Consultant; Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Education Req

Contract

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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.

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For every child, LOVE

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

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

Section/Division/Duty Station: Education Section - Programme Group /NYHQ

Duration: 15 July 2023 to 31 August 2024 – Remote/Home based****.

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. Over 75 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. 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.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every childin programmes, in advocacy and in operations. UNICEF’s focus onequity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens 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.

IThe Education Programme Group works to ensure every child improves learning and skills development within a safe learning environment that promotes and responds to their Mental Health and Psychosocial well-being

UNICEF is seeking a consultant to support the operationalization and implementation of MHPSS integration within Education Sector Priorities and strengthen UNICEF and Inter-agency results on MHPSS in education, focusing on both development and humanitarian settings. The assignment will encompass technical support to regional and country offices according to specific technical needs in integrating MHPSS programmes and services in the Education sector, knowledge management and supporting global advocacy efforts around MHPSS in education.

Scope of Work:

The consultancy is under the overall guidance of the Senior Education advisors for Systems and EiE and directly managed by the Education Skills Specialist in collaboration with the Education in Emergency Specialist in the EiE team and will support the implementation of the UNICEF Strategic Plan Goal Area 2, UNICEF’s Global Education Strategy 2019-2030, and the UNICEF MHPSS Framework in the context of education.

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, 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, and caregivers. This is a remote-based consultancy, with expected international travel as determined by supervisors.

The consultant will support the Education Specialist on Secondary Education and Skills and Education Specialist for Education in Emergencies to drive MHPSS agenda across the following three work areas:

1. Development and roll -out of UNICEF-led MHPSS education ‘global goods,’ including protocols, tools, and relevant guidance documents

• Roll out and launch the school based MHPSS CBA study in 3 countries.
• Develop two mental health literacy packs for adolescents and teachers for the MENA region.
• Create a roster of MHPSS education specialists by identifying at least 15 experts available to work in emergency responses.
• Develop and roll out two MHPSS global goods to support countries in implementing the policy brief on promoting and protecting learners' and teachers' mental health in schools and learning environments

2. Advocacy, networking and partnership building.

Strengthen strategic and technical partnerships, including with donors, INEE, ECW, UNESCO and WHO and other global partnerships on MHPSS in the education sector.

• Participate in the SEL-PSS INEE working group (meeting minutes).
• Develop and implement an advocacy plan with UNESCO and WHO.
• Develop 2 concept notes for funding.
• Development of engagement strategy for UNICEF at the MHPSS-SEL- Working Group for the Global Refugee Forum

3. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.

Development of programme knowledge acquisition through capacity building and the systematic collection of country programme experience (lessons learned, best practices, reviews, evaluations) in the area of MHPSS in Education.

• Develop a training package for UNICEF education staff (Slide deck and hand-outs) .
• Facilitate three training workshops in 3 regions.
• Publication of four case studies.
• Publication of two blogs.
• Collate and curate UNICEF resources around MHPSS in the education sector

Terms of Reference / Deliverables/Deadlines

1. Development and roll -out of UNICEF-led MHPSS education ‘global goods,’ including protocols, tools, and relevant guidance documents

• Roll out and launch the school based MHPSS CBA study in 3 countries by September 2023.
• Complete 3 technical review of CBA country case studies by November 2023
• Develop two mental health literacy packs for adolescents and teachers for the MENA region by December 2023
• Create a roster of MHPSS education specialists by identifying at least 15 experts available to work in emergency responses by August 2023
• Develop and roll out two MHPSS global goods to support countries in implementing the policy brief on promoting and protecting learners' and teachers' mental health in schools and learning environments by January 2024

2. Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Participate in the SEL-PSS INEE working group providing at least 10 meetings reports outlining key trends and needs around MHPSS in Education by June of 2024.
• Develop and implement an advocacy plan with UNESCO and WHO by June 2024.
• Develop 2 concept notes for funding by August 2024
• Development of engagement strategy for UNICEF at the MHPSS-SEL- Working Group for the Global Refugee Forum by November 2023

3. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Develop a training package for UNICEF education staff (Slide deck and hand-outs) by January 2024
• Facilitate three training workshops in 3 regions to be conducted between January and March 2024)
• Publication of four case studies by (August 2023, October 2023, January 2024 and April 2024)
• Publication of two blogs by (October 2023 and May 2024)
• Collate and curate at least 10 UNICEF resources around MHPSS in the education sector – identify practical resources/guidance developed by UNICEF and partners to support the implementation of MHPSS interventions by August 2024)

Qualifications

(1) Education

Inter Disciplines; Master's Degree or relevant advanced academic background in mental health and psychosocial support; psychology or similar relevant discipline.

(2) Work experience

• At least ten years of progressively responsible relevant work experience
• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in project coordination and management.
• Demonstrated experience with programme cycle management, preferably including remote coordination.

(3) Competencies

• Comfortable to work independently but also coordinating closely with teams.
• In- depth understanding of the global MHPSS agenda
• Strong understanding of MHPSS in education priorities
• 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 with diverse stakeholders

Requirements****:

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11)
• Upload copy of academic credentials

• Financial proposal that will include:

• All-inclusive (lump sum) fees for the deliverables noted above.

• 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.

Remarks:

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.