Consultant - To Support Implementation of the Special Initiative for Mental Health in the African Region

1. Background

   The Noncommunicable Diseases Team provides policy guidance and technical assistance to Member States; develops, implements and monitors multisectoral, integrated, evidence-based, and people-centered policies, strategies and plans; and strengthens the capacity of national-health systems to deliver high-quality, integrated Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD), Mental and Neurological and Substance Use (MNS) services at Primary Health Care and all levels of care for Universal Health Care (UHC). These include early diagnosis, screening and treatment of NCDs and mental health conditions[1] and their risk factors; rehabilitation and disability services; promoting and tracking cross-cutting, end-to-end delivery to achieve impact; and support to the building and maintenance of national and regional information systems for NCDs and mental health, neurology, and alcohol and other substance use.

In the area of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, the WHO African Region supports Member States to develop Mental Health Policies and Strategic Plans, supports integration of mental health services into primary health care and provides support for strengthening community mental health services.

The Director General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health (SIMH) was launched in 2019, and has the goal of reaching 100 million people with mental health services. Zimbabwe was the first African Region country to participate in the Initiative, beginning in 2020, and Ghana is the second country, which begun activities in 2021. The aim of the SIMH is to provide targeted technical and financial support to these countries, while leveraging the lessons learned to replicate in other countries in the Region.

2. Deliverables

   These need to be time-bound and specific.

In the context of the mental, neurological and substance use disorders area of work within the NCD Team, at the African Regional level, the incumbent will coordinate and is responsible for all aspects (operational, technical and programmatic) of the SIMH programme at the Regional level and provides oversight to Ghana and Zimbabwe country level implementation.

Specifically, the consultant will:

.

Strengthen Governance and Leadership:

1. Support the establish of National Mental Health Coordination Committees, and other Technical area working groups in Ghana and Zimbabwe; and any other countries in the Region

Develop and disseminate technical documents of relevance to the SIMH countries and the Region:

2. Preparation of a Technical Paper on Community Mental Health services in the African Region, including successes, challenges, innovative approaches, financing of community mental health as well as case studies, and disseminate to the Member States. There will be in depth analysis of the Ghana and Zimbabwe situations
3. Analysis of the Global Mental Health ATLAS data base, disaggregating the African Regional data, presenting a discussion of Africa vs the global data, as well as the sub regional data. Prepare the report, ensure it is reviewed, translated, and disseminated, type set and posted on the WHO website.

Operations and Finance:

4. Support Ghana to develop workplans for the two Regions prioritized for implementation activities in Year 1.
5. Support Zimbabwe to finalise the 2022 Annual workplan and provide oversight for its implementation.
6. Ensure Ghana and Zimbabwe have funds to implement the workplans, including, oversight to the utilization of the allocated resources.
7. Determine staffing needs, ensure the mobilization of the required human resources to implement the SIMH in both Ghana and Zimbabwe. Provide leadership, motivation, guidance, and performance management of staff and experts.

Monitoring and reporting:

8. Support Ghana and Zimbabwe to finalise the monitoring and evaluation plans, provide oversight for the regular monitoring, prepare regional reports on the SIMH implementation that will be regularly shared at the SIMH monthly meetings. Any learnings relevant to other countries in the region will be disseminated to Member States

9. Provide oversight and guidance for preparation of briefings to HQ, RO and WCO leadership as required, on the progress and implementation of SIMH in each of the countries in alignment with the Ghana and Zimbabwe national action plans, including financial and implementation tracking, and output/impact monitoring.

10. Perform all other related duties as assigned.

    3. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

    Identify the educational qualifications and expertise needed for the terms of reference outlined above.

Educational Qualifications

• Essential: An Advanced University degree (Master’s level or above) in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Public Health & Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, International Health & Mental Health, Global Mental Health policy or development studies, or other closely related field of study to Global Mental Health issues..
• Desirable: Post graduate qualification in Social Work or related field, Medical Anthropology or related field is an added advantage

Experience

• Required: At least seven years of relevant experience, at the national and international levels, in development and management of Mental Health programmes including supporting multi-sectoral coordination, strengthening country capacities and developing and implementing mental health policies and programs.
• Desirable: Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies, relevant non-governmental, and Academic Institutions.

Skills/Knowledge

• Demonstrated knowledge of the Director General’s Special Initiative for Mental health and the Global Mental Health Action Plan
• Working knowledge of district hospital care, UHC, in-service and pre-service training and capacity building, essential medicines, existing surveillance system and primary care systems in the African region.
• Authoritative and comprehensive knowledge of the theory, principles, methods and techniques in mental health policy, planning and financing, in particular, strengthening community mental health services and integrating mental health into primary health care
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to solve and explain technical issues and take part in meetings with tact and diplomacy.
• Knowledge of WHO role, mandates, strategies & action plans (global, regional and country specific).
• Good interpersonal skills with experience in networking with partners at all levels (ministry, donors, private sector, NGOs and local community-based organizations).

Languages and level required

• Excellent knowledge of English and intermediate knowledge of French

• The above language requirements are interchangeable.

  4. Technical Supervision

  Indicate the name and title of the supervisor with email address.

Prof. JM DANGOU, Team Lead, NCD, [email protected]

5. Location

   Please specify where the consultant will work:

On site: _____****Brazzaville, Congo****_______(please indicate office and duty station)

Off site: _____ _______(please indicate location/address).

On site for insurance purposes :____________(please indicate location/address). (This is where a duty travel is planned during the course of the consultancy but the consultant is being hired to work from home)

6. Travel - If travel is involved, full medical clearance is required

   Please specify any expected travel(s): dates, location and purpose.

Travel will be made to both Ghana and Zimbabwe, to provide technical assistance with implementation of the SIMH Frameworks in the countries

A living expense is payable to on-site consultants – please refer to Information Note 08/2019 for details on eligibility.

7. Remuneration and budget (travel costs excluded)

Rate [daily or monthly or for language and publishing services by word count or number of pages]:

Monthly Professional Fee for 6 months at B Band level (8,500), for a total of US$51,000

DSA First 30 days at US$244 per day for a total of US$7,320

DSA for next 150Days at $ 122 per day for a total of US$18,300

Grand Total of US$ 76,620

Currency: US Dollars

Work schedule (if applicable) :

Please refer to Information Note 09/2021 for guidance on rates for consultants.

[1] The term “Mental health” refers to mental, neurological and substance use conditions.