Mental Health Consultant for Scaling Cross Sectoral MHPSS interventions, Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, Nairobi.
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Job no: 581547
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Nairobi
Level: Consultancy
Location: Kenya
Categories: Child Protection
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Background and Justification
Since January 2021 UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa has actively been involved with scaling cross and multi sectoral mental health and psychosocial support programmes in line with the current UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022 – 2025 and Regional Office Management Plan (ROMP) which identified child and adolescent mental health as a priority. In response to these plans UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) undertook a comprehensive situational analysis of the MHPSS regional landscape and in 2023 developed the first ever Regional Programme Note and a consolidated cross sectoral workplan (2023-2025).
The MHPSS Programme Note and associated workplan are strongly aligned to the UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, the Regional Operational Management Plan and Regional Collaboration for Children, the Core Commitments for Children and Global Multisectoral Operational Framework for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support of Children, Adolescents and Caregivers Across Settings. It was developed using the UNICEF Theory of Change to ensure conceptual alignment to UNICEFs global vision, however, remains a fully localized agenda driven by country office’s needs and supported by the regional office MHPSS Technical Working Group (TWG).
The Regional MHPSS Programme Note identifies a set of 6 collective priority areas for MHPSS programming intended to guide ESARO in supporting regional and country office initiatives for accelerating and scaling up cross and multi- sectoral, quality MHPSS. It is supported by a set of shared indicators and multi-annual workplan which has been reviewed and refined each year. The activities within the workplan and led by multiple sectors and sections however most require the technical support and oversight from a mental health and psychosocial support specialist to ensure quality and alignment to best practice and standards. There are no MHPSS specialists within individual sectors at regional level and only one at country office level.
Since its inception in 2023 and through dedicated MHPSS Specialist function, the region has demonstrated success in scaling multi-sectoral MHPSS integration. In 2025 the region was awarded 2 specific grants to further scale evidence informed and evidence generating activities and interventions in collaboration with partners.
To be able to implement these grants and other funded activities within the current regional MHPSS workplan a technical specialist (consultant) is required to ensure quality, monitoring, evaluation, governance, reporting and to support the region to capture lessons learnt to inform the future vision of child and adolescent mental health programming in the region.
Scope of work
- Goal and Objective: The overall objective of this assignment is to oversee the implementation of defined activities and evidence informed and evidence generating activities within the Regional MHPSS
Workplan providing specialised technical support to regional and country offices in the implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of these. By gathering and documenting lessons learned from the implementation of the regional programme note and workplan the consultant will also help inform the new strategic regional vision for MHPSS in the new ROMP.
2. Provide details/reference to AWP areas covered:
The consultant will support work to strengthen the scale up and acceleration of multi-sectoral MHPSS programming across ESAR, with a particular focus on supporting the implementation of evidence informed and evidence generating interventions.
This area of work falls under the Child Protection Section, AWP Output for Cross Sectoral MHPSS:
Contribute to advancing MHPSS in the region.
The consultancy contributes directly to the Regional MHPSS Cross Sectoral Workplan priority areas: # 1: Data and Evidence
# 3: Addressing social determinants of mental health # 4: Adolescents and Adolescent Engagement
#5: Schools as integrative platforms #6: Workforce capacity strengthening
In addition, the work supports the Child Protection AWP via Enhanced capacity of COs to prevent and respond to exploitation, abuse, neglect, harmful practices (child marriage and Female Genital Mutilation) and violence against children in all settings through systems strengthening across the humanitarian–development–peace nexus and throughout the lifecycle of children.
3. Activities and Tasks:
The consultant will work with UNICEF country and regional level teams and with external partner organisations to implement, monitor, evaluation and report on evidence generating and evidence informed interventions as defined within the regional workplan. The consultant will gather lessons learned to inform the new strategic regional vision for MHPSS including providing recommendations for the development of the next set of priorities and investment.
More specifically, the post holder will support the Regional Office in the following 3 main areas of work:
- Provide direct technical support, assistance and oversight to the country offices and regional office sectors implementing funded MHPSS activities and interventions and maintain relationships with the partners involved in funding and implementing these. Specific activities include supporting the completion and dissemination of research into Adolescent Suicide, Regional Guidance Briefing on Safe Youth Engagement and Mental Health Storybook; technical support and regional coordination of evidence informed interventions including Peer Support Models (Mother Mentors, I Support my Friends), Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE), ‘Take-5’ and #Onmymind (SPOTIFY).
- Quality assures the lessons learnt and reporting for the donor funded MHPSS programmes and activities (7% MHPSS Set Aside, Swiss national committee C mental health thematic fund).
