team prioritizing and developing plans following the objectives of MSF.

Requirements (Qualifications)
To apply for this role applicants MUST meet the following criteria:
Education:

• Bachelor Degree or Diploma in Social Work (BSW) or related field

Experience:

• Two years minimum in a similar social job; experience with MSF or other NGOs, desirable.

Vacancy Announcement: Social Worker 16 July2025
Languages:

• Local language essential (Hausa Fulani). Mission language desirable.

Knowledge:

• Desirable computer literacy (word, excel and internet)

Competencies:

• Flexibility, Commitment to MSF principles, Teamwork and result oriente.

go to method of application »

Responsibilities

• Implement Health Promotion/IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) activities with patients and local population to raise their knowledge and skills on relevant medical topics.

Accountabilities

• Inform patients and communities about MSF and services it provides.
• According to medical priorities, deliver information to the patients and community on specific health topics
• Implement activities of healtheducation and awareness (sessions in schools, churches, community), under the indications and supervision of the HP Supervisor.
• Under the guide of HP Supervisor, assess the impact of activities (with questions, verifications and behaviours observations), and report problems, success and constraints to him/her.
• Collect all type of information related to specific health and living conditions of the population, in particular to identify the most vulnerable populations to target.
• Report to HP Supervisor: activities, problems met strengths and constraints.
• Establish and maintain contacts with social partners, including other NGO’s, governmental health services that can provide answers to social problems.
• Keep education and communication areas clean, tidy, and professional materials available.
• Participate in creation of any material needed for the activities of information, education and communication.

MSF Section/Context-Specific Accountabilities

• Design, develop, and adapt IEC materials on SGBV prevention, response, and available services, ensuring they are culturally sensitive and appropriate for the target audience.
• Collaborate with health promotion teams, medical staff, and community leaders to validate IEC materials
• Conduct outreach activities, including community meetings, focus group discussions, and awareness campaigns, to educate the community on SGBV issues.
• Mobilize community leaders, women’s groups, youth, and other stakeholders to participate in SGBV prevention and response activities.
• Organize and facilitate training sessions for community members, health workers, and other stakeholders on SGBV prevention, response, and referral mechanisms.
• Strengthen the capacity of local partners and community-based organizations in SGBV IEC activities.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of SGBV IEC activities, collecting data and feedback to inform program improvements.
• Coordinate with medical teams, protection officers, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive approach to SGBV prevention and response.
• Participate in meetings and forums to represent the project’s SGBV IEC activities and share best practices.
• Maintain accurate records of all IEC activities, training sessions, and community engagement efforts.
• Flexibility in undertaking assigned tasks, due to the changing nature of MSF operations.

Requirements
To apply for this role, applicants MUST meet the following criteria:
Education:

• Bachelor's degree in social science, social communication, nursing science, community health extension work
• Knowledge of Computer literacy (word, excel) is essential.

Experience:

• 2 years experience in SGBV programming, health promotion, or community engagement, preferably in a humanitarian or development context.
• Experience in developing and implementing IEC strategies and materials.

Language:

• English language is essential. Local language is highly desirable.

Competencies:

• Flexibility
• Commitment to MSF principles
• Teamwork and result-oriented.