National Consultant for MHPSS monitoring and evaluation technical assistant

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For every child, Health! 

Consultancy Title: National Consultant for MHPSS monitoring and evaluation technical assistant including in emergencies.

Section/Division/Duty Station: Health and Nutrition Section, Kigali, Rwanda

Duration: 02 January 2025 to 30 December 2025 (12 Months)

Home/ Office Based:  Home Based (National Consultancy)

Rwanda is currently facing heightened public health risks due to the threat of outbreaks, which has placed immense pressure on the country’s healthcare systems, which are required to respond swiftly to minimize transmission and mitigate the impact on the population. The Marburg and mpox outbreaks pose a serious risk to public health, exacerbated by limited resources and the need for real-time monitoring and data to guide response efforts. Rwanda, like many countries in the region, must balance immediate response efforts with the need to develop comprehensive preparedness plans for future outbreaks.

While Rwanda has made significant strides in health system strengthening, the existing Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) frameworks for handling disease outbreaks need enhancement. Effective real-time data collection and analysis are crucial to track the effectiveness of health interventions, manage resources efficiently, and adapt strategies based on emerging data. The outbreak situation has highlighted gaps in emergency preparedness, including a need for improved M&E systems to ensure that public health responses are timely, scalable, and evidence based.

By supporting M&E at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre’s Mental Health Division, including across sectors, Rwanda will be better equipped to handle public health emergencies, ensuring that interventions are based on real-time data and that lessons learned from both the mpox and Marburg outbreak and other situations are applied to future preparedness and response plans.

How can you make a difference?

SCOPE OF WORK/OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the M&E Technical Assistant is to strengthen Rwanda’s capacity in MHPSS  to respond effectively to public health emergencies, such as the ongoing Marburg and mpox virus outbreak and other future health crises. This role is crucial in ensuring that emergency interventions are guided by real-time data, properly monitored, and evaluated for effectiveness, leading to more informed decision-making and resource allocation.

The M&) Technical Assistant is to develop and implement robust MHPSS M&E systems that enhance Rwanda’s capacity to respond effectively to public health emergencies, particularly the current outbreaks and future disease outbreaks, while also ensuring the comprehensive monitoring of MHPSS services in routine care. The M&E Technical Assistant will ensure that interventions are data-driven, timely, and targeted to the needs of vulnerable populations.

Key Tasks:

• The M&E technical Assistant will be responsible for a comprehensive range of tasks designed to enhance emergency preparedness, response, and control efforts during public health emergencies. The scope of work includes the following key components:
• M&E Framework Development: System established to efficiently plan, monitor, and track MHPSS interventions for current mpox and MVD outbreaks.
• Improved Mental Health Services and continuity of services: System established to efficiently plan, track and monitor MHPSS interventions (non-emergency and continuity of services), including age disaggregation.
• Informed Decision-Making: Reports generated with recommendations based on data for more strategic and informed public decisions.
• Capacity Strengthening: Increased capacity among health workers and stakeholders in M&E practices, leading to better emergency response coordination, including cross-sectoral coordination.
• Sustainable M&E Systems: A sustainable MHPSS M&E framework integrated into Rwanda’s health system. emergency response outcomes.
• Enhanced Future Preparedness: SOPs/framework developed and operationalized for a national MHPSS coordination center.

If you would like to know more about the consultancy assignment, please review the complete ToT here  TORs for National ME consultant MHPSS.docx

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education: A master’s degree in public health (MPH), Epidemiology, statistics, data science or a related field is required.

Experience:

• Professional experience in monitoring and evaluation and data science.
• Demonstrated experience in M&E for public health interventions during emergencies, such as disease outbreaks, natural disasters, or humanitarian crises.
• Experience in assessing health and psychosocial needs of vulnerable populations, particularly children and adolescents and other vulnerable groups during emergency situations.
• Strong knowledge of M&E frameworks, methodologies, and best practices, including qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Proficiency in data analysis software (e.g., SPSS, R, STATA) and data visualization tools for interpreting health data and reporting findings.
• Familiarity with health information management systems (e.g., DHIS2) for real-time data tracking and reporting during emergencies.
• Experience in developing, implementing, and monitoring indicators that measure health outcomes and intervention effectiveness.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to interpret complex data sets and provide actionable insights.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present findings clearly to diverse audiences, including policymakers, healthcare professionals, and community stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and various stakeholders across sectors in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactive problem-solver with a demonstrated ability to adapt to changing circumstances and overcome challenges during emergencies.
• Understanding of national and international public health policies, guidelines, and best practices related to emergency preparedness and response.
• Awareness of and sensitivity to the cultural, social, and political factors that affect public health interventions in different communities.

ADMINITRATIVE FORMALITIES

• UNICEF will regularly communicate with the consultant and provide feedback, guidance, and necessary support to achieve the objectives of the work, as well as remain aware of any upcoming issues related to the performance and quality of work.
• As per policy on consultants, the individual will be expected to complete a list of mandatory training, including policies on Prohibiting and Combatting Fraud and Corruption, Prohibition of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority and other relevant policies for their information and acknowledgement upon acceptance of the offer.
• Before issuing the official contract, the consultant must complete the applicable training. The consultant will be provided with office space, access to office resources and other administrative arrangements necessary to complete the assignment.

CONDITIONS

• No contract may commence unless both UNICEF and the consultant sign the contract.
• The consultant will work remotely.
• The consultant will be paid an all-inclusive fee (stationary, communication and other miscellaneous expenses) as per the stipulated deliverable and payment schedule.
• The consultant is not entitled to payment for overtime, weekends or public holidays.
• No travel should take place without an email travel authorization from the section before the commencement of the journey from the duty station.

• Standard UNICEF procedures will apply for invoicing and all other financial management requirements set out in the contract.
• Standard penalty clauses will also apply for late and poor-quality deliverables. The supervisor of the contract will provide the consultant with the criteria for the evaluation of the quality of each deliverable.
• Additional details of UNICEF rules, regulations and conditions will be attached to the contract.
• Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on the UNICEF budget.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested consultants should provide the following:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Brief technical proposal (no longer than five pages) demonstrating the consultant’s understanding of the assignment and approach/methodology to the assignment.
• (A portfolio of) document(s) the consultant produced or contributed to, exemplifying the capacity of the consultant to create simple-language, compelling documents, with visuals and graphs.
• Financial proposal including a breakdown of their all-inclusive fees (including professional fees and other costs). Complete the attached form. Financial Proposal template.xlsx

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit our competency framework

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility jobs-near-me.org UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Remarks: 

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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.

Applications submitted without technical and financial proposal will not be considered.