Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Workforce and Capacity Development, Pacific Multi Country Office, Child protection, 18 months, remote with trip (INTERNATIONAL only)

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, driven by a calling to promote the rights of every child.

Job Purpose

This consultancy aims to strengthen national capacities in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for children, adolescents, and families across multiple Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), including Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, and Kiribati. The consultant will collaborate closely with government ministries (health, education, justice, social welfare), faith-based organizations, and other stakeholders to enhance the MHPSS workforce and system. A key focus will be on institutionalizing MHPSS for long-term sustainability, contributing directly to Output 2 Services under UNICEF Pacific’s Child Protection programme. The consultancy will address the significant challenges faced by PICTs regarding the mental health and wellbeing of young people, exacerbated by climate-related impacts, social stressors, and substance use, alongside limited capacity for prevention, intervention, and response.

Responsibilities

The consultant will be responsible for assessing existing MHPSS capacities and identifying gaps within the health, education, justice, and child welfare sectors in selected Pacific Island Countries and Territories. They will develop and implement targeted training programs and capacity-building initiatives for the MHPSS workforce, including frontline workers, supervisors, and policymakers. This will involve designing and delivering workshops, providing mentorship, and facilitating peer-learning exchanges. The consultant will also support the development or refinement of MHPSS policies, guidelines, and service standards, ensuring alignment with national priorities and international best practices. A critical aspect of the role will be to foster inter-sectoral coordination and collaboration among government agencies, NGOs, and community-based organizations to create a more integrated and sustainable MHPSS system. The consultant will also contribute to the development of monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track progress and impact, and prepare regular progress reports, case studies, and a final consultancy report detailing achievements, lessons learned, and recommendations for future MHPSS strengthening efforts.

Work Experience

A minimum of 10 years of professional experience at both national and international levels in mental health and psychosocial support is required. This experience must include supervision and direct work with children, with a strong emphasis on in-depth child and adolescent mental health expertise within the Pacific island countries.

Skills

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Capacity Building, Workforce Development, Training Design and Delivery, Policy Development, Inter-sectoral Coordination, Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Pacific Island Countries Context, Clinical Social Work, Supervision

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