Individual Consultancy – International/National Consultant on Adolescent Health System Strengthening, UNICEF TCO, Bangkok, Thailand, Job No

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 fulfilling 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, a better future

UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region. This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

How can you make a difference?

Adolescence is a critical transition period when the foundations for health and well-being are established. The rapid biological and psychosocial changes during this period are associated with new health needs and risks, making the age group especially vulnerable. Adolescents in Thailand are experiencing several challenges related to sexual and reproductive health, mental health and increase rates of overweight and obesity.

Output 1 of the Young People’s programme of UNICEF Thailand Country Office for 2022-2026 aims at strengthening national and local capacities for the equitable provision of integrated packages of health and wellbeing services for young people.

The consultant will support the management, implementation monitoring and reporting of Output 1. Specifically, the consultant will be responsible for coordinating selected interventions related to adolescent mental health, digital health services and adolescent nutrition. Working in close partnership with government partners, CSOs, consultants and institutional contractors and Thailand Country Office staff from different programmes, the consultant will contribute to the achievement of results according to the section work plan.

Work Assignment:

Under the supervision of the Chief of Adolescent Development and Participation, the consultant will:

1. Provide technical assistance to key government counterparts for the implementation of the agreed activities under the work plan with UNICEF

• Provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) for the development of an integrated mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) plan for children and adolescents. The consultant will be responsible for ensuring timely coordination of this process with key stakeholders at the Ministry; serve as liaison between the Ministry and UNICEF and provide timely technical inputs for the development of the integrated mental health plan, ensuring coherence with the UNICEF framework for MHPSS.

• Provide technical assistance to the Bureau of Reproductive Health to strengthen the functionalities of the Teen Club health platform, and to support and monitor the progress of work on the system strengthening of national digital health services, including the development of standards and referral mechanisms for online counselling, based on lessons learned from UNICEF-supported LoveCareStation online platform. The consultant will be responsible for ensuring timely coordination with key stakeholders at the Bureau of Reproductive Health; serve as liaison between the Ministry and UNICEF and supervise the work of a specialised national consultant to be recruited for a desk review of existing global good practices for online counselling and the development of standards and referral protocols for Thailand.

2. Support evidence generation

• Coordination of the study Landscape Analysis of digital health services and platforms for young people in Thailand. This includes coordinating the relationship with the contracted institution, ensuring that the study is conducted according to UNICEF quality standards and ethical guidelines.

• Preparation of TORs for a study on adolescents’ perceptions on food and nutrition and support the section with coordination of the process of selection of an institution to conduct the study.

• Development of concept note for the piloting of integrated mental health and psycho-social support (MHPSS) services for children and adolescents at sub-national level, based on extensive consultations with programme colleagues in the Thailand Country Office.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation:

• Participate in adolescent health-related programme discussions with UNICEF colleagues and external partners, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s overall Strategic Plan and the Thailand Country Programme 2022-2026, as well as coherence and integration with the UN Sustainable Cooperation Development Framework (UNSCDF), regional strategies and national priorities.

• Coordinate relationship with existing partner CSOs, monitoring programmatic and financial implementation of existing programme cooperation agreements.

• Support documentation of health-related results of the work plan for the annual report.

• Participate in meetings with the government, UN Agencies, and CSO partners, as relevant.

Work Schedule****: Indicate expected work to be performed/outputs at each month/period.

End Product(s):

• TORs for the study on adolescents’ perceptions on food and nutrition prepared by October 3rd and technical support for the recruitment of institution to conduct the study finalised by end November 2022.

• Concept note for the piloting of integrated MHPSS services finalised by December 2022.

• Timely coordination and technical inputs provided to the research institutes or individual consultants contracted for: 1) the development of the Landscape Analysis of digital health services and platforms for young people in Thailand, 2) the study on adolescents’ perceptions on food and nutrition, and 3) the development of standards and referral protocols for online health services.

• Monthly reports describing progress of activities.

• Minutes of meetings between UNICEF and external partners and stakeholders provided on an ongoing basis, as relevant

• Timely submission of inputs for end year reporting by 7 December 2022.

Duration of Contract: The assignment will have a duration of five months, from August to December 2022.

Working Location: The consultant is expected to work full time at the UNICEF’s office in Bangkok. Distance or hybrid modality can be considered.

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

• An Advanced University degree from a recognized university in public health, health systems administration, health management, or relevant discipline is required.

• A minimum of eight years of experience in public health policy, planning, and management.

• Solid understanding of adolescent health issues, particular mental health, and nutrition

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, proven ability to write technical reports; technical advice and guidance to multiple stakeholders.

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to promote consensus, communicate progress and results, and proactively take corrective action while ensuring effective professional and ethical practices.

• Fluency in written and oral English is required.

• Fluency in Thai is an asset.

• Experience working with UN agencies is required.

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV or P-11, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, and proposed monthly professional fee in USD by 27 July 2022****.

FORM P11.doc

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People, and Drive for Results.

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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.

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.

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

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.