Background

The Busara Center for Behavioral Economics is an advisory and research organization focused on evaluation and implementation of behavioral interventions in understudied countries and populations. Busara's mission is to work with researchers and organizations to advance and apply behavioral science in pursuit of poverty alleviation. This involves the application of behavioral science to address complex development challenges.

Purpose of the Role

The Psychosocial Support Officer will provide specialized professional expertise to safeguard participant well-being throughout the assignment, with a particular focus on identifying, preventing, and responding appropriately to emotional distress or unforeseen crises that may arise during sensitive interviews, surveys, or other field interactions. The role will also support the wider field team in maintaining a safe, ethical, and trauma-informed approach to engagement with participants.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor participants for signs of distress, trauma, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm during sessions.
• Provide immediate emotional support and grounding techniques to help distressed participants regain a sense of safety and stability.
• Protect participants’ privacy by treating personal stories and mental health information with the highest level of confidentiality.
• Prepare data collectors to recognize and respond appropriately to emotional stress in themselves and others during the data collection exercise.
• Facilitate brief daily debriefs to help the team reflect on difficult experiences and support one another after demanding field days.
• Offer practical guidance and brief supportive counseling to staff members who may feel overwhelmed.
• Apply established safety protocols and ethical guidelines when engaging on sensitive topics.
• Escalate any significant safety concerns or incidents to lead researchers immediately.
• Contribute to adjustments in field plans when new emotional risks emerge during implementation.
• Prepare an incident report at the end of the data collection exercise, summarizing any incidents identified and the mitigation and referral measures implemented in line with Mastercard Foundation’s Safeguarding policies.

Indicative Deliverables

• A financial proposal/quote itemizing the services to be provided.
• A brief psychosocial support plan outlining participant safety measures, distress response procedures, and escalation pathways for field activities.
• Field support notes or debrief summary capturing key wellbeing concerns, actions taken, and any follow-up needs identified during the assignment.
• An incident and referral log documenting any psychosocial risks, responses provided, and referrals made in line with safeguarding protocols.
• A concise end-of-assignment report summarizing psychosocial support activities, key observations, mitigation measures, and recommendations for future fieldwork.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in social sciences, psychology, gender studies, development studies, community development, or a related field from a recognized institution in Kenya; a master’s degree is an added advantage.
• At least 5–7 years of professional experience in psychosocial support, safeguarding, gender-responsive programming, inclusive fieldwork, or related work in Kenya, preferably in development or humanitarian settings and with vulnerable groups such as refugees, displaced persons, women, youth, or persons with disabilities.
• Demonstrated experience supporting qualitative fieldwork or participant engagement, with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to apply trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and ethical approaches when working with diverse communities.
• Working knowledge of safeguarding principles, confidentiality, duty of care, and referral pathways in the Kenya context, including the ability to respond appropriately to sensitive disclosures.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills in English and Kiswahili; knowledge of additional Kenyan local languages or experience working effectively with interpreters is an advantage.
• Prior experience contributing to donor-funded evaluations, field research, or program reviews is an added advantage.

• Monitor participants for signs of distress, trauma, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm during sessions.
• Provide immediate emotional support and grounding techniques to help distressed participants regain a sense of safety and stability.
• Protect participants’ privacy by treating personal stories and mental health information with the highest level of confidentiality.
• Prepare data collectors to recognize and respond appropriately to emotional stress in themselves and others during the data collection exercise.
• Facilitate brief daily debriefs to help the team reflect on difficult experiences and support one another after demanding field days.
• Offer practical guidance and brief supportive counseling to staff members who may feel overwhelmed.
• Apply established safety protocols and ethical guidelines when engaging on sensitive topics.
• Escalate any significant safety concerns or incidents to lead researchers immediately.
• Contribute to adjustments in field plans when new emotional risks emerge during implementation.
• Prepare an incident report at the end of the data collection exercise, summarizing any incidents identified and the mitigation and referral measures implemented in line with Mastercard Foundation’s Safeguarding policies.

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to apply trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and ethical approaches
• Strong communication and facilitation skills in English and Kiswahili
• Working knowledge of safeguarding principles, confidentiality, duty of care, and referral pathways

• A bachelor’s degree in social sciences, psychology, gender studies, development studies, community development, or a related field from a recognized institution in Kenya; a master’s degree is an added advantage.
• At least 5–7 years of professional experience in psychosocial support, safeguarding, gender-responsive programming, inclusive fieldwork, or related work in Kenya, preferably in development or humanitarian settings and with vulnerable groups such as refugees, displaced persons, women, youth, or persons with disabilities.
• Demonstrated experience supporting qualitative fieldwork or participant engagement.
• Knowledge of additional Kenyan local languages or experience working effectively with interpreters is an advantage.
• Prior experience contributing to donor-funded evaluations, field research, or program reviews is an added advantage.