EXPERT (AUTHOR) – UNESCO YOUTH GLOBAL OUTLOOK: YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH IN TIMES OF CRISES

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Social and Human Sciences Sector (SHS)

Standard Duration of Assignement: Approx. 15-16 months (with 1 month contract interruption)

Job Family: Social and Human Sciences

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 03-JUN-2024

 

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

 

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

BACKGROUND 

Recent studies have unveiled a troubling global pattern of declining subjective wellbeing among young people worldwide, indicating an alarming rise in mental health challenges. More than 50% of young people are affected by the age of 25. Suicide stands as the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds. By 2030, depression is projected to become the leading cause of disease burden worldwide. Existing literature on youth mental health from a psychosocial perspective highlights risk factors, protective factors and socio-cultural factors shaping youth mental health. While research has been conducted on the impact of COVID-19 on youth, revealing an evident increase in mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, suicidal behavior and trauma and post-traumatic stress, additional robust research and data is needed to further explore the impact of the crisis on youth mental health as a critical foundation to strengthen support for youth health and for evidence-based policy decisions. Although some research on eco-anxiety, conflicts and emergency situations focuses on the psychological impacts on individuals, there is a gap in identifying the root causes of youth mental health in the context of crisis and understanding how to mitigate impacts at the individual and systemic levels. Strengthening research on youth mental health during crises at a global level and incorporating diverse geographical and multidisciplinary perspectives is indispensable for developing comprehensive strategies and policies to support youth mental health needs on a global scale.

It is against this background that UNESCO is initiating a Youth Global Outlook that will focus on Youth Mental Health in Times of Crises, expected for publication by the end of 2025, and seeking a mid-level expert to lead research and write-up.

Long Description

The Outlook will aim to:

1. Establish whether indeed there is an extended youth mental health crisis lingering after the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. If established, explore its sources, through the prism of the uncertainty of a world ridden with extended crises, conflicts, emergencies and volatility.
3. Investigate the coping mechanisms of youth, with an objective of identifying resilient behaviours and strategies that mobilize UNESCO’s fields of competence (e.g. through civic engagement, social media reliance, sports, cultural activities, etc.).
4. Highlight the youth views on the availability and shortcomings of supportive institutions, policies and structures, as a basis to shape recommendations to support the elaboration of relevant policies and systems aligned with youth needs.

Impacts, resilient behavours, response strategies and shortcomings in support will be questioned and analyzed through the application of a model that combines various exogenous factors that influence the multifaceted and complex issue of mental health, including individual experiences, environmental and social circumstances. The model will be further defined with the inputs from the expert.

Long Description

The Outlook will be elaborated based on the application of innovative UNESCO-tested and AI-driven methods, combining primary and secondary sources through desk and qualitative and quantitative research, revealing qualitative insights and comparative data. Youth-led methodologies will also be integrated. Elaboration will be based on the following key activities:

• Activity 1: Initial state of the art research, will serve to help define the analytical model and thematic foci the Outlook will focus on.

• Activity 2: Global survey to gather comparative quantitative data on key questions. A partnership may be established for expert elaboration, global and innovative dissemination, and in-depth AI-based quantitative and qualitative analysis of the survey.
• Activity 3: Five (sub-)regional consultations and/or focus groups, off-line or on-line, organized by UNESCO Field Offices to gather qualitative insights both from young people living relevant issues, as well as from youth and non-youth experts. Ideally, regional and sub-regional discussions will center on different sub-themes.
• Activity 4: Five country-specific or localized Youth as Researchers (YAR) projects for young people to share grassroot insights and perspectives, implemented by Field Offices.  These, and other national or local insights generated through the qualitative research methods, will also allow for the elaboration of case studies.

• Activity 5: Intergenerational dialogues will be conducted to foster the elaboration of recommendations.

Long Description

ASSIGNMENT

Under the supervision of the Chief of the Youth Section, Social and Human Sciences Sector (SHS/REI/YOU), and the guidance of the Outlook coordinator within the Section, the expert is responsible for providing comprehensive intellectual, research and implementation support to produce the Outlook. The incumbent shall:

• Undertake a thorough state of the art research, to help define the analytical model and thematic foci of the Outlook.
• Elaborate a concept note (approx. 20 pages) with an outline of chapters, fine-tuned analytical model, and draft questions for surveys, consultations and focus groups.
• Identify possible additional researchers. Also identify experts, including young, for (sub-)regional focus group discussions.
• Ensure high-quality analysis of data received from the methodologies applied.

• Write the full manuscript of the report, according to UNESCO publication guidelines (to be provided by UNESCO), in a good standard English, and in a timely manner. Ensure a first draft (approx. 150 standard pages, without annexes), relevant revisions, as well as a final draft (same length) that is considered satisfactory by UNESCO, integrating UNESCO and peer review inputs.
• Advise on possible peer reviewers.
• Ensure that the research and final publication have the highest standards and rigor of scientific and academic publications published by peer-reviewed journals.

