National Consultant (Support Review & Mapping of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Policies, Programmes and Services)

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 childhood. UNICEF Bulgaria is looking for a consultant to provide a mapping of mental health and psychosocial support interventions targeting children and adolescents aged between 0-18 and to document promising and good practices. The mapping comes as a first step to strengthen UNICEF and partners’ understanding of the mental health context and availability of services aiming to promote and support mental health of children, adolescents and families in the country. In addition, the mapping of mental health services will provide specific recommendations on the accessibility and suitability of existing health and psychological services for the most disadvantaged children (incl. refugee and migrant children, GBV survivors and people at risk). The specific objectives of the mapping are to:

• Provide base-line data of the situation in country with regards to mental health policy, programmes and services for children, adolescents, and their families.
• Identify gaps in policy frameworks, programmes and service provision and formulate recommendations for overcoming the challenges.
• Identify and document promising practices to promote an exchange of knowledge on initiatives for children and adolescent mental health and psychosocial wellbeing.

How can you make a difference? The contracted consultant will carry out the following activities in consultation with UNICEF Bulgaria: 1. Desk review on the country’s mental health and psychosocial context with a focus on children and adolescents which includes overview of the situation – e.g. prevalence of mental health problems among children and adolescents using the latest available data, major factors affecting mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of children and adolescents, and taking stock of policies, legislation, standards, programmes relating to mental health and well-being of children, adolescents  and their families in the country, including key stakeholders and their role. Deliverable 1.1 A brief overview/snapshot of the situation of mental health and needs of children, adolescents and their families, capturing and synthesizing the main findings from the desk review of the country’s context. Deliverable 1.2 Mapping of key stakeholders at national and local level and their role, including relevant policy and decision-making structures and relevant partnerships and national/subnational networks. 2. Conduct mapping of available services and identify promising practices on existing interventions targeting children and adolescent mental health and psychosocial wellbeing and their families. A special focus should be given on the use of technology innovations in improving mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of children, adolescents, and their parents/caregivers (e.g. mental health related apps, digital tolls and platforms including for self-guided wellbeing and resilience):

• Collect primary data through carrying out interviews, surveys and other appropriate sources.
• Analyze and triangulate the data collected.
• Identify and document promising practices.
• Provide recommendations on accessibility and suitability of existing services for disadvantaged children and adolescents.

Deliverable 2.1 Mapping of mental health and psychosocial services and initiatives delivered by public service providers, non-governmental actors, private sector and other stakeholders including young people themselves. Deliverable 2.2 Documented promising practices and provided recommendations. 3. Identify the main gaps of the system of MHPSS for children, adolescents and their families and formulate recommendations Deliverable 3.1 Identified key gaps, opportunities and potential strategies for strengthening policy, referral mechanism and pathways for children in need of support, programmes and services (including public financing) for children, adolescents and their families in the delivery of mental health and psychosocial support across relevant sectors. Deliverable 3.2. Provided recommendations for strengthening cross-sectoral and sectoral policy, programmes and services provision, funding and impact on children and families. The timeframe for the implementation of the assignment is envisaged to be maximum 3 months starting from 1^st July 2021. Full details of the Terms of Reference are available here: TOR Mental health mapping 03062021.pdf To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• Relevant university degree in social sciences, psychology, anthropology, human rights, or others related fields.
• At least five years of relevant professional experience into research in academia or research institute or similar.
• Experience in data collection and analysis, and of designing surveys and interviews.
• Relevant experience in childhood studies and mental health. Good understanding of the Bulgarian context with a focus on children and adolescent mental health and psychosocial wellbeing.
• Excellent analytical and written skills.
• Good planning and organizational skills.
• Respect for cultural diversity and human rights.
• Proficient command of English.
• Knowledge of the UN system and UNICEF mandate is an advantage.

Remarks: All candidates for the consultancy would be invited to submit information on their experience, provide examples of successful similar work with a proposed detailed methodology for the mapping and a price offer. The proposed price offer must include all costs to be borne by the consultant for undertaking the assignment. The selection would be done on the basis of relevant experience and examples of successful similar work, the proposed methodology, proposed budget/cost for the consultancy and the proposed timeframe for the implementation and provision of deliveries which should be in line with the indicative one outlined above. UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. 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: Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service. 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.