MHPSS Consultant to conduct mapping of MHPSS services in the Czech Republic

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.

For every child, Protection

As of 2 April 2023, the Czech Republic has granted Temporary Protection to 325,742 refugees from Ukraine, with a total of 92,127 (28.3 percent) children under the age of 18 years, 152,180 (46.7 percent) women aged 18+ years and 81,421 (25.0 percent) men 18+. Refugee arrivals are expected to continue as the situation remains uncertain. Evidence demonstrates that refugee children are at increased risk of violence, trafficking, sexual and labor exploitation, and abuse and face many other situations rendering them vulnerable

The Mental health and Psychosocial toll of the conflict is vast, from a clinical point of view for instance, rates of common mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression can double in humanitarian emergencies. At the same time the social fabric is severely affected, and experiences of violence and displacement are also manifested in the wider social structures of communities and societies. For more than 7.5 million Ukrainians who have fled into neighboring countries and beyond, their experience as refugees presents a host of challenges to their wellbeing, and specifically to their mental health.

As mental health and psychosocial support under the humanitarian framework is still a topic not broadly assessed by the humanitarian community responding to the Ukraine Crisis in Czech Republic, there is a great need to collect information on this sector, to better understand how the sector is structured, what are the service provided, the main challenges and opportunities in provision of quality MHPSS services.

How can you make a difference?

The consultant will conduct a mapping of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Service (MHPSS) to support development and inform UNICEF’s MHPSS related activities. The person will work closely with the Child Protection team under the supervision of Child Protection Specialist.

The mapping overview will focus on analyzing the MHPSS structure in areas of Public Health, Social Services and Education. A specific focus will be placed in mapping of information around Mental Health Structures, Policies, Human Resources, Research, Coordination, Culture and Social Norms, as well as MHPSS service provision including on identifying key challenges on accessing MHPSS for the crisis affected population. The mapping will provide recommendations on suitable and relevant intervention and strategic domains in mental health sector in the domain Health, Social and Education areas.

It will be done in a close cooperation with MHPSS local Partners and UNICEF Child Protection team and the findings - report and compact summary report - will be presented to mental health and psychosocial stakeholders.

Specific deliverables and tasks for the consultancy are herein below:

Deliverable 1

Mapping inception plan developed - Develop final methodology & inception plan, outlining the scope, key questions, desk review, interviews questions and protocols with key informants (3 days)

Deliverable 2

Preparation of study materials, including the technical proofreading of the IASC MHPSS Guidelines in Emergency Settings (2007) in Czech Language - A list of all internal and external MHPSS-related materials, guidelines, resources and policies. Final proofreading of IASC MHPSS guidelines in Czech language. (5 days)

Deliverable 3

Desk review of secondary sources conducted - Conduct desk review of available literature, materials and secondary data on MHPSS, including list of key informants and interview guide(s) (6 days)

Deliverable 4

Key informant interviews conducted - Coordination and facilitation of interviews with MHPSS key informants (4 days)

Deliverable 5

Development of narrative report - Development of the report based on desk review and information collected from the key informant interviews (5 days)

Deliverable 6

Finalization of the report - Final revisions according to feedback from UNICEF and key informants (2 days)

[1] Consultant shall provide the reports for completed deliverables for each scheduled payment, as well as final report.

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

• Advanced university degree in Psychology, Health or related field.
• At least 5-7 years of professional work experience in the field of Mental Health and Psychological support at the international and national level.
• Comprehensive knowledge of international and regional standards on MHPSS.
• Extensive experience in analyzing systems and programs, designing concepts, guidelines, practical tools and manuals for different national systems
• Experience in working in emergency context is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in providing supervision and quality monitoring aspects of different mechanisms, desirably with an emphasis on MHPSS.
• Experience in managing, planning, coordinating, implementing, and monitoring psychosocial emergency and post-emergency projects.
• Experience in providing needs assessment and analysis.
• Experience in developing modules and delivering trainings for wider public.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Excellent analytical, communication and negotiating skills.
• Excellent team working skills and respect for diversity.
• Ability to work through networking and in partnership.
• Fluency in English is required

What to submit:

• Daily fee in Czk (inclusive of all taxes)
• Research methodology (2-3 pages max)

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.