WELLBEING ASSOCIATE

Over the past few years, Afghanistan has witnessed a relative improvement in security and stability across much of the country. This has allowed humanitarian actors like INTERSOS to maintain uninterrupted access and expand services in areas that were previously hard to reach. Despite this progress, the humanitarian situation remains critical, with millions of Afghans continuing to face acute vulnerabilities due to prolonged economic hardship, natural disasters, and limited access to essential services.

In 2025, more than half of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance, with food insecurity, child malnutrition, and displacement remaining key concerns. Natural disasters, such as floods and recent earthquakes, have further compounded the needs of already struggling communities.

INTERSOS continues to operate through a community-based approach with field bases in Kabul, Kandahar, and Zabul, delivering primary healthcare, nutrition, and protection services with a focus on women, children, and persons with disabilities. The organization enjoys strong community acceptance and collaborates closely with relevant national authorities, including maintaining the full participation of female staff in all activities.

While the operational environment is largely stable and conducive, funding shortfalls and systemic barriers such as restrictions on financial flows and administrative bottlenecks continue to impact the scope and scale of humanitarian response. Sustained support is crucial to ensure the continuity of life-saving services and to address the urgent needs of Afghanistan’s most vulnerable populations.

Identification and assessment

•     Identify individuals and caregivers requiring wellbeing support, through outreach and facility-based engagement.

•     Conduct wellbeing assessments using the approved tools and protocols, to inform care planning, follow-up and referral decisions, under supervision.

•     Obtain informed consent before any assessment, intervention or referral, explain the available options and the limits of confidentiality in language the person understands, and record the consent given.

Delivery of wellbeing interventions

•     Deliver evidence-informed, low-intensity wellbeing interventions in line with the organisational guidelines and the integrated care approaches.

•     Support caregivers of children with acute malnutrition through structured caregiver wellbeing, responsive caregiving and child development interventions.

•     Conduct group-based wellbeing activities using the standardised session plans.

•     Conduct basic awareness sessions on wellbeing, caregiver support and the services available.

Referral and escalation

•     Identify cases requiring a higher level of care and refer them through the approved referral pathways, with the agreement of the person concerned.

•     Escalate to the Team Leader on the same day any situation involving an immediate risk to the safety of a person, any case beyond the scope of low-intensity support, and any case where the required service is not available.

•     Follow up referred individuals to confirm that they reached the service, and record the outcome.

Limits of the role

•     The Wellbeing Support Associate does not diagnose, does not provide psychotherapy or clinical psychological treatment, and does not prescribe or administer any medicine.

•     The post holder works only within the approved tools, session plans and protocols, and within the training received.

•     The post holder makes no promise of assistance or of any particular outcome.

Documentation and data protection

•     Maintain accurate case documentation, activity records and reports, ensuring confidentiality, informed consent and data protection standards.

•     Store case records securely, accessible only to authorised staff, and never keep case information on a personal device or in a personal account.

•     Share information only with the informed consent of the person concerned, only to the extent necessary, and never with family, community members or authorities outside the agreed pathway.

•     Record activities and participants as they actually occurred. No session or participant is added to a report that did not take place, and none is omitted in order to influence a reported indicator.

Supervision, quality and conduct

•     Participate in supervision, case discussions, technical review meetings, refresher training and continuous quality improvement activities, to strengthen service quality and programme performance.

•     Apply the protection principles at all times: do no harm, confidentiality, consent and non-discrimination.

•     Inform the Team Leader where the caseload or the content of the cases is affecting the post holder’s own wellbeing, and take part in the staff care arrangements provided by the mission.

•     Never request or accept any payment, gift or benefit from a person receiving support. Services are free of charge.

•     Comply with the INTERSOS Code of Ethics, the Policy for the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), the Safeguarding Policy and the Data Protection Policy, and report any concern through the established channels.

•     Perform any other task related to the function of the position, as assigned by the supervisor.

Education

•      Degree in psychology, sociology or social work, a diploma in counselling, or another relevant psychosocial discipline. [PREFERRED]

•      In the absence of the above, a Medical Doctor, Nurse or Midwife may be considered where they have relevant training or demonstrated experience in mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), counselling or integrated care approaches.

Professional experience

•      Minimum two years of relevant work experience, including at least one year with an NGO. [ESSENTIAL]

Professional requirements

•     Computer literacy (Word, Excel, Outlook).

•     Analytical and reporting skills.

•     Ability to conduct a supportive conversation with a person in distress, including children and caregivers.

•     Completion of the INTERSOS induction and training on the approved intervention models, PSEA and referral, before working with beneficiaries.

•     Female Wellbeing Support Associates are required for work with women and girls, as a genuine occupational requirement.

Languages

•     Fluency in Pashto and Dari, written and spoken. [Mandatory]

•     Proficiency in English, written and spoken. [ESSENTIAL]

Personal requirements

•     Respect for and adherence to the protection principles. [ESSENTIAL]

•     Integrity and discretion in the handling of confidential information. [ESSENTIAL]