UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

Background/Rationale

Mental health is fundamental to every child’s well-being and development, shaping their ability to learn, form relationships, participate in society and realize their full potential. It is integral to the achievement of SDG 3 and the wider Sustainable Development Goals.

Mental health and psychosocial support is an increasingly important and evolving priority for UNICEF across regions and countries. UNICEF works to promote the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents, while also supporting parents and caregivers to provide nurturing and supportive environments that enable children to thrive and develop throughout childhood and adolescence.

This Long-Term Arrangement for Services will provide UNICEF with a pool of individual consultants who can support MHPSS related areas of work, across the different levels of the organization and across continents. The arrangement will enable teams to rapidly identify and engage formally vetted specialists through TMS, REACH and CONNECT, reducing repeated recruitment processes while improving the consistency, quality and timeliness of technical support. It also creates a mechanism to maintain shared learning through communities of practice, case studies, knowledge products, and routine communication channels. By securing this specialised expertise, UNICEF MHPSS team can integrate mental health more consistently across programmes, improve the quality of evidence used for decision making, and strengthen the organisation’s ability to anticipate and respond to emerging public concerns.

Selected consultants will be eligible for a long-term agreement contract to provide on-demand technical support to UNICEF Centers of Excellence (CoE), Regional Offices and COs and to other UN agencies. LTASs are non-binding arrangements that do not constitute a commitment to acquire a consultant’s services.

Purpose

The purpose of this Terms of Reference (ToR) is to establish LTASs with multiple rostered individual consultants that give UNICEF reliable access to specialised support in MHPSS. Consultants engaged through this mechanism will help UNICEF to further improve the efficient and rapid deployment of high-quality MHPSS professionals with experience in the area of mental health and psychosocial support. The arrangement ensures that CoE, RO and CO teams can draw on consistent expertise for high-quality system strengthening, MHPSS in emergencies and strategic global policy advocacy, and technical support as required.

Scope of Work

The individual consultant is required to apply their knowledge, international standards, best practices, and previous experience, supplemented by relevant data and studies, to each assignment. The LTA establishes a framework for engaging consultants; it does not imply that every consultant will undertake all activities listed below.

For each call-off assignment, UNICEF and the selected consultant will agree on a specific scope of work, including the applicable activities, deliverables, timeline, reporting and coordination arrangements, professional fees, travel requirements (where applicable), and safeguarding assessment and measures. The scope of each assignment will be tailored to the specific needs of UNICEF and the nature and complexity of the task.

In collaboration with relevant UNICEF teams, the consultant will provide support as requested and in accordance with the agreed scope of work for each assignment. The consultant may be requested to carry out the activities outlined below, as relevant to the specific assignment, as well as any other activities deemed necessary and agreed with UNICEF to successfully complete the task:

MHPSS systems strengthening, policy, governance, financing and advocacy
Programme design, implementation, quality assurance and scale-up across sectors
Humanitarian MHPSS preparedness, response, recovery and coordination
Evidence, research, measurement, monitoring, evaluation, data and learning
Specialized and emerging MHPSS expertise and innovation, including digital/AI, suicide prevention, substance use and climate-related MHPSS

Responsibilities of the Consultant

The consultant(s) will use their own equipment; laptops, software and other accessories that may be required for this task.
The consultant(s) will not give the content/material or any part thereof to any third party without the written permission of UNICEF. All components will be the property of UNICEF, and the consultant will not share the same with anyone else.
The consultant(s) will not put their own name or logo/emblem on the content / final product. The only organization branding will be UNICEF, if required.
Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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 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.
The selected candidate(s) is responsible for ensuring that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract.

Responsibilities of UNICEF

UNICEF will provide all available details pertaining to the activity and the requirements.
UNICEF will orient the consultant on UNICEF’s branding guidelines.
UNICEF will provide access to specialized MHPSS tools deemed necessary by UNICEF to successfully complete the assignment.

Deliverables

Travel

Consultants may need to travel to UNICEF offices for on-site or in-country support. Consultants will need to make their travel arrangements and will be reimbursed for travel costs and subsistence allowance in line with and limited to those payable by UNICEF.

The payment of travel costs shall be limited to economy class air travel, regardless of the length of travel. Airfare and terminal expenses will be paid upon completion of each duty travel against the invoices.

