Current vacancies

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, Health.

Established shortly after the war in Ukraine escalated in February 2022, UNICEF Refugee Response Office in Poland has been working together with civil society and government partners at the local and central levels to strengthen systems, expand and adapt existing services, support policy development, provide technical expertise and capacity building. Two years on, we continue to work together to ensure refugee children and adolescents in Poland continue learning, families stay healthy and safe, and that best interests of all children, including the most vulnerable, are always prioritized in decision-making.

Recognizing the unique challenges faced by Ukrainian children, UNICEF RRO Poland will intensify efforts to support MHPSS interventions. This will involve close collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Poland and the provision of technical assistance, particularly as adolescent mental health has been identified as a top priority for the country, and will be a focal point for the upcoming EU Presidency in 2025.

To implement this comprehensive approach at the intended scale and scope, the Health and Nutrition section requires the expertise of a senior MHPSS national consultant. This consultant will bring the necessary technical and programmatic skills to support the integration of MHPSS into UNICEF’s Health programming in Poland, and is expected to contribute to national and subnational health system strengthening including by building capacities and partnerships.

How can you make a difference? 

In the context of the Refugee Response Plan and in alignment with UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action, the consultant will play a crucial role in leading and supporting the health section's MHPSS efforts and in delivering results for children in emergency contexts. This role will also be vital in developing new partnerships and strengthening programmatic approaches.

The senior national consultant to provide strategic technical expertise for the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) programme priorities within the Health and Nutrition section. The Senior National Consultant will also offer technical support and contribute to the implementation of the multisectoral MHPSS interventions across various sections, including Health, Child Protection, Education, Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP), and Social and Behavior Change (SBC).

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

• Advanced university degree in Public Health and Nutrition (preferably with specialized training in public health and nutrition planning, health and nutrition education, health care system management, immunization, or epidemiology), Child Development, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines.

• Eight years of professional work experience at the national and international levels in designing, implementing and leading MHPSS programming across different platforms in high-income countries.

• Documented and recognized expertise in providing strategic direction and guidance in MHPSS, and specifically in MHPSS integrated into health and nutrition programming.

• Proven experience in the development and implementation of large scale multisectoral MHPSS interventions in high-income countries.

• Experience and knowledge of response interventions with refugees from Ukraine is an advantage.

• Experience working with the Polish Ministry of Health is an advantage.

• Proven experience and skills in coordinating multisectoral MHPSS working groups and other mechanisms and in providing strategic and technical contributions in high-level MHPSS coordination fora.

• Proven track record in capacity building and in developing guidance documents, SOP’s, M&E frameworks, etc. on MHPSS.

• Proven track record in engaging with local and national MHPSS stakeholders, including national governmental authorities.

• Fluency in English and Polish is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset. 

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

 To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

 UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

This position is a short-term assignment and doesn’t give rise to a long-term permanent post with the organization.

Applicants are required to include in their applications a financial proposal which includes a lumpsum amount for consultancy fees, local transportation and other miscellaneous costs. Breakdown or details of the fee will be much appreciated.

See the detailed Terms of Reference.  Terms of Reference - Senior National Consultant for MHPSS.docx