Job Description:

Overview:

The Provincial Health Counsellor is responsible for integrating health education and psychosocial support into the SBL program, at the community level. This role provides essential health and hygiene training to learners (especially female participants), offers basic counseling on health or psychosocial issues, and ensures that the learning environment adheres to minimum health standards. The Health Counsellor works to empower learners with knowledge about personal well-being, which complements their literacy and livelihood skills training.

Key Responsibilities:

Training Integration: Participate in the project’s initial Training of Trainers (6-day ToT) conducted by UNESCO in Kabul (Annex 1_Terms of Reference .docx) to understand how health and life skills topics are woven into the SBL curriculum. Work with Master Trainers to ensure that health, hygiene, and psychosocial well-being modules are effectively covered during facilitator training and later in classroom delivery (Call for Partnership for SBL Form AM 7-20.pdf).

Health Education Sessions: Develop and deliver interactive health education sessions for SBL learners in each class. Key topics include basic first aid, nutrition, personal hygiene, disease prevention, and psychosocial well-being, reflecting the programme’s focus on practical life skills (e.g., first aid and health are among the topics in SBL programmes (Call for Partnership for SBL Form AM 7-20.pdf)). Coordinate with Facilitators to schedule these sessions as part of the class timetable.

Learner Counseling and Support: Provide one-on-one or group counseling to learners on health-related issues and psychosocial stress. This may involve offering advice or referrals for issues such as trauma, family health concerns, or mental well-being. Pay special attention to the needs of female learners who may require a confidential forum to discuss health or personal issues.

Community Health Linkages: Liaise with local health authorities (e.g., clinics, health workers) and other NGOs in the province to facilitate referrals or health check-ups for learners when needed. Advocate for the inclusion of vulnerable learners in any local health campaigns (e.g., vaccination drives, health awareness workshops).

Monitoring Learning Environment: Work with Community Mobilizers and Facilitators to ensure each learning space meets basic health and safety standards. This includes availability of clean drinking water, proper ventilation, adequate light, sanitation facilities for learners, and a basic first aid kit on site. Advise on “winterization” needs for classes held during cold seasons (such as heating or warm materials) to ensure learner comfort and safety.

Reporting: Maintain records of all health sessions conducted (date, topic, attendees) and counseling provided (while respecting confidentiality). Contribute a section on health and psychosocial support to the project’s monthly reports, highlighting any prevalent health issues among learners, actions taken, and outcomes. Immediately report any serious health concerns or incidents to the Program Manager for further action.

Expected Deliverables:

Health Session Reports: Documentation for each SBL class in the province confirming that health and hygiene sessions were delivered. Each report should include the topics covered (e.g., first aid, nutrition), number of participants (by gender), and any visual aids or materials distributed.

Counseling Log: A confidential log (for project internal use) summarizing counseling activities, including number of learners counseled, general issues addressed (without naming individuals), and referrals made to external services if any. This should be compiled monthly.

Improved Health Outcomes: Evidence of increased health awareness among learners – for example, observation reports noting improved hygiene practices in class, or learners correctly demonstrating first aid techniques taught during the course.

Final Health Integration Report: At the end of the project, a report outlining the health and psychosocial support component’s achievements and challenges. This includes statistics on sessions held and topics covered, case studies or anecdotes of learner wellness improvements, and recommendations for future integration of health education in literacy programs.

Job Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Nursing, Psychology, or a related discipline.

At least 3 years of experience in community health education, public health outreach, or counseling services, preferably with experience in rural or underserved communities. Experience working with women and youth is highly desirable.

Knowledge of basic first aid and preventative healthcare practices; certification in first aid or community health work is an asset.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills, capable of delivering sensitive information to illiterate or low-literacy populations in a clear and respectful manner.

Language Proficiency: Fluent in Dari and/or Pashto, especially the dialect of the province. Ability to communicate in English is an advantage for training and reporting purposes.

Empathy, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to maintain confidentiality when dealing with personal issues.

Familiarity with the health infrastructure of the province (local clinics, hospitals, etc.) and experience coordinating with healthcare providers or NGOs in the health sector.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply, given the focus on women and girls in the project and the need to address their health concerns in culturally appropriate ways.

Jab Location: Baghlan Bamian Ghowr Kunduz Nuristan Samangan

Submission Guideline:

Interested candidates should submit their applications (CV, Tazkera & Educational documents) by e-mail or in writing (marked confidential and clearly indicating on the sealed envelope the vacancy announcement number) to:

House# 10, Left Lane 02, Street 13, Wazir Akbar Khan, Kabul, Afghanistan.

Email address: hr@dwsso.org

Phone: 0799 149 513

Submission Email:

hr@dwsso.org