Open To Work
ELIE BATSI VURA
MHPSS Specialist
Bunia,IT
Summary
Experienced Clinical Psychologist with over 8 years in trauma-informed counselling and crisis intervention within humanitarian contexts. Expertise in staff counselling and resilience building across UN agencies and INGOs, complemented by 4 years of international experience delivering psychosocial support in challenging environments. Focused on enhancing staff wellbeing and work-life balance in alignment with organizational cultures of care.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Staff Counsellor
World Food Programme (WFP)
Nigeria
11.2021 - 12.2025
- Delivered confidential, trauma-informed counselling to WFP staff and dependents across 5 duty stations, addressing stress, burnout, and critical incident recovery, which reinforced my capacity in critical incident stress management in multicultural, high-risk environments.
- Led psychosocial response during the 2024 Maiduguri floods, supporting over 100 affected staff and families and contributing to an estimated 30% reduction in acute stress symptoms during the initial response phase.
- Coordinated emergency MHPSS support during crises and displacement situations, enhancing staff care and safeguarding protocols.
- Co-designed and facilitated resilience and peer-support training for 45+ staff volunteers, leading to a 25% increase in internal referrals to counselling services within six months.
- Established and coordinated joint UNICEF-WFP Nigeria FLOCK programme, engaging 70% of newly deployed staff and 75+ families, strengthening resilience, wellbeing, and work-life balance during humanitarian financial crisis.
Mental Health Activity Manager
MSF Spain - OCBA
Niger
07.2021 - 10.2021
- Managed and supervised mental health activities across multiple health zones, ensuring compliance with MSF clinical guidelines and humanitarian standards.
- Supervised 17 mental health professionals, coordinating referrals with medical and protection teams to enhance patient support.
- Revised referral pathways for psychiatric care, improving response time for high-risk cases by 20%.
- Ensured continuity of care for 130+ conflict-affected patients, maintaining treatment adherence rates above 85% amidst insecurity.
SGBV Psychologist
War Child UK
D.R. Congo
08.2019 - 04.2021
- Delivered specialized psychosocial support to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence across four health areas, enhancing survivor-centered care.
- Provided individualized care to 378 survivors, with follow-up data indicating over 70% successful social or family reintegration within program timelines.
- Coordinated referrals to medical, legal, and social services, facilitating safe community reintegration for survivors.
- Trained and mentored four psychosocial assistants, enhancing case documentation quality and expediting case handling.
Clinical Psychologist
MSF-Swiss
D.R. Congo
03.2018 - 08.2019
- Conducted psychological assessments and therapy using MSF mental health protocols and culturally adapted tools, enhancing patient care.
- Improved therapy completion rates by approximately 20% through structured follow-up and patient engagement strategies.
- Strengthened early identification of trauma-related disorders through staff training, resulting in increased early referrals within outpatient services.
- Trained and supervised counselling staff across supported health facilities, improving service delivery and staff competency.
Consultant Psychologist
MONUSCO - Human Rights Division
Bunia
07.2017 - 02.2018
- Performed psychological assessments to guide legal processes and establish protective measures for vulnerable populations.
- Supported safe testimony for 45 victims and witnesses, reducing courtroom distress incidents by over 25% during monitored hearings.
- Delivered psychosocial preparation and in-court support for victims and child witnesses in judicial proceedings, enhancing their emotional resilience.
- Developed psychological readiness approach adopted by MONUSCO field teams, improving support strategies for field operations.
Clinical Psychologist
MSF-Swiss - ADI Project
D.R. Congo
03.2017 - 06.2017
- Identified and referred 51 individuals with severe mental health disorders, improving access to specialized psychiatric care.
- Conducted trauma-care training for local health staff and community workers, improving community response to mental health crises.
- Refined mobile clinic mental health protocols, boosting follow-up attendance by 15%.
- Provided mental health services in mobile clinics for refugees and host communities in border areas, enhancing access to care.
Psychological Counsellor
Clinique Marie Claire Vandeckerkov
Bunia
03.2012 - 08.2014
- Provided individual and family counselling to patients experiencing trauma, grief, and psychosocial distress.
- Collaborated with medical teams to enhance integration of mental health support into routine care.
- Introduced structured follow-up practices, strengthening continuity of care for long-term patients.
- Expanded group and family counselling sessions, enhancing service accessibility by 20%.
Education
Master of Arts (M.A.) - Clinical Psychology
University of Kisangani
D.R. Congo01-2012
Skills
- Crisis intervention strategies
- Crisis management
- Psychosocial support
- Trauma-informed care
- Burnout prevention
- Staff wellbeing & resilience promotion
- Staff wellbeing & resilience promotion
- Training and mentorship
- Cross-cultural collaboration
- Work-life balance integration
- Burnout prevention
Certification
- EMDR-Mexico, 2025
- Patient Support, Education & Counselling (HIV, TB, NCDs), MSF France, 2018
- Trauma, PTSD & Child Protection Training, MSF Switzerland, 2017
- Microsoft Office & Digital Literacy, 2007
References
- Sylvie VWIRANDA, UNDSS Stress Counselor, +243813773274, sylvie.vwiranda@one.un.org
- Christophe Boutonnier, DCD-Enabling Service, +393428271178, christophe.boutonnier@wfp.org
- Edouard Thiam, DCD-Enabling Service, +221783033014, edouard.thiam@wfp.org
Languages
- French
- Swahili
- English, Fluent
- French, Fluent
- Swahili, Native
Timeline
Staff Counsellor
World Food Programme (WFP)
11.2021 - 12.2025
Mental Health Activity Manager
MSF Spain - OCBA
07.2021 - 10.2021
SGBV Psychologist
War Child UK
08.2019 - 04.2021
Clinical Psychologist
MSF-Swiss
03.2018 - 08.2019
Consultant Psychologist
MONUSCO - Human Rights Division
07.2017 - 02.2018
Clinical Psychologist
MSF-Swiss - ADI Project
03.2017 - 06.2017
Psychological Counsellor
Clinique Marie Claire Vandeckerkov
03.2012 - 08.2014
Master of Arts (M.A.) - Clinical Psychology
University of Kisangani