Consultant – Multi-Sectoral MHPSS Assessment Toolkit

Purpose of consultancy

Contribute to the development of a multi-sectoral IASC MHPSS Assessment Toolkit.

Background

The mission of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (MSD) is to promote mental health, and human rights for all across the lifespan; to prevent harmful use of alcohol and other substances, to prevent mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) conditions, and to reduce the mortality, morbidity and disability for persons with MNS conditions. One of the objectives of the department is to increase access to affordable, good quality services and supports for people with MNS conditions, their families and communities within the context of UHC and across the life-course, including in humanitarian contexts.

In humanitarian emergencies, it is important to assess MHPSS needs and resources to guide coordination and planning of MHPSS activities and services. There is a need for updated guidance on MHPSS mapping and assessments across different sectors in humanitarian settings. Needs assessments and mapping are critical for informing the MHPSS response across sectors in humanitarian crises. While the WHO/UNHCR 2012 MHPSS Assessment Toolkit and IASC 2013 MHPSS Assessment Guidance exists, there is a need to update this toolkit to make it multi-sectoral. There is also a significant need to more effectively integrate MHPSS into joint assessment initiatives, such as the Grand Bargain and multisectoral joint and rapid needs assessments (e.g., the Multi-Sectoral Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA)) and into key processes and documents informing the humanitarian response (e.g. the Joint Intersectoral Analysis Framework (JIAF), Humanitarian Needs Assessments and Overviews, Refugee Response Plans).

The consultant will contribute to the development of a practical multi-sectoral MHPSS assessment toolkit. This toolkit will build on the WHO-UNHCR 2012 MHPSS Assessment Toolkit, IASC 2012 MHPSS 4Ws Mapping and the IASC 2013 MHPSS assessment guidance. Existing tools will be updated to be maximally useful and effective. Additional assessment tools will be incorporated from other sectors (e.g., education, child protection, general protection) and further developed where needed. The multisectoral assessment toolkit will include dedicated MHPSS assessment tools as well as MHPSS components of multisectoral assessments. It will also include tools for analyzing gaps in the MHPSS response (e.g., 4Ws tool). This newly updated assessment toolkit will help ensure that MHPSS needs and resources are assessed across sectors, that gaps are identified within a common conceptual framework, and that MHPSS is optimally included in humanitarian response planning.

Deliverables:

• Deliverable 1: Provide a detailed review of existing MHPSS assessments and 4W mappings conducted in humanitarian settings by different agencies (e.g., to determine which tools are used most frequently and how tools have been used or modified).
• Deliverable 2: Organize surveys and consultations with different humanitarian actors across sectors/AoRs to determine perceived needs and gaps when conducting MHPSS needs assessments and mapping.
• Deliverable 3: Conduct desk review of existing MHPSS assessment and mapping tools across sectors/AoRs (e.g., health, GBV, child protection, education).
• Deliverable 4: Review MHPSS components of existing approaches and processes related to assessments in humanitarian settings (e.g. the Joint Intersectoral Analysis Framework (JIAF), Humanitarian Needs Assessments and Overviews (HNOs), Refugee Response Plans).
• Deliverable 5: Develop sections of multi-sectoral MHPSS assessment toolkit (e.g. methods and process and different assessment tools).
• Deliverable 6: Organize peer reviews by different humanitarian actors across sectors/AoRs and from different countries/regions.
• Deliverable 7: Finalize the field test version of the multi-sectoral MHPSS assessment toolkit.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages.

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Advanced university degree in mental health or social services field.

Desirable:

• Doctorate degree in mental health related field.

Experience

Essential:

• Over 5 years of relevant experience supporting MHPSS programs in international humanitarian contexts.
• Experience organizing and conducting MHPSS needs assessments and situational analyses.
• Experience in data collection, data analysis and report writing.
• Work experience in large humanitarian crises caused by conflict or natural disasters.

Desirable:

• Experience with using the WHO UNHCR 2012 MHPSS Assessment Toolkit and IASC 4Ws MHPSS mapping tool.
• Research experience.

Skills/knowledge

Essential:

• Good writing skills.
• Strong organizational and conceptualization skills.
• Ability to work within and contribute to a team.
• Strong interpersonal and written skills, and cross-cultural competency.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Location

Off-site - Home based.

Travel

The consultant is not expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B-USD 7,000 – 9,980 per month.

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

6 months – part-time at 40%. Remuneration will be pro-rated accordingly.
Additional contracts may be offered based on satisfactory performance and funding availability.

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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• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
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