- Undertake a final review of the implementation of the Regional MHPSS programme note and workplan (2023-25), and provide a report and set of recommendations to UNICEF ESARO including areas for doner investment (draft investment case) for continued scaling of evidence informed MHPSS programming (2026-2030)
- Working relationship: The consultant will work under the supervision of the ESARO Regional Advisor for Child Protection and under the overall leadership of the Deputy Regional Director. The consultant will work in close collaboration with the ESARO and country office sectoral MHPSS focal persons, especially in Child Protection, Health, Gender C adolescent, HIV C SRHR Education, SBC and Communication sections. The consultant will also work with youth advocates for mental health
Outputs/Deliverables and Payment Schedule
|
Deliverables (SMART) |
Duration (Estimated # of days) |
Timeline/ Deadline |
Schedule of payment |
|
1. Provision of a detailed workplan, proposed methodology support inception meetings and local implementation plans for the implementation of funded evidence informed interventions and establish a regional MCE framework. |
15 days |
By 31st August 2025 |
25% of contract |
|
2. Provide technical support to Rwanda and Ethiopia COs to contextualize the implementation of EASE intervention including modifying training methodologies and coordinating cross country for regional learning. |
15 days |
By 31st August 2025 |
|
|
3. Provide technical support to finalise, publish and disseminate for World Mental Health Day 1) results of Adolescent Suicide Study, 2) #Onmymind youth mental health media challenge, 3) Regional guidance on Safe Youth Engagement, 4) Mental Health Storybook |
30 days |
By 31 October 2025 |
25% of contract |
|
4. Provide ongoing remote technical support and coordination across CO’s implementing EASE, peer support models and Take 5 intervention ensuring quality, governance and lessons learnt generation in line with reporting requirements. |
30 days |
By 31st December 2025 |
25% of contract |
|
5. Complete a regional review of the ESARO programme note and workplan implementation, lessons learned and providing a set of recommendations on the strategic direction of MHPSS within UNICEF ESAR and draft an investment case to support this. This will be used to complete the final reporting for the MHPSS 7% set aside funds. First draft in word due by 31st December Second draft 1st Jan |
25 days |
By 28th Feb 2026 |
25% of contract |
|
Finalisation 28th Feb Final deliverables will include:
|
|
|
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financial reports, and video) for Swiss National Committee on Humanitarian MHPSS Funds Final deliverables will include:
|
5 days |
By 28th Feb 2026 |
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Desired competencies, technical background and experience
Education: Advanced degree from a recognized academic institution in related field (Mental Health, Social Work, Medical Sciences, Psychology or related field) and a licensure to practice as a mental health professional. A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 5 years professional experience and evidence of relevant professional trainings can act in lieu of an advanced degree)
Required:
- Minimum 10 years of professional experience working in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Programmes.
- Experience and familiarity with the low intensity psychosocial interventions used within UNICEF ESAR programmes including being a certified trainer in EASE.
- Experience of training, capacity building, supervision and mentoring of staff providing MHPSS, ideally with a qualification in teaching/training or supervision.
- Experience working within LMIC supporting MHPSS programmes across the humanitarian- development-peace nexus.
- Previous experience of leading and working within cross-sectoral MHPSS programmes and teams with a demonstrated understanding of MHPSS in Child Protection, Health, HIV C SRHR and Education settings.
- Demonstrated experience of establishing and implementing MEAL for MHPSS
- Ability to gather, sort and analyse technical, research and programme information and present it simply in a variety of formats for audiences including formal donor report writing.
- Experience of drafting and presenting investment cases for child and adolescent mental health.
- Language: Excellent English oral and written communication skills.
Desired / It is an asset:
- Previous experience with UNICEF in the area of MHPSS
- Previous experience within ESAR region
- Project or programme management
- Previous experience of producing documents for publication.
Must exhibit the UNICEF Core Values of:
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- Care
- Respect
- Integrity
- Trust
- Accountability
- Sustainability
a) Competencies: Builds and maintains partnerships, demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, drive to achieve results, manages ambiguity and complexity, works collaboratively with others.
Administrative issues
- The consultant is expected to be remote/home based and does not include any missions. The consultant is expected to use his/her own IT equipment (laptop, cell-phone etc.), where operating communication costs long-distance calls, internet, interpretation if any should be part of the overall quoted fees (no reimbursement will be applied).
- The consultant is responsible for gaining any ethics approvals needed to undertaken this study in line with international standards of practice
- The consultant will remain in regular contact with the supervisor to review progress on the implementation of the deliverables.
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.
How to apply
Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV or P11 form and their technical proposals to the online recruitment portal (Talent Management System) or email provided.
Interested candidates to indicate their ability, availability, and rate (daily/monthly) expressed in US$ for international consultants or KES for national consultants to undertake the terms of reference. The fees should be inclusive of other costs incurred such as travel/return ticket, VISA and subsistence allowances for international consultants who will be based in Nairobi.
Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered.
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.
Advertised: E. Africa Standard Time
Deadline: E. Africa Standard Time