Consultancy: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Education Consultant - Req

Consultant Teaching & Training Programme & Policy

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children.

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, hope.

Consultancy Title: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Education Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Education/ ADAP Section, Programme Division, NYHQ

Duration: 15 August, 2024, to 14 July, 2025

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ / Remote

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries.

UNICEF recognizes that promoting mental health is essential to realize the well-being and fulfilment of all children's rights. UNICEF is investing in scaling up and strengthening MHPSS systems, interventions and services across education, child protection and health in development and emergencies contexts. The importance of MHPSS in education is highlighted through UNICEF's recently updated Core Commitments for Children in humanitarian settings and the Global Multisectoral Operational Framework for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support of Children, Adolescents and Caregivers Across Settings.

In line with UNICEF´s Strategic Plan (2022-2025) and the education strategy (2019-2030), the education Programme Group works to ensure every child improve learning and skills development within a safe learning environment that promotes and responds to their mental health and psychosocial support needs in all contexts.

Within the context of the above, the Zurich Foundation/UNICEF partnership aims to strengthen system commitment and capacity to foster adolescent skills and support for improving mental well-being as follows:

- Partnership Phase 1 (Aug 2021-Aug 2024) focused on the development of evidence based and culturally relevant intervention tools and approaches that enhance adolescent skills for improved mental well-being and support to caregivers of adolescents. This is based on WHO-UNICEF Helping Adolescents Thrive (HAT) guidelines and pilot programming in Indonesia, Vietnam, Nepal, Maldives, Mexico, Ecuador, and Colombia; and the On My Mind global campaign aimed at reducing stigma while promoting awareness and action for mental well-being in 132 countries.

- Partnership Phase 2 (Aug 2024-Dec 2027) will maintain strategic support in phase 1 countries while expanding implementation to Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Malaysia, Bhutan, and Argentina. UNICEF’s support to accelerate the mental health and wellbeing of young people will center around protective policies, nurturing school and community environments that promote mental wellbeing, the presence of connected and supportive caregivers, and the cultivation of resilience in adolescents. These are the foundations of a healthier future for our youth and generations to come.

UNICEF is seeking an MHPSS in Education consultant to support the operationalization and implementation of the ZZF partnership.

The MHPSS consultant will be part of the Education Systems under the overall guidance and directly supervised by the Education Skills Specialist.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will support the provision of technical guidance related to the MHPSS education agenda in collaboration with all clusters/divisions/sections at HQ, Regional Offices as well as external partnerships and UN agencies working in MHPSS and education.

The consultant will support engagements with focal points within the Education Section, Health Section, and other relevant sections at headquarters, COs, Regional Advisers, key partners, subject matter experts, and multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, to ensure that quality MHPSS services in education are effectively scaled up and integrated globally for children, adolescents, teachers and caregivers.

This is a remote-based position with expected international travel as determined by supervisor. The consultant will support the wider Education MHPSS agenda through his/her work with the in ZZF Programme in 15 target countries.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Support the integration of MHPSS in Education through in 15 target countries

- Technical Review of 15 country work plans. - 31-Dec-24

- 20 meetings of the cross-sectoral UNICEF/ZZF team are supported with strategic planning, reviews, updates, activities reporting and other HQ leadership and planning activities) - 14-Jul-25

- 3 technical products around MHPSS in education as part of Accelerator Hub (led by ADAP) are produced - 31-Dec-24

- Digitization of 4 products around MHPSS in Education for the Learning Passport is implemented - 14-Jul-25

- Planning and curriculum integration of the Helping Adolescents Thrive (HAT) materials at county level for 15 countries are implemented - 14-Jul-25

- 1 competency framework for HAT developed - 14-Jul-25

- Roll out of 1 training for professionals and educators including preparing for the implementation of the training and co-facilitating the course. - 14-Jul-25

- 8 countries' plans to strengthen links between schools, communities, and parenting areas of work are prepared - 14-Jul-25

- Integration of MHPSS in Education content in package for teachers and school leaders to raise awareness raising and planning is completed - 14-Jul-25

- Content for 10 Community/School campaigns, workshops, awareness raising activities is developed - 14-Jul-25

Qualifications

Education:

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree) or relevant advanced academic background in mental health and psychosocial support; psychology or similar relevant discipline.

Work experience:

Minimum Qualifications required.

A minimum of 10 years relevant professional experience in promotive and preventive mental health in the education sector.

Strong experience working on mental health issues facing children and adolescents from LMIC.

Strong experience supporting country teams on planning, implementation, and monitoring of programming.

Experience in emergency contexts

Relevant experience in UNHQ system agency preferred.

Fluency and ability to work in multiple UN languages highly preferred.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

Good knowledge and understanding of humanitarian principles, child safeguarding measures and established international standards on mental health and psychosocial support for children in humanitarian settings

Strong organizational and facilitation skills whether face to face or remotely with diverse stakeholders

Demonstrated experience with programme cycle management, preferably including remote coordination.

Demonstrated exceptional writing and communication skills.

Comfortable to work independently while coordinating closely with different teams across HQ, RO and COs.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.

travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.

Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.

Indicate your availability

- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

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.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.

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Added 3 hours ago - Updated 2 hours ago - Source: unicef.org