MHPSS Officer

Volunteering Medical & Health

Overview

Lead technical support for MHPSS programme in Italy to enhance child protection.

You have:

• At least 5 years of professional experience working with refugees and migrants or vulnerable children in the field of protection.
• Fluency in Italian and English is required.
• Proven experience working with national and local authorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish effective working relationships.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word), email, internet, and familiarity with database management.

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Protecting children and fostering their psychosocial wellbeing entails multiple actions that UNICEF carries out together with governmental counterparts and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). In Italy, UNICEF work focuses on tailored programs addressing the needs of the most disadvantaged children and caregivers, including migrant and refugee children and youth inside and outside the reception system, alternative and foster care for separated and accompanied children, including those of migrant background, children at risk of protection risks and/or developing psychosocial distress, or whose mental health and psychosocial wellbeing is undermined. Key elements of the Programme are composed by capacity building for frontline workers and practitioners, evidence generation and advocacy – also in cooperation with the Italian National Committee for UNICEF.

UNICEF’s Programme in Italy was set up in 2016 to respond to a large influx of unaccompanied minors arriving primarily through the Central Mediterranean route

According to the data of Italy’s Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, as of September 2022, there were 18,801 unaccompanied and separated children in Italy, of whom 15,737 (83.7%) were boys and 3064 (16.3%) females arriving primarily from Ukraine, Egypt, Tunisia and Albania for boys and Ukraine, Côte d'Ivoire, Eritrea, Albania and Nigeria for girls. The recent influx of Ukrainian children is also putting new challenges to the reception system. As of end of September, and since the conflict in Ukraine started, 171.546 Ukrainian people have been official registered in Italy, of which 91.288 women and 49.172 children. The number is to be considered underestimated, since a number of children, especially those evacuated from Institutions in Ukraine, have been not registered.

Under the guidance of the Child Protection Specialist, P4, and in cooperation with the MHPSS expert, the MHPSS specialist will provide technical support for the implementation of the MHPSS programme in Italy - making sure inter-sectoral approach across the Child Protection, Adolescent Development and GBV sections - through the sharing of information, identification of response gaps, and follow-up through relevant stakeholders.

The following are the key tasks: MHPSS Capacity Development in Italy • Provides technical support to MHPSS-related activities implemented in Italy, ensuring consistency across the different sections of the programme (CP, GBV and ADAP) and alignment with UNICEF global and regional MHPSS strategies; • Supports the MHPSS Programme to keep track and report progress against results framework, according with Italy Response workplan and commitments with donors; • Supports ongoing and future efforts to document, monitor and evaluate MHPSS programmes, in coordination with relevant sections; • Supports situation and needs monitoring efforts with regards to migrant and refugee children and caregivers, providing technical supports to mainstream MHPSS in the development or strengthening of tools, methodologies and analysis, including through field visits, to inform programmes and strategies; • Supports Communication actions, including programme briefs, press releases, fact sheets and human interest stories, in collaboration with colleagues from UNICEF Italy NatCom and Regional Office.

Technical Support • Strengthens capacity building and ongoing support for IPs to ensure their MHPSS capacity is strengthened and in line with UNICEF approach and standards; • Provides Institutional counterparts and other partners at various levels on MHPSS with technical support to ensure its mainstreaming in the protection system for children on the move, women, and young migrants and refugees in line with UNICEF country priorities, as well as in the main policies regarding most disadvantaged children, in line with the EU Child Guarantee; • Designs, develops, adapts programme material such as training package, advocacy notes and assessment tools as requested for health care and other relevant frontline practitioners (e.g. child protection, education, asylum service, etc.) from both public services and civil society organisations in charge of health care provision and/or referral, as well as caregivers such as parents, guardians or foster families; • Designs, develops, adapts awareness raising material, such as leaflets, videos or on-line banners to increase health literacy and awareness among refugee and migrant children and their caregivers, to contribute to the national UNICEF Social and Behavioral Change strategy; • Provide technical support to 2 MHPSS trainers to develop, test and consolidate different training package for frontline workers in presence and/or remote modality, in coordination with the MHPSS coordinator and the MHPSS project manager, in line with UNICEF framework and international standards.

