Consultant – Social and Human Sciences (SHS)

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Field Office

Duty Station: Bangkok

Job Family: Social and Human Sciences

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Bangkok Time) : 27.08.2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Long Description

BACKGROUND

Fit for Life is UNESCO’s sport-based flagship designed to support inclusive and integrated policy making, and enhance the wellbeing, social inclusion, and peace through sport and physical activities. Powered by a global compact of partners, Fit for Life uses data driven sport interventions to tackle intersecting crises in physical inactivity, mental health and inequality. These crises have been magnified and accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and have had a disproportionate impact on young people, disrupting the way in which they learn and live.

Fit for Life is led by UNESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Programme with four interlinked objectives:

1. Increase grassroots participation in sport and quality Physical Education to reduce inactivity and chronic disease (physical and mental).
2. Support the development of quality and inclusive sport policies which drive health, education and equality outcomes.
3. Use values education through sport to empower young people, promote equality and build socio-emotional resilience.
4. Support teachers and coaches to deliver quality, student-centred sport education curricula.

In the context of a rapid urbanization in Asia-Pacific, with more than 2.3 billion people – 54 per cent of the world’s urban population – enlivening Asia’s major cities (with a projection of 3.5 billion, representing 60 per cent of the world’s urban population by 2050), inactivity and chronic disease (physical and mental) tend to increase, while socioeconomic hardship, and lack of urban planning affect the quality of life of the people. In particular, the COVID-related containment measures as well as social isolation have been a multiplying factor for mental health issues, with youth and students being disproportionately impacted. 

The UNESCO ICM Youth Development Principles for Martial Arts Organizations is a set of principles designed to assist martial arts organizations in determining whether or not they have in place policies, procedures and support to best protect all members of the organization; including participants, youth leaders, adult instructors and volunteers, and the organization’s management and governance personnel.  They outline the requirements for martial arts organizations working with children and youth to ensure they are taking all reasonable precautions for the safety and protection of participants in their care. 

The 2024 International Martial Arts Seminar will dive into one of the twelve principles suggested in the Youth Development through Martial Arts Tookits, specifically focusing on Principle 2: Safety this year.

This call for expertise seeks to develop a dedicated Project on Addressing Mental Health through Sports, Martial Arts and Physical Activities in Urban Areas in East and South-East Asia. In this process, the incumbent will support the substantive design of the UNESCO-ICM International Seminar on “Addressing Mental Health and Wellbeing: Harnessing the Power of Sports and Martial Arts” (Chungju, South Korea, 6-9 November 2024) during which the Project document will be discussed and validated by experts.

The incumbent will work under the under the authority of the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, and under the direct supervision of the regional advisor for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, in coordination with the UNESCO-International Center for Martial Arts and Youth Development, ICM (Chungju, South Korea).

SCOPE OF WORK

The aim of this consultancy is to lead the development of a dedicated Project on Addressing Mental Health through Sports, Martial Arts and Physical Activities in Urban Areas in East and South-East Asia, and the substantive design of the UNESCO-ICM International Seminar on “Addressing Mental Health and Wellbeing: Harnessing the Power of Sports and Martial Arts” (Chungju, South Korea, 6-9 November 2024). More specifically, the expert will be responsible for:

