Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) mapping and analysis Consultant

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF promotes the rights and welfare of all children and adolescents in everything we do. Together with our allies, we work in 190 countries and territories to transform this commitment into practical actions that benefit all children, especially focusing our efforts on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded, worldwide.

The UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office is based in in Panama, operating in 36 territories, including 24 country offices.

UNICEF works to put the rights and well-being of the most disadvantaged children at the heart of the social, political, and economic agenda, in line with our equity focus, working across our organization and with our partners in government, civil society and the private sector to support shifts in public policy, fuel social engagement, and increase investment for children.

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 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 has 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 for children, adolescent and their care givers is critical for the overall success of UNICEF programming in both humanitarian and development settings at family, community and institutional level.

Lockdowns, restrictions of movements and school closures has resulted in the confinement of children and families in the home, increased household vulnerabilities through the economic impact, and the disruption of routines and social supports. Fear of losing loved ones, stigmatization for those in contact with COVID19 cases including health and social workers and loss of livelihoods have 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 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 care-givers.

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)..)

For every child, mental health

Purpose of the Job

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Regional Adviser Survive and Thrive and in coordination with the Regional MHPSS Consultant and the Regional Child Protection Officer, the consultant will support UNICEF to strengthen their work on MHPSS. The consultant will be supporting the implementation of the MHPSS service mapping and capacity needs for the region through a consultation process, and analysis of the data collected. The consultant will also support to consolidate in a compendium of best and promising practices in MHPSS in the Latin America and Caribbean Region and the regional adaptation of the UNICEF global MHPSS framework.

How can you make a difference?

Specific Tasks

The consultant will be responsible to ensure that the information for the service mapping is collected using the established tools and coordinate the timely data collection from the country office MHPSS focal persons.

More specifically the consultant will support the regional office in the following tasks:

- Ensure the timely data collection for the MHPSS service mapping. - Support the collection of information related to capacity needs - Conduct interviews with Key Informants on MHPSS services and capacity needs - Carry out the analysis of the information collected and draft a report with all the relevant findings and recommendations - Engage in any capacity building initiatives in MHPSS for UNICEF staff in the region through webinars - Support the information collection on MHPSS programs in the region including stories from children and adolescents in the region.

Expected Results

The consultant is expected to develop the following results:

- Regional MHPSS Service mapping report - A mapping of existing capacity needs in the region - Two case studies on MHPSS programs in the region well documented, including stories from children and adolescents in the region. - Final report on the achievements, lessons learned and recommendations

Deliverables [approximate dates and times]

15 April 2021: Collection of data for MHPSS services through the online survey tool and data analysis [30 days] 15 May 2021: Key informant interviews on MHPSS services and needs [15 days] 1 June 2021: Capacity needs mapping information analysis [20 days] 15 June 2021: Report MHPSS services of COs and capacity needs for UNICEF staff [10 days] 1 November 2021: Two case studies of MHPSS programs in the region [30 days] 1 December 2021: Final report with achievements, lessons learned and recommendations [10 days]

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

• Education: - University degree in Psychology
• Work Experience: - A minimum of 1 year experience with a humanitarian organization - Work experience with an international organization in the field of MHPSS - Work experience in the Latin America and Caribbean Region - A good understanding of MHPSS interventions in humanitarian and development settings
• Languages: - Fluency in Spanish, English and Portuguese is required. Knowledge of French will be considered an asset.
• Technical knowledge: - Professional technical knowledge and expertise in mental health and psychosocial support. - Knowledge of UNICEF programme work in the LAC Region in the areas of MHPSS and child protection
• Other skills and attributes: - Demonstrated excellent skills in data analysis, and data collection. - Demonstrated ability to conduct interviews remotely and engage in communication with people from different countries and cultures. - Ability to work efficiently under tight deadlines. - Must be detail-oriented and have good writing skills.

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.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

Supervision: The consultant / individual contractor will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Advisor Survive and Thrive

Workplace: The consultant/ individual contractor will be requested to work remotely, home-based.

Duration: Estimated start date of this individual contract is March 1st and the duration up to 10 December 2021.

How to apply: Application should be submitted online and should include: Online application, Resume, cover letter and financial proposal. Qualified candidates are requested to submit daily and monthly fees in their financial proposal.

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.

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.