Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Expert

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

• This dedicated office for youth affairs within the UN Secretariat aims to enhance the engagement of the United Nations with youth. UNYO operates under the leadership of the first Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs and is supported by a stable financial footing from the United Nations Regular Budget. The office's mission includes leading advocacy on youth issues across various UN pillars, promoting inclusive engagement of youth organizations, improving internship and employment conditions for youth, and utilizing innovative outreach methods to connect with young people.

Job Overview:
The Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Expert will play a crucial role in strengthening institutional capacity by providing technical guidance on mental health and wellbeing. The expert will be responsible for developing a global campaign focused on youth mental health, which includes the publication of an Academic Report on Global Mental Health, and reports on initiatives such as #Sports4MentalHealth and climate action related to youth mental health. The position requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including UN Women, and aims to enhance partnerships and funding pathways for youth mental health initiatives. The expert will also engage in global mapping of opportunities for youth-led initiatives in mental health, ensuring accessibility and coherence across regions.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Expert 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 and Youth Mental Health workstream, which includes capacity-building and advocacy efforts.
• Offering technical inputs for the preparation and collaboration with UN Women for the CSW High-Level Meeting, ensuring effective coordination of programmatic and advocacy components.
• Evaluating and conducting global mapping of opportunities for youth-led initiatives in mental health, ensuring that these initiatives are accessible and coherent 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, a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience is required, which should include work on youth mental health, youth development, policy research, or advocacy. Experience in stakeholder mapping, policy analysis, and campaign development is considered desirable for this role.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess 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 candidate has the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively contribute to the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five 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 responsibilities associated with this role.

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 within the United Nations framework.

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, or training. Furthermore, the organization does not request information regarding applicants' bank accounts, ensuring a transparent and fair recruitment process.