Mental Health Consultant for Scaling Cross Sectoral MHPSS Interventions, Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, Nairobi at UNICEF

Activities and Tasks:

The consultant will work with UNICEF country and regional level teams and with external partner organisations to implement, monitor, evaluation and report on evidence generating and evidence informed interventions as defined within the regional workplan. The consultant will gather lessons learned to inform the new strategic regional vision for MHPSS including providing recommendations for the development of the next set of priorities and investment.

More specifically, the post holder will support the Regional Office in the following 3 main areas of work:

• Provide direct technical support, assistance and oversight to the country offices and regional office sectors implementing funded MHPSS activities and interventions and maintain relationships with the partners involved in funding and implementing these. Specific activities include supporting the completion and dissemination of research into Adolescent Suicide, Regional Guidance Briefing on Safe Youth Engagement and Mental Health Storybook; technical support and regional coordination of evidence informed interventions including Peer Support Models (Mother Mentors, I Support my Friends), Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE), ‘Take-5’ and #Onmymind (SPOTIFY).
• Quality assures the lessons learnt and reporting for the donor funded MHPSS programmes and activities (7% MHPSS Set Aside, Swiss national committee C mental health thematic fund).
• Undertake a final review of the implementation of the Regional MHPSS programme note and workplan (2023-25), and provide a report and set of recommendations to UNICEF ESARO including areas for doner investment (draft investment case) for continued scaling of evidence informed MHPSS programming (2026-2030)
• Working relationship: The consultant will work under the supervision of the ESARO Regional Advisor for Child Protection and under the overall leadership of the Deputy Regional Director. The consultant will work in close collaboration with the ESARO and country office sectoral MHPSS focal persons, especially in Child Protection, Health, Gender C adolescent, HIV C SRHR Education, SBC and Communication sections. The consultant will also work with youth advocates for mental health

Education: Advanced degree from a recognized academic institution in related field (Mental Health, Social Work, Medical Sciences, Psychology or related field) and a licensure to practice as a mental health professional. A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 5 years professional experience and evidence of relevant professional trainings can act in lieu of an advanced degree)

Required:

• Minimum 10 years of professional experience working in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Programmes.
• Experience and familiarity with the low intensity psychosocial interventions used within UNICEF ESAR programmes including being a certified trainer in EASE.
• Experience of training, capacity building, supervision and mentoring of staff providing MHPSS, ideally with a qualification in teaching/training or supervision.
• Experience working within LMIC supporting MHPSS programmes across the humanitarian- development-peace nexus.
• Previous experience of leading and working within cross-sectoral MHPSS programmes and teams with a demonstrated understanding of MHPSS in Child Protection, Health, HIV C SRHR and Education settings.
• Demonstrated experience of establishing and implementing MEAL for MHPSS
• Ability to gather, sort and analyse technical, research and programme information and present it simply in a variety of formats for audiences including formal donor report writing.
• Experience of drafting and presenting investment cases for child and adolescent mental health.
• Language: Excellent English oral and written communication skills.