International consultant - to provide specialized Mental Health and Psychosocial support to children and youth at risk of recruitment and those formerly associated with armed groups and arme

Consultant Human Resources Medical & Health Programme & Policy

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 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, Protection

www.unicef.org/somalia

How can you make a difference?

In 2022, UNICEF will review and refine its MHPSS activities across all areas of its Child Protection (CP) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and juvenile justice (diversion of children in conflict with the law) programme by using its CAAFAG reintegration programme and partners as an entry point. The consultant will develop an effective MHPSS approach that maximizes the possibility of former CAAFAG and youth to effectively resume a socially harmonious and productive life in their community with pilot interventions in Baidoa (Southwest) Kismayo (Jubaland), Dhusamareb (Galmudug) and Jowhar (Hiirshabelle).

Through the building of soft skills using recreational activity, the establishment of pro-social bonds and social connections, and development of new personal narratives, the program will address three key drivers of recruitment into armed and violent groups: (a) the need for personal significance, (b) the narrative granting permission for the use of violence and connecting the need for personal significance to action, and (c) a network of people[1].

The project will build on and contribute to programmatic research applying scientifically rigorous methods to heal and empower conflict-affected youth and addressing some of the key drivers to AS recruitment.

This consultancy contributes to two objectives:

1. To increase community acceptance of youth formerly associated with AS and
2. To increase access to opportunities for marginalized community youth to contribute to their communities meaningfully.

This will be achieved through refining the quality of our MHPSS interventions in support of conflict affected youth.

This is to be achieved through strengthening existing MHPSS tools to measure and monitor mental health parameters such as self-confidence, self-efficacy, communication, harmful ideation, and pro-social skills (pending expert recommendations) throughout the child’s reintegration/diversion process.

The successful candidate will refine, test and expand the implementation of an innovative five pillar methodology [2], which enhances well-being and self-efficacy by establishing emotional and physical safe spaces providing diverse sports and recreational activities and building therapeutic relationships between peers and with trusted adults.

A research program will be established concurrently with results submitted for peer review at the project closure.

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[1] Arie Kruglanski. Significance Quest Theory as the Driver of Radicalization Towards Terrorism. 2015.

[2] This methodology was first pioneered in gang settings in South Africa by Waves For Change, looks at the wholistic needs of trauma affected young people including; building life skills; ability to cope with stress; positive relationships; building identity/possibilities; and connecting young people to services and case mgmt.

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Estimated timeframe

Estimate Budget

1

Develop a concept note detailing an innovative mental health psychosocial approach reflective of a modern approach on mental health and brain development for children and youth deprived of their childhood.

Concept note on innovative mental health and psychosocial support approach for children deprived of their childhood

3 weeks

TBD

2

Lead the development of innovative activities in a safe space that enhance meaningful relational practice amongst similar age peers and with their mentors or coaches.

Monthly activity reports on safe space on meaningful relational practice.

12months

TBD

3

Identify approaches that effectively support children with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and complex trauma resulting from continued exposure to the conflict to develop a recovery path that is scientifically robust and can be monitored and documented over time.

Report on approaches that support children overcome depression, anxiety, and complex trauma.

1-3mths

TBD

4

Develop an innovative five-pillar methodology[1], which enhances well-being and self-efficacy by establishing emotional and physical safe spaces providing diverse sports and recreational activities and building therapeutic relationships between peers and trusted adults.

Innovative Five-pillar methodology developed with diverse sports and recreational activities that build therapeutic relationships between peers and trusted adults.

1-3months

TBD

5

Lead planning and implementation of Physical sports activities (football, basketball, surfing, volleyball, and yoga) that channel the energy and adrenaline of young people and promote growth, learning and personal development, confidence/self-esteem, communication, empathy, coping with emotions, leadership, trust, negotiation, and team building and provide a sustainable alternative, particularly (but not exclusively) for male youth, who have experienced sustained and immense surges of adrenaline through combat-related activities as well as continuous exposure to conflict.

Comprehensive implementation plan and delivery of physical sports activities that channel energy and adrenaline of youth and promote growth and positive social ideals.

12months

TBD

6

Establish connections with external agencies, including youth-driven organizations, who use surfing, boxing, skating, football, hip-hop, dance, art and music as therapeutic entry points for overcoming trauma.

Interaction and resolution made with youth-driven organisations that use surfing, boxing, skating, football, hip-hop, dance, art and music to overcome traumatic experiences

1-3months

TBD

7

Plan and lead training on the five-pillar methodology targeting UNICEF and IOM staff and implementing partners.

A training module on the five-pillar methodology and training of UNICEF and IOM staff and implementing partners.

3-5months

TBD

8.

Develop Arts-based activities including theatre/drama, poetry, music, and painting/drawing centred around eight key themes (identity and belonging, trust and understanding, empathy and acceptance, and forgiveness and reconciliation) to build social cohesion. Activities will leverage rich Somali cultural traditions such as poetry, storytelling, theatre, music, and art to create a conducive environment for different social groups to build trust.

Arts based activities (including Somalia cultural activities) that build social cohesion are developed and implemented in children’s spaces

12monts

TBD

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[1] This methodology was first pioneered in gang settings in South Africa by Waves For Change, looks at the wholistic needs of trauma affected young people including; building life skills; ability to cope with stress; positive relationships; building identity/possibilities; and connecting young people to services and case mgmt..

Duty station:

This consultancy will be based in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Duration:

The duration of the consultancy is 11.5 months

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

• Master’s degree or higher in the social sciences (i.e. sociology, psychology, political science, social policy or economics), International Law, public health, public policy, public administration, international development, or in an area relevant to UNICEF’s sectoral work.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience and demonstrated track record of having undertaken and led substantive programming and research on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Youth and development, Gender-Based Violence, Youth development and other key areas that are the focus of UNICEF.
• Good analytical and writing skills, and the ability to present the results in a simple language, making use of visual aids (maps, graphs, and other visual tools);
• Proven experience in organizing and managing sports events for deprived children.
• Ability to facilitate training sessions with local authorities and maintain confidentiality.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization.
• Experience in project management is desirable.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

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. 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:

Kindly include an all-inclusive financial and technical proposal together with your application.

UNICEF only considers Higher education qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net.

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.

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