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Consultancy: Consultant, Digital MPHSS, Adolescent Health - Health Section, PD, NYHQ/Home based - Req # 538566

New York City

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: New York City
  • Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Information Technology and Computer Science
    • Children's rights (health and protection)
    • Sexual and reproductive health
    • Design (digital, product, graphics or visual design)
  • Closing Date: Closed

The purpose of this consultancy is to support and strengthen UNICEF’s digital mental health programming globally. The consultant will work under the supervision of the Health Specialist (Adolescent Health, Mental Health, School Health) at UNICEF HQ, as well as in collaboration with Adolescent Health Team, Digital Health Team, and MHPSS Technical Working Group.

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.

 

Consultancy Title: Digital MPHSS – Adolescent Health

Section/Division/Duty Station:  Health Section, Programmes, NYHQ

 Duration: 230 working days from 01 April 2021 to 15 March 2022

 

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

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 fulfil their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, UNICEF works for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

As such, mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is an institutional priority for UNICEF. Under its upcoming Strategic Plan, UNICEF is working to better operationalize its MHPSS commitments across sectors and promote a holistic approach to child and adolescent mental well-being. 

UNICEF believes that strengthening the integration of mental health promotion, prevention, and care as essential elements of Primary Health Care will be critical to meeting the mental health and well-being needs of children and adolescents, and that digital technologies provide a tremendous opportunity for accelerating reach and revolutionizing mental health care. Building upon on the opportunities provided by new digital technologies, UNICEF is currently pilot testing several digital solutions to support existing care, scale up prevention and promotion, and increase capacity for mental health within PHC systems. Some examples include provision of tele-mental health services, digital HCW training on mental health, as well as mental health support for adolescents and youth through virtual and mobile platforms, including suicide prevention chatbots and helplines.

The purpose of this consultancy is to support and strengthen UNICEF’s digital mental health programming globally, with a focus on strengthening:

  • Practical guidance on adapting existing digital interventions to meet the unique needs of children and adolescents, including safeguarding and ensuring do no harm principles 
  • Technical support to field offices on provision of mental health interventions using various digital technologies (machine learning, AI, mobile apps, games, online platforms)
  • Scale-up of UNICEF’s digital MHPSS programming 

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

Expected Results

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Health Specialist (Adolescent Health, Mental Health, School Health) at UNICEF HQ, as well as in collaboration with Adolescent Health Team, Digital Health Team, and MHPSS Technical Working Group. The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

  • Desk Review: Scoping review/State of the Science paper on use of digital technologies for child and adolescent MHPSS and support to/capacity building of MHPSS providers
  • Mapping: Mapping of UNICEF current best practices on use of digital technologies for MHPSS
  • Technical Support: Compendium of existing guidelines, training resources, or other materials related to provision of MHPSS services to children and adolescents using digital technology
  • Knowledge Management: Digital MHPSS Share point site and monthly updates to the MHPSS TWG 
  • Resource Mobilization: Digital MHPSS Investment Case and Proposals for 1) Digital MHPSS for Adolescents 2) Digital MHPSS for HWCs 3) Digital MHPSS Training Platform for HCWs/Non-clinician providers
  • Global Network: Technical review and inputs to program proposals, plans, or materials for up to 6 countries and 3 regions, and Voices of Youth 
  • Communications: Participation in monthly MHPSS TWG meetings and coordinate quarterly Digital MHPSS working group meetings 

 

Qualifications

  • Minimum: Master’s degree in relevant academic background in Medicine, Nursing, Psychology, Global Mental Health or similar relevant discipline.
  • Minimum 3 years’ experience with global MHPSS programming for adolescents/children in LMICs
  • Minimum 3 years’ experience with implementation of digital MHPSS interventions for adolescents/children in LMICs
  • Clinical degree and background with specialization in mental health 
  • Strong knowledge and understanding of humanitarian principles, child safeguarding measures and established international standards on mental health and psychosocial support for adolescents and children 
  • Strong organizational and facilitation skills whether face to face or remotely with diverse stakeholders
  • Demonstrated experience with desk research and program mapping, preferably including remote coordination. 
  • Experience setting up knowledge management and communication sites.
  • Comfortable to work independently while coordinating closely with different teams.
  • Full command of spoken and written English is essential, working knowledge of Spanish is an asset.

Requirements:

  • Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentials
  • Financial proposal that will include:
  • your daily/monthly rate (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. Payment will be made on a monthly basis, against the report on the monthly work plan, in line with the deliverables noted above. Payment will be made on a monthly basis, against the report on the monthly work plan, in line with the deliverables noted above.

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 is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation, nationality, culture, appearance, socio-economic status, ability, age, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply to become a part of the organization.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

This vacancy is now closed.
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