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Objective:

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is a priority area for the UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Office (MENARO) and recognized as a cross cutting issues for health, child protection, education, adolescent development and participation, communications for development, and gender.

UNICEF Egypt Country Office is seeking to contract a local consultant to conduct a case study in Egypt specifically to contribute to the development of the study protocol, undertake the research and data collection, complete the qualitative data analysis, and prepare the draft and final country reports.

Methodology:

It is to be highlighted that Egypt case study on “Establishing the foundations for integration of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in primary health care targeting children and adolescents in the Middle East and North Africa Region” is part of the workplan of the MENA MHPSS Taskforce and the MENA regional PHC Accelerator and the Regional Office Management Plan 2022 – 2025. The case study will include:

Phase 1: Preparation of the study protocol

A detailed study protocol will be developed by the lead research institution, with input from the local partner and UNICEF. This research protocol will detail the methods and analysis of the Egypt case study

Phase 2: Country case study: Desk review and in-depth research/analysis

Desk-based review and analysis of available published data and policies related to MHPSS and in particular the integration of MHPSS in PHC.
Conduct the case study to understand how MHPSS is integrated into primary health care in Egypt. The case study will be led by the local partner but with close technical support of the Lead research institution and will be undertaken once appropriate ethics approval is obtained. The Lead research institution will provide training around the research aims, data collection methods and analysis, with the local partner then leading two inter-related efforts:

In Egypt, a workshop will be organized either in person (COVID permitting) or virtually. The local partner, together with support from the UNICEF country office and other partners will facilitate this workshop with a video link in by the Lead research institution. This workshop will: a) cover key concepts of MHPSS;

b) introduce the key elements on integration of MHPSS in PHC (based on desk review);

c) map existing mechanisms including challenges/barriers around implementation of MHPSS for children, adolescents, pregnant/new mothers in primary health care and the linkages that currently exist with child protection/social welfare and education.

These workshops will be followed by in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, drawing both on participants in the workshop and key stakeholders. These stakeholders should represent the sectors of health, education and child protection and be inclusive of government ministries, UN agencies and NGOs, and service providers. Parents, youth advocates including those from vulnerable communities (refugees/ internally displaced populations) should be engaged. These interviews will explore in depth existing efforts around MHPSS in primary health care and identify key knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to support effective implementation within PHC as well as its linkages with social welfare and child protection and education. These interviews will seek to gather specific perspectives on the vision and capacity to deliver MHPSS in primary health care and the linkages to child protection/social welfare and education– and what is specifically required to ensure efficient coordination across sectors.

The findings of the workshop and interviews will be analyzed by the local partner and a draft report prepared which will propose a framework for integration of MHPSS in PHC in Egypt.

The framework will include a set of recommendations for what MHPSS actions should be integrated with primary health care for accessible, acceptable, and quality integrated mental health and psychosocial services for children, adolescents, and pregnant/new mothers. The framework will also capture considerations/recommendations for implementation. Technical support around analysis and interpretation will be provided by the Lead research institution.

Phase 3: Refinement of the regional & country findings

The local partner will lead country consultations and validation of the draft country case study report.

Phase 4: Preparation of reports and dissemination materials

Based on the feedback from the internal and external consultations and validation process, final dissemination materials will be prepared by the local partner, with the support of the Lead research institution– these include: Egypt case study report, including an executive summary, and Power point presentations summarizing the key findings from the country report.

DELIVERABLES, TIMELINES AND BUDGET PER DELIVERABLE

Deliverable

Timeline

Payment Schedule

Local partner contracted (Tentative start date)

25 March 2022

Deliverable 1 – Report based on desk review

5 May 2022

20% (upon completion of the report)

Conduct desk review

1 – 30 April 2022

Provide input to the study protocol to be developed by the Lead research institution

10 April 2022

Identify key stakeholders for regional consultation

15 April 2022

Provide input to the question guides to be developed by the Lead research institution

10 April 2022

Deliverable 2 - Report - Consultation workshop and in-depth interviews

31 August 2022

40% (upon completion of the report)

Facilitated process of ethics approval in each country

27 May 2022

Conduct consultation workshop

20 June 2022

Conduct in-depth interviews

25 June 2022

Transcription and data analysis

10 July - 31 August 2022

Deliverable 3 – Draft country report and consultations

15 September

Develop draft country reports

20 August 2022

Revised draft country reports

30 August 2022

Country consultations conducted

10 September 2022

Deliverable 4 - Country Reports

Final country reports, PPT covering main findings and recommendations, and presentations provided at regional and country levels, infographics

30 September 2022

40% (upon completion of the report)

Conditions of work:

Under the supervision of the supervisors from UNICEF and MoHP, the consultant is required to implement all the activities agreed and submit all deliverables on time and with quality. The supervisors are responsible for ensuring that the entire process adheres to the organizational quality and ethical standards. The supervisor will also ensure that the consultant has access to all necessary documents.

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

UNICEF is looking for consultants with strong expertise and good track record in public health, and who is respectful to cultural diversities, community values, and is sensitive to gender issues, with zero tolerance to violence, child abuse and neglect and other harmful practices. The following expertise is required:

Medical background, with a minimum of a master’s degree in public health and/or qualitative research design, data collection and analysis.
At least 10 years of public health experience supporting qualitative research design, questionnaire design, data collection, analysis and final report.
Experience of research in the health, social welfare, mental health and service provision in Egypt
Experience working with Governments, UN agencies and NGOs, and also preparing high quality research reports or publications
Fluent in Arabic and English.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children.

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.

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Potential interview questions

Can you share an experience where you designed a successful qualitative research study?	This question assesses your understanding and experience in qualitative research design.	Outline the study's objectives, methodologies, challenges faced, and outcomes.
Describe your approach to engaging stakeholders in a mental health project.	They want to see how you would involve key players for a successful implementation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
What challenges do you foresee in integrating MHPSS into primary health care?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you ensure ethical standards are maintained in your research practices?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you provide an example of a high-quality report you have written?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.