Individual Consultant (Maldivian National) Technical assistance to draft the mental health communications campaign plan

Contract

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Individual Consultancy (Maldivian National) Technical assistance to draft the mental health communications campaign plan

Background

Public Health models recommend prioritising the prevention and promotion of mental health to reduce the increasing burden of mental disorders. Mental health promotion involves promoting the value of mental health and improving the coping capacities of individuals and the broader community.

The Mental Health Strategic Action Plan (MHSAP) has also identified the need for the promotion of mental well-being and the prevention of mental health issues. Awareness and skills on coping strategies are instrumental for adolescents and young people to build their inner resilience, be able to handle stress and most importantly promote help-seeking behaviour that is appropriate. It is also beneficial for their families and the wider community to help young people to manage their emotions and distress at an early stage and hence mitigate further escalation of mental distress. Increasing awareness, self-efficacy and overall societal acceptance-building around mental health issues are paramount.

In this regard, UNICEF Maldives Country Office is supporting the Health Protection Agency in the rollout of the National Mental Health Communications Strategy and Campaign - “Kihineh”, which was launched by HE the President on 5th December 2022 with high-level participation and advocacy for mental health literacy. The campaign focuses on prevention and building individual resilience, societal awareness and support to decrease stigma related to mental health illness. The campaign will mainly focus on using social and behaviour change strategies to tackle stigma and discrimination and seek to increase awareness of and change attitudes towards mental health and well-being, by reframing good mental health as beyond the absence of a mental health condition.

Purpose and Objectives

The overall objective of the assignment is to support the National Mental Health programme at the Health Protection Agency (HPA) / Ministry of Health (MoH), in the detailed compilation and costing of the Mental Health Communications Campaign Plan with UNICEF’s support, with a special focus on increasing awareness, changing social norms and conducting public engagements:

1. With the close support from HPA/MoH and UNICEF, based on the finalised MHPSS communication strategy, expand the campaign plan with detailed activities, and cost it.
2. Establish a baseline of general public perception using an online poll using the indicators identified in the strategy as a basis.

Major tasks of the assignment (25 working days: between Jan 2023 – Mar 2023)

Task

Deliverables

Duration

Based on the endorsed strategy, expand the campaign plan with detailed activities and timeline (through a facilitative process)

for a rollout for one year

Campaign plan with detailed activities and timeline

15 working days

Costing of the detailed Campaign Plan

Costed campaign plan

5 working days

Facilitate the dissemination and analysis of an online poll based on the indicators specified in the mental health communications strategy (which will be the baseline data for the campaign)

Analysed data and report based on the results of the baseline online poll

5 working days

*The campaign design and branding have already been completed. For more information on the strategy, please visit:

https://www.unicef.org/maldives/documents/summary-booklet-national-mental-health-communications-strategy-and-campaign

Deliverables

• Campaign plan with detailed activities and timeline
• Costed plan

Report on the baseline online survey/poll (and analysed data)

Duration of assignment: 25 working days between January 2023 to March 2023

Duty station: Male’/Maldives

Travel: Travel is not expected.

Supervisor: The consultant will be supervised by the UNICEF Programme Specialist for Health & Nutrition, and the Head of the Mental Health Division, Health Protection Agency. An appointed member from the consultancy firm will serve as a focal point.

Qualifications or specialized knowledge and/or experience required:

Communication specialist:

• At least an undergraduate bachelor's degree in communications, multimedia management, marketing, mass media or a related area
• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in a related field, with proven experience leading similar initiatives
• Proven expertise in developing communication plans and strategies (preferably in social sector related campaigns or plans)
• Familiarity with health promotion, demand creation and community participation strategies is an asset
• Professional level written and spoken Dhivehi and good writing skills in English;
• Experience developing brand identity for a campaign (especially a social campaign);
• Previous experience in project management
• Experience in costing or familiarity with budgeting communication plan or activities;
• Previous experience conducting online polls (preferably in Maldives), and stakeholder engagements.
• Past experience in Mental health promotion or psycho-social support will be an asset

Please note the following:

UNICEF will hold the copyright to all designed and developed products, including vector images. It is expected that consultant will be creating work themselves, and not plagiarizing, or copying from other’s intellectual property 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. Also, note that UNICEF does not make advance payments and UNICEF is exempted from paying VAT and any other forms of taxes. Local firms will be paid in local currency.

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.

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.