Comprehensive analysis of mental well-being and mental health of Children and Adolescents in Suriname (Open to Nationals of Suriname only)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, mental wellbeing

How can you make a difference?

Background

According to UNICEF's most recent data, at least one in every seven children has been directly affected by lockdowns, and more than 1.6 billion children have lost some form of education. In addition, social relations, entertainment, friendships, education have all been disrupted, and many children and adolescents are feeling the tension also of their family’s concerns about finances and other obligations. While at the one hand it is questionable if protective factors like loving and protecting caregivers, safe school environments, and positive peer relationships are always available for children and adolescents in need, at the other hand barriers, such as stigma and a lack of funding, are preventing too many children and adolescent from experiencing psychosocial mental health support or receiving the help they require. In Suriname, as in many countries, during the pandemic, the seriousness of mental health and (absence of) psychosocial support became even more evident. The demand for information through digital means in the past two years has resulted to turning to social media that has been a source of negative messaging and false information this also impacting social cohesion and the overall wellbeing. Continued civil unrest related to the worsening social economic situation is putting extra stress and tensions on households, this is negatively impacting children’s mental well-being and mental health especially the most marginalized children in the country. The UNICEF supported a child poverty analysis (National-MODA (N-MODA) in the country, which revealed that 36.2 percent of children aged 0-17 years in Suriname were multidimensionally deprived. This figure evidences the magnitude of commitment necessary to ensure maximizing the well-being including the mental health of children; the deprivation ratio is higher for children living in the rural interior (79.1 percent) and in rural coastal areas (39.8 percent) than for children in urban areas. This is reflected in respective parts of the country and highlights limitations in implementing “one-size-fits-all” interventions to address needs specific to different areas and communities. With the impact of climate change, natural hazards, and disasters, especially floods, taking place more frequently, children’s access to education is affected and puts their lives at additional risks, making them more vulnerable for abuse and neglect. Recent increasing cases linked to mental health issues reported through the media, indicate that it is urgent that we start to communicate and act to improve mental health for all children, adolescents, and safeguard those in need, and care for the most vulnerable. Integrating and scaling up evidence-based interventions across the sectors is imperative. It is therefore important to work on breaking the stigma surrounding mental health problems by acknowledging its existence, giving it attention, raising awareness, encouraging better knowledge of mental health and including children’s and young people's views and experiences. The current situation is highlighting the need for a more targeted and integrated approach to children’s mental health and wellbeing. In addition to the limited access to mental health services, there is also a gap of culturally relevant support and messages related to mental health and wellbeing. A starting point is to make the subject of mental health more “visible” by working on diminishing the tabu that surrounds it. A key element in starting up this process is understanding the issues impacting the mental well-being of children, having a better understanding of what is perceived as mental health or mental well-being, what are the social determinants and what key elements are essential to ensure children and adolescents having access to safe, supportive, and nurturing environments where abuse, bullying, discrimination, corporal punishment and other types of violence are not perceived as normal ways of disciplining or nurturing and are not acceptable. To better support programs and key interventions to support the mental well-being of children, and adolescents in Suriname, UNICEF is planning to implement a comprehensive, consultative study targeting children and adolescents in several settings such as households, schools, care institutions, and children in detention. The study needs to provide a clear understanding of children’s issues surrounding and impacting children’s mental health.

Therefore, the study needs to identify the challenges and the coping mechanisms, and more specifically answer among others, the following questions:

• What is perceived as mental health and mental wellbeing and what are the social determinants? • What are the main determinants and factors contributing to mental health issues in children and impacting children’s mental well-being in Suriname? • What are the perceptions and experiences of children and adolescents in Suriname related to their mental health, mental health issues, and mental health support? • What is perceived as the main issues and challenges in access to psychosocial support for children and what are the needs and the gaps? • What are the tools and mechanisms currently available and utilized in support to mental health issues for children? • What are the proposed solutions for the identified gaps in psychosocial support?

Purpose of Study

Through this study, UNICEF aims to produce and gather comprehensive evidence to gain a better understanding of the mental well-being and mental health of children and to promote a change in the attitudes towards mental health and mental health support among key stakeholders (Duty bearers, communities, families, adolescents, and children in the country). This work is also intended to strengthen advocacy and awareness programs and develop products for interventions. The findings of the study will be used to develop targeted culturally sensitive key messages to raise awareness and promote the mental health and well-being of children.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree in psychology, social sciences or social work, education, humanitarian studies, social and behavioral sciences or any other related field
• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in conducting studies and research.
• Experience and understanding of MHPSS
• Demonstrated capacity and experience in conducting comprehensive studies related to social issues and mental health.
• Experience with undertaking research with children, young people in (mental) health
• Experience in working in MHSPS is preferred.
• Proven experience in the design and methods of qualitative and quantitative study and research.
• Proven experience in facilitating and collecting information, including data collection with children
• Knowledge of the equity and gender approaches and their application
• Good ability to write reports clearly and concisely
• Strong organizational, and presentation skills
• Proven experience in development of advocacy and awareness material related to children and adolescents
• Excellent writing skills
• Proficiency in Dutch and English (spoken and written).

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

Please access the complete ToR here Mental Health wellbeing study.pdf

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.