International Consultancy: Assessment of psychosocial risk in Supply Division and creation of a PRA dashboard for UNICEF. 7 months, Part Time, Remote

In November 2023, the United Nations Secretary-General introduced the Mental Health and Well-being Strategy for 2024 and beyond. This new version of the strategy is underpinned by the WHO/ILO Policy Brief on Mental Health at Work, which outlines a comprehensive approach towards:
• Preventing risks to mental health at work
• Promoting well-being and protecting mental health at work
• Supporting personnel with mental health conditions
To ensure the effectiveness of these initiatives, the strategy establishes specific success indicators for each pillar. A scorecard has been developed with three indicators for each pillar, and United Nations organizations will be held accountable through reporting on progress against indicators annually.
Indicator 1 of the Prevention pillar is Risk Assessment, and requests organizations to undertake an assessment of psychosocial risks and develop a mitigation plan focused on practical measures that can be taken to manage identified risks.

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, Love… 

In November 2023, the United Nations Secretary-General introduced the Mental Health and Well-being Strategy for 2024 and beyond. This new version of the strategy is underpinned by the WHO/ILO Policy Brief on Mental Health at Work, which outlines a comprehensive approach towards
• Preventing risks to mental health at work
• Promoting well-being and protecting mental health at work
• Supporting personnel with mental health conditions

To ensure the effectiveness of these initiatives, the strategy establishes specific success indicators for each pillar. A scorecard has been developed with three indicators for each pillar, and United Nations organizations will be held accountable through reporting on progress against indicators annually.
Indicator 1 of the Prevention pillar is Risk Assessment, and requests organizations to undertake an assessment of psychosocial risks and develop a mitigation plan focused on practical measures that can be taken to manage identified risks.
In an ongoing commitment to enhance staff well-being and address work-related stress, UNICEF’s Supply Division is poised to pilot a Psychosocial Risk Assessment (PRA) process. This initiative comes in response to recurring concerns highlighted in SD Staff surveys and subsequent action plans, which have underscored the need to delve deeper into the underlying issues affecting staff well-being. Despite significant investments in various well-being initiatives, there is a growing recognition within Supply Division that moving from reactive interventions to proactive prevention is crucial. To support this transition, Supply Division aims to establish a foundational psychosocial risk assessment methodology that not only addresses immediate risks but also serves as a sustainable model for other offices. The forthcoming PRA process will involve comprehensive stages from conceptualization and data collection to analysis and action plan development. This structured approach is designed to identify, manage, and mitigate psychosocial risks effectively, ensuring a healthier, more productive workplace environment. This initiative aligns with broader organizational goals to safeguard mental health and promote resilience among all staff members, fostering a supportive and inclusive organizational culture. Results may be used to inform the OMP process.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment
With the objective of fostering staff well-being and creating a ready-to-use tool for prevention and mitigation of work-related stress to be expanded to other UNICEF offices, Supply Division is to pilot the Psychosocial Risk Assessment process. To ensure correct design of the process from the start, and support implementation, UNICEF is looking to engage a consultant with solid expertise in conceptualizing and implementing psychosocial risk assessments. The assignment involves the whole cycle of and support in the conceptualization, data collection, analysis and development of an action plan that will support the identification of risks as related to staff well-being.

In collaboration with the Staff Counsellor, and in consultation with the PRA Steering Committee, the consultant will:

1. Finalize the data collection tool based on the latest Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire COPSOQ III, a proven instrument to gather valid and reliable information on psychosocial risk factors.
2. Set up the online data collection using the finalized tool, for use in Supply Division and which can be replicated in other offices and contexts.
3. Provide expert guidance to the staff counsellor on the collection of qualitative data.
4. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data collected.
5. Set up a live PRA dashboard for UNICEF.
6. Audit existing support systems.
7. Support the Steering Committee in developing an action plan and implementing measures to prevent and manage psychosocial risks in UNICEF Supply Division.

How can you make a difference? 

Deliverables and Outputs Delivery deadline

1. Audit existing support systems. Output: Audit of existing policies and support measures is completed; by 30 June 2024
2. Finalize the data collection tool based on COPSOQ III and set up of online data collection tool. Output: Data collection tool is finalized; by 30 June 2024.
3. Creation of a detailed protocol includes step-by-step instructions on qualitative data collection for PRA. Output: Detailed protocol for qualitative data collection is completed; by 15 July 2024.
4. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data collected. Output: Data analysis completed; by 30 August 2024.
5. Set up a live PRA dashboard for UNICEF. Output: PRA dashboard is set up; by 15 September 2024.
6. Final report based on quantitative and qualitative data collected. Output: Report is finalized; by 31 October 2024
7. Support the Steering Committee in developing an action plan and implementing measures to prevent and manage psychosocial risks in UNICEF Supply Division. Output: Action plan is developed; by 30 November 2024

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

• An advanced university degree (PhD) in Occupational Health Psychology, Occupational Psychology, Organizational Psychology
• 5 years of working experience in Psychosocial and Organizational Psychology.
• Expertise in conducting Psychosocial Risk Management processes, preferably with experience in the UN system.
• Expertise in analyzing data, policies, regulations related to psychosocial environment and mental health.
• Knowledge of UN mental health policies is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

 To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

  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. 

 

Remarks:  

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.