STYLE MANUAL, FORMAT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

The expert shall specifically:

• Make sure that all the details of Style Manual (https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000141812) are adhered to, such as terminology, abbreviations, acronyms and format of footnotes, etc.
• Ensure the Guidelines on Gender-Neutral Language are applied throughout (https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000377299) and apply gender analysis and mainstreaming concepts whenever feasible.
• Compile a list of tables, figures, photos and other graphic elements from third party-materials.
• Ensure that no plagiarized or self-plagiarized material is included. Provide a proper credit or citation to the original work of the third parties.
• Ensure that the Outlook is in full compliance with the international copyrights policy to avoid any legal consequences.

The expert will comply with the following:

• UNESCO shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks with regard to all material which bears a direct relation to, or is made in consequence of, the services provided to the Organization by the expert;
• In preparing the Outlook, the expert shall bear in mind the provisions contained in the “Guide for the preparation of manuscripts” that will be annexed to their contract;
• The expert shall also bear in mind that, in accordance with UNESCO publishing policy, all UNESCO publications are to be made available in Open Access, under the IGO-Creative Commons or any other open licensing system;
• The expert shall submit to UNESCO the completed Outlook together with all illustrations, tables, charts or other materials essential to it. It is understood that such materials are considered a part of the work and that all rights granted by the expert to UNESCO apply to the use of such materials.

The expert will grant to UNESCO: 

• The worldwide copyright in the Outlook, which shall, during the whole term of the copyright, have the exclusive right to translate, adapt, reproduce, perform, broadcast, communicate to the public, print and publish in any language and in any form the whole or any part of the Outlook, and to authorize others to exercise any or all of its rights;
• It is understood that the manuscript and the accompanying data is complete in all respects and all property rights in such manuscript or other materials delivered to UNESCO shall become the sole property of UNESCO;
• The worldwide irrevocable right to deposit the whole or any part of the Outlook in its multilingual Open Access Repository in electronic form. This entails the right of access to copy, usage, distribution, adaptation, for lawful purposes, within specified constraints;
• The worldwide right to further assign licenses to allow anyone to use the content in the publication for any lawful activity, without any prior permission but with due credit to the expert and UNESCO for the original creation. Any transmission, reproduction, use or transformation of any content beyond permissible limit and for commercial gains will however require an express written permission of the copyright owner.

DELIVERABLES AND INDICATIVE TIMEFRAME

The expert shall complete the following work assignment by the indicated tentative timeline for UNESCO review and approval.

1. Thorough state of the art report, and List of possible other experts/researchers – by 30 July 2024
2. Concept note – by 15 August 2024
3. Analytical report of inputs from regional, sub-regional, national and local data-gathering methodologies applied – by 15 January 2025
4. List of possible peer reviewers, and Concept note for intergenerational dialogue – by 15 May 2025
5. Analytical report of global survey results – by 15 June 2025
6. First full manuscript – by 30 June 2025
7. Final manuscript – by 30 September 2025

Please note that the contracts established within the above 15/16-month timeframe will include a one-month break. 

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
Accountability (C)
Communication (C)
Innovation (C)
Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
Planning and organizing (C)
Results focus (C)
Teamwork (C)
Professionalism (C)
–
For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• PhD degree in psychology, social psychology, youth development or any other areas relevant for the objective of the publication.

Work experience 

• A minimum of 10 years of work experience in the area of youth mental health or well-being
• Experience in producing quantitative and qualitative research projects in the of youth mental health or well-being
• Record of high-quality scholarly research, including publications in peer-reviewed journals or of comparable quality.

Languages

Fluency in both written and spoken English. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Skills and Competencies

• Proven conceptual and analytical skills
• Excellent research skills
• Excellent knowledge of concepts relevant to youth development, as well as to research-policy linkages
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and maintain effective team cooperation
• Capacity to work independently and in a timely manner
• Understanding and adherence to the UN principles.
• Familiarity with the UN system, especially with UNESCO, considered an advantage.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should complete the online application and submit as a single PDF document in the “Employment History Form” section the following documents:

• UNESCO Employment History Form, accompanied by a list of past works such as articles, reports or publications authored or co-authored, with hyperlinks to access such works if they are available online.

• A Technical Proposal comprising 1) Statement indicating how the candidate’s qualifications and experience make them suitable for the assignment 2) Approach (methodology and detailed workplan) the candidate would adopt to carry out the assignment (maximum 4 pages)

• A Financial Proposal indicating the monthly rate in USD to be charged for the assignment.

 

Assessment:

• Only applications providing the information requested in the application procedure will be considered.
• Evaluation of qualified applicants may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. 

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

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