Individual Consultant, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
Organizational Context
UNICEF operates in over 190 countries, 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, viewing the promotion of every child's rights not just as a job, but as a calling. UNICEF offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development, fostering a sense of purpose while serving children and communities globally.
Job Purpose
This Long-Term Arrangement (LTA) aims to establish a roster of individual consultants to provide specialized support in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) across UNICEF's global operations. The LTA will enable UNICEF teams to rapidly engage pre-vetted specialists, reducing recruitment time and improving the consistency and quality of technical assistance. It also facilitates shared learning through communities of practice and knowledge products. By securing this expertise, UNICEF's MHPSS team can better integrate mental health into programs, enhance evidence-based decision-making, and strengthen the organization's capacity to address emerging public concerns related to child and adolescent well-being. Selected consultants will provide on-demand technical support to UNICEF Centers of Excellence, Regional Offices, Country Offices, and other UN agencies.
Responsibilities
The individual consultant is required to apply their knowledge, international standards, best practices, and previous experience, supplemented by relevant data and studies, to each assignment. For each call-off assignment, UNICEF and the selected consultant will agree on a specific scope of work, including applicable activities, deliverables, timeline, reporting and coordination arrangements, professional fees, travel requirements (where applicable), and safeguarding assessment and measures. The scope of each assignment will be tailored to the specific needs of UNICEF and the nature and complexity of the task. In collaboration with relevant UNICEF teams, the consultant will provide support as requested and in accordance with the agreed scope of work. Potential activities include MHPSS systems strengthening, policy, governance, financing and advocacy; programme design, implementation, quality assurance and scale-up across sectors; humanitarian MHPSS preparedness, response, recovery and coordination; evidence, research, measurement, monitoring, evaluation, data and learning; and specialized and emerging MHPSS expertise and innovation, including digital/AI, suicide prevention, substance use and climate-related MHPSS.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in mental health and psychosocial support, with at least two years in a humanitarian or development context. Experience working with children and adolescents is essential.
Skills
MHPSS systems strengthening, Programme design and implementation, Humanitarian MHPSS, Evidence generation and research, Monitoring and evaluation, Policy advocacy, Cross-sectoral collaboration, Innovation in MHPSS, Digital/AI in MHPSS, Suicide prevention, Substance use support, Climate-related MHPSS