• Design the concept and programme of the the UNESCO-ICM International Seminar on “Addressing Mental Health and Wellbeing: Harnessing the Power of Sports and Martial Arts” (Chungju, South Korea, 6-9 November 2024), in line with the global Fit for Life initiative, as well as the UNESCO ICM Youth Development Principles for Martial Arts Organizations, specifically on Principle 2: Safety.  This should include: a rationale, linkage to UN and UNESCO agendas, daily schedule, session outlines, suggestion of speakers and participants to ensure topnotch expertise on the topic. 
• Identify the most suitable and most qualified experts on the topic and liaise with them for their participation in the seminar as speakers and resource persons. The identification of experts must be based on evidence of excellence in academic or development research, and/or leadership role in designing/implementing/testing relevant projects or initiatives, with documented good practices. 
• Conduct a desk review and research on the situation of mental health related to urbanization in Asian metropolitan cities, taking Bangkok (Thailand), Hanoi (Vietnam), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Singapore, and Seoul (South Korea) as specific examples.  With a specific focus on Safety in Martial Arts, also considering other principles in the UNESCO ICM Youth Development Principles for Martial Arts Organization, this research should explore and pre-identify potential linkages with how sports, martial arts, and physical activities could be used as an innovative means to promote mental wellbeing among individuals and communities. A focus on youth is requested. 
• Compile a quick state of the arts (research findings, statistics, bibliography) of research on the linkages between sports, martial arts, and physical activities, and mental health, including innovative and pilot experiences, with a focus on Safety in Martial Arts, prioritizing research in Asia when possible. 
• Based on the desk review and the state of the arts, design a project proposal that UNESCO and ICM will implement in East and South-East Asia. The proposal should include components on (i) innovative and compelling initiatives that suit the needs and interest of the concerned municipal authorities, good practices and examples from other countries (including out of Asia), (ii) transforming policies and institutional frameworks to create an enabling environment, and  (iii) public engagement with the communities, especially youth. The document should include rationales, situation analysis, theory of change, and result framework, using the UNESCO template. 
• Support UNESCO and ICM to facilitate the seminar onsite, as well as the expert meeting to discuss and consolidate the project proposal and draft the seminar report for UNESCO’s and ICM’s validation.

DELIVERABLES AND TIMEFRAME

1. 30 September 2024: Final Concept note, Programme, and list of speakers and experts for the UNESCO-ICM International Seminar on “Addressing Mental Health and Wellbeing: Harnessing the Power of Sports and Martial Arts” 
2. 20 October 2024: Draft Project document on Addressing Mental Health through Sports, Martial Arts and Physical Activities in Urban Areas in East and South-East Asia
3. 30 November 2024: Report of the UNESCO-ICM International Seminar
4. 20 December 2024: Final consolidated Project document on Addressing Mental Health through Sports, Martial Arts and Physical Activities in Urban Areas in East and South-East Asia

Long Description

DUTY STATION
 

The lead expert is work remotely and take a mission to attend the UNESCO-ICM International Seminar, Chungju, South Korea, 6-9 November 2024.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION
           Advanced university degree (Master or equivalent) in sport science, public health, psychology, or related fields in social and human sciences.

WORK EXPERIENCE

•   A minimum of five years of professional experience in research and/or community/development work sport for development and social inclusion, public health and mental health, youth engagement through sports and physical education.  Experiences in/on Asia, and knowledge on martial arts are additional assets. 
•   Proven experience in designing development project proposals, using theory of change and result-based strategic thinking.
•   Experience in organizing international conferences and workshops, with both academia and practitioners

LANGUAGES
       Excellent knowledge of English.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES
1.    Excellent knowledge on safety in sports and mental health in the academic research, as well as knowledge on development projects/initiatives on sports for development and mental health. 
2.    Experiences in analyzing/advising on public policies related to sports and mental health, notably in urban settings. 
3.    Proven ability to draft clearly and concisely and to produce high quality project proposals.
4.    Knowledge of and ability to engage with the professional networks of experts in the fields of safety in sports and mental health. 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should click on “Apply Now”, then download and complete the Employment History form (Word file) in ‘Employment History Form / My Documents’. Before uploading the document, at the end of the word file, please insert the extra pages with the following required information:

1. A statement indicating how their qualifications and experience make them suitable for the assignment;
2. A written proposal comprising:

a. An approach and methodology for the assignment in line with the terms of reference;

b. A timeframe proposed to achieve the tasks;

c. List and CVs of associated experts that will be involved in the process on specific aspects; if needed;

d. The amount to be charged for the assignment, which should be quoted in US dollars. Please identify any travel costs separately.

Candidates may team up to submit their joint applications for this consultancy, should they deem such a team would bring additional technical solidity to the proposal. However, UNESCO will contract only one expert (the individual applicant). 
 

UNESCO places great emphasis on ensuring that the objectives of the work assignment, as described in the TOR are met. Accordingly, in evaluating the proposals for the assignment, attention will focus first and foremost on the technical elements. Proposals deemed suitable in accordance with the TOR, UNESCO shall select based on Organization best value for money.

Note:  

• Due to the large number of applications, we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidate(s) about the outcome or status of the selection process.
• Please submit your application, proposals and any supporting documents in ENGLISH through SuccessFactors. Only if you are unable to attach requirements in system, please inform us or email (the file should not exceed 5MB) to us at [email protected].

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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