International Consultant – Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

International Consultant P3- Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

Background and Justification

Chad’s mental health landscape has been deeply impacted by a multitude of significant challenges. The nation contends with persistent political instability and conflict, which have destabilized its social and economic frameworks, leading to widespread insecurity. Additionally, Chad hosts a considerable number of refugees from neighboring countries, further straining its already limited resources. Environmental factors exacerbate these issues: the country frequently faces severe climatic conditions, including prolonged droughts and unpredictable rainfall, which critically affect agriculture, a primary source of livelihoods. This environmental instability contributes to food insecurity, economic hardship and displacement, intensifying mental health concerns. Furthermore, the chronic lack of mental health resources and infrastructure and decades of insufficient attention from both national and international bodies complicate the provision and scale-up of necessary mental health and psychosocial support. Addressing these intertwined challenges is crucial yet exceedingly complex in the context of Chad.
Purpose of the Position:
In the context of the Health Emergencies incident management system, at the country level, to strengthen the ability of the country to scale up prevention and treatment of mental health, neurological, psychosocial and substance use disorders with particular focus on affected population.

Job Description

Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate Strategic Objective

The overall goal of WHO’s Health Emergencies (WHE) Programme is to minimize the health consequences of emergencies due to any biological, natural, technological or societal hazard. Collective and sound health emergency and disaster risk management is essential to health security, to sustainable development and to building the resilience of communities, countries and health systems.

The objectives of WHO’s WHE Programme are: to help Member States build their capacity to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to minimize the impact on the health of affected populations. WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme directs all of the Organization’s work in health emergency risk management, with an all-hazards approach comprising risk reduction, preparedness, readiness, response and early recovery activities, and with a particular emphasis on the identification and mitigation of infectious hazards and risks.

The Programme is responsible for establishing and managing WHO’s operational capacity in acute and protracted emergencies, setting overall strategy and ensuring appropriate operational planning, managing field operations, developing and ensuring adherence to technical standards, and ensuring risk and performance monitoring. The Programme engages in relevant partnerships and inter-agency processes, recognizing that its impact should be optimized by coordinating, leveraging and facilitating the implementation roles of other local, national and international entities and partners best positioned to deliver the relevant clinical or other public health services. WHO’s WHE Programme integrates and operates under the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence in the serving populations affected by outbreaks.

Organizational Context

Reporting to the Emergency Response focal person (EPR focal point), under the overall guidance of the WCO Representative, and in close collaboration with the respective technical leads in the respective Cluster and Unit, the Technical Officer will be accountable for the effective technical management, guidance and provision of expert advice for the application and adaptation of WHO, Sphere Project and IASC policies and strategies in the areas of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). S/he will have the overall responsibility for coordinating operations to ensure the timely delivery, effective and efficient implementation of the activities, to achieve the best attainable health status for the populations that WHO serves. The incumbent will work with technical programmes in a challenging environment, in which there are multiple players including the national health authorities, other public sector ministries, emergency and development partners, UN Agencies, civil society organizations and academic institutions.

Summary of Assigned Duties

1. Co-develop, in cooperation with stakeholders, oversee the implementation and monitor a mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) action plan for catering to the needs of the affected population, across the full cycle of the incident management.
2. Promote a system based approach to integrate MHPSS in health and related social sectors.
3. Plan, develop, implement and monitor, in coordination with the national and international stakeholders involved in the emergency response, capacity building activities at national and subnational level to respond to mental health needs in emergencies.
4. Liaise with national and international stakeholders and other team members to develop and implement situation analysis, assessment and monitoring systems for mental health needs and resources.
5. Provide technical advice to civil society organizations and other entities, as appropriate, on relevant issues related to instituting a robust MHPSS program.
6. Draft and revise technical documents, briefing notes, meeting reports, information products and content, as appropriate.
7. Oversee the overall timeliness and quality of all program deliverables, the finalization of operational transactions in accordance with the MPSS operational workplan, assure compliance with WHO rules and regulations, and efficiently deliver related services/products within the country.
8. Ensure timely reporting with the high level of quality including donor report
9. Perform any other related incident-specific duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

3. Recruitment Profile Competencies:
1. Building and promoting partnerships across the Organization and beyond
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Producing results
4. Ensuring the effective use of resources
5. Fostering integration and team work.
6. Communicating in a credible and effective way

Functional Knowledge and Skills

Expert knowledge of:
• International policy frameworks (WHO. Sphere, IASC) for reduction of public health problems related to mental health in emergency settings.
• Implementation tools (e.g., IASC MHPSS Minimum Service Package, WHO/UNHCR MHPSS assessment toolkit, psychological first aid field guide, mhGAP Humanitarian Intervention Guide, mental health component of Interagency Emergency Health Kit (IEHK), ‘Building Back Better’ casebook) for reduction of public health problems related to mental health in (post-) emergency settings.

Demonstrated ability to:
• Provide expert advice on the development and implementation of MHPSS policies and programmes in the prevention and treatment of mental, neurological and substance use disorders in emergency settings.
• Plan and conduct capacity building activities in MHPSS.
• Work effectively in an emergency and humanitarian response context, under constraints and meet deadlines.
• Work on MHPSS with government health authorities
• Collaborate on MHPSS across sectors

Education Qualifications

Essential
Advanced University degree (Master’s level or above) in psychiatry, psychology, or social work or allied science from an accredited/recognized institute.
Desirable
Post-graduate qualification or specialized training in (a) public health and/or (b) MHPSS in emergency and humanitarian crises.
Experience

Essential
At least five years of relevant experience, at the national and international levels, in the assessment, development and implementation of policies, strategies and action plans for MHPSS in the context of emergencies. Experience in capacity building, developing and promoting collaborative partnerships.
Desirable
• Experience with implementing WHO’s mental health Gap Action Program (mhGAP)
• Training in either cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy (IPT)
• Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies, relevant non-governmental or humanitarian organizations.
• Experience in working for or with a Government Ministry of Health in a low or middle income country.

Use of Language Skills

Excellent knowledge of English or French (depending on the country of assignment). Working knowledge of another WHO official language would be an asset (depending on the country of assignment).

Other Skills (e.g. IT)

Knowledge of office software applications.

Durée de Contrat

3 mois, renouvelable

a. Hiring Manager:
Dr Daizo Arsène
b. Admin focal point:
Poide Nannbe

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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