Jobs - 59668- International Consultant on Psycho-Social Response

International Consultant on Psycho-Social Responses

Location :

Home Based with Missions to Ukraine, UKRAINE

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

14-Sep-2015

Application Deadline :

10-Sep-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

September 2015 – November 2016

Languages Required :

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Following isolated civic unrest in November 2013, Ukraine now faces an armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine that is significantly and adversely affecting children. The humanitarian caseload of internally displaced has risen above 1.3 million people with at least 168,019 being children (as of 8 June 2015).

UNICEF estimates at a minimum 100,000 children and parents need support to address psychological distress and aggression caused by witnessing violence and other traumatic events. Assessments reveal heightened levels of anxiety and fear among children and adolescents who have witnessed aversive or violent events, such as encounters with soldiers, military vehicles, people threatening others with guns and people being wounded and killed. While most children are reasonably resilient to heightened stress and have some coping mechanisms, a significant number are less resilient, notably among younger children. Psychologists' assessments of children in Donetsk oblast suggest that the highest levels of distress and deterioration in behaviour patterns are experienced by children aged 3-6 (26% of the assessed group), compared to 13% and 14% respectively for 7-12 and 13-18 year olds.

Access to the non-governmental controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk has been limited until recently, particularly in the conflict and buffer zones where the most vulnerable communities are located.

UNICEF will work with the Ministry of Education and Science (MoES), the Ministry of Social Policy (MoSP) and the National University Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (KMA) to provide effective psychosocial programs to strengthen the resilience of conflict-affected children and adolescents. This will consist of school- and community-based support for those least severely affected with focused, non-specialized supports, such as psychological first aid; basic mental health care, for those more severely affected; and specialized psychological or psychiatric support for the small percentage of the population, who despite the supports mentioned above have significant difficulties in basic daily functioning. The response will include extensive training and capacity-building of Ukrainian school psychologists, social workers, teachers, parents and educational institutions to plan, design, deliver, monitor and evaluate such programs effectively. Rigorous research to evaluate the programme’s impact on children’s well-being will be a significant component of the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective

The Consultant will assist UNICEF Ukraine, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (KMA), MoES and MoSP with the design of the project, with recommendations to the research design and implementation, with technical and methodological capacity building of the project partners, and with evaluation of the project.

Deliverables

Guided by the UNICEF Ukraine Country Office, the Consultant will have the following key deliverables under the contract:

Technical advice and written recommendations on project design:

Advise UNICEF Ukraine and KMA on the overall design of the project’s objectives, activities, monitoring and evaluation;
Advise UNICEF Ukraine and KMA on methodological aspects of the design of the research component (purposes, objectives, sampling, selection of quantitative and qualitative instruments, training of researchers, ethics, data gathering, data analysis, reporting).

Technical expertise in the form of mentoring or training sessions (as needed):

Advise UNICEF Ukraine and KMA on technical and methodological aspects of the design of a pilot Centre for Psychological and Psychotherapeutic Assistance in Slovyansk, with attention to the strengthening of existing governmental structures and processes;
Conduct training with MoES and MoSP staff and KMA staff and contractors on technical and methodological aspects of effective service delivery of psychosocial support, drawing upon international experience.

Technical advice and written recommendations on project evaluation

Support UNICEF Ukraine and KMA in the design of the overall project evaluation, with attention to its objectives, methodologies, with clearly defined baselines (with baselines not only about number of children, but also baseline on ministries’ policies & political commitment as well as their capacities) timing, team composition, training of data gatherers, data analysis, conclusions and reporting.

Details of how the work should be delivered

The consultant will work closely with UNICEF’s Child Protection Specialist and Child Protection in Emergency Officer as well as colleagues from Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Reports following missions and after mentoring or training sessions should be provided.

Performance indicators for evaluation of results

Evaluation of results will be based on the following indicators:

Technical and professional competence (will be measured by quality of deliverables provided to UNICEF, as well as feedback from UNICEF’s partner organisations);
Quality of work;
Quantity of work, including quantitative indicators of the project.

Such indicators as work relations, responsibility and communication will be also considered during evaluation of the contractor’s work.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge of UNICEF’s core commitments to children in humanitarian action, as well as of the humanitarian cluster approach, particularly the child protection sub-cluster, the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, and the Global Protection Cluster’s Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action;
Strong track record in planning, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of child protection monitoring mechanisms in conflict and transition settings.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

An advanced university degree in child psychology, child protection or another relevant field.

Experience:

A minimum of 10 years of experience with UNICEF and/or other relevant actors, including experience with child protection programming in armed conflict contexts.

Language:

Fluency in English (verbal and written);
Good written and spoken skills in Russian an asset.

Definition of supervision arrangements

Supervision will be provided by the UNICEF Child Protection Specialist in the Ukraine office.

Description of official travel involved

The assignment will require travel to Kyiv, with possibility of some travel to the east of the country. 3 trips at 5 days per trip are envisaged.

Prior to undertaking any travel, the Consultant should complete UN Basic and Advanced Security in the Field Training Courses (linkages to these courses will be provided by UNICEF Ukraine).

All travel costs of the consultant within Ukraine will be reimbursed by UNICEF in accordance with UNICEF rules.

UNICEF recourse in the case of unsatisfactory performance

In the event of unsatisfactory performance, UNICEF reserves the right to terminate the Agreement. In case of partially satisfactory performance, such as serious delays causing the negative impact on meeting the programme objectives, low quality or insufficient depth and/or scope of the assessment completion, UNICEF is entitled to decrease the payment by the range from 30 to 50%.