Contract Duration - 11 months

Working arrangement: Remote consultancy with travel 

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

Purpose of Assignment:

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Director, and with support and direct technical oversight from the Global Lead for Mental Health to ensure clarity of the global-regional technical relationship, the consultant will work to sustain, accelerate, and scale-up multisectoral MHPSS strategies and interventions in the West and Central Africa Regional Office. UNICEF plays a critical leadership role in advancing lifesaving, multisectoral mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) for children, adolescents, families, and communities, including in humanitarian and emergency settings. In 2024, UNICEF’s multisectoral MHPSS services reached an estimated 58.4 million people in humanitarian contexts across 76 countries. At the global level, UNICEF co-led the 2024 Greentree Retreat with the Deputy Secretary-General, WHO, and Wellcome Trust to advance coordinated implementation of scalable, innovative, and evidence-based MHPSS in emergencies. Building on this leadership, UNICEF continues to collaborate within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and with global partners to strengthen collective coordination on MHPSS in emergencies. As part of these joint efforts, UNICEF serves as co-chair of the IASC MHPSS Reference Group, contributing to inter-agency leadership and fostering coherence between global guidance and regional and country-level implementation. (See TOR for details)

Scope of Work:

Tthe Consultant provides authoritative technical guidance and operational support throughout all stages of programming to facilitate the management and delivery of concrete and sustainable contributions to regional efforts that advance multisectoral MHPSS for children, adolescents, and communities.

• Technical advice and assistance
• Strategic planning and programme management
• Programme performance oversight and evaluation
• Advocacy, networking and partnership building
• Knowledge management and strategic learning

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  ToRTMC0001408.pdf

Minimum requirements: (Qualifications/Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills)

• Education: Advanced degree from a recognized academic institution in related fields (Mental Health, Social Work, Medical Sciences, Psychology, Sociology or related field. A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with at least 10 years of professional experience and evidence of relevant professional training can act in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Work Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience working in MHPSS Multisectoral Programmes

• Experience with the low intensity psychological / psychosocial interventions used within UNICEF WCAR.

• Experience of training, capacity building, supervision and mentoring of staff providing MHPSS, ideally with qualifications in teaching / training and/or supervision

• Proven experience in EASE, EQUIP and CFC amongst other interventions / approaches, both as a trainer of trainers, trainer of helpers and technical assistance in deployment.

• Experience working with or within LMIC and emergency settings supporting MHPSS programmes across the humanitarian development-peace triple NEXUS.

• Previous experience in leading and working within multi sectoral and cross-sectoral MHPSS programmes and teams with a demonstrated understanding of multisectoral MHPSS as well as of MHPSS in Child Protection, in Education, and in Health/Nutrition.

• Experience in drafting and presenting investment case for MHPSS / CAMH.

• Language Requirements: Excellent French and English oral and written communication skills (including with specific MHPSS terminology).
• Desirables (If provided in the TOR): Combined experience of MHPSS technical assistance position at country, regional and global levels would be an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal  Financial proposal TMC0001408.docx

Remarks:   If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not visible on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.