National Consultant on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support services in Kazakhstan

Duration: from 25 August 2024 to 20 August 2025
Workplace: office-based
Modality: full-time

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, a fair chance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=E1xkXZs0cAQ

 Background MHPSS Consultant 2024.docx

Purpose of the assignment
The National Consultant will provide technical assistance for strengthening the system of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services to children and adolescents in Kazakhstan, including particular focus on Youth Health Centers. He/she will work under the direct supervision of UNICEF Health and Nutrition Specialist, and in close collaboration with UNICEF Education and Child Protection team. He/she will ensure a close dialogue and support to key line ministries and partners to advance children and adolescents’ mental health agenda.

Scope of Work
The National consultant on MHPSS will be responsible for the following key tasks:
1) Technical assistance in piloting, refinement based on the pilot results, and integration of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) standards and guide into the Youth Health Center (YHC) service framework, in consultation with relevant authorities, professionals and experts to ensure alignment with best practices and the evolving needs of adolescents and young people;
2) Technical assistance in advocating for the Youth Health Center’s (YHS) capacity assessment results with the Ministry of Health, including targeted efforts to address identified weaknesses in resource allocation optimization, service delivery, and the evolving healthcare needs of adolescents and young people;
3) Facilitate official launch of the adolescent’s portal on the Damumed platform, including national round table with participation of MoH, YHCs network and other key national stakeholders;
4) Review the capacity and experience of the YHCs to provide online services through uSupport platform and ensure referral to offline services when it is adequate and required;
5) Support policy dialogue with Ministry of health, other line ministries and key counterparts, and provide technical assistance regarding reforms of the system of services and capacity building, that contribute to strengthen children and youth’s access to MHPSS, especially on law and policy reforms, PHC facilities, Family support centers and Pedagogical and Psychological Support Centers reforms, and the collaboration and cooperation between services and sectors.
6) Technical assistance in formulating recommendations for MoH on overcoming barriers, including stigma and discrimination, for provision of MHPSS to PLWHIV as part of guaranteed package and compulsory insurance (drawing upon experiences from other countries);
7) Technical assistance to the YHCs in terms of enhancing MHPSS standards and increasing the capacity to provide

MHPSS for the GBV prevention and reduction of its consequences among adolescents and young people, including those LWHIV; Results to be achieved with the support of this consultancy:
1) Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) standards and guide are piloted, refined based on the pilot results, and integrated into the Youth Health Center (YHC) service framework;
2) Youth Health Center’s (YHS) capacity assessment results and recommendations advocated for with the Ministry of Health, in form of recommendations for modifying the appropriate regulatory and methodological documents provided, including targeted efforts to address identified weaknesses in resource allocation optimization, service delivery, and the evolving healthcare needs of adolescents and young people;
3) Adolescent’s portal on the Damumed platform officially launched, national round table with participation of MoH, YHCs network and other key national stakeholders organized;
4) Analysis, recommendations, briefs and advocacy notes for strengthening access and quality of MHPSS services to children and adolescents, with dialogue engaged with key line ministries and national counterparts. Recommendations on overcoming barriers, including stigma and discrimination, for provision of MHPSS to PLWHIV formulated;
5) Trainings on empowerment, sexual consent and preventing gender-based violence for adolescents and young people, including those LWHIV, conducted in selected regions of the country;

 Work Assignment Overview MHPSS Consultant 2024.docx

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
• Education: Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Systems, Social sciences or related field.
• Experience:
– At least three (3) years of relevant professional work experience in mental health and psychosocial support systems strengthening
Technical expertise on health and MHPSS policies, programme, services, especially targeting youth
– Experience in the development, planning and management of strategies and programmes in the area of MHPSS
– Experience in research and institutional analysis in the areas of MHPSS
– Practical experience in providing MHPSS, psychological/ psychotherapeutic and psychiatric services
– Knowledge/experience on youth related policies and services is an asset.
– Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
– Ability to design, coordinate and facilitate consultations with various stakeholders at central and local level
– Ability to design, prepare and facilitate trainings
– Fluency in Russian and English
– Knowledge of Kazakh language is an advantage.
– Highly developed communication skills.
– Excellent analytical and organizational skills,

– Ability to work in an international and multi-cultural environment.
– Ability to work independently and respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner.
• Competencies:
– Expertise in MHPSS related areas, especially children and youth related MH;
– Experience in research, institutional analysis, and policy advise and technical support for the development of national policies, plans, programmes, standards, regulations, related to MHPSS systems;
– Experience in designing and organizing training programmes, including the development and use of training materials to meet the needs of the target audience.

For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (https://www.unicef.org/about/unicef-culture)

 To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

Evaluation Criteria
Technical evaluation weighs 70%, while Financial evaluation – 30%
A) Technical Evaluation (maximum 100 scores)
• Expertise in MHPSS related areas, especially children and youth related MH – 40 scores.
• Experience in research, institutional analysis, and policy advise and technical support for the development of national policies, plans, programmes, standards, regulations, related to MHPSS systems – 40 scores.
• Experience in designing and organizing training programmes, including the development and use of training materials to meet the needs of the target audience – 20 scores.

B) Financial Proposal (e.g. maximum of 30 scores)
Candidates must submit a financial proposal for the whole assignment based on these Terms of Reference. The financial proposal should clearly state the cost of the services for each Deliverables/Outputs.
Financial proposal is maximum 30 points. The lowest financial proposal will receive the highest score during financial assessment. This is the main principle because saved funds will be directed towards other activities to aid children in Kazakhstan. Only financial proposals that fully cover all deliverables outlined in the terms of reference will be considered.
The Office selects the individual with the lowest best and final offer, based on best value for money.
The financial proposal should include all possible costs related to the implementation of the tasks under the present TOR including in-country travel expenses. UNICEF does not provide or arrange health insurance coverage.
The financial proposal must be submitted in a separate file of non-editable format (e.g. PDF). Consultancy fees should be broken down to show the details for the below-mentioned deliverables.

Application requirements:
The consultancy is open to individual national applicants.
Applicants are required to provide:
– A short cover letter, highlighting relevant experience with similar type of assignments (max 300 words).
– CV of the individual applicants
– Financial proposal including number of days for undertaking the assignment, daily fee, travel costs. Travel costs will be pre-approved by UNICEF as per the UNICEF rules and regulations for travel for consultants i.e., irrespective of the distance and duration of the flight, most direct and economy flight ticket shall apply.
– Samples or links to at least 2 related pieces of work previously conducted by the consultant. The shortlisted applicants will be contacted by UNICEF with a technical discussion and interview.
Interested candidates should submit the following documents through the link: https://www.unicef.org/careers/

Remarks
• Completion of the UN/UNICEF mandatory trainings is obligatory upon commencement of the contract.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and that UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.
• Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.
• UNICEF will only make milestone payment based on achievement of specific deliverables. Also note that UNICEF does not make advance payment and UNICEF is exempted from paying VAT and any other form of taxes. Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. Four payments will be made based on the deliverables outlined in the Work Assignment Overview. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant. Also note that UNICEF does not make advance payment and UNICEF is exempted from paying VAT and any other form of taxes. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory or if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered, or for failure to meet deadlines (fees reduced due to late submission: 20 days – 10%; 1 month-20%; 2 months-50%; more 2 months – payment withhold).
• The Consultant will perform his/her duties in line with UNICEF standards and procedures.
• Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

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.