Mental Health and Psychosocial support (MHPSS) Consultant - Pending Donor Approval

Position title: Mental Health and Psychosocial support (MHPSS) Consultant

Contract type: independent/local consultant
May 25, 2026 – August 31, 2026

Berghof Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization supporting people in conflict in their efforts to achieve sustainable peace through conflict transformation and peacebuilding. Headquartered in Berlin, the organization is run by a diverse team and works with local partners around the world.

Berghof Foundation is seeking a highly skilled MHPSS Consultant in Lebanon to support the wellbeing of Insider Mediators (IMs) engaged in the implementation of the organization’s rapid response initiative in Lebanon.

The consultant will design and facilitate a series of online MHPSS sessions in Arabic aimed at strengthening mediators’ psychosocial wellbeing and supporting their ability to navigate emotionally demanding conflict environments throughout the project duration. The role combines foundational guidance on Psychological First Aid (PFA) and stress and trauma management with ongoing small-group support sessions tailored to emerging needs and challenges faced by mediators working on the ground. The MHPSS consultant will virtually support the wellbeing of the mediators in our project “Rapid Response - host community engagement initiative”.

Key Responsibilities

Deliver 2 foundational MHPSS guidance sessions

The consultant will design and facilitate two online foundational sessions in Arabic for Insider Mediators and relevant project participants.

The sessions will focus on:

• Psychological First Aid (PFA) principles and approaches;
• stress and trauma management in times of conflict and crisis;
• recognizing signs of distress, emotional exhaustion, anxiety, grief, anger, or burnout;
• practical techniques for emotional regulation, grounding, and self-care;
• supporting individuals in a calm, respectful, and non-judgmental manner;
• identifying when additional or specialized support may be needed;
• promoting confidentiality, safeguarding, conflict sensitivity, and do-no-harm principles.

The sessions should be practical, accessible, and adapted to the realities faced by mediators and community actors operating in fragile and high-pressure environments.

Provide 8 small-group MHPSS support sessions for Insider Mediators

The consultant will facilitate eight online small-group MHPSS sessions in Arabic for Insider Mediators engaged in the implementation of project activities across targeted localities.

These sessions are intended to provide continuous psychosocial support to mediators throughout the project duration and should be adapted based on emerging needs, field realities, and challenges experienced by participants.

Topics may include, but are not limited to:

• managing cumulative stress and emotional fatigue;
• coping with exposure to conflict-related tensions and community distress;
• addressing burnout, pressure, and emotional overload;
• strengthening peer support and collective care practices;
• managing difficult conversations and emotionally demanding environments;
• promoting emotional wellbeing, self-awareness, and healthy coping mechanisms;
• navigating uncertainty, fear, frustration, and conflict-related stressors;
• creating safe spaces for reflection, support, and experience-sharing among mediators.

The sessions should be participatory, culturally sensitive, conflict-sensitive, and responsive to participants’ evolving psychosocial needs. Sessions should avoid overly clinical approaches and instead prioritize practical and context-appropriate support tools.

The sessions should also acknowledge the pressures associated with working in polarized, uncertain, and emotionally demanding community contexts.

Provide technical input on psychosocial wellbeing considerations

The consultant will provide technical input to the project team, where relevant, regarding psychosocial wellbeing considerations linked to mediator engagement and implementation realities.

This may include:

• identifying emerging wellbeing concerns affecting mediators;
• recommending practical psychosocial support approaches and coping mechanisms;
• advising on stress-sensitive engagement and facilitation practices;
• contributing recommendations related to wellbeing, self-care, and peer support approaches where needed.

Education:   

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in psychology, social work, mental health, counseling, or a related field. 
• A Bachelor’s Degree combined with substantial relevant experience will also be considered.

Experience:   

• 5-7 years of proven experience in delivering MHPSS sessions in Lebanon or other countries in the MENA region.
• Experience in designing and conducting online MHPSS sessions in the field in fragile or conflict-affected environments, or humanitarian settings.   
• Strong experience in online training and capacity-building.
• Experience with stakeholders, community actors, facilitators, mediators, volunteers, or frontline responders is highly desirable.
• Experience in participatory and conflict-sensitive approaches is an asset.

Further Qualifications and Skills:   

• Strong understanding of the deteriorating social, political and economical situation in Lebanon.   
• Proven ability to conduct high-level MHPSS sessions with a wide range of stakeholders.   
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Arabic.
• Strong organizational, reporting, and coordination skills.