Home-based Consultancy: Digital Mental Health Expert Consultant for uSupport e-Mental Health Solution for Adolescents and Youth (100 working days; with travel as needed) – Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO)

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Purpose of Activity/Assignment

Support to the ECARO ADAP team with expert advisory services and technical support on the maintenance cycle of the uSupport platform and implementation support in ECARO.

The UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO) seeks international expert advisory services and technical support on informing the maintenance cycle and implementation of uSupport Digital Mental Health Solution for Adolescents and Youth, with a particular focus on young people affected by the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis to: inform the maintenance cycle of the uSupport platform and develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for delivering online MHPSS support for youth and caregivers, support training on counseling using digital channels, facilitate learning and knowledge exchange through ECARO digital mental health learning collaborative, as well as through ECARO-led International eMH expert network. The consultant will also work in close collaboration with UNICEF country/regional/HQ teams and selected technical and non-profit experts/consultants and partner organizations (e.g., NGOs).

ECARO seeks international expert advisory services and technical support on part time basis for an estimated number of days equivalent to 100 working days within a 12-month flexible period (tentative contract dates September 2024 – August 2025). The number of days may be increased, and the duration of the contract extended depending on needs and demand.

Background on uSupport

Adolescents today are facing a compounding mental health crisis: more young people than ever are struggling with anxiety, depression, and other negative emotions. 50% of all mental health conditions start by age 14 and 75% by age 24. Most cases are undetected and untreated.

The uSupport project aims to make psychosocial support counselling more affordable, inclusive and accessible to all adolescents through online mental health platforms that would provide quality support and services.

The uSupport platform, commissioned by UNICEF and built in 2022, is currently in a phase focused on refining the core technology to support international evidence-based modules and apps from third-party vendors. The primary goal is to implement the platform in low- to middle-income regional countries, with a focus on addressing their MHPSS needs.

The uSupport e-MHPSS platform aims to build a bridge between existing mental health resources and connect them to adolescents and young people in need of help by digitizing service delivery for use in both a humanitarian and development settings.

The uSupport product vision, in summary, is to increase:

• access to psychosocial support for adolescents and youth by meeting them where they are; providing them with opportunities to connect with peer and professional counsellors, offering flexible payment options, fast response times, etc.;
• increase demand for quality MHPSS, reduce barriers to care-seeking, improve information and uptake of services by young people;
• increase quality of care through professional and vetted counsellors that adolescents can trust;
• increase engagement of young people with lived experiences in program design and in developing approaches/methodologies that would empower them as actors in their own care (by providing access to eMH tools such as self-assessments, self-monitoring etc.)
• improve integration between the online MHPSS services and the local care system supported by the Ministry of Health, national MH professional associations and local service providers through improved collaboration with local care providers (e.g. youth friendly health services, student policlinics) and exploring future integration with the national health insurance schemes.

Scope of Work

The purpose of this contract is to inform the maintenance cycle of the uSupport platform and implementation support in ECARO, including in the context of Ukraine humanitarian crisis.

The consultancy services are to provide advice, analysis, security and privacy guidelines, project risk assessments and best practices for all phases of the application development process including strategy, system architecture, hosting, user interface/user experience (UI/UX) design and database design.

The consultancy services will help design backend architecture and main features to be offered on the platform in the context of rapid agile product development process. The consultancy will inform Standard Operating Procedures for delivering digital Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services and remote counselling for adolescents and youth, with a particular focus on those affected by the Ukrainian crisis and eventual minimum viable product (MVP) rollout in Kazakhstan.

The consultancy will also provide guidance on digital counselling methodologies and techniques and will facilitate learning and knowledge exchange through ECARO digital mental health learning collaborative.

I. Inform the maintenance cycle of the uSupport platform and develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for delivering online MHPSS support for youth and caregivers, including in development and emergency settings, with a focus on supporting the response to the current emergency in Ukraine and surrounding countries.

