International Consultant - Mental Heath and Psychosocial Support (MH PSS) - Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Monday 23 Aug 2021 at 23:55 UTC

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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.

Background and Context:

Since early January 2019, the humanitarian situation in Burkina Faso has further deteriorated. The number of IDP has unprecedently increased due to increased attacks by armed groups. The general security situation was worsened by the intensity of violence between Burkina Faso armed forces and armed groups. As of 25 May 2021, violence and insecurity have caused the displacement of over 1, 218,754 people compared to 170,447 in April 2019, out of which 61% are children. This situation is compounding already existing needs and threatening civilians lives and livelihoods of vulnerable groups especially children and women.

According to the CPAoR -field reports about 80% families and Children of all ages are vulnerable to psychosocial distress. With recurrent displacements, children are exposed to separation from their caregivers, lack of birth registration, gender-based violence (GBV) including high risks of rape, sexual assault and widespread child marriage, as well as the high risk of worst forms of child labor, child recruitment by armed groups and child trafficking. Access to health care including mental health, nutritious foods, safe drinking water and other social services has been severely compromised, impacting all aspects of children’s lives – their safety, health, and wellbeing. Displaced children and their families are being hosted in communities that had limited access to social services even before the current crisis, which has put a further strain on the already vulnerable population.

Because of the psychological distress, some nursing women are facing the drying up of breast milk with a direct consequence on the life of the children and the family. With the current humanitarian context, Children’s exposure to violence has been exacerbated. Up to 25% of children aged 0-17 suffer from physical violence, while psychological violence affects more than 1 in 4 children aged 0 to 17. School closure and promiscuity, inadequate infrastructures, including in the IDP sites, expose children, especially girls, to risks such as GBV and SEA.

Goal and Objectives:

The consultant will support the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of MHPSS interventions in Burkina Faso, ensuring overall efficiency, effectiveness, and delivery of results in accordance with the UNICEF Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action and national and international humanitarian standards.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities

  1. A MHPSS need assessment for children and their families is conducted in the affected region (Centre Nord, Sahel, Est et Nord et Boucle du Mouhoun)
  2. A mapping of available community-based PSS services and other formal and informal psychosocial support mechanisms and/or resource persons is conducted
  3. A harmonized training material is developed for CPAoR and MHPSS-Technical Working Group and nutrition Component to strengthen the delivery of community based psychosocial support
  4. A guidance on Community based MHPSS response mechanism is developed to improve the quality of activities being delivered for children, nursing women and families, by community-based organizations (CBOs), heath personnel, traditional healers etc.
  5. Professional trainings are conducted for UNICEF and partners including local CBOs, social workers and other staff based on identified training needs including community approaches, psychological first aid and other best practices to provision of psychosocial support
  6. MHPSS field monitoring reports on the quality of psychosocial support provided by the CBO partners and community volunteers, government social workers are developed monthly using participatory monitoring and evaluation strategies that incorporate both reach and quality service delivery.

    Tasks, Deliverables and Time frame:

Tasks

Deliverables

Time Frame

  • Conduct the A MHPSS need assessment for children and their families

  • A MHPSS need assessment available

10 September 2021

Monthly report

  • Realize a mapping of available community-based PSS services

  • A mapping of available community-based PSS services available

    20 September 2021

  • Develop the training materials for field levels

  • Training and monitoring materials available

30 September 2021

  • Organize and conduct one training for 30 trainers on MHPSSS

  • 30 trainers trained on MHPSS

10 October 2021

Monthly report

  • Develop and validate guidance on Community based MHPSS response mechanism in coordination with the CPAoR and MHPSS -TWG

  • A guidance on Community based MHPSS response mechanism is developed and validated

30 October 2021

  • Conduct trainings for UNICEF and partners

  • 200 UNICEF and partners trained on MHPSS

15 November 2021

Monthly and final reports

  • Conduct field monitoring on the quality of psychosocial support provided by the CBO partners

  • 3 field monitoring reports on the quality of psychosocial available

20 November 2021

  • Draft and submit the final report of the consultation on MHPSS

  • Final report on the MHPSS consultation submitted

25 November 2021

Qualifications and Competencies

  • Advanced Degree (Master level or above) with specialization in Psychology, Clinical Social Work or Mental Health
  • Minimum 5 years of relevant and demonstrated humanitarian MHPSS work experience, including in emergencies and in conflict settings
  • Excellent knowledge and understanding of humanitarian principles, child safeguarding measures and established international standards
  • Sound knowledge of IASC MHPSS guidelines and UNICEF MHPSS Operational Guidelines
  • Strong organizational and facilitation skills whether face to face or remotely with diverse stakeholders
  • Demonstrated experience with programme cycle management, preferably including remote coordination
  • Comfortable to work independently while coordinating closely with different teams
  • Full command of spoken and written French is essential. Good knowledge of English is required

Submission requirements

The application file, addressed to the Human Resources section, should consist of the following:

  • A cover letter along with an updated and signed CV or P11
  • Copies of academic credentials and other training qualifications required and related to the consultation
  • Contacts and email addresses of 3 most recent supervisors, including your current supervisor for reference verification
  • A technical proposal including work methodology
  • Examples of previous, relevant work related to the deliverables/technical criteria

The financial proposal should include:

The detailed financial proposal including all costs expressed in US dollars:

  • Consultant fees
  • Round trip airfare to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
  • Daily subsistence allowances (DSA)

Miscellaneous expenses including telephone and internet charges, transportation, and others

Duration of assignment

01 September - 30 November 2021

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies. 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.To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Female candidates are strongly recommended.

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.

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.

Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org