The consultant will provide independent technical support, with a particular focus on strengthening UNICEF’s support to the MHPSS components of government-led resilience centers and resilience services.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit UNICEF Ukraine website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to Education

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) opened its office in Kyiv in 1997. Over the years, UNICEF has supported the Government of Ukraine in developing health, water and sanitation, education and protection programmes for children.

UNICEF has been providing life-saving support to children and families affected by the war in Ukraine. UNICEF works to fulfill the core commitments for children in humanitarian action, including access to education, psychosocial support, water and sanitation, mine risk education, maternal and child health.

Welcome to UNICEF Ukraine - YouTube

How can you make a difference?  

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) has emerged as one of the most pressing and cross-cutting priorities for UNICEF Ukraine, reflecting both the scale of the psychological toll of the ongoing war on children, adolescents and caregivers, and the strong policy commitment of the Government of Ukraine to embed mental health and resilience services at the heart of its recovery agenda. Against this backdrop, MHPSS is no longer treated as a stand-alone vertical intervention but as an office-wide, multisectoral priority integrated across UNICEF's humanitarian, recovery and resilience programming.

Within this integrated architecture, Child Protection holds a central role in providing technical and normative guidance, specialized programming and coordination. MHPSS is woven through the Better Care portfolio particularly community-based services and trauma-informed care and constitutes a core pillar of the Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) response, as well as of UNICEF's cross-cutting commitment to resilience services, which the Government of Ukraine has recently elevated as a national priority. Complementary MHPSS interventions are simultaneously delivered through Health, Social and Behaviour Change (SBC), Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP) and Education, ensuring that children, families and communities are reached through the multiple entry points where they seek support.

A defining feature of the current operating environment is the institutionalization of MHPSS within the national resilience architecture. MHPSS is now recognized as part of the government standard of resilience services implemented by the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity (MoSPFU) through the network of Resilience Centers and is further reinforced by the MHPSS Coordination Cell (MHPSSCC) under the First Lady's initiative, where UNICEF provides technical accompaniment to the process. This convergence of humanitarian, development and government-led efforts opens an unprecedented opportunity to consolidate quality, coherence and sustainability of MHPSS services nationwide but it also increases the technical demands placed on UNICEF's coordination, quality assurance and capacity transfer functions.

The scope, cross-sectoral nature and technical depth of this agenda exceed what can be delivered through existing staff roles and capacities alone. To safeguard technical coherence, ensure the effective operationalization of interventions, and protect the integrity of evidence-based approaches such as the EASE programme, UNICEF requires dedicated, time-bound expertise from a specialized national MHPSS consultant. The consultant will bring an advanced technical background and an in-depth understanding of the national MHPSS landscape in Ukraine, including familiarity with key actors, normative frameworks, service delivery models and training curricula already in use across the country.

Working across sections, field offices, government counterparts and implementing partners, the consultant will provide independent technical accompaniment, coordination support, quality assurance and capacity transfer — with a particular focus on UNICEF's support to the MHPSS components of the Government-led resilience centers and resilience services. Through structured mentoring of partners, technical review of interventions and the consolidation of learning from field implementation, the assignment will contribute to the institutionalization of multisectoral, trauma-informed MHPSS approaches in Ukraine. Throughout, the emphasis remains on strengthening national ownership and ensuring that technical capacities are progressively and sustainably transferred to government institutions and civil society partners, so that quality MHPSS services continue to expand and endure beyond the current response.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: Download File TMC0002264 ToR.pdf

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

Minimum Qualification required:

Education: Advanced University degree (Master's degree) in one of the following fields: psychology, social sciences, human rights, sociology, international relations, international development, or other related disciplines.

  • Degree in psychology a strong advantage

Work experience

  • A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in mental health and psychosocial support at national or subnational level is required.
  • Experience working in war-affected regions of Ukraine is an asset. Experience as a trainer in capacity building and supervision support activities are an asset.
  • Relevant experience in child protection or related areas, program/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
  • Experience in both humanitarian and development contexts is an added advantage.
  • Knowledge of Ukrainian legislation on MHPSS is an asset.

 Skills

  • Strong analytical skills.
  • Effective communication abilities.
  • Support for program and project development and planning.
  • Networking and partnership building.
  • Fostering innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building.
  • Assessing the impact of results.

Language Requirements

  • English – B2
  • Ukrainian -C2

Desirables

  • Prior work experience with UNICEF or other UN agencies is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

Remarks:  If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not visible on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.