Background
The Non-communicable Diseases Team in the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) provides policy guidance and technical assistance to Member States; develops, implements and monitors multisectoral, integrated, evidence-based, and people-centered policies, strategies and plans; and strengthens the capacity of national-health systems to deliver high-quality, integrated Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD), Mental and Neurological and Substance Use (MNS) services at Primary Health Care and all levels of care for Universal Health Care (UHC). These include early diagnosis, screening and treatment of NCDs and mental health conditions and their risk factors; rehabilitation and disability services; promoting and tracking cross-cutting, end-to-end delivery to achieve impact; and support to the building and maintenance of national and regional information systems for NCDs and mental health, neurology, and alcohol and other substance use.
In the area of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, AFRO supports Member States to develop Mental Health Policies and Strategic Plans, supports integration of mental health services into primary health care and provides support for strengthening community mental health services in line with the Framework to Implement the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan in the WHO Africa Region, endorsed by the Regional Committee in August 2022.
WHO is collaborating with UNICEF in the implementation of a UNICEF-WHO Joint Programme on the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing and development of children and adolescents (the “Joint Programme”) aiming to improve capacities to support accelerated efforts at global, regional and country levels. This Joint Programme is in its start-up phase, and catalytic resources have been allocated by UNICEF and WHO to support the Joint Programme implementation in 10 countries, including Mozambique and Cote d’Ivoire in the WHO African region. In addition, AFRO prioritised Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) in the Regional framework.
Deliverables
In the context of the mental, neurological and substance use disorders area of work within the NCD Team, at the African Regional level, and in the context of the CAMH activities of the WHO/UNICEF Joint Programme of work, the incumbent will coordinate and is responsible for providing oversight to Joint Programme activities, with particular reference to Cote d’Ivoire and Mozambique country level implementation.
Deliverable 1: Facilitate communication with WHO and UNICEF Headquarters, regional and country focal points for the Joint Programme towards implementation of workplans.
Activity 1.1: Organize weekly meetings with WHO Country Office (WCO) Cote d’Ivoire and WCO Mozambique to support the start-up phase of the Joint Programme implementation and share minutes.
Activity 1.2: Organize monthly follow up meetings with UNICEF regional office focal points (West Africa and East and Southern Africa) for the Joint Programme.
Activity 1.3: Take part in other coordination meetings relevant to child and adolescent mental health in AFRO.
Deliverable 2: Facilitate timely implementation of the UNICEF WHO Joint Programme on the mental health and psychosocial development of children and adolescents and other child and adolescent mental health activities in countries.
Activity 2.1: Provide technical advice and facilitate the implementation of UNICEF WHO Joint Programme workplans in Cote d’Ivoire and Mozambique and facilitate compilation of monthly reports.
Activity 2.2: Prepare a technical paper/scoping of the situation of child and adolescent mental health services in the WHO African region, including successes and challenges and presenting some case studies.
Activity 2.3: Provide technical advice and capacity building for Ministry of Health and other CAMH stakeholders, and facilitate development of workplans, strengthening of policies, services and programmes for child and adolescent mental health in countries.
Activity 2.4: Facilitate adaptation, dissemination and uptake of WHO CAMH normative guidance and tools for CAMH by Member States in the region.
Activity 2.5: Organise at least one Regional Meeting on Child and Adolescent mental health.
Deliverable 3: Technical assistance towards advocacy and resource mobilization for mental health of children and adolescents.
Activity 3.1 Write up of feature stories and good practice examples about child and adolescent mental health interventions and services and facilitate dissemination through AFRO dedicated webpages.
Activity 3.2 Draft advocacy materials and PPT slides for dissemination events on child and adolescent mental health.
Activity 3.3 Draft grant applications and other proposals targeting a range of donors.
Progress reports in relation to all the three deliverables mentioned above will be submitted on a monthly basis (consultancy contract period.
Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational qualifications required:
Advanced University Degree (Masters level and above) in Development Studies/ Public Health/ Medicine/Peadiatrics, Clinical Psychology, Global Mental Health
Desirable: Postgraduate Degree related to Child Mental Health
Experience required:
Minimum 5 years of experience in managing a child and adolescent mental health program preferably in the African Region
Desirable: Experience working in teams, experience working at a national or regional level
Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:
Excellent writing skills required
Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills
Language requirements:
Expert knowledge of English required (written and spoken)
Knowledge of other UN official languages desirable, French as alternate language preferred.
Location & Travel
On site: Brazzaville, Congo. The consultant is expected to travel.
Remuneration and budget (travel costs excluded)
Monthly for 6 months at Band B (US$8,500)
Currency: US Dollars
The term “Mental health” refers to mental, neurological and substance use conditions.
WHO Regional Office for Africa (2022). FRAMEWORK TO STRENGTHEN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH ACTION PLAN 2013–2030 IN THE WHO AFRICAN REGION. https://www.afro.who.int/sites/default/files/2022-10/AFR-RC72-5 Framework to strengthen the implementation of the comprehensive mental health action plan 20132030 in the WHO African Region.pdf.
Additional Information:
This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
A written test may be used as a form of screening.
If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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