Project Managing Consultant – EU Child and Adolescent Health and Mental Wellbeing Promotion, UNICEF ECARO, home-based in Europe with travels

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. 

For every child, health 

UNICEF’s mandate is to ensure that children’s life, wellbeing, and rights are protected and supported. UNICEF works worldwide to strengthen institutional and governmental systems protecting children and adolescents, promoting their rights, and supporting their development in a safe and conducive environment. UNICEF promotes community-based actions and programming to empower families and communities in attaining their needs fulfilled and caring for the most vulnerable groups. In a great variety of settings, from war-torn countries to disaster-affected areas, from low- to middle- and high-income countries, UNICEF’s commitment is to ensure that special attention is given to the most vulnerable children and adolescents so that their fullest potential can be achieved.

Protecting children and fostering their psychosocial and physical wellbeing entails multiple actions that UNICEF carries out together with governmental counterparts, relevant institutions, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is an institutional priority for the UN and for UNICEF and is critical for the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025 identifies MHPSS as a priority area, building upon existing programming through child protection, education, and health, shaped by actions and standards set out in the Child Protection Minimum Standards (CPMS), Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs) and the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies.

In several European countries, UNICEF teams have been operational since 2016 to respond to the needs of migrant and refugee children, providing technical assistance to national authorities and civil societies and direct services when needed. Between 2020 and 2023, UNICEF supported selected countries Authorities in piloting the third phase of the European Child Guarantee, an initiative to contrast social exclusion and child poverty with specific focus on most at risk groups of children. Dedicated national action plans were developed and children with mental health issues have been recognized as one of the most exposed groups with dedicated actions being included to address their needs. Within this framework, UNICEF is providing technical support in the implementation of a Technical Support Instrument (TSI) funded by the Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM) of the European Commission, which promotes the European Union’s economic, social, and territorial cohesion by supporting Member States’ efforts to implement reforms.

Health is a crucial aspect of the development of children and adolescents, encompassing both physical and mental well-being. The European Commission supports Member States in their efforts to promote the health of children and adolescents through policies, programmes and actions that address health challenges at different ages.
The European Commission is launching an action on ‘Promoting a comprehensive, prevention-oriented approach to children’s health’ (DP/CR-CA-24-26) under the EU4Health Programme for the period 2021-2027.

A Toolkit for Child and Adolescent Health and Mental Wellbeing Promotion will be designed to serve as a comprehensive resource for 27 EU Member States, Iceland and Norway, specifically policymakers engaged in improving child and adolescent health and wellbeing. A selected number of countries that have expressed their interest and have areas for improvement, with a balanced geographical representation, will be supported in the national adaptation and use of some parts of the toolkit. The support will include facilitation of consultation among stakeholders at the national level and technical assistance for the national policy development phase.
Via dedicated collaboration activities with countries, UNICEF will facilitate knowledge sharing, capacity building and policy dialogue among the participating countries to improve cooperation and synergies in the implementation of other initiatives and actions related to child health promotion.

The framework for this support is provided by ‘Healthier Together’ EU non-communicable diseases initiative, the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan – including the Council Recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancers and the Recommendation on Smoke- and aerosol-free Environments – and the Communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health, in particular the latter’s flagship (Children Health 360) which includes the development of a prevention toolkit focusing on prevention, early intervention for children at risk and addressing the link between mental and physical health and key health determinants.

There is a need to move towards a life course approach that looks at the specific needs of all age groups in different settings and addresses prevention and management as early as possible to lay the basis for a healthy life for all.

The action aims to contribute towards improved promotion of physical and mental health among children and adolescents in the EU, while also fostering the capacity of EU Member States, Iceland, and Norway to address these health needs

How can you make a difference? 

The main objective is to promote good physical and mental health and prevent health problems in children and adolescents through impactful actions across various settings, enhancing the understanding of how to improve children’s health and how to address effectively the most pressing health challenges, thus also supporting countries in implementing the flagship actions and other initiatives of the Commission Communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health with a specific focus on children and adolescents (aged 0-19).

