Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Education Consultant/ADAP/Education Section, PG - NYHQ, remote Req#584636

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines fordeveloping countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

Consultancy Title: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Education Consultancy

Division/Duty Station: ADAP/Education Section, PG - NYHQ

Duration: October 15, 2025 – Jan 15, 2027

Home/ Office Based: Remote

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:   The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. 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. With a vision of a world where every young person is supported to optimize their mental wellbeing and where mental health disorders are prevented and effectively care cared for, UNICEF is implementing programmes and services to accelerate and scale up promotive and preventive mental health services for children and adolescents globally. Mental health and psychosocial wellbeing is a critical component of quality education and a foundational element of healthy development and learning. Schools are uniquely positioned to promote mental health and well-being by creating safe, inclusive, and nurturing environments and providing access to preventive and responsive support for learners, caregivers, and education personnel. UNICEF is engaged in a multi-country, cross-sectoral global partnership to strengthen child and adolescent mental health and well-being. As part of this broader initiative, UNICEF is providing technical assistance to governments and partners in approximately 20 countries across four regions. This support aims to integrate MHPSS within education systems by strengthening national capacities, enhancing coordination across sectors, developing contextually appropriate tools, and promoting scalable child and adolescent friendly services. UNICEF is seeking a consultant to support the operationalization and implementation of MHPSS integration within education sector priorities. The assignment will include the provision of technical assistance to country offices, tailored to the specific needs of specific partnerships and a Joint Programme on Mental Health. In addition, the consultant will contribute to knowledge management efforts and support global advocacy initiatives to advance education-based MHPSS. This is a remote-based consultancy with flexibility for international travel as required and agreed upon with supervisor. The consultant will be expected to work closely with the education global practice and health and education Centers of Excellence, country teams as well as global partners. Funding is not currently available to cover all planned deliverables. Certain deliverables will only be completed if additional resources become available.   

Scope of Work: Under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager, and with technical guidance from the Health Specialist (Adolescent, School, Mental Health), the consultant will: • Drive the development, dissemination and roll-out of evidence-based guidance and practical tools to support the delivery of school-based mental health services. In collaboration with UN agencies and partners, finalize a comprehensive, evidence-based guidance document for the design, implementation and monitoring of school-based mental health services. The guidance will be aligned with child and adolescent mental health global standards and adapted to the needs and realities of low- and middle -income countries. This includes: I. Contribute technical expertise to the finalization of the UNICEF-WHO guidance on School based mental health services, including a new chapter focused on meaningful consultation with young people. II. Support national level consultation with school administrators and school based MH professionals in three selected countries. III. Contribute to the dissemination of the school based mental health service guidance including through technical inputs to webinars, launch events, and knowledge-sharing platforms. • Provide technical assistance to selected countries. In coordination with the education global practice and Center of Excellence, the consultant will offer targeted technical support to approximately 20 countries, in line with the priorities of UNICEF partnerships and the WHO–UNICEF Joint Programme on Mental Health to ensure that quality mental health promotive and preventive services in education are effectively scaled up and integrated. IV. Provide targeted remote and in-country technical support to UNICEF Country Offices, including health and education teams, to strengthen the design, implementation, and scale-up of school-based MHPSS programmes and services—prioritizing, but not limited to, countries supported through specific partnerships. • Strengthen capacity of UNICEF staff and partners Design and implement capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing the knowledge, competencies, and confidence of UNICEF staff, government counterparts, and implementing partners to plan, deliver, and monitor school-based mental health and psychosocial support interventions. This includes: V. Developing and delivering tailored training programmes to partners and UNICEF staff VI. Support the development and dissemination of training materials and resources for Helping Adolescent Thrive tools, such as HAT classroom. VII. Supporting UNICEF in the Steering Committee for the 2nd Edition of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference, contributing to the strategic planning, thematic focus, and partner engagement efforts. Ensure UNICEF's priorities—particularly the integration of MHPSS in education systems—are reflected in the agenda and facilitate knowledge-sharing and visibility of country-level innovations and global public goods  

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

1.Development, dissemination and roll-out of evidence-based guidance and practical tools to support the delivery of school-based mental health services

- 1 final draft report of the school- based mental health services and tools

19 Dec 2025

- 1 report summarizing the final consultation with school administrators and school-based mental health professionals in three selected countries

19 Dec 2025

- 4 global webinars conducted to disseminate the school-based Mental health guidance

2 by March 2026; 2 by 15 Jan 2027

- Provide 24 technical reviews for Adolescent Mental Health Hub content of multisectoral MHPSS programming inputs

10 reviews by 30 March 2026; 14 reviews by 19 Dec 2026

2. Provide technical assistance to selected countries

- Provide tailored technical assistance plans developed and implemented in at least 7 selected countries

3 countries by 30 March 2026

4 countries by 15 Jan 2027

3. Strengthen capacity of UNICEF staff and partners 

- Planning and facilitation of 4 in-person trainings around promotive and preventive mental health strategies

2 in person by 30 March 226

2 in person by 19 Dec 2026

- Production of 12 training videos and related training resources for HAT initiative

12 training videos by March 30, 2026

- Production of 12 training videos and related training resources for HAT initiative

Pre-conference planning document developed and abstract review process in place

1 final report including follow-up actions produced 

Pre-conference planning document and abstract review process in place by 30 March 2026 August 15, 2026

Qualifications

Education:  

•  A minimum of 15 years relevant professional experience working in MHPSS programming

• Strong experience working on promotive and preventive mental health in the education sector

• Strong experience supporting country teams on planning, implementation, and monitoring of programming;

• Experience in Emergency Contexts and LMIC

• Relevant experience in UN system agency preferred.

• Fluency and ability to work in multiple UN languages highly preferred

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *: 

 *Good knowledge and understanding of humanitarian principles, child safeguarding measures and established international standards on mental health and psychosocial support for children in humanitarian settings

*Strong organizational and facilitation skills whether face to face or remotely with diverse stakeholders

*Demonstrated experience with programme cycle management, preferably including remote coordination.

*Demonstrated exceptional writing and communication skills.

*Comfortable to work independently while coordinating closely with different teams across HQ, RO and Cos.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors 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. 

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:  

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. 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 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.