National Consultancy: To Develop a Multisectoral National MHPSS Sub-strategy for children, youths, and caregivers - Lebanon - 52 working days

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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

Throughout the past year, the compounding crises affected about every aspect of children’s lives, including education, nutrition, and mental health. Eighty per cent of children in Lebanon are worse off than they were at the beginning of 2020, according to the Child-Focused Rapid Assessment (CFRA) conducted by UNICEF in April 2021. The deterioration of the economic situation, the continuous political unrest, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as Beirut’s August explosion in 2020 have vigilantly affected the wellbeing of children and their caregivers.

To date, Lebanon has one of the most active and comprehensive MHPSS programs in the region. The MHPSS agenda is widely supported by government, as evidenced by the National Mental Health Plan, and the multi-sectoral MHPSS Task Force chaired by the MoH and co-chaired by UNICEF and WHO.

The UNICEF Strategic Plan 2018-2021 identifies MHPSS as a priority area, building upon existing programming through child protection, education, and health, shaped by actions and standards set out in the Child Protection Minimum Standards (CPMS), Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs) and the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies. To advance on the strategic goal and the development of appropriate MHPSS interventions in Lebanon, UNICEF and the National Mental Health Program, with the endorsement of WHO, are seeking a consultant to support in the development of a national MHPSS Sub-strategy to focus on children, adolescents, and caregivers, which would fall under the framework of the overarching national mental health strategy.

The purpose of this consultancy is to support in the development process of the sub-strategy, namely in the below steps:

1. Reviewing guidelines and frameworks for evidence-based action in this area
2. Developing a situation analysis: literature review, desk review, key informant interview, focus group discussion with main stakeholders...
3. Support in holding national Consultations with key stakeholders in the different stages of the development process
4. Drafting the strategy document: The strategy to include goals, objectives, Implementation plan (With timeline, roles, inputs, indicators...) and Reviewing feedback from stakeholder in the review process of the draft strategy and integrating it.
5. Support the planning and preparation for a National consensus meeting: To have the developed strategy endorsed.
6. Develop a final National MHPSS Sub-Strategy for Children, Youths, and Caregivers; based on feedback from stakeholders and national consensus meeting.

Scope of the Work:

Multisectoral National MHPSS Sub-strategy for children, youths, and caregivers

• Outline the main domains of action and guiding principles/approaches based on global recommendations and best practices, and national requirements based on evidence review. This includes the conduct of desk review of guidelines, frameworks and global action plans and recommendations related to MHPSS for children, youths, and caregivers related (including but not limited to those published by relevant UN agencies such as UNICEF and WHO).,
• Lead on and complete a Situation Analysis on MHPSS and children/youths/caregivers in the Lebanon context. The Situation Analysis aims to describe the situation when it comes to the mental health and psychosocial needs of children and youths in Lebanon while also providing an overview of in-country action from government, national and international agencies. The information presented in the Sit-An will further inform an understanding of the needs as well as the gaps and areas for strengthening at national system-level to improve the protection and promotion of the mental health of the target group. The methodology will include conducting a literature review, key informant interviews and focus group discussion with key stakeholders
• Draft the strategy in a reflective process with the NMHP, UNICEF and WHO, building on the results of the latter steps. The Strategy will, at a minimum, define the country’s vision, mission, goals and strategic objectives for improving mental health of the target group. The strategy will include an implementation plan that includes inputs needed, responsible stakeholders, implementation considerations, etc. and an M&E framework. Support the preparations for the various consultative phases of the strategy development process (I.e., national consultation meetings and reviews of the strategy draft by stakeholders). This will include adapting feedback forms, compiling feedback received, drafting consultation meeting tools, etc.). Finalize the Multisectoral National MHPSS Sub-strategy for children, youths, and caregivers.

How can you make a difference?

Please open the attached document to view the detailed deliverables:

2022_SSA_CP_MHPSS Strategy Development_ToR.pdf

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in in psychology, public health, global mental health or other relevant field.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience working on mental health & psychosocial support, preferably in programming related to children and adolescents.
• Proven previous experience in strategy development and writing literature reviews.
• Proven experience conducting and analysing findings from KIIS and FGD’s.
• Clear understanding of the Lebanese and humanitarian context.
• Ability to effectively grasp and incorporate inputs/feedback from multiple contributors.
• Effective communication and inter-personal skills.
• Previous UN and/or INGO experience in a similar role is desirable.
• Fluency in English and Arabic is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) 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.

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 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.