Staff Counsellor (NOB) - Mogadishu

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

7 September 2026-23:59-GMT+03:00 East Africa Time (Mogadishu)

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

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.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

Education: Advanced University degree in Psychology, Psychiatry, Counselling or any other related fields. Registration as a Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Counsellor or any other equivalent fields OR First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training courses.

Experience: At least three (3) years of relevant experience with an Advanced University degree OR First University degree with a minimum of five (5) or more years of experience in the field of counselling, wellness and psychosocial support including experience in working in UN or other humanitarian organizations.

• Experience providing counselling, psychosocial support or staff wellness services within the Somali context is required, including a strong understanding of local cultural norms, languages, community dynamics, and the realities faced by national staff working in challenging and security-sensitive environments.

• Additional training or certification in related fields, such as stress management, critical incident stress management, trauma-informed care, psychological first aid, cross-cultural communication, conflict resolution, mediation, staff wellbeing, and support in hardship or security-sensitive duty stations, will be an advantage.

Language Proficiency:  Fluency (level C) in English and Somali language.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Broad knowledge of all facets of the field of counselling and ability to provide an environment in which others can talk confidentially and act without fear or repercussions within a climate of established trust.

• Excellent communication skills (oral, written, and presentation) including the ability to defend and explain difficult issues and positions to staff at all levels.

• Excellent multicultural awareness and competence, including skills to work with cultures different than one’s own and knowledge of how visible and invisible cultural power structures can affect wellbeing and work performance.

• Ability to identify clients’ needs and, if required, suggest internal or external resources to support.

• Ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with clients.

• Skilled in taking initiative to promote and organize wellness activities.

• Conflict resolution and mediation skills.

• Ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries and establish and maintain effective working relationships in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

This position is open for qualified Somali national candidates only. Female candidates are highly encouraged to  apply. WFP offers female friendly spaces in the workplace.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

 

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

 

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

 

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact:  global.inclusion@wfp.org

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

 

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.

 

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.

• We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.

• At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.