Researcher on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Care and Services in Saudi Arabia, for 5 months located in Riyadh

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, Equity

UNICEF Gulf Area Office is seeking to contract a local partner (a Saudi National) to conduct a case study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia specifically to contribute to the development of the study protocol, undertake the research and data collection, complete the qualitative data analysis, and prepare the draft and final country reports.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is a priority area for the UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Office (MENARO) and recognized as a cross cutting issue for health, child protection, education, adolescent development and participation, communications for development, and gender.

This case study in Saudi Arabia is part of the regional research effort which includes secondary literature review, in-depth analysis and key stakeholder consultations in the selected countries in the Middle East and North Africa region will contribute to a deeper understanding of the MHPSS needs, the available services and critical gaps across the promotion, prevention, and the care and treatment within the primary health care as well as its linkages to social welfare and child protection and the education sectors. The information gathered through this effort will provide specific recommendations to countries to support the integration and delivery of MHPSS for children, adolescents, and pregnant women/new mothers.

How can you make a difference?

It is to be highlighted that case study on Saudi Arabia in “Establishing the foundations for integration of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in primary health care targeting children and adolescents in the Middle East and North Africa Region” is part of the workplan of the MENA MHPSS Taskforce and the MENA regional PHC Accelerator and the Regional Office Management Plan 2022 – 2025. The case study will include:

Phase 1: Preparation of the study protocol

Phase 2: Country case study: Desk review and in-depth research/analysis

Phase 3: Refinement of the regional & country findings

Phase 4: Preparation of reports and dissemination materials

PLAN OF ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED TIMELINES

Activities

Timeline

Deliverable

Date of submission

Conduct desk review

• Carry out extensive reviews of grey literature, policies and plans
• Provide input to the study protocol to be developed by the Lead research institution
• Provide input to the question guides to be developed by the Lead research institution

1 – 30 October 2022

• Inception Report

5 November

Consultation Workshops and Interviews

• Identify key stakeholders for regional consultation
• Conduct consultation workshop
• Conduct in-depth interviews
• Transcription and data analysis

Nov – Dec 2022

• Consultation workshop and in-depth interviews Reports

10 December

Analysis and Report Writing

• Develop draft country reports
• Country consultations / validation workshops conducted
• Revised draft country reports
• Final country reports, PPT covering main findings and recommendations, and presentations provided at regional and country levels, infographics

Jan – Feb 2023

• Draft country report and consultations

• Final Country Reports

• 20 January 2023

• 20 February 2023

Full TORs attached. TOR - Documenting and Assessing Mental Health and PSS Care and Services in KSA_18Sept22.docx

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

• Medical background, with a minimum of a master’s degree in public health and/or qualitative research design, data collection and analysis.
• At least 5 years of public health experience supporting qualitative research design, questionnaire design, data collection, analysis and final report.
• Experience of research in the health, social welfare, mental health and service provision in Saudi Arabia.
• Professional knowledge and experience in mental health and psychosocial support systems and services in Saudi Arabia or in MENA region.
• Experience working with Governments, UN agencies and NGOs, and also preparing high quality research reports or publications.
• Expertise in child and adolescent mental health is an added advantage.
• Fluent in Arabic and English.

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.

This consultancy is opened for Local Saudi Nationals