MHPSS Program Consultant. Req # 571865

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

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: MHPSS Program Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: PGLT Mental Health Section – PG – NYHQ

Duration: 22 May 2024 – 22 May 2025

Home/ office Based: REMOTE

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection, and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations, and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The MHPSS Program Consultant, supervised by the MHPSS Manager in PGLT, will support UNICEF’s multisectoral approach to MHPSS and UNICEF’s MHPSS Resource Mobilization efforts.

Background:

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.

Job organizational context:

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is an institutional priority for the UN, and for UNICEF. The UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025 identifies MHPSS as a strategic priority across global areas, building upon existing programming through child protection, education and health.  UNICEF’s Global multisectoral operational framework UNICEF provides UNICEF staff and partners with a common approach and terminology across thematic areas, sectors, and settings on MHPSS.   

This consultancy will be supervised by the MHPSS Manager in PGLT, aims to support the acceleration of MHPSS across the organization:   

1. Support to MHPSS Research, Analysis, and Reporting, Knowledge Exchange & Documentation: The consultant will support the MHPSS PGLT team in the development stakeholder briefings, communication campaigns specific to MHPSS, technical briefing documents, contributing to reporting on MHPSS, and related documents.

2. RM Planning, Monitoring, and Analysis:  Under the leadership of the MH Global Lead and the MHPSS Manager the consultant will work with RO focal points to support the process for co-developing resource mobilization strategies. Support the development of global regional and country level RM planning, monitoring and capacity building using the tools and analysis developed under this consultancy.

As currently UNICEF does not have sufficient funding to cover all planned activities, some deliverables are planned to be completed only if additional resources become available.

This consultancy is remote. Mission travel to select countries may be requested, as relevant to support capacity development/training/TOTs. No travel is currently anticipated, however, if planning moves forward for the Global MHPSS Network meeting and a need is identified for the Consultant to travel for the meeting an amendment twill be submitted to cover the cost of that travel, including any network meeting/travel related deliverables. 

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

1. Up to 20 technical briefings, guidance documents and related documents are developed By 1 November 2024.
2. Up to 50 technical briefings, guidance documents and related documents are developed to be funded when funding comes available by 1 April 2025.
3. Up to 6 KM content products developed by 1 April 2025.
4. Up to 6 KM content products developed by 1 April 2025.
5. Up to 4 Learning Sessions/Capacity building Support organized and implemented by 1 April 2025.
6. Up to 4 additional learning sessions by 1 April 2025
7. Develop content for a training module on MHPSS and peacebuilding for a capacity building portal, estimated at 10 training sections by 1 April 2025.
8. MH/SC COP development; Organize up to 10 working group sessions with SBC/MHPSS partners for the SBC-MHPSS Technical Working Group/COP by 1 April 2025.
9. Organize up to 8 working group sessions with SBC/MHPSS partners for the SBC-MHPSS Technical Working Group/COP by 1 April 2025.
10. Develop MH/SBC COP Workplan by 1 April 2025.
11. Develop 12 MH/SBC COP Monitoring Reports by 1 April 2025.
12. Develop MH/SBC TOR agreed upon by COP Membership  by 1 December 2024.
13. Deliver up to 4 trainings on the SBC-MHPSS Operational Package and associated documents by 1 April 2025.
14. Up to 20 MHPSS RM & Thematic Fund briefings and guidance documents developed by 1 April 2025.
15. Global Donor landscape report and associated strategy, broken out by sectors/thematic area (Year 1) by 1 April 2025.
16. Up to 6 donor pitches developed with accompanying slide decks and talking notes           by 1 April 2025.
17. Up to 6 donor pitches developed with accompanying slide decks and talking notes by 1 April 2025.
18. Up to 12 MHPSS brief proposals (2-5 pages) developed by 1 April 2025.
19. Up to 12 MHPSS brief proposals (2-5 pages) developed by 1 April 2025.
20. Develop Resource Mobilization Webinar Package by 1 November 2024
21. Adapt Webinar package for each Region x7 by 1 April 2025.
22. Development of up to 20 global and country level investment cases & work plans by 1 April 2025.
23. Draft MHPSS Fundraising Strategy by 1 August 2024.
24. 6 updates to Resource Mobilization trackers and KM sites are completed by 1 April 2025.
25. 6 updates to Resource Mobilization trackers and KM sites are completed by 1 April 2025.
26. Develop a field orientation package on resource mobilization for MH programming, advocacy, research/data, polic-work, etc. in alignment with joint strategic priorities defined in the Joint Programme. Participate as resource person in capacity building initiatives related to MH resource mobilization.        – By 1 April 2025

Qualifications

Education:

An advanced master’s degree level.

Psychology, Mental Health, education, social welfare MSc, MSW, PsyD, clinical psychology degree, etc.

Work experience:

• At least 4 years of progressive work experience on global MHPSS.
• Familiarity with the IASC MHPSS RG and the global MHPSS landscape.  Technical knowledge of MHPSS and Peacebuilding; MHPSS and SBC; and multisectoral MHPSS.

Competencies/Knowledge:

• Strong writing, analytical, and research skills.
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in any other UN language is an asset.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and

• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include/ reflect:
  • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability.
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

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:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.