National consultant to strengthen capacity of Tajikistan National Team of psychologists in organizing mental health/psychosocial support for vulnerable children, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 60 w/ds

UNICEF Tajikistan is looking for a qualified national consultant to provide support and coordination for the activities of the national-level Resource Group (RG) on MHPSS and to be involved in assisting an international expert in the development of a comprehensive Educational Manual and Guidance for service providers, with a specific focus on ensuring its cultural appropriateness and relevance to the local context in Tajikistan.

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 better future

Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) is essential for improving the well-being of children affected by humanitarian emergencies. UNICEF works around the world to strengthen the resilience of children and their families, and to help them cope with adversity during and after a crisis.
UNICEF plays a crucial role in providing mental health and psychosocial support to children around the world. Recognizing the significant impact of emergencies, conflicts, and crises on children’s mental well-being, UNICEF has prioritized interventions that address their psychological needs. Through its programs and partnerships, UNICEF ensures that children have access to essential services and support systems. This includes establishing safe spaces where children can express themselves, heal, and process their experiences. UNICEF also works to empower parents, caregivers, and communities by providing them with training and resources to recognize and respond to the psychosocial needs of children. By prioritizing mental health and psychosocial support, UNICEF aims to mitigate the long-lasting effects of trauma and promote children’s overall well-being and resilience.
To strengthen and enhance psychosocial support services, UNICEF has implemented a comprehensive approach that includes a range of capacity-building activities. These initiatives have been designed to empower and equip practicing psychologists, university professors, and NGO representatives with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide effective support to children in need. Through workshops, training sessions, and seminars, UNICEF has fostered a network of professionals who are well-versed in evidence-based practices and approaches. By investing in the development of these individuals, UNICEF is ensuring that high-quality psychosocial support services are available to children, allowing them to heal, recover, and thrive despite adversity.
Furthermore, with UNICEF’s support, a resource group consisting of representatives from the psychology faculties of leading Tajik universities and practicing psychology professionals was established. The primary purpose of this resource group is to make a substantial contribution to the development of training curricula, as well as the expansion and institutionalization of training courses focused on MHPSS. An initial introductory meeting and facilitation session were conducted for the group in November 2023. Recognizing the value and potential impact of this resource group, it is crucial to provide additional ToT sessions for the newly formed group. This additional training will equip the members with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively deliver high-quality training and disseminate their expertise to others.

How can you make a difference? 

The objective of this assignment is to provide support and coordination for the activities of the national-level Resource Group (RG) on MHPSS. In addition, it involves assisting an international expert in the development of a comprehensive Educational Manual and Guidance for service providers, with a specific focus on ensuring its cultural appropriateness and relevance to the local context in Tajikistan.
The coordination work of the Resource Group, conducted in collaboration with the international MHPSS expert, aims to establish a comprehensive and effective approach to enhance the capacity of professionals and the provision of MHPSS support to vulnerable children in Tajikistan. This will involve organizing training sessions and implementing initiatives to train trainers, ensuring that the MHPSS interventions provided are evidence-based, culturally sensitive, and tailored to the specific needs of the local population.
Additionally, this assignment will involve conducting training sessions for professionals, service providers, and other relevant stakeholders to promote a better understanding of MHPSS concepts, techniques, and best practices. The aim is to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively provide MHPSS support to vulnerable children and families in Tajikistan.
The development of the Educational Manual and Guidance will be a collaborative effort, involving the expertise and input of the international MHPSS expert, as well as local stakeholders, to ensure that it addresses the unique challenges and
cultural nuances of the Tajik context. This comprehensive resource will serve as a guide for service providers, enabling them to deliver high-quality MHPSS interventions and support to vulnerable children in Tajikistan. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

• Contribute to the strategic planning of the MHPSS program at the national level, ensuring alignment with the overall objectives of Tajikistan’s social protection and health systems, as well as core UNICEF principles and the interests of other stakeholders. This entails setting goals and developing activities that promote comprehensive MHPSS coverage and integration within existing systems.
• Provide specialized technical expertise in MHPSS, drawing on evidence-based, best international practices, and innovative approaches to ensure the protection and well-being of the most vulnerable populations, including mothers and children. This includes adapting global knowledge and expertise to the local context and cultural norms for effective implementation.
• Contribute to the development of policies, manuals, and operational guidelines related to MHPSS and advocate for the formulation of strategic papers that conform to international standards while addressing the specific needs and challenges faced in Tajikistan. This involves collaborating with relevant stakeholders to ensure comprehensive and contextually relevant policy frameworks.
• Facilitate capacity-building initiatives for the established resource group. This includes organizing training programs, workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions to enhance the knowledge, skills, and competencies on MHPSS delivery and enable coordinated efforts.
• Establish robust mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the impact of the MHPSS program. This entails developing indicators, measurement tools, and reporting frameworks to ensure accountability, measure outcomes, and continuously improve program effectiveness.
• Advocate for mental health and psychosocial support at the national level, raising awareness about the importance of mental health, reducing stigma, and promoting community understanding. This involves engaging with policymakers, media, and the public to foster greater recognition and prioritization of mental health and psychosocial well-being.
• Facilitate coordination among various stakeholders involved in MHPSS, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations. This entails fostering collaboration, information sharing, and joint planning to maximize the impact of MHPSS interventions and avoid duplication of efforts.
• Foster community engagement and participation, particularly involving parents and caregivers, in the design and implementation of MHPSS programs. This ensures that programs are culturally sensitive, inclusive, and address the unique needs of communities. By involving key stakeholders, programs can be better tailored to meet the needs of different population groups and promote community ownership.

Tasks/Milestone/Deliverables/Outputs/Anticipated Timeline/
Del.1
• Attend regular (at least monthly) meetings with the international MHPSS consultant.
• Support international consultant in developing training package/ programme for professionals working with repatriated children in Tajikistan based on UNICEF Guidelines on Community-Based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Humanitarian Settings.
• Support international consultant in development of a training package/programme for para-professionals and child protection social workers on basics on mental health and psychosocial support for children and their caregivers repatriated from conflict zones.
• Support international consultant in the development of a comprehensive manual and educational course to work with children and caregivers on MHPSS, ensuring cultural appropriateness and relevance to the context. Monthly meetings with international consultant conducted, 10 full w/ds,March – Dec.2024
Del.2
• Development of the Resource Group’s (RG), Terms of Reference (ToR), and ensure strategic alignment of activities and work plans;Terms of References for the Resource Group developed and approved; 5 full w/ds, March – May 2024
Del.3
• Conduct monthly meetings with the resource group.
• Provide technical direction for the resource group on MHPSS activity coordination in Tajikistan.
• Facilitate the ToT/Training on the developed programme. Monthly meetings with the resource group and training (including ToT) sessions conducted; 20 full w/ds; March – June 2024
Del.4
• Develop a full curriculum (educational course) for children and caregivers on mental health.
• Develop a Plan for the national-level implementation of the course, considering collaboration with relevant stakeholders. Educational Course and Plan for course roll-out development; 25 w/ds, March – Dec 2024

Supervisor: Child Protection Officer, UNICEF Tajikistan

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

Education:

• University degree clinical psychology, social psychology, public health, social welfare, human rights, social research, or related field.

Working experience:

• At least 5 years of professional work in MHPSS, psychology, clinical psychology, social psychology etc.

• Demonstrated knowledge and technical capacity in conducting research related to mental health and psychosocial support.

Expertise:

Proven track record in developing and facilitating workshops and trainings. Extensive experience conducting research and analysis in the field of mental health, particularly focused on women and children.

Skills:

Strong coordination skills, analytical and conceptual thinking. Ability to work with large teams and guide policy discussions. Excellent writing, communication, and presentation skills with stakeholders. Ability to work under pressure and commitment to work in a tight timeframe.

Fluency in Russian, Tajik and English is required.

Interested candidates shall submit the following documents:
1. Profile (CV)
2. Technical proposal describing approach/methodology to achieve the tasks of ToR, workplan with concrete timeframes
3. Financial proposal in TJS indicating fee per day and cost of the travel Annex 3.docx

4. Applications without technical and financial proposals will not be considered. 

Applications must be received in the system by 1 March 2024 on UNICEF website.

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.