Technical Advisor for Youth Mental Health

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Youth Office (UNYO) was established in September 2022 following the UN General Assembly resolution 76/30

• This office is dedicated to youth affairs within the UN Secretariat and incorporates the Office of the Envoy of the Secretary-General on Youth (OSGEY). UNYO aims to enhance the engagement of the United Nations with youth by leading advocacy on youth issues across various sectors, including peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, sustainable development, and human rights. The office operates with a robust mandate and has secured dedicated resources from the United Nations Regular Budget for the first time, benefiting from strong political support from Member States and a stable financial footing. UNYO's mission includes promoting meaningful engagement of youth and youth-led organizations, improving internship and employment opportunities for youth in the UN, and utilizing innovative outreach methods such as social media and narrative storytelling to connect with young people.

Job Overview:
The Technical Advisor for Youth Mental Health will play a crucial role in strengthening institutional capacity by providing technical guidance on mental health and wellbeing. The position involves developing a global campaign focused on youth mental health, which includes the publication of an Academic Report on Global Mental Health and various reports on initiatives such as #Sports4MentalHealth and climate action related to youth mental health. The advisor will work closely with various stakeholders to enhance partnerships and funding pathways for the UN Youth Office's flagship initiative on youth mental health and wellbeing. This role requires a comprehensive understanding of youth mental health issues and the ability to engage effectively with youth-led organizations and civil society.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Technical Advisor include:

• Preparing a publication of the Academic Report in collaboration with the UN University Institute for Global Mental Health.
• Strengthening partnerships and advancing funding pathways for the UN Youth Office's flagship initiative on youth mental health and wellbeing.
• Developing the #Sports4MentalHealth Initiative, which encompasses various branches such as Football for Mental Health and promoting multisectoral engagement.
• Providing technical expertise to advance the Climate Action & Youth Mental Health workstream, which includes capacity-building, advocacy, and engaging youth networks.
• Offering technical inputs for the preparation and collaboration with UN Women for the CSW High-Level Meeting, coordinating programmatic and advocacy components.
• Evaluating and conducting a global mapping of opportunities for youth-led initiatives in mental health, ensuring accessibility and coherence across different regions.
• Cultivating a global network of universities and scholars to strengthen research collaboration and academic engagement with the flagship initiative.
• Contributing to the expansion and stewardship of a 'network of networks' on youth mental health, fostering coordinated action among youth-led organizations, civil society, and UN partners.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires an advanced degree in a relevant field such as social sciences, public health, mental health and wellbeing, education, youth development, psychology, or other related disciplines. Additionally, candidates must possess a minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience, which should include work focused on youth mental health, youth development, policy research, or advocacy. Experience in stakeholder mapping, policy analysis, and campaign development is considered desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold an advanced degree in a relevant field, which may include social sciences, public health, mental health and wellbeing, education, youth development, psychology, or other related disciplines. This educational background is essential to ensure that the advisor has the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively contribute to the UN Youth Office's initiatives.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience. This experience should encompass work related to youth mental health, youth development, policy research, or advocacy. Candidates with experience in stakeholder mapping, policy analysis, and campaign development will be viewed favorably, as these skills are crucial for the successful execution of the role's responsibilities.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, proficiency in other UN languages is desirable, as it may enhance communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders and partners.

Additional Notes:
The position is expected to last for a duration of three months. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview meetings, processing, or training. Furthermore, the UN does not request information regarding applicants' bank accounts.