National Consultant for MHPSS , Mogadiscio, Somalia

  • Location:
  • Salary:
    negotiable
  • Job type:
    Contract
  • Posted:
    1 year ago
  • Category:
    Project Manager
  • Deadline:
    18/09/2022

( 2208013 )

Contractual Arrangement : External consultant

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

Job Posting: Sep 11, 2022, 9:23:21 AM

  •  Purpose of consultancy

Somalia is experiencing a multi-layered humanitarian crisis resulting from protracted period of conflict, recurrent natural disasters (including droughts and floods), recurrent epidemics and the social and economic impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. These, coupled with forced and extended displacement into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps; high levels of poverty and deprivation and violation of rights without avenues for recourse have had a lasting impact on communities, resulting in the high prevalence of mental health and psychosocial support needs in the country. Although mental health is part of the revised essential of package health services (EPHS 2020), mental health services in Somalia remain inadequate and inaccessible to majority of those who need them, across the country

In this context WHO Country Office intends to recruit a suitable candidate who will provide technical support, to all partners supporting health sector in Somalia to integrate mental health services in their country programmes, provide technical support to the Federal and State Ministries of Health to scale up prevention and treatment of mental, neurological, substance use disorders in line with EPHS 2020 and support mainstreaming of mental health services in health emergencies response. The incumbent will also support the activities for promotion of mental health with particular focus on the most vulnerable populations.

  •  Background

This position contributes to the three strategic priorities of the WHO General Programme of Work 13 (GPW13); Strategic Priority 1, Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Strategic Priority 2, better protecting people from health emergencies, and Strategic Priority 3, ensuring people enjoy better health and wellbeing. It will support the country towards implementation of mental health care components, integrated within the country’s revised essential package of health services (EPHS 2020) through the Primary Health Care approach. The position will contribute to strengthening the health system components required for delivery of quality services and support mainstreaming and integration of mental health services in humanitarian operations, this progressing toward UHC, health protection and promotion of healthy lives.

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

  •  Deliverables
  •  Conduct assessment of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) needs, resources and capacities within the country in coordination with MOH and other partners.
  •  Support the national health cluster to re-vitalize the MHPSS Technical Working Group, and continuously provide technical support the health cluster partners.
  •  Support the Federal Ministry of Health in development of operational strategies for mental health care, aligned to revised mental health policy, in consultation with national and state stakeholders.
  •  Support the Federal Ministry of Health and partners to assess current capacities of mental health care practitioners, and in development of a national training plan.
  •  Contribute to the adaptation of existing MHPSS tools and standards of care to the context of Somalia with particular focus on mainstreaming of MHPSS in projects design by relevant clusters and improve capacity in the MHPSS response in humanitarian emergencies.
  •  Work with health authorities and humanitarian actors to integrate mental health care into PHC, in line with the country’s service delivery framework, the EPHS 2020, including referral system across levels, develop minimum standards of care
  •  Participate in formulation of annual work plans for the MHPSS Technical Working Group in Somalia and facilitate the coordination functions of the country’s health institutions.
  •  Prepare various reports required for WHO, donors and partners.
  •  Perform all other related duties as assigned by the supervisors.
  •  Deliverable
  •  Assessment report on mental health and psychosocial support training needs and training plan

ii. Conduct of capacity building activities to support integration of mental health in PHC using the standards tools and guidelines adapted to Somali context

iii. Annual Workplan for MHPSS Technical Working Group

  •  Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: A first level university degree in Medicine, Nursing, Psychology or Public Health (with curriculum including the relevant subjects on mental health and neurology).

Desirable: Advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) in Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, or related field. Specialized training or certification in (a) public health / primary health care / community health (b) clinical psychology or psychiatry and/or (c) MHPSS in emergency and humanitarian crises.

Experience

Essential: At least five years of relevant experience providing mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in complex emergency situations and contributing to the service development

Desirable: Experience working in delivery of essential services, including mental health in emergency and humanitarian response. Experience in working within Somalia’s institutions. Experience in WHO, other UN agencies, or nongovernmental and humanitarian organizations.

Skills/Knowledge:

Knowledge of Microsoft Office software applications.

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert):

  •  Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English
  •  Excellent knowledge of Somali language.
  •  Place of assignment

Mogadishu, internal travel as required

  •  Medical clearance

The consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness to work

  •  Travel

The Consultant may be expected to travel as required. This may include missions to other states of Somalia for better coordination of assigned tasks and functions.

If travel occurred, all travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.

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.
  •  Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line. For assessment of your application, please ensure that your profile on Stellis is updated; all experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time. Kindly note that CV/PHFs inserted via LinkedIn are not accessible.
  •  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 consultancy. 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’s workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practicehttps://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values .
  •  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.
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