Individual Consultancy (Maldivian Nationals only) to Coordinate Mental Health and Psychosocial Services and provide Technical MHPSS Support

Contract

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Individual Consultancy (Maldivian Nationals only) to Coordinate Mental Health and Psychosocial Services and provide Technical MHPSS Support.

Purpose of the Assignment

With the overall aim of contributing to improved mental health coverage in the Maldives, the purpose of the assignment is to provide coordination and technical support, through a consultancy, to strengthen the specialized Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), as well as strengthen multi-sectoral coordination on MHPSS.

The key objective is to strengthen and expand the specialized mental health services at the Centre for Mental Health, to provide high-quality mental health services to those in need.

The specific objectives of the consultancy are to:

1. Support CMH and National Mental Health programme to strengthen specialized MHPSS services in the Maldives.
2. Assist to increase access to CMH services by streamlining the MHPSS patient waitlist and screening system
3. Improve institutional mechanisms: strengthen processes, develop regulations and internal mechanism and external referral mechanisms among different sectors
4. Enhance coordination with other MHPSS and protection services, organisations, including for the protection of women, children, survivors of violence, and other vulnerable populations.
5. Assist in improving knowledge management, including data analytics, monitoring and research on MHPSS
6. Technical contribution to strategies, procedures, and proposals related to MHPSS
7. Support UNICEF on ongoing MHPSS work, including the development and implementation of the MHPSS communication plan, and the Helping Adolescent Thrive Programme
8. Contribute to MHPSS prevention and promotion activities, especially during critical events such as World Mental Health Day
9. Contribute to the development and operationalization of the Joint WHO-UNICEF MHPSS case study

Duty Station: The consultancy is based in Male’ and will be working as a core team member of the Center for Mental Health, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, with regular meetings at UNICEF. Some travel within the Maldives is anticipated, on a need basis. The latter part of the consultancy will involve working at UNICEF on some days, and close engagement with partners.

Supervisor: Under the direct supervision UNICEF Programme Specialist for Health & Nutrition, and in close coordination with the head of the Center for Mental Health.

Major tasks of the Assignment:

The overall responsibility of the coordinator is to support the Center of Mental Health Management team to coordinate, strengthen and expand specialized MHPSS services at the center, ensuring the provision of high-quality mental health services to those in need.

The consultant will work as part of the Centre for Mental Health team, and will contribute to the below key tasks:

Objective

Responsibilities

1. Support CMH strengthen MHPSS services and improve institutional mechanisms

• Technical contribution to strategies, procedures, and proposals related to MHPSS.
• Working with the CMH team, to improve access to services and work to strengthen existing psychosocial support services offered by CMH.
• With the management team of CMH, support to improve the process, systems and streamline programmes offered in CMH to ensure effective, relevant, and efficient services.
• Draft a proposed coordination mechanism for MHPSS in CMH to be used as an advocacy tool to institutionalize the role of the coordinator.

2. Enhance coordination with other MHPSS and protection services, and organisations, including for the protection of women, children, survivors of violence, and other vulnerable populations

• Close engagement with key MHPSS stakeholders to facilitate a multisectoral approach to mental health and psychosocial support care.
• Collaboration and engagement with NMHP and other sectors at different levels of services to strengthen coordination.
• Support CMH and the National Mental Health programme to operationalize and monitor key aspects of regional mental health services to strengthen specialized MHPSS services in the Maldives.

3. Assist in improving knowledge management, including data analytics, monitoring and research on MHPSS

• Finalise the draft referral pathway document.
• Support to develop knowledge assets for MHPSS (approx. 4) and contribute to the UNICEF team.
• Monthly statistics of children and adolescents seeking consultations at CMH.

4. Support UNICEF on ongoing MHPSS work, including MHPSS communication plan, the Helping Adolescent Thrive Programme, and the Joint WHO-UNICEF MHPSS case study work

• Support UNICEF on ongoing MHPSS work, including development and implementation of MHPSS communication plan, and the Helping Adolescent Thrive Programme.
• Contribute to the development and operationalization of the Joint WHO-UNICEF MHPSS case study.

5. Contribute to MHPSS prevention and promotion activities, especially on critical events such as World Mental Health Day

• Contribute to the development, review, and dissemination of MHPSS messages and resources related to World Mental Health Day, Children’s Day, Parenting Week, Suicide Prevention Week, and World Health Day. This includes:
  • Support to the development and dissemination of key MHPSS messages, especially focused on child and adolescent MHPSS prevention.
  • Contribute to external communication, and media engagement.
  • Contribute to the development of other IEC resources on MHPSS.
  • Support contextualizing and translating global content.

Deliverables:

1. Monthly progress reports focusing on key contributions, stakeholder engagements, MHPSS advocacy and communication efforts and monthly statistics
2. Final report at the end of the consultancy with the proposed draft coordination mechanism for CMH

Estimated duration of the contract: The consultancy period is for 6 months, from Oct 2022 – April 2023.

Official travel involved (itinerary and duration): Travel outside Male’ is not foreseen, though there is a possibility of travels to the Atolls based on the need.

Payment schedule:

Remuneration will be based on a monthly progress report, that covers the technical and coordination work in relation to the following objectives and roles, as well as submission of concrete technical work developed that month:

• Support CMH and the National Mental Health programme to strengthen specialized MHPSS services in the Maldives
• Assist to increase access to CMH services by streamlining the MHPSS patient waitlist and screening system
• Improve institutional mechanisms: strengthen processes, develop regulations and internal mechanism and external referral mechanisms among different sectors
• Enhance coordination with other MHPSS and protection services, organisations, including for the protection of women, children, survivors of violence, and other vulnerable populations.
• Assist in improving knowledge management, including data analytics, monitoring and research on MHPSS
• Technical contribution to strategies, procedures, and proposals related to MHPSS
• Support UNICEF on ongoing MHPSS work, including the development and implementation of MHPSS communication plan, and the Helping Adolescent Thrive Programme
• Contribute to MHPSS prevention and promotion activities, especially during critical events such as World Mental Health Day
• Contribute to the development and operationalization of the Joint WHO-UNICEF MHPSS case study

UNICEF will only make milestone payments based on the achievement of specific deliverables as listed. All payments will be subjected to acceptance of deliverables by UNICEF.

UNICEF does not make advance payments & UNICEF is exempted from paying VAT and other forms of taxes. Locals will be paid in local currency.

Qualifications or specialized knowledge and/or experience required

• At least an undergraduate level degree in the field of mental health, such as psychology, psychotherapy, or another relevant area. An advanced degree in the area of Mental Health is an asset.
• Specialised training in MHPSS, and/or specified areas within MHPSS will be desired. Practical and technical competencies in MHPSS, counseling and psychology, or experience in the delivery of similar services or prevention programs will be a distinct advantage.
• At least three years working of experience in mental health and psycho-social programming related to the field, at progressively senior level. Experience working in the MHPSS sector, and different agencies will be an asset.
• High level of project management skills, and /or program design, monitoring, and evaluation skills, including designing pathways to sustainable impact at scale.
• Demonstrated high level of coordination of projects, programs or initiatives, as well skills and ability to coordinate service, and facilitating teams. Excellent interpersonal skills are required.
• Excellent networking and partnership management skills
• Excellent written and spoken Dhivehi and English; demonstrated a high level of professional communication skills (oral and written)
• Ability to work in teams
• Flexibility and adaptability, demonstrated through previous work experience

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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 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.