• Country: Fortaleza, USA
• No of vacancies: N/A
  
• Salary: N/A 
• Organization: UNV
• Gender: Both
• Deadline: 2024-02-19

Details
Mission and objectives
UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children’s rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children.The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been present in Brazil since 1950, supporting the most important changes in the area of ​​childhood and adolescence in the country. UNICEF participated in major immunization and breastfeeding campaigns; the mobilization that resulted in the approval of article 227 of the Federal Constitution and the drafting of the Child and Adolescent Statute; the movement for universal access to education; programs to combat child labor; among other great advances in guaranteeing the rights of Brazilian girls and boys.In recent decades, Brazil has promoted a strong process of inclusion of children and adolescents in public policies. However, a significant portion of the population remains excluded. Therefore, in its cooperation program with the Brazilian government for the period 2017-2021, UNICEF focuses its efforts on the most vulnerable and excluded girls and boys, with a special focus on children and adolescents who are victims of extreme forms of violence .These children and adolescents in situations of greater vulnerability are spread throughout Brazil, but they are more concentrated in the Amazon, in the semiarid and in large urban centers. Through the UNICEF Seal, UNICEF promotes commitments to guarantee the rights of children and adolescents in the Semiarid and in the Brazilian Legal Amazon. In large cities, UNICEF works with a focus on reducing intra-municipal inequalities, through the Platform of Urban Centers (PCU).

Context
The “Pode Falar” Initiative was launched 2021 February, 9 by UNICEF Brazil, offering a web platform environment dedicated to support adolescents in mental health issues. In recent rapid assessment developed during November 2022, in Jangurussu Neighborhood, Fortaleza, was indicated that Mental Health and diversified listening channel for vulnerable children were the most urgent demand to guarantee the complete implementation of rights related to mental health and specialized listening (Federal Law 13341/2017) after the Covid pandemic (2020-2022). Combining strategies (Strategic Result 5 and 6), UNICEF supported 522 municipalities to design services pathway, install child protection committee and local legislation towards implement the federal law framework.

Under the supervision of the Fortaleza Zonal Office Chief, responsible for the Selo UNICEF and Agenda Cidade Unicef initiatives, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for supporting efficient and effective programmatic planning, implementing and monitoring of the Annual Work Plan (AWP) in the areas of integrated adolescent health and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) related programmes, particularly in schools and with participation from adolescents. The UN Volunteer will have dedicated responsibilities in Jangurussu neighborhood, Fortaleza, with a focus on integrated adolescent health, and will also support the Head of Office in implementation of Health and WASH activities in the context of #AgendaCidadeUNICEF and #Selo. Those initiatives respond to the following outcome of the UNICEF Brazil Country Programme 2024-28:

0540/A0/07/001/001 Immunization and access to primary heath care services
0540/A0/07/001/002 Nutrition in Early Childhood and Adolescence
0540/A0/07/001/003 Adolescent mental and reproductive Health & psychosocial support
0540/A0/07/004/001 Access to safely managed water services including in health facilities
0540/A0/07/004/002 WASH in Schools & menstrual health and hygiene services
0540/A0/07/004/003 Disaster risk reduction and preparedeness in state and municipal systems
0540/A0/07/004/004 Adolescent engagement for prevention and mitigation of climate change

The UN Volunteer Expert will contribute to the development of Mental Health and Child Protection programming in the Jangurussu Neighborhood (Agenda Cidade UNICEF, Fortaleza, Ceará) and in the states of Piauí, Ceará e Rio Grande do Norte (Selo UNICEF), specially supporting the mental health presential service to be installed in CUCA Jangurussu facilities and to support enrolled Selo UNICEF municipalities in the child protection services dedicated to specialized listening.

Task description
Under the supervision of the Fortaleza Zonal Office Chief, responsible for the Selo UNICEF and Agenda Cidade Unicef initiatives, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for supporting efficient and effective programmatic planning, implementing and monitoring of the Annual Work Plan (AWP) by providing to Mental Health initiative (PODE FALAR) and systemic health and WASH outcomes with quantitative and qualitative information on program implementation, supporting the identification of issues and alternative courses of action to accelerate/improve program delivery as well as provide the administrative and finance support to proceed according to UNICEF rules and standards.

In this context, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for:

OUTPUT 1: MENTAL HEALTH – Promotion of adolescent well-being and mental health through qualified intersectoral public policies, training, direct online and offline psychosocial care and strengthening peer support in Jangurussu neighborhood (Fortaleza) and municipalities in the states of Ceará, Piauí and Rio Grande do Norte

Planned activities:

Action1.Strengthen the mental health network and flow in the Jangurussu territory for reception, empathetic listening and referral of adolescents to therapeutic care services.

Activity 1.1 Mobilize the network and hold sectoral and intersectoral meetings/meetings with professionals in the areas of child and adolescent protection in health, education and assistance facilities to raise awareness about the importance of welcoming and listening, identifying and monitoring cases, creating or strengthening a mental health flow in the territory.

Activity 1.2. Advise technicians of the protection network, health equipment, assistance, and education, in the design and adaptation of materials and strategies that facilitate the communication of mental health flows and protocols with service users.

Action 2: Form professional teams (health, social assistance, and education) on adolescent mental health, especially in specialized listening to children and adolescents who are victims or witnesses of violence:

Activity 2.1. Hold events (lectures or lives) with teams of professionals (health, social assistance and education) on adolescent mental health, especially in the dimensions of prevention and promotion in conjunction with concepts of subject of rights, networks and territory. The objective of this activity is to enable teams to plan psychoeducational activities with service users.

Activity 2.2. Facilitate 2 workshops with health basic units’ (Unidade Básica de Saúde -UBS) professionals on identification, reception and initial management of adolescent mental health, with a special focus on training attitudes and perceptions about mental health in primary care and adolescents. Implementation of specialized listening to adolescent victims of violence in primary care.

Activity 2.3. Facilitate 3 workshops in 3 public schools on reception techniques and mental health counseling and implementation of specialized listening to adolescent victims of violence in the school context.

Action 3: Implement the Pode Falar Service – In-person with training, monitoring and supervision of implementing partner teams

Activity 3.1 Carry out training/training with teams of professionals from the implementing partner of Pode Falar Face-to-face on mental health care methodology for adolescents based on the development of skills and abilities in the pillars of self-esteem, self-knowledge, connection, communication and purpose/values.

Activity 3.2: Providing supervision to professionals implementing the centers can speak in person on the theoretical and practical bases of the methodology adopted during the first year of program implementation. Coordinate the actions of the implementing centers; carry out technical visits and meetings for methodological and conceptual alignment; Contribute to the development of process evaluation and monitoring tools; Monitor the recording of process and result indicators; Guide the preparation of records/evidence and review technical reports.

Activity 3.3. Develop a final product systematizing the face-to-face experience. Organize documentary and audiovisual collections of the experience.

Action 4: Interlocution with local and national UNICEF team

Activity 4.1 Participation in meetings, seminars and events related to the objectives of the program/project.

Activity 4.2. Prepare report according to UNICEF’s programmatic agenda.

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Output 2 – ADOLESCENT FRIENDLY SERVICES – Improve the holistic adolescent health assistance at Jangurussu Neighborhood (Fortaleza): (i) increasing notification cases related to violence by basic health units; ii) increasing adolescents using primary health services (sexual rights, reproductive health, immunization, adolescent pregnant counselling, etc.); iii) promoting intersectoral approach in implementing Health and Education Programme (|Programa Saúde na Escola – PSE).

Planned activities:

Activity 1 – Development of Adolescent Friendly approach for Health Basic Units.

Activity 1.1 Develop a set of evaluation indicators
Activity 1.2 Identify training and mentoring needs for implementing adolescent health programs
Activity 1.3 Develop a strategy for mobilization, adherence and permanence of basic health units in the initiative

Activity 2 – Train teams from basic health units, public schools, and social assistance reference centers in the territory to develop intersectoral adolescent health activities.

Activity 2.1 – Train at least 120 education, health and social assistance professionals in adolescent friendly approaches
Activity 2.2 – Articulate at least 30 institutions like us in a comprehensive adolescent health network.

Activity 3 – Support intersectoral working groups to evaluate friendly adolescent health services.

Activity 3.1 – Advise technicians and public managers to carry out competent evaluation processes for adolescent friendly approaches

Activity 3.2 – Technically support the certification processes of adolescent friendly basic health units.

Output 3 (CP Output 1.6 – WASH activities & CEED) – Together with municipal authorities and community based organizations, identify the most vulnerable families and communities in underserved urban neighborhoods (favelas) and provide them with critical hygiene and prevention items (including soap, hand- sanitizer, masks) along with targeted communication to vulnerable communities in large urban centers

Planned activities:

• Provide technical support and guidance for the development of a training package on municipal sanitation plans/programmes, including a focus on prevention of diseases related to inadequate environmental sanitation.
• Provide technical support in the implementation of the Handwashing Programme, preparing materials/documents to support progress towards the stipulated outcome.
• Technical support in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure timely implementation of the WASH program.
• Provide technical support to implementing partners in developing the action plan and following up on recommendations.

Eligibility criteria
Age
35 – 80

Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Requirements
Required experience
15 years of experience in working in a Psychological Clinic in psychotherapy and counseling for adolescents.
• Acting as project manager for fundraising, preparation, coordination, and dissemination of social projects focusing on psychosocial and mental health issues of adolescents in situations of social vulnerability, gender, race and ethnicity and family dynamics.
• Acting as a trainer in the use of social technologies and development of institutional and individual capabilities related to adolescent citizenship and family dynamics.
• Proven experience as a user