Consultant For Technical Support on Mental Health- Office Based

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, Integrity.  

UNICEF Gulf Area Office (GAO) supports the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its line ministries and authorities to advance the rights of children under the framework of a Gulf Area Programme (2019-2025).  Through this framework, UNICEF GAO signed AWPs with its partners in the UAE, such as the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood (SCMC), Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority and Sharjah Child Friendly Office (SCFO) to work on key areas in collaboration with different authorities (both public and private) to implement programmes on Early Childhood Development (ECD 1000 days), Child Protection, Data, and Child Friendly City Initiative (CFCI).

One of the key priorities for the year 2025 include child protection related issues such as child online safety, mental health and psychosocial support, social work force strengthening and overall strengthening of child protection systems. To advance work in this stream of work, the SCMC organized a forum on mental health in October 2024. UNICEF supported the council in organizing capacity building initiatives as run up to the forum, which included Psychological Frist Aid (PFA) and I Support My Friends, a programme focused on promoting peer support among young people. The existing package on PFA and ISMF were adapted to the UAE context, and several partners including the Emirates Foundation, Ministry of Interior and some 50 private schools were trained on these resources. The focus this year will be on integrating this programme to the public school system as part of the anti-bullying initiative, implemented by the MOE, in partnership with SCMC and UNICEF.

UNICEF is seeking a consultant to be based in the UAE to work with the programme team in Abu Dhabi to support the SCMC and other partners in UAE on work around MHPSS, especially with a focus on the roll out of I Support My Friends through the school system. The roll out of PFA and ISMF needs deep familiarity with the packages and ability to support partners at various stages of implementation.  

How can you make a difference? 

The consultancy seeks to provide technical support on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), with a focus on I Support My Friends (ISMF) and PFA.

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

• Related work experience in MHPSS, in particular adolescent mental health, in applying and running programmes.
• Knowledge and Familiarity with PFA, ISMF
• Experience with the government sector as well as UN agencies preferred
• Previous experiences and exposure to the Arab/Gulf region context
• Skills: Demonstrable expertise in communication and presentation skills and ability to interact professionally with government officials. Ability to work within an international and multicultural environment.
• Education: A minimum of a master’s Psychology/related fields

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

  To view our competency framework, please visit  here TOR-Consultant-MHPSS-UAE-Feb2025 (006).pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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.