Publication Date: 19^th January 2026.

Background

Concern for Women and Children Development Foundation (COWACDI) is a women-led organization born out of passion for the wellbeing of Women and Children in Nigeria. It has a special interest in mitigating the suffering of the vulnerable persons (mostly Women & Children) in times of crisis. Currently the organization has focused its attention on the Northeast of Nigeria with special emphasis in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states (BAY states) due to the decade old crises. COWACDI intervenes through community-based approach in addressing humanitarian and development needs since its establishment in 1998, these include in Protection, Peace Building, Housing Land & Property (HLP), Non- food Items (NFI), Livelihood, WASH, Nutrition, Livelihood, amongst others. These interventions have directly benefited thousands of children, women, men, girls and boys of all groups. Determined to expand her interventions to reach more vulnerable people in conflict affected regions. COWACDI operates with full respect to humanitarian laws, concrete policies and principles of international standard such as humanity, Do no harm, impartiality, neutrality, independency and accountability to affected population and zero Tolerance to Fraud and related activities.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Employment Type:             Part-Time

Qualification:                MSc/BSc/HND
Experience:                  2 Years
Location:                      MMC and Jere LGAs, Borno State.
Job Field:                     Programmes
Reports to:                   Protection Specialist
Contractual Arrangement: Internal/External
Contract Duration: 10 Months

Roles/Responsibilities

The Psychosocial Support (PSS) Officer is responsible for planning, implementing, and supervising psychosocial support interventions for individuals and communities affected by violence, displacement, and other psychosocial stressors. The role ensures delivery of safe, ethical, and survivor centered PSS services through Women and Girls Safe Spaces (WGSS) and community-based platforms, in line with GBV, protection, and MHPSS standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead community entry, engagement, and mobilization activities in project locations.
• Lead implementation of structured and non-structured psychosocial support activities for women, girls, adolescents, and other vulnerable groups.
• Provide individual and group PSS sessions, including basic emotional support, stress management, and resilience-building activities.

• Support integration of PSS across GBV and protection interventions, ensuring alignment with IASC MHPSS guidelines.
• Ensure PSS activities are culturally appropriate, inclusive, and conflict sensitive.

Tasks:

• Oversee and support PSS service delivery within Women and Girls Safe Spaces (WGSS).
• Facilitate community-based PSS activities, including awareness sessions, dialogue, and outreach in project communities.
• Strengthen community coping mechanisms and social support networks through participatory approaches.
• Support safe referral pathways between WGSS, community structures, and specialized services.

Other tasks:

Case Support and Referrals

• Provide psychological first aid (PFA) and basic psychosocial care to individuals in distress, including GBV survivors, in line with survivor-centred principles.
• Identify cases requiring specialized mental health care and facilitate referrals to appropriate service providers.
• Ensure informed consent, confidentiality, and ethical case handling at all time

D.  Supervision, Capacity Building, and Quality Assurance

• Provide technical supervision, mentoring, and capacity building to PSS Assistants, facilitators, and community volunteers.
  • Support paralegals, WGSS facilitators, and outreach workers to apply basic PSS skills and safe referral practices.
  • Monitor quality of PSS interventions and ensure adherence to organizational and donor standards.

E.  Community Engagement, Awareness, and Dialogue

• Support or lead community awareness and dialogue sessions on psychosocial wellbeing, coping strategies, and stigma reduction.
  • Promote safe help-seeking behaviours and acceptance of psychosocial services within communities.
  • Engage men, women, youth, and community leaders to strengthen community ownership of PSS initiatives.

F. Monitoring, Documentation, and Reporting

• Maintain accurate, confidential, and non-identifying documentation of PSS activities and services.
  • Analyze psychosocial trends and emerging needs to inform programme adaptation.
  • Prepare timely activity reports, case summaries (non-identifying), success stories, and lessons learned.

G.  Coordination and Representation

• Coordinate with Protection, GBV, Health, and Nutrition teams to ensure integrated service delivery.
  • Participate in relevant coordination meetings, including MHPSS, Protection, and GBV sub-clusters, as required.
  • Liaise with government services, health facilities, and partner organizations to strengthen referral systems.

H.  Safeguarding and Do No Harm

• Ensure all PSS activities comply with safeguarding, child protection, and GBV risk mitigation standards.
  • Promote Do No Harm, confidentiality, and ethical engagement in all interventions.

• Perform any other related duties as assigned by the Programme Manager or Protection/GBV Coordinator.

Desirable Skills

• Strong understanding of MHPSS and psychosocial support in humanitarian settings.
  • Ability to deliver individual and group PSS interventions using participatory approaches.
  • Strong facilitation, communication, and active listening skills.
  • Ability to supervise and mentor staff and community volunteers.
  • High ethical standards, emotional intelligence, and cultural sensitivity.
  • Commitment to survivor-centred approaches, gender equality, and accountability to affected populations.

Eligibility Criteria

• Experience working with WGSS, GBV survivors, or conflict-affected populations is highly desirable.
  • Training in Psychological First Aid (PFA) is required; additional MHPSS certifications are an asset.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Educational Qualification & Experience Requirements

• Minimum of B.Sc./HND in Sociology, Community Development, Social Work, Development Studies, or related field
  • Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, Mental Health, or a related field (Master’s degree is an advantage).
  • At least two (2) years of relevant experience in psychosocial support, MHPSS, GBV, or protection programming.
  • Strong understanding of donor regulations.
  • Excellent communication and analytical skills.
  • Ability to work under pressure and in multicultural settings.
  • Female candidates and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Language required:

Fluency in oral and written English is required. Hausa and Native Language of the area would be an added advantage.

Application Closing Date

22^ndJanuary 2026.

Method of Application:

Interested and qualified candidates should kindly forward their Cover letter and CV in a single PDF format via an email to [email protected] stating the position and location of the position as the subject of their mail.

Additional Information

COWACDI is an equal –opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, gender, religion, etc. Kindly ensure that you can work in this location when applying.

COWACDI regrets that, due to the large number of applications we receive, we are unable to reply to every applicant. If you are being considered for the role, a recruiter will contact you. If you are not contacted within 2 weeks, you should consider your application not successful on this occasion.

Note:

• Never pay for any training, certificate, assessment, or testing fee.
  • Qualified females are strongly encouraged to apply.
  • No application after the closing date will be considered.