Mental Health and Psychological Support Consultant

Contract

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For every child, equal opportunities

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is an institutional priority for the UN, and for UNICEF. The UNICEF Strategic Plan 2018-2021 identifies MHPSS as a priority area for children, caregivers, parents and young people, building upon existing programming, including in humanitarian settings through child protection, health and education with a focus on addressing inequities related to gender and disabilities. Further, the recent Mid-Term Review of the Strategic Plan highlighted the importance of MHPSS across the organization. This consultancy is also part of a broader initiative on MHPSS within UNICEF Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean that includes Colombia and Peru, 4 other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and in Middle East and Northern Africa as well as UNICEF HQ.

Building a supportive and nurturing environment to maintain good mental well-being and resilience for children, adolescent and their care givers is critical for the overall success of UNICEF programming in both humanitarian and development settings at the family, community and institutional levels.

Lockdowns, restrictions of movement and school closures has resulted in the confinement of children and families in the home, increased household vulnerabilities through the economic impact, and disrupted routines and social supports. Fear of losing loved ones, stigmatization for those in contact with COVID-19 cases including health and social workers and loss of livelihoods has also negatively impacted the mental and psychosocial well-being of children, caregivers and communities. This has notably led to increased request for support on Psychosocial First Aid (PFA), PSS for frontline workers, prevention of violence, suicide and stigma, and referral pathways; and capacity building of staff and partners on all those matters.

The impact of COVID-19 coupled with severe economic hardship and loss in the Latin America and Caribbean region has thus further exacerbated the need to urgently address mental distress and trauma of children, adolescents and their caregivers.

UNICEF is looking to leverage existing MHPSS programming across sectors and to design at scale regional solutions in partnerships with Governmental institutions as well as with young people and women’s organizations.

For more information about UNICEF and its work. (www.unicef.org/lac).

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Regional Specialist Adolescent and HIV and in close collaboration with the regional task force team on MHPSS that includes Regional Specialists from Health, Child Protection and Education, the consultant will support UNICEF to strengthen their work on MHPSS, contribute to the design and field-testing of a regional strategy on MHPSS in order to scale-up integrated MHPSS programming in both development and emergency settings and support Governments to include MHPSS into relevant planning and policies in the Latin America and Caribbean Region.

How can you make a difference?

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Regional Specialist Adolescent and HIV and in close collaboration with the regional task force team on MHPSS that includes Regional Specialists from Health, Child Protection and Education, the consultant will support UNICEF to strengthen their work on MHPSS, contribute to the design and field-testing of a regional strategy on MHPSS in order to scale-up integrated MHPSS programming in both development and emergency settings and support Governments to include MHPSS into relevant planning and policies in the Latin America and Caribbean Region. [Insert purpose of post and bullet points on main activities]

Specific tasks

The consultant will coordinate mapping, analysis and capacity-building initiatives on MHPSS in the region in order to help shape strategic programmatic responses to MHPSS across sectors and ensure the inclusion of MHPSS in research, data collection/reporting and communication exercises. The consultant will work, in coordination with the regional task force team, with country, regional and global level teams.

More specifically, the consultant will support the Regional Office in 3 main area of work and will be expected to complete the following tasks:

1. Cross-sectoral coordination and Strategy development

• Map existing UNICEF regional and country level initiatives, programming and tools on MHPSS and draft an analysis highlighting gaps as well as innovative approach to consider for scale-up;
• Draft Regional Framework on MHPSS based on the Global Draft Framework developed at HQ and organize related consultation across regional sectors and with country offices;
• Attend and provide inputs to existing cross-sectoral and inter-agency coordination platforms on MHPSS, including in humanitarian settings such as REDLAC and R4V and in broader programmes (regional task team on MHPSS, PAHO, etc.).

2. Capacity-strengthening and technical support

• Conduct a MHPSS capacity needs assessment for UNICEF staff in the region.
• Plan a learning series for UNICEF staff in the region through monthly webinars.
• Regional landscape analysis on MHPSS related national policies/systems
• Provide technical assistance to Peru and Colombia country offices on the implementation of the 7% set aside funding programme.