Coordination • Coordinates with local level authorities – including Municipalities, Local Health Units (ASL/ASP) Local Ombudspersons – to advocate (and provide technical support when needed) for MHPSS to be available and accessible to vulnerable groups of children, with particular focus on migrant and refugee children and their caregivers; • Provides support to coordinate with central Authorities such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour and Social Policies and Ministry of Education when MHPSS is concerned, to advocate and provide technical support when needed; • Provides support to coordinate with the other UN Agencies, eventually representing UNICEF in thematic sub-groups.

Results/expected outputs: As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: • Monthly report on the delivered activities, including bottlenecks, challenges and opportunities faced; • Development of an internal national MHPSS strategy, in line with the global and regional ones; • Technical support regularly provided to IPs and institutional partners; • Regular update of the main internal reports, including Humanitarian Actions Plans, with regards to MHPSS indicators and targets; • Regular integration of MHPSS component in the needs assessment that will be conducted during the contract duration; • 1 factsheet developed and quarterly updated on MHPSS programme; • Technical support provided to the 2 MHPSS trainers, to ensure alignment of training package for different audience (1 for staff of reception facilities for migrant and refugee children, 1 for schoolteachers, 1 for mental health specialized staff); • Technical support provided to ensure content of awareness rising material (including online) for adolescent migrants and refugees and their caregivers are appropriate, adolescent-friendly, gender and culture sensitive; • Regular participation to relevant meetings and fora upon request; • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment; • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

UNICEF Core Values: • Care • Respect • Integrity • Trust • Accountability

UNICEF Core Competencies: • Nurtures, Leads and Manages People; • Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness; • Works Collaboratively with others; • Builds and Maintains Partnerships; • Innovates and Embraces Change; • Thinks and Acts Strategically; • Drives to achieve impactful results; • Manages ambiguity and complexity.

the field of MHPSS, with proven familiarity with international standards, guidelines and policies. • At least 5 years of professional experience in working with refugees and migrants or vulnerable children along with extensive experience in the field of protection is required. • Proven experience to work with national and local authorities. • Proven knowledge of the national context with regards to reception, protection and inclusion of migrant and refugee children. • Ability to work through networking and partnership. • Proven experience in managing people. • Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships. • Fluency in Italian and English is required. • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills. • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development. • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel. • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines. • Desirable: Experience with UNICEF or other UN Agencies. • Desirable: Familiar with UNICEF’s CP frameworks. • Desirable: Previous experience in Child Protection programming.

Rome is the capital of the Italian Republic with the population of 4.3 mln. As the capital of Italy, Rome hosts all the principal institutions of the nation, including the Presidency of the Republic, the government, the Parliament, the main judicial Courts, and the diplomatic representatives of all the countries for the states of Italy and Vatican City. Many international institutions are located in Rome, notably cultural and scientific ones, such as the American Institute, the British School, the French Academy, the Scandinavian Institutes, and the German Archaeological Institute. There are also specialised agencies of the United Nations, such as the FAO. Rome also hosts major international and worldwide political and cultural organisations, such as the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), World Food Programme (WFP), the NATO Defense College and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM). The security situation in Italy remains calm and stable. Regionally, terrorism is a concern, but there is NO direct threat towards UN in Italy. Vigilance and awareness are recommended. Crime is not specifically targeted at UN staff, but opportunistic thefts are the most reported incidents impacting UN staff and dependents. Travelers should exercise normal precautions to avoid being pickpocketed. Italian authorities declared a state of emergency in relation to COVID-19 in early 2020, which has been extended until 31 July 2021. Further extensions may apply.

Different types of long-term accommodation are available in Rome: standalone houses, houses in gated compounds, apartments. These could be furnished and/or fully serviced, or unfurnished.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

UN Volunteer entitlements and allowances: The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service For more information on entitlements please read the Condition of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos). For information specific to your assignment please see below:

Monthly Living Allowance (Per month): EUR 3117.74 Entry lump sum (onetime payment) USD: 400 Travel Ticket when moving to duty station USD: 200 Exit allowance (for each month served, paid on completion of contract): EUR 259.81 Medical and life insurance: Cigna Private Insurance Leave entitlements Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month Certified sick leave: 30 days Uncertified sick leave: 7 days Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months Maternity Leave: 16 weeks Paternity Leave: 10 days

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org