Individual Consultancy for Mental Health Psychosocial Support Consultant (Open to Nationals of Guyana 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, psychosocial support

How can you make a difference?

Background

The Joint Programme on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in the period 2023-2024 will support the mapping of MHPSS needs and priorities for children and adolescents in Guyana. This programme will be conducted with UNICEF and WHO programme staff at the country level in coordination with the Ministries of Health, Education and Human Services and Social Security. Recognizing this, UNICEF, in collaboration with PAHO/WHO, is now seeking to appoint a consultant to provide intensive support of the implementation of the Joint Programme over a 12-month period.

Methodology

UNICEF Guyana and Suriname Country Office is seeking to contract a consultant to be responsible for coordinating the implementation of the country-level Joint Programme on MHPSS in Guyana. This will include, but not be limited to, the activities listed below. The process should be participatory, bringing together multiple stakeholders to share knowledge and insights, as well as feedback on the progress of the implementation of planned activities.

The consultant will:

• Work with UNICEF and PAHO/WHO country office technical staff on the expansion of the existing country plan for the Joint Programme, building on the country case for support and the existing Joint Workplan as relevant. • Liaise between PAHO/WHO and UNICEF country offices and supporting engagement and coordination with country-level stakeholders. • Facilitate stakeholder consultations, and regular joint planning and review meetings with UNICEF, PAHO/WHO and ministerial staff of the relevant sectors at the national level and the selected sub-national levels as deemed necessary to the implementation of the joint work plan. • Support the day- to day implementation of the Joint Programme work plan through the provision of administrative and logistical support to UNICEF, PAHO/WHO and country-level stakeholders in the implementation of the planned activities. • Perform budget monitoring and reporting. The consultant will produce and submit monthly budget monitoring reports. In addition, the consultant will provide ad-hoc reports as requested by management. • Produce narrative reporting on the Joint Programme Monitoring Framework. This includes providing a monthly internal report on the status of the work plan activities, as well as providing inputs for the regional MHPSS reports. • Draft the terms of reference for all other consultancies required in the implementation of the joint work plan. • Support the coordination with UNICEF internal sectors (e.g. Child Protection, Social and Behavioral Change, Education) and the establishment of a social media platform that ensures the integration of different components of MHPSS services to better reach target populations. • Work closely with other consultants recruited to support to provide technical support for the development of specific deliverables from the Joint Workplan.

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

This consultancy is for a person who must possess the following competencies:

• A Master’s degree in public health, global health, mental health, psychology, social services, or related areas • A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in the field of public health including supporting the primary health systems and public health initiatives. Experience related to mental health and psychosocial well-being is a plus. • Track record of leadership, facilitation, and coordination skills with a commitment to delivering timely and high-quality evaluation reports. • Previous experience working with multiple stakeholders including international development partners, government agencies and civil society groups • An excellent understanding of data and monitoring principles. • Knowledge of the equity and gender approaches and their application • Fluency in spoken and written English • Good ability to write reports clearly and concisely. • Strong organisational, communication and presentation skills

Desirable: • Previous work experience with the United Nations System. • Experiential knowledge of Guyana’s sub-regional contexts.

• For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Please access the complete ToR here TOR MHPSS Coordinating Consultant .pdf

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.