3. Knowledge management and resource mobilization

• Set up, populate and maintain a knowledge management platform, using an existing knowledge management site developed by Child Protection in the UNICEF LACRO intranet, to inform a regional community of practice
• Document best and promising practices in the region, with a focus on intersectoral approaches to MHPSS
• Develop or provide inputs to funding/donor proposal and/or case studies related to MHPSS, in coordination with the regional task force team on MHPSS;
• Highlight needs and solutions related to MHPSS in UNICEF communication products and on relevant regional situation analysis or human-interest stories.

Expected results

• Documentation of UNICEF MHPSS programs in the LAC region, including existing materials, guidelines, tools available through a knowledge management platform.
• A roadmap for developing a MHPSS framework that can guide the work of UNICEF in the region.
• A mapping of existing capacity needs in the region.
• A learning series on MHPSS and the integration of MHPSS within UNICEF LACR knowledge management strategies and tools
• A landscape analysis of MHPSS partners, policies/systems
• At least three case studies on MHPSS programs in the region well documented, including stories from children and adolescents in the region.
• A briefing note on MHPSS that can be used with public and private partners to mobilize additional resources
• A final regional MHPSS framework to guide the work in the region.

Deliverables

• Introductory calls with regional and HQ teams and with a selection of COs to map and analyze ongoing initiatives on MHPSS programming. Roadmap for deliverables drafted. [10 days]
• A regional MHPSS framework drafted (aligned with HQ framework). Knowledge Management platform is functioning. [40 days]
• A regional MHPSS framework validated through consultative process [31 days]
• Mapping of regional capacity needs finalized [30 days]
• Regional learning series designed and launched [20 days]
• Regional landscape of MHPSS partners, related national policies/systems completed [30 days]
• Documentation of case studies drafted [30 days]
• Stories from CO and adolescents from the region compiled and contributions to State of the Children Report completed [10 days]
• Briefing note on MHPSS prepared in collaboration with sectors and PFP/PPD – to be used for resource mobilization [10 days]
• Regional framework is revised based on field consultation/learning [10 days]
• Final strategic framework launched [10 days]

Supervision

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Specialist Adolescent and HIV and in close collaboration with the regional task force team on MHPSS that includes the Regional Specialists from Health, Child Protection and Education.

Workplace

The consultant will be required to work remotely. It is also required that the consultant has all necessary tools, equipment and services to comply with the above mentioned requirements.

Duration

The duration of this consultancy is 11.5 months, and the estimated start date is 1 December 2020.

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

• Master’s degree in social sciences, psychology or similar relevant discipline.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience with MHPSS programming, including in humanitarian contexts.
• Strong intersectoral coordination, organizational and facilitation skills whether face to face or remotely with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience with multisectoral programme design and knowledge management, preferably including remote coordination.
• Experience working for the UN/UNICEF will be an asset.
• Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of French or Portuguese will be an asset.

Technical knowledge

• Professional technical knowledge on MHPSS, health and social work system is required.
• Knowledge of humanitarian and development principles.
• Knowledge of UNICEF programme work in the LAC Region in the areas of health, or child protection or humanitarian response, desirable.
• Experience coordinating multisectoral responses, conducting programmatic and policy analysis, collecting programmatic results and technical support provision in humanitarian or development contexts.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, as well as Skype, Zoom, Teams will be an asset.

Other skills and attributes

• Demonstrated excellent communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to engage and build collaboration with multiple partners.
• Ability to work efficiently under tight deadlines.
• Demonstrate strong communication skills, verbally and written.
• Able to work effectively and engage young people in program design

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Core values of care, respect, integrity, trust, and accountability. UNICEF competencies: building and maintains partnerships, demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, drive to achieve results for impact, innovates and embraces change, manages ambiguity and complexity, thinks and acts strategically, works collaboratively with others and nurtures, and, leads and manages people.

Remarks:

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.

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.

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.