• Conduct a desk review and/or consultations to identify priorities for providing e-MH psychological support services for adolescents in Europe and Central Asia region, with focus on priorities of adolescents and youth affected by the crisis in Ukraine
• Identify the main factors (age-related, gendered, socioeconomic, cultural, technological, geographical, policy dimensions etc.) influencing the use or nonuse of mental health online and offline services by adolescents/youth
• Propose the most relevant model for the uSupport project based on evidence- informed practices, industry experience or available literature and research about successful and effective practices and lessons learnt from existing e-MH approaches
• Outline risks and harms that are associated with young people’s use of digital mental health tools and create a risk mitigation plan
• Outline key policy considerations that need to be in place for ensuring a supportive environment for the provision of e-MH support and services for adolescents
• Develop Standard Operating Procedures for online MHPSS support and counselling for adolescents and youth by adapting existing guidance from WHO/UNICEF/Orygen /eMHIC or other tools and guidelines to cover all aspects of work associated with online MHPSS support provided through the uSupport project, including emergency mental health interventions in close collaboration with the ECARO and UNICEF CO
• Participate in regular coordination and technical calls with the RO, CO and the various implementing partners that are part of the innovations team that are designing the platform
• Provide expert guidance for establishing effective “protocols/procedures” for referrals and case management by linking online and offline services to deliver psychological and psychosocial support (based on evidence of what works, an understanding of the mental health systems, community health and service needs, service delivery, referral pathways in providing holistic services, etc.)
• Assist in designing (backend Architecture) and developing a quality assurance system for remote e-MH support & counselling (define profiles and experience requirements for counsellors and psychologists, outline monitoring systems for tracking quality, client satisfaction feedback loops etc.)
• Work closely within internal cross-functional team which includes UNICEF staff members (ADAP, T4D, Child Protection, Office of Innovation), Technical Product Manager, Project Coordinator, M&E and Youth Engagement Consultants to meet project objectives
• Ensure that the uSupport platform meets standards for safety, effectiveness and compliance (including UNICEF Policy on Personal Data Protection and Standards on Child Safeguarding in Interactions through Digital Applications are enforced; ORCHA’s review process that includes international clinical, security and usability standards to measure the health of health apps)
• Collaborate closely with the IT company to design and test the functionality of the platform based on research and analysis. This includes but is not limited to making the app safe, effective, and engaging for adolescents and user-friendly for counsellors
• Collaborate with Youth Engagement Consultant to evaluate the design of the app by engaging young people and conducting focus groups, including with adolescents and youth with lived experiences
• Collaborate with Youth Engagement Consultant to provide input to the “marketing/promotion strategy” to increase the uptake of services
• Support work around monitoring and evaluation of the project, including indicators and metrics to monitor use and satisfaction and provide evidence on whether the approach works for adolescents and youth by liaising with Monitoring & Evaluation consultant

II. Support training on counseling using digital channels

• Adapt existing training packages for building the capacity of the workforce (psychologists, counselors, peer counselors) to strengthen the delivery of online psychological counselling and support services, including in humanitarian emergencies
• Promote innovative approaches on mental health, introducing and implementing cutting edge practices on implementation, systems strengthening, and workforce development

III. Facilitate learning and knowledge exchange through ECARO digital mental health learning collaborative

• Facilitate work of the expert advisory group on digital mental health (documentation, preparation of consultative processes, meetings of technical advisory teams)
• Contribute technical expertise to the ECARO digital mental health learning collaborative meetings
• Facilitate documentation of overall process by developing documents and assessment, planning and implementation tools that can be used by countries willing to replicate the uSupport project.
• Provide capacity-building and knowledge transfer to UNICEF related to any of the above tasks
• Collaborate with eMHIC on adapting Position Statement on Ethics and Law in eMental Health to include age-specific and humanitarian angle

Work Assignment Overview

Estimated Duration of the Contract

100 working days between September 2024 and August 2025.

Consultant’s Work Place and Official Travel

The Consultant will be remote/home-based.

As part of this assignment, some international travels are foreseen. The consultant will arrange her/his travel as and when they take place, and related costs will be reimbursed per UNICEF travel policy.

Travel Clause

• All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants apply.
• All travels shall be undertaken only upon the prior written approval by UNICEF.
• The consultant must be fit to travel, be in a possession of the valid UN BSAFE certificate, obligatory inoculation(s) and have a valid own travel/medical insurance and an immunization/vaccination card.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

Please submit a professional fee (in USD) based on 100 working days to undertake this assignment, without travel fees as these will be reimbursed as and when they take place.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, international development, health or related fields is required. A degree in Healthcare Technology would be an asset. However, extensive experience in digital solutions design and architecture with a specific focus on mental health programs and project management is the primary requirement for the consultancy and could be considered in lieu of educational background.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in solution architecture, digital mental/psychosocial health implementation, programming, and advocacy at the community, national, or international levels, with a focus on services to support youth, adolescents, and caregivers.
• Understanding and experience of client/consumer intake and onboarding techniques to ensure successful uptake of the proposed solution.

Desirable:

• Practical experience in building a mental health referral management solution.
• Solution architecture, risk identification and management experience for healthcare applications.
• Knowledge of applicable and relevant screening tools and assessments for adolescent and youth services will be an asset.
• Experience and understanding of international technology integration standards used in healthcare, supporting security and privacy standards including GDPR for Europe will be a strong asset.
• Experience in collaborating with local governments, NGOs, non-profits, and universities to build trust and establish partnerships will be an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most marginalized children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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.

Remarks:

Please include a full CV and a Cover Letter in your application. Additionally, indicate your availability and professional fee (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a professional fee will not be considered. 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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants 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.