Estimated Duration of LTA

The Long-Term Agreement will be for a duration of three years. The initial period would be for two years with an option for renewal for a subsequent year on the same rates, terms and conditions, subject to satisfactory performance evaluation and continuing need for the service. The services of the individual consultants selected under the LTAS would also be made available to other UN agencies, UNICEF Regional and Country offices.

Payment Schedule

The LTA to be signed will have a fixed fee rate reflecting deliverables and including daily fee for three years. However, UNICEF does not guarantee that any quantity of services will be purchased during the term of the LTA as this will depend on forthcoming requests.

The consultant is expected to provide a quotation for the services he/she will provide as part of the application.

Contracts Created Against The LTA

Whenever consultancy services are required, details of the services will be presented according to the availability of the LTA holder.

Upon receipt of confirmation of availability and interest in the assignment, a contract will be issued by GPD or requesting division and office with the prices/fees agreed in the LTA. The consultant must sign the contract prior to commencement of work.

Payment will be made after the completion of deliverables and submission of invoices for the actual work completed, subject to satisfactory performance

Application Process/How to Apply:

The application to be submitted through the online portal should contain four separate attachments:

A Cover letter explaining the motivation for applying and explaining how the qualifications and skillset of the candidate (to be uploaded online)
Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing responsibilities relevant to this assignment under each applicable role (to be uploaded online)
A financial proposal LTA Financial Proposal Template indicating professional fee as per the template provided. Please do not forget to specify your name in the file while saving. (To be uploaded under other supporting documents).
Copy of educational qualifications (to be uploaded online)

Without all the above 4 documents your application will be considered incomplete and invalid and will not be considered further.

Note: Courses will be required for the successful LTAS holders: Certificates of mandatory courses (Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF (2020 version); Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority (2021 version) & Sexual Exploitation Abuse (PSEA) (2021 version) consolidated in one single pdf. For LTAs which include travel assignments, BSAFE will be a mandatory course requirement to be added to the list of certificates to be uploaded.

Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF’s selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.
Joint applications of two or more individuals are not accepted.
Please note, UNICEF does not charge any fee during any stage of the process.
Female candidates meeting the requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds including persons living with disabilities to apply.
General Terms and Conditions for the Consultancy Contract are attached, for your reference.
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.
The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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

Education

Minimum of a Master’s degree in Public Health, Health Systems, Psychology, Psychiatry, Social Work, International Development, Social Sciences, or other relevant disciplines related to mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), health systems, social development, or related field with strong experience in systems strengthening, research and evidence generation, data generation and use, and coordination of multi-country interagency programmes and activities. Extensive experience beyond bachelors degree can also be considered.

Work Experience/Required Knowledge/Skills/Language Requirements

Demonstrated experience in mental health and psychosocial support programme or policy work, systems strengthening, child and youth-centered program design, multi-stakeholder coordination, and applied research and evidence expertise.
Experience in LMICs in particular and knowledge of the functioning of UNICEF MHPSS Operational Framework in particular is of great added value.
Experience working with partner organizations and coordination groups is an asset
Ability to manage multiple workstreams, coordinate with diverse stakeholders, and deliver outputs under tight timelines.
Fluency in English required; knowledge of additional UNICEF regional languages is an advantage.
Other specific qualification/ skill set as required

Category Specific Requirements

Professional experience in development field, programming and legislative, policy, financing and advocacy at national and/or international levels is an asset, and required for consultancies focusing on policy advocacy.
Knowledge of systems frameworks, research and data analysis and use, programme design and implementation, knowledge translation is an asset and required for consultancies related to evidence and data.
Direct field experience in applying legislative, policy, financing and advocacy skills to mental health and psychosocial systems and services is considered an asset for consultancies focusing on policy advocacy.
Technical expertise in MHPSS for children, adolescents, and caregivers in emergencies is an asset and required for relevant consultancies on emergency response.
Experience engaging with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) structure and the IASC MHPSS Reference Group is an asset and required for relevant consultancies on emergency response.
Experience in interagency coordination, diplomacy, and donor reporting for policy and financing related consultancies

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of misconduct.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable.

Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates’ willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel.
Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

(REMOTE) Long-Term Agreement (LTA) for Individual Consultant as Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Global Programme Division, Req # 596537