Dorothy Agoe

Experienced social worker and MHPSS specialist with over a decade in humanitarian, public, and private sectors across Uganda and South Sudan. Skilled in child protection, gender-based violence (SGBV), community development, counseling, and capacity building. Proven track record in training and mentoring staff, delivering psychosocial interventions, and implementing evidence-based programs in humanitarian and non-humanitarian settings.

Experienced in designing activity templates, session forms, and monitoring tools to ensure standardized, high-quality service delivery. Strong expertise in donor-funded program management, including proposal writing, budget tracking, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. Skilled in rapid assessments, stakeholder engagement, and launching innovative MHPSS and community-based rehabilitation initiatives, ensuring culturally sensitive, impactful support for vulnerable populations.

College Counsellor/Well-being Teacher - GALAXY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL – UGANDA - Uganda

(2023-01 - 2024-12)

Extensive experience leading integrated Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) programming in humanitarian and displacement settings. Provided strategic and technical oversight for the design, implementation, and scale-up of evidence-based interventions for vulnerable children, adolescents, and caregivers across refugee and host communities.

• Conducted comprehensive needs assessments to tailor context-specific programmes and ensure culturally appropriate, trauma-informed, and child-centered service delivery.
• Strengthened programme quality and impact through structured capacity building, technical supervision, and continuous field monitoring.
• Trained and coached staff and local partners on MHPSS principles, trauma recovery, psychosocial support, and basic counselling techniques.
• Developed and refined standardized tools, assessment frameworks, referral pathways, and monitoring systems aligned with IASC guidelines and international safeguarding standards to ensure consistency, accountability, and high-quality implementation across operations.
• Collaborated closely with UN agencies, NGOs, local authorities, and community stakeholders to harmonize MHPSS interventions and strengthen inter-agency coordination.
• Contributed to project design, proposal development, and donor reporting, while documenting programme outcomes and lessons learned.
• Supported localization efforts by adapting global evidence-based methodologies to local contexts, promoting sustainable and community-driven mental health and psychosocial support systems in complex emergencies.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Coordinator/Counsellor - JESUITS REFUGEE SERVICE – UGANDA – KAMPALA - Kampala, Uganda

(2019-01)

PRM Grants funded position.

• Led mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) interventions for refugees and host communities, supporting over 600 students and vulnerable populations.
• Designed MHPSS tools for assessing and enrolling SGBV survivors into individual and group counseling and implemented monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track program impact.
• Conducted case management review conferences with implementing partners for critical survivors and coordinated prevention and response activities across schools, urban refugee communities, and partner organizations.
• Planned and delivered MHPSS and SGBV trainings for teachers, peer counselors, vocational students, and community outreach teams, strengthening school-based protection mechanisms.
• Conducted psychosocial activities and community awareness campaigns, including radio talk shows, on human rights, mental health, trauma management, and stress management to increase responsiveness among vulnerable populations.
• Managed 15 peer counselors in schools, coordinated basic needs and dignity kit distribution, and conducted needs assessments for critical cases.
• Monitored multi-donor departmental budgets, maintained MHPSS databases, and produced weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports documenting interventions and outcomes.
• Assisted in drafting proposals, budgets, and concept notes in collaboration with leadership.
• Actively participated in the SGBV Kampala High-Level Working Group to harmonize interventions and promote survivor-centered, evidence-based services.

Assistant Psychosocial Coordinator - JESUITS REFUGEE SERVICE – SOUTH SUDAN – MABAN - Maban, South Sudan

(2015-01 - 2018-12)

• Initiated a successful MHPSS project in Maban focused on counseling, rehabilitation, and protection for children with disabilities and parent support groups.
• Earned donor recognition, secured BPRM funding, and designed MHPSS activity templates used across all camps.
• Conducted home visits, identified vulnerable individuals, and developed interventions for children, adults with disabilities, and elderly community members.
• Organized internal and external case management review meetings with implementing partners in Kampala, facilitating durable solutions for critical SGBV and vulnerable refugee cases, including resettlement to third countries.
• Designed and delivered capacity-building programs for JRS staff, partner agencies (UNHCR, ACTED, DRC, IMC), community groups, and caregivers on trauma counseling, psychosocial support, and care for vulnerable populations.
• Led awareness campaigns on MHPSS, child protection, disability inclusion, and gerontology in schools, refugee camps, and host communities.
• Coordinated referrals for specialized support, including linking amputees to ICRC for prosthetic access.
• Monitored and tracked multi-donor departmental budgets, reviewing expenditures monthly, liaising with the finance department, and ensuring alignment of resources with programmatic priorities.
• Contributed to proposal and budget development, including multi-year PRM funding (2021–2023), supporting resource mobilization and program sustainability.

Social Worker-Volunteer - Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital – Kampala - Kampala, Uganda

(2012-01 - 2015-12)

• Provided psychosocial support and counseling services to inpatients and outpatients, contributing to the mental health and recovery of individuals with diverse psychiatric conditions.
• Assessed patients and enrolled them into the Social Work Department for individual counseling and tailored support plans.
• Conducted group counseling sessions for patients struggling with alcohol and substance abuse, promoting recovery and coping strategies.
• Participated in case management review meetings, presenting patient cases to multidisciplinary teams for coordinated care.
• Delivered mental health awareness trainings and community outreach initiatives, including radio talk shows, to reduce stigma and promote mental health literacy.
• Accompanied recovering patients to their families, providing psychosocial education to caregivers on managing patients and preventing relapse triggers.

Social Worker - Goal Pader – Uganda - Pader, Uganda

(2010-01 - 2012-12)

• Organizing home-based care support for PLWHA.
• Coordinating the outreach HIV/AIDS counseling and testing services.
• Following up the monthly IEC campaigns.
• Identification and giving out sponsorship of orphans.

Postgraduate Diploma - Counselling Psychology - Makerere University Kampala – Uganda (2020-01 - 2022-12)

Master of Arts - Refugee and Migration Studies - Uganda Martyrs University – Uganda (2018-01 - 2021-12)

Master of Public Administration and Management - Public Administration and Management - Makerere University Kampala – Uganda (2012-01 - 2015-12)

Bachelor of Arts - Social Development - Makerere University Kampala – Uganda (2008-01 - 2012-12)