New Consultancy Mental Agility Training Consultant, WCARO, Dakar, Senegal

Contract

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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, hope

Background

WCAR region has 7 L2/L3 countries, several epidemics, Ebola, 5 countries with cross border military operations (G5), several armed extremists’ groups, shrinking humanitarian space and the associated risks to our staff in 24 countries and 78 offices. Although the COVID-19 crisis is primarily a physical health crisis, it is also having a major impact on our mental health. Many staff are distressed due to the immediate health impacts of the virus and the consequences of physical isolation. Some are afraid of infection, dying, and losing family members. Individuals have been physically distanced from loved ones and peers. Frequent mis­information and rumours about the virus and deep uncertainty about the future are common sources of distress. Emotional difficulties among children, disrupted education and uncertainty about their futures are occurring at critical points in their emotional development. Female staff are bearing a large brunt of the stress in the home and many parents are struggling to cope with the demands of homeschooling and working from home. With the onset of Covid-19 affecting both our staff and our programmes, there is a demand for more.

How can you make a difference?

Objectives

The objective of this consultancy is to design and deliver an online Mental Agility Masterclass for all Human Resources staff in the West and Central Africa Region in French and English targeting 93 staff. The audience will be composed of both francophone and anglophone HR staff, the training course should therefore be delivered in French and English.

Expected Outcomes

• Increased focus through employing self-regulation skills which create a stable base through a calm mind and body. Understanding our thinking habits which hold us back and re-programming our thoughts to decrease rumination, stress and worry.
• Increased awareness of emotional reactions and where are emotions come from in ourselves and others. A better understanding of how our mind processes information in different ways and how we can better manage our reactions in ourselves and others.
• Improved collaboration and trust through mental resilience and how to balance the negativity bias in our minds. A better understanding at how we approach difficult, and uncertain situations.
• Understood the importance of self-care and caring for others through kindness to use an approach rather than an avoidance mechanism. Understanding how we can care for others whilst maintaining healthy boundaries, even during difficult times.
• Revisited living our core values both UNICEF’s and our own values including finding a work-life balance and supporting others collectively.
• Developed actions to sustain the learning and integrate the tools into our everyday lives.

Scope of work

Design and deliver Mental Agility Masterclass for all HR staff in the WCAR region via zoom in French and English.

Deliverables and Schedules

• Training programme with learning aims; timetable; methodology; evaluation and expected results by 18.12.2020.
• Training material including PowerPoints, activities, tasks, evaluation by 28.12.2020.

• The training courses should be organized as follows:

  • 6 sessions of 90 minutes, one session per week with 12 participants per group.
  • The first 4 groups running from: 11th Jan to 15th Feb 2021.
  • The next batch of 4 groups from: 1st of March to 31th March 2021
• Evaluation narrative report by 31.03.2021.

Timing

From December 2020 to March 2021

The training course should be organized as follows: 6 sessions of 90 minutes, one session per week with 12 participants per group.

The first 4 groups running from: 11th Jan to 15th Feb 2021.

The next batch of 4 groups from: 1st of March to 31 March 2021.

It is recommended that the participants take 15 minutes a day during the duration of the Masterclass to practice the techniques.

Reporting Requirements

The consultant will report to the Regional Staff Counsellor in WCAR. Reporting requirements include weekly email updates on attendance, feedback from participants and AOB. Monthly online meetings will be scheduled to track progress on the key deliverables.

Administrative Issues

Part-time assignment, home-based. UNICEF staff use UNICEF equipment (laptop for zoom sessions and own home or office space).

The Consultant will use his/her own equipment and email address.

Interested candidates should share a financial offer when applying

Fees include:

• • Translation costs of exercises
  • Creation of webpage which will have all exercises and meditations in an easy to use format. This will be available to all participants and remain available after the training.
  • Recording all meditations in French and English for later use

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

• Advanced university degree in counselling, social work or clinical psychology.

  A university degree with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

  At least 5 (five) years’ experience the design and delivery of online Psychosocial Training. Working experience in international development and humanitarian sectors is highly desirable. Qualification in Mindfulness techniques and contemplative practices is required.

  Demonstrated experience in multi-cultural settings, including experience of working in West and Central Africa is an asset.

  Fluent in English and French is required.

  NB: kindly fill in your profile correctly when applying on the UNICEF website. A misinformed profile will not be considered.

For every Child, you demonstrate fair chance

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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 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.