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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

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health South Asia Network (CAMHSAN) was formed during an inception meeting in April 2023 and agreement on the membership, institutional arrangements and the workplan for the network was reached during the remainder of the year.  The Kathmandu Institute of Child Health (KIOCH) offered to house the Secretariat of the network for the first two years – from January 2024 to December 2025. The partnership agreement (PD) between KIOCH and UNICEF commenced on 10 January 2024 and ends on 31 March 2025.  UNICEF intends to amend the PD until 31 December 2025.

CAMHSAN serves as a resource centre for child and adolescent mental health. It facilitates information exchange, fosters collaboration, enhances expertise, organizes events, generates evidence and advocates for child and adolescent mental health initiatives in the region.  CAMHSAN and its Secretariat have been operational for just over one year and it is important to assess the effectiveness of such a structure in developing regional capacity in MHPSS programming and implementation, evidence generation, advocacy and awareness creation.

An assessment of CAMHSAN and the Secretariat at this juncture is important because it would enable a better understanding of the achievements, including what works, challenges faced by CAMHSAN and areas and ways of improvement. It will detail the value of having a network for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in South Asia and a way forward if such a network is deemed important.

The purpose of this consultancy is to assess the effectiveness of CAMHSAN and its Secretariat in delivering on the responsibilities of the network as outlined in the CAMHSAN ToR and the workplan, identify any unforeseen challenges and detail how the Network can be strengthened to have increased impact and to be more sustainable.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the guidance of the Health Specialist MNCAH, the consultant is expected to assess the current organizational structure and functioning of CAMHSAN, including the effectiveness of the Secretariat. This would include assessing the governance mechanisms, decision-making processes, sustainability model and challenges in view of the scope of the network. The assessment should focus on the exchange of information, development of collaborative partnerships, conducting capacity building activities, organizing child and adolescent mental health events and generating evidence and advocating for child and adolescent mental health initiatives in the region.

The consultant should deliver the following products to meet the requirements of the above scope of work:

1. an inception report of no more than five pages, detailing the methodology and timelines to be followed in assessing the organizational structure and functioning of the CAMHSAN.  The methodology to be used should include, at a minimum: review of documentation, literature review, stakeholder consultations including in-depth interviews and comparative analysis.
2. the final assessment report of no more than 12 pages, which should include reference to the governance mechanism, effectiveness and sustainability of the Network. It should also provide clear recommendations on the way forward, including potential improvements where necessary. The following are a list of non-exhaustive issues to be focused on:

1. Governance

The clarity of roles, responsibilities, and accountability of CAMHSAN members and the Secretariat.   Recommendations should be made on the roles, responsibilities and functioning of the secretariat and the members of the CAMHSAN with clear governance structure/organogram and role specifications.       

The communication channels between the Secretariat and members of the Network, between members of the Network as a whole and between members of the Network and external actors.  Recommendations should be made on how communication channels can be improved to ensure equitable participation of all members in decision-making processes.

Decision making processes and consensus-building mechanisms.  Recommendations should be made on how decision-making processes can be improved, including mechanisms for consultation, consensus-building and conflict resolution.

The process for identifying, inviting and selecting new members to join the Network as well as selection of the Secretariat should be explored.  Recommendations should be made on the process of recruitment of new members into the Network as well as the process of selection/election of the Secretariat.  The latter should include essential prerequisites for a Secretariat, and articulate its potential roles, responsibilities, skills, budgets, accountability and tenure.

2. Effectiveness

Assess the current and potential role(s) of the network in (a) evidence generation, (b) advocacy and awareness creation, (c) developing regional capacity on MHPSS programming. Make concrete recommendations on how the Network can collaborate with other structures to increase visibility, enhance efficiency and promote their work, beyond the region. 

The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) pertaining to the current institutional setup of CAMHSAN and the Secretariat should be assessed.  Recommendations related to the structure and functioning of the Network and the Secretariat should be made. 

3. Sustainability

The ability and opportunities available for the Network to sustain their work and partnership beyond the end of the PD with UNICEF.  Provide recommendations for fundraising activities and financial sustainability models for the Network (i.e. online communities etc.) to pursue, citing examples/case studies of other similar networks. 

3.  a PowerPoint and final presentation to UNICEF and CAMHSAN members of the findings and the recommendations from this assessment.

Work Assignments Overview

Note: please send your financial proposal along with your application.

Remarks: please note that this is a short term consultancy (Low Value) consisting of 12 days between March to May 2025.

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

• An advanced degree in Organizational Development, Business Studies, Development Studies, or equivalent is required.
• Minimum of 10 years professional experience in development work focusing on organizational development and institutional strengthening. 
• Experience in MHPSS would be an added advantage. 
• Proven experience in organizational management.
• Experience in conducting assessments of organizations and networks. 
• Exposure to the UN system and experience with other regional or global networks would be an asset.
• Excellent organizational and management skills
• Exceptional oral and written language skills
• Unyielding attention to detail, content and logic
• Strong networking skills and team player
• Thinks and acts strategically.
• Excellent written and oral English language skills.

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 committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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.

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.