Consultant - Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Emergencies

Job Description - Consultant - Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Emergencies (2501876)

Consultant - Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Emergencies - (2501876)

Contractual Arrangement: External consultant

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 6 months

: May 12, 2025, 8:10:32 AM

: May 26, 2025, 9:59:00 PM

: Anywhere

: HQ/MHE Mental Health

: Full-time

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device's system settings.

Purpose of consultancy

Facilitate technical follow-up with all organizations participating in full-scale MHPSS simulation exercises to ensure integration of MHPSS operational readiness in organizations' policies, and contribute to the orientation of field implementation sites for future implementation of simulation exercise activities.

Background

Following the adoption of the Seventy-Seventh World Health Assembly Resolution on MHPSS and the inclusion of MHPSS preparedness as a core indicator in the WHO Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan, the World Health Organization (WHO)—with support from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)—is advancing innovative approaches to strengthen the integration of MHPSS in emergency operational readiness. WHO is seeking technical expertise to contribute to the integration of MHPSS preparedness by developing standard operating procedures (SOPs), implementing related activities across humanitarian organizations, and contributing to WHO's full-scale multi-sectoral MHPSS simulation exercises.

Deliverables

All deliverables to be completed by the end of the 6 months consultancy period:

• Develop and implement a technical mentorship plan to facilitate the integration of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) preparedness within organizations participating in WHO-led full-scale, multi-sectoral simulation exercises.
• Conduct field visits and develop standardized orientation and readiness checklists for simulation implementation sites, ensuring alignment with WHO MHPSS preparedness objectives.
• Prepare organization-specific case studies based on baseline situation analyses and activities conducted, assessing the integration of MHPSS preparedness into their operational plans.
• Function as a simulation facilitator, playing a role in the delivery of full-scale MHPSS simulation exercises, including on-site facilitation at selected field locations as a team member.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• University degree in psychiatry, psychiatric nursing, psychology, social work or allied science from an accredited/recognized institute.

Desirable:

• Post-graduate qualification or specialized training in (a) public health and/or (b) MHPSS in emergency and humanitarian crises.

Experience

Essential:

• At least 5 years of relevant experience, at the national and international levels, in the assessment, development, and implementation of policies, strategies and action plans for MHPSS in the context of emergencies.
• Experience in capacity building, developing, and promoting collaborative partnerships.

Desirable:

• Experience in implementing MHPSS preparedness activities within humanitarian organizations.
• Experience in using and/or teaching on the IASC Guidance, including the IASC MHPSS Minimum Services Package and the multi-sectoral assessment toolkit.
• Relevant work experience in the Incident Management Support System within WHO, other UN agencies, or relevant non-governmental or humanitarian organizations.
• Experience in working for or with a Government Ministry of Health or with an NGO in a low or middle-income country.
• Experience in preparing normative operational guidance for MHPSS.

Skills/Knowledge

Essential:

• International MHPSS Humanitarian policy frameworks, resolutions, guidance and tools: WHO, Sphere, and IASC.
• Implementation tools (e.g., MSP, Assessment toolkit, psychological first aid field guide, scalable psychological interventions, map Humanitarian Intervention Guide, mental health component of Interagency Emergency Health Kit (IEHK), ‘Building Back Better’ casebook) for reduction of public health problems related to mental health and psychosocial support, before, after and in response to emergencies.

Desirable:

• Provide expert advice on the development and implementation of MHPSS policies and programmes in emergency settings.
• Plan and conduct capacity-building and assessment activities in MHPSS.
• Work effectively in an emergency and humanitarian response context, under constraints and meet deadlines.
• Work on MHPSS with government health authorities and non-governmental organizations.
• Collaborate on MHPSS across sectors.

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert)

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English

Desirable:

• Minimum intermediate knowledge of at least another UN official language

Location

Off-site: Home-based

Travel

The consultant will be expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B: USD 7,000 – 9,980 per month

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited)

N/A

Expected duration of contract

6 months

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html