The project will have five specific objectives:

1. A needs assessment to enhance understanding of the status of child and adolescent health and effective approaches for its improvement, by generating evidence on the needs, identifying obstacles and gaps in policies, interventions and programs across the EU, focusing on 5 key areas affecting children and adolescents – healthy lifestyles, early childhood development and intervention, immunisation and protection from aggressive promotion of harmful products and promotion of mental health and psychosocial wellbeing.
Best Practices in promoting child and adolescent health and well-being will be identified, as well as current gaps and areas of improvement.
2. Development of the Toolkit (resource) – a comprehensive, evidence-based Toolkit for Child and Adolescent Health and Mental Wellbeing Promotion for the participating countries to enhance policies and programs focused on promoting health, mental health, and development among children and adolescents, with a focus on the most vulnerable.
3. Piloting of the toolkit – Facilitating the adaptation and adoption of tools in selected EU Member States to enhance child health, development, and well-being, addressing both physical and mental health aspects in preparation of a wider adoption in the participating countries.
4. Capacity building and policy dialogue – Supporting capacity building and policy dialogue among participating countries to strengthen public health initiatives and health system delivery platforms, aiming at promoting comprehensive child and adolescent health, including mental health, with a focus on reaching all children, especially the most vulnerable, and to foster cooperation on the implementation of actions addressing common challenges.
5. Development of a Common Public Health (horizontal) narrative contributing to the enhancement of a common public health narrative by providing access to evidence and guidance for a comprehensive, prevention-oriented approach to children’s health.

Under the supervision of the Regional Health Adviser, the Project Managing Consultant will be responsible for supporting the program coordination, including advising on planning, and allocating resources, drafting budgets, monitoring progress, and keeping stakeholders informed throughout the project lifecycle, drafting reports for donors, and supporting the Regional Office on implementation. S/he will also work closely with UNICEF staff and the beneficiary authorities i.e. Ministries of Health and Ministries of Labour and Social Policy to ensure the project activities are timely, effectively, and efficiently implemented as per plans and budget. The Project Managing Consultant will work under the guidance of the Regional Health Advisor and in close collaboration with the Regional Office ECD Specialist, Nutrition Specialist, Immunization Specialists and Adolescent MHPSS Consultant.

The expected deliverables will include:

• Support the project inception phase by developing a detailed implementation plan and a coordination mechanism to steer the process and allow for in-course corrections.
• Support the establishment and the discussions of project governance bodies e.g. the Steering Committee, and the Advisory Group in close coordination with all project stakeholders and UNICEF staff, including the organization of a project kick-off event with key stakeholders.
• In collaboration with relevant UNICEF staff, support the planning and delivery of a desk review and needs, obstacles and gaps assessment and a review of interventions, policies, and programs for children and adolescents to identify needs and gaps. It will include best case studies to demonstrate successful interventions.
• Support the development of a comprehensive, evidence-based Toolkit for Child and Adolescent Health and Mental Wellbeing Promotion: Toolkit for the participating countries to enhance policies and programs focused on promoting health, mental health, and development among children and adolescents, with a focus on the most vulnerable, (such as children at risk of poverty or social exclusion, refugees and migrants, children with disabilities, ethnic minorities such as Roma, in line with the European Child Guarantee)
• Facilitate the adaptation and adoption of tools in selected EU Member States to enhance child health, development, and well-being, addressing both physical and mental health aspects in preparation of a wider adoption in the 27 EU Member States, Iceland and Norway.
• Support Regional Office efforts in advancing policy dialogue among EU Member States, Norway, and Iceland to strengthen public health initiatives and health system delivery platforms, aiming at promoting comprehensive child and adolescent health, including mental health, with a focus on reaching all children, especially the most vulnerable and to foster cooperation on the implementation of actions addressing common challenges.
• Contribute to the enhancement of a common public health narrative by providing access to evidence and guidance for a comprehensive, prevention-oriented approach to children’s health.
• Ensure successful planning and reporting on delivery of multi-country activities in line with donor plans and work in coordination with relevant colleagues to ensure donor visibility requirements are reflected.

Work assignment Overview (with deliverables, estimated number of working days and delivery deadlines)  Work Assignment Overview 578359.docx

Working Modality: Part time. Total of 415 working days over the period of 36 months. Home-based in Europe with estimated 30 trips during contract duration. 

Work Assignment Overview with deliverables, estimated working days and deadlines

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Project Management, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Social Work, Education, Health or related topics.   
  • A minimum of 5 years of demonstrated relevant professional work in project management.
  • Experience in Child Health and /or MHPSS project management in NGO’s, INGO’s and UN Organisations is a strong asset.
  • Experience in EU funded project management is a strong asset.
  • Experience in the Europe and Central Asia Region is a strong asset.
  • Deep understanding and solid experience with multisectoral teams and interventions
  • Excellent planning and organizational skills
  • Excellent analytical, communication and writing skills
  • Excellent critical thinking capacity
  • Excellent ability to work in a team is required
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
  • Fluency in English is required
  • Fluency in other European languages is a strong asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

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

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

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. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

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. 

Applications without indicated daily fee will not be considered!

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. 

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.