International Consultant for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)_Homebased

The Position:

The International MHPSS Specialist will report to Gender Equality/GBV Programme Specialist and will oversee and support National MHPSS Programme Analyst based in Yangon, National MHPSS Field Officers based at the Field Offices in target states as well as MHPSS roster team. 

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

UNFPA expands the possibilities for women and young people to lead healthy and productive lives. Advancing gender equality and promoting the empowerment of women is a key programme priority of UNFPA Myanmar’s fourth Country Programme Document (2018-2024). This includes addressing gaps in gender equality, improving sexual and reproductive health services, responding to and preventing Gender Based Violence (GBV) and integrating gender equality and human rights perspectives into national policies, development frameworks and laws. 

UNFPA manages programmes to support women and girls in target locations. In all these programme areas, UNFPA is working with international and national organizations, building sustainable approaches to strengthening mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) capacity and support networks. 

The Women and Girls First programme (Phase III) under the overall Country Programme will support the provision of multi-sectoral GBV response and prevention as well as SRHR services. As a critical component of GBV-SRHR integrated services, UNFPA has been investing to integrate MHPSS as part of the comprehensive support package for women, girls and other vulnerable groups. MHPSS interventions are delivered through a combination of individual-focused approach and group/community-focused approach involving family and community. This innovative approach in Myanmar provides both immediate, critical and lifesaving responses for women and girls as well as ensuring a supportive family and community environment enabling recovery and empowerment. 

The International MHPSS Specialist will assist the Myanmar Country office in supporting the implementation of MHPSS interventions through SRHR services and multi sectoral GBV response and prevention services supported by UNFPA. He/she will also support addressing MHPSS needs of other vulnerable population groups, including but not limited to persons with disabilities, elderly persons, young people and LGBTQIA+ community. 

The MHPSS specialist will provide technical guidance and support to national MHPSS programme analyst and field officers as well as MHPSS roster team.

You would be responsible for:

The MHPSS Specialist will undertake a range of activities to enhance the capacity of organizations implementing GBV, Youth and SRHR programmes to support compliance with IASC Guidelines for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings as well as ensuring sustainable MHPSS interventions through building capacity of partner organizations.

Strengthening mentoring/supervisory structures 35%  

• Support currently established MHPSS Peer Support Networks in Northern and Central Rakhine, Kachin, Northern Shan, Southern Shan, Kayah, Kayin, Northwest and Yangon, and ensure the networks are maintained and strengthened through ongoing supervision of facilitators, engagement in regular review processes and collaborative development of relevant tools and training materials. Lead strengthening the capacity of TOT participants of Peer Support Networks through supervision and mentoring to facilitate basic MHPSS training to other humanitarian actors
• Support MHPSS programme analyst, roster team and field officers to provide timely technical support and MHPSS service provision to UNFPA partners. Provide mentoring and coaching support to strengthen the national MHPSS technical capacities.

Supporting rollout of minimum standards for focused PSS interventions and supporting use of evidence-based MHPSS interventions – 35% 

• Support UNFPA partners in rolling out MHPSS minimum standards for GBV interventions and SRHR interventions as well as Stepped Care Approach to promote structured and quality PSS service provision 
• Support MHPSS interventions for vulnerable people, such as, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ and elderly persons 
• Coordinate the wider roll-out of evidence-based MHPSS interventions, including MHPSS Minimum Services Package, across health and protection sectors/actors 
• Lead and coordinate capacity building support/technical support on MHPSS to partner organizations, liaising with MHPSS programme analyst, field officers and roster team, adapting the training contents to the needs of the partner organizations and providing tailored technical support.

Mainstreaming MHPSS/raising MHPSS awareness – 20%  

• Maintain PFA and PSS training materials and manuals and where necessary adapt to increase MHPSS awareness and practice of basic PSS skills among a range of actors providing SRHR and GBV services and those working with vulnerable groups. 
• Organize and coordinate the awareness-raising activities, including commemoration of International Days, such as, World Mental Health Day, to raise the awareness on MHPSS and available services.
• Work closely with communications team and partners to produce and disseminate MHPSS-related IEC materials, videos, and any other appropriate communication materials. 
• Develop training materials and manuals for increasing MHPSS capacities in SRH service providers in line with MHPSS in SRH services assessment recommendations and MHPSS Minimum Standards for SRHR interventions.

Programme management support, including monitoring and evaluation – 10% 

• Identify further opportunities for expansion of MHPSS programming within UNFPA’s mandate 
• Support the writing of funding proposals and donor reports related to MHPSS. 
• In collaboration with the M&E team, develop/strengthen tools and a clear framework for monitoring the impact of the different tiers of the MHPSS strategy developed and implemented. 
• Carry out any other duties as may be required by the office

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced degree with specialization in areas such as clinical psychology, clinical social work or mental health

Professional Experience 

• At least 5 years of specialized experience in community based psychosocial support interventions particularly as it relates to GBV, and experience in this field at international level in a humanitarian context.
• Demonstrated knowledge of IASC Guidelines on MHPSS in Emergency Settings 
• Demonstrated experience on counseling skills and clinical supervision of lay counsellors 
• Demonstrated knowledge of reproductive health issues and/or protection issues in humanitarian settings, and of humanitarian emergency operations and roles/responsibilities of humanitarian actors.  
• Strong training and supervision experience required

Core Competencies 

• Ability to work within a team structure or in isolation, flexible, and can cope with stressful workloads and working with limited resources.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work within different cultural environments.

Languages: 

• Proficiency in English and in other official languages or the UN required/desirable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.