consultancy – To support the MNS Unit in coordinating scaling up the implementation of the Global Action Plan on Mental Health (2013–2030)

• Country: Cairo, Egypt
• No of vacancies: N/A
  
• Salary: N/A 
• Organization: WHO
• Gender: Both
• Deadline: 2024-01-23

Purpose of consultancy

To support the MNS Unit in coordinating scaling up the implementation of the Global Action Plan on Mental Health (2013–2030) and the Regional Frameworks for Mental Health and Substance Use.

2. Background  

Mental health and substance abuse problems are public health issues, leading to significant direct, indirect and immeasurable costs. Globally, around 25% of years lived with disability are caused by mental, neurological and substance use disorders. In the past decades, EMRO countries have experienced rapid social, political, and economic change that has resulted in widespread civil unrest and violence and exposed the majority of the population to stress. These factors have contributed to the gradual rise in the rates of MNS disorders in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, from 7% in 2000 to 9.8% in 2019. Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the already fraught situation, where more than half of the countries of the EMR were experiencing complex protracted emergencies, with increased rates of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders being witnessed.

The World Health Assembly in 2013  adopted the comprehensive mental health action plan 2013–2020 and in 2019, the Seventy-second World Health Assembly extended the period of the action plan until 2030. In 2015, the 62nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, in resolution EM/RC62/R.5, endorsed the regional framework to scale up action on mental health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The regional framework operationalizes the WHO global comprehensive mental health action plan (2013–2030) and constitutes a regional roadmap. In addition in 2019 at the 66th session of the Regional Committee, the Regional Framework for Action to Strengthen the Public Health Response to Substance Use was endorsed by Member States. In January 2021, WHO’s Executive Board also affirmed the cross-cutting nature of MHPSS by stressing the importance of integrating MHPSS into preparedness and response plans for public health emergencies, including COVID-19.

Building on these developments and to translate the current heightened interest and commitment into tangible and sustained action, the mental health unit of the UHC/NMH Department at the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office of WHO is proposing to recruit a National Consultant to support the implementation of the provisions of the Regional frameworks and the Global action plan 2013-2030.

Planned timelines (subject to extension according to budget availability)

Start date:  01/02/2024

End date: 31/12/2024

3. Deliverables

The consultant is expected to do the following:

In close coordination with the Mental Health and Substance Use Unit, the UHC/Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health (NMH) Department, at the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), the National Consultant will produce the following deliverables:

• Map of the Civil society organizations working in the area of mental health, neurological and substance use disorders (MNS) in the  Member states of the Eastern Mediterranean Region of WHO (WHO/EMRO).
• Maintain and regularly update the data of the Civil society organizations in the  Member states of the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
• Coordinate with the Communications Department to set up and maintain the Regional mental health coalition portal, and an updated mental health and substance use website of WHO/EMRO.
• Support the global and regional initiatives and partnerships with civil society organizations, sister  UN agencies and EMRO programmes to combat Stigma and discrimination related to MNS conditions.

• • Assist in drafting, reviewing, formatting and editing technical documents and information products policy briefs, tool kits, guides/manuals, hand-outs, brochures and reports during the assignment.

Output 1:

Support the development of programmes and initiatives to help combat stigma and discrimination related to mental health in the EMR and promote the meaningful engagement of people with lived experience (PWLE) of Mental Health and Neurological and Substance Use (MNS) conditions.

Deliverable 1: Provide the technical and communication support to implement contact-based interventions co-created by individuals with lived experience to address and reduce stigma related to mental health.

Deliverable 2: Provide the technical support and planning for developing and integrating an educational module on mental health into the curriculum of the students at journalism schools/universities to help improve mental health literacy among journalists/media reporters and build their capacities and skills in regard to the responsible media reporting on mental health, and addressing the stigma associated to mental illness.

Deliverable 3: Support the implementation of a regional media monitoring tool for the responsible reporting on suicide in the EMR.

Deliverable 4: Draft a technical report and a policy brief to examine the context of stigma related to mental health in the EMR, legal instruments and processes that are in place for preventing mental health stigmatization and assess the effectiveness of the various stigma-reduction activities/initiatives conducted at the regional and country levels, as implemented by WHO, Ministries, sister agencies and community organizations.

Output 2:

Support the regional and country-level initiatives and partnerships with sister UN agencies and EMRO programmes that aim at strengthening effective leadership and governance for mental health through empowering, engaging with and building alliances with national stakeholders including civil society organizations (CSOs), organizations of PWLE and their caregivers.

Deliverable 1: Map the civil society and community-based organizations that are active in the area of MNS in the Member States of EMR

Deliverable 2: Maintain and regularly update the database of the active CSOs in the Member states of EMR and support the continuous engagement with these organizations.

Deliverable 3: Coordinate the process of setting up and maintaining a Regional Mental Health Coalition Platform to help leverage and support the community-based mental health initiatives, programmes and advocacy activities implemented at a country level and strengthen networking and knowledge sharing among non-governmental organizations.

Deliverable 4: Report on and showcase the key success stories, lessons learnt, meetings, events and any other relevant outcomes as generated by the coalition for dissemination on the coalition’s website, WHO/EMRO website and other global and regional platforms.

4. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

• Essential: Master’s degree in public health.

• Mental health and/or relevant social sciences qualification is desirable.

Experience

Essential: years’ experience in mental health and substance use programming. International experience is mandatory in case consultancy is international.

Good knowledge of WHO strategic documents, guidelines, and standards in the area of mental health and substance use is desirable.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Ability to rapidly gather and consolidate information from multiple sources.
• Excellent writing skills and ability to produce documentation to a high standard.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to perform efficiently under work pressure and actively work towards continuing personal learning and development.

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

Excellent knowledge of English & Arabic language.

5. Location:

Cairo, Egypt .

Visa requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

6. Travel (If travel is involved, a medical certificate of fitness for work will be required.)

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.

7. Medical clearance

               The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

8. Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

1. 1. Remuneration: Band level “B”-high end of range (international)/ the national pay rate of NOD (National)

1. Expected duration of contract : 11 months (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year):

The selected Consultant will work under the supervision of:

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