Programme Specialist

The incumbent will be accountable for ensuring multi-sectoral mental health programmes and policies in the MENA region are designed and implemented in line with sector standards and best available evidence. This will be done through high-quality, solutions oriented technical assistance to country offices and partners informed by data and evidence. The MHPSS specialist will be accountable for co-designing practical solutions and supporting advocacy under the leadership of concerned country offices/sectors.

• Provide technical advice to country offices, governments, and key stakeholders on implementation of multi-sectoral mental health policies, programmes, and interventions.
• Develop partnerships and collaborations on mental health.
• Develop an evidence, M&E, and knowledge generation agenda.
• Provide technical leadership and practical guidance on mental health interventions, across prevention, promotion, and care in humanitarian action.
• Provide technical advice to country offices, governments, and key stakeholders on multi-sectoral mental health policies, programmes, and interventions.
• Establish systematic policy dialogue and learning exchanges with governments and civil society on evidence informed MHPSS approaches and interventions.
• Strengthen country capacity on MHPSS by promoting the use of UNICEF’s Global MHPSS Multisectoral Operational framework, in alignment with inter-agency standards guidance and tools to support the planning and implementation of MHPSS systems and services, in line with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan and the inter-agency initiatives under the IASC MHPSS Reference Group.
• Support the roll out and adaptation of UNICEF-led MHPSS ‘global goods’ from the global context to the regional context, including protocols, tools, and relevant guidance documents.
• Coordinate the MHPSS technical working group with Education, Health, and Child Protection, developing working plans and producing regular reports.
• Assist with the development of programmatic interventions on MHPSS at country level and provide technical guidance to country offices and the regional office.
• Contribute to CPD, MTR and key moments of reflection, integrating MHPSS approaches into key goal areas.
• Consult and collaborate with colleagues and partners to provide technical and operational support on programme planning, management, and implementation, and to ensure integration, coherence, and harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors throughout all stages of programming processes.

Develop partnerships and collaborations on mental health:

• Strengthen existing collaboration with WHO under the umbrella of the Mental Health Joint Programme, and collaboration with other academic institutions, private sector, and practitioners with the aim of developing a common agenda to children’s mental health with focus on system strengthening.
• Lead the resource mobilization efforts to support MHPSS programmes.
• Implement common training packages.
• Lead the regional advocacy agenda to protect and promote the mental health of children.
• Support the development of country level and regional funding proposals and take other actions to leverage funds in the area of MHPSS.
• Represent UNICEF’s leadership in mental health and psychosocial support for children, adolescents and families at regional level.

Develop an evidence, M&E, and knowledge generation agenda:

• In collaboration with relevant sectors, develop research, evaluation, and data analysis to inform policy, programmes, and interventions.
• Disseminate evidence and knowledge ton MHPSS.
• In alignment with the Standardized Quality MHPSS Framework and with support from MHPSS specialists and M&E focal points in NYHQ, manage the regional office efforts in integrating monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning as part of the regional MHPSS framework, with clear guidance on adaptation for country-level priority actions, interventions, and indicators.
• Contribute to and coordinate where needed, major monitoring and evaluation exercises to assess progress regionally and to engage stakeholders to take required actions to achieve results; identify and document lessons learned and facilitate strategic use of knowledge gained.

Provide technical leadership and practical guidance on mental health interventions in humanitarian action:

• Coordinate multi-sectoral MHPSS humanitarian response.
• Provide guidance to country offices on trauma-informed approaches to humanitarian action.
• Coordinate action with key agencies involved in MHPSS.

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

Education:

• Advanced university degree in one of the following academic areas: psychology, psychiatry, social work, and public health

Experience:

• At least 8 years of relevant national and international experience in mental health policy, programming, and service delivery
• Experience designing and implementing MHPSS programmes in humanitarian settings and practical knowledge system strengthening approaches are desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic and or French is an asset.

Source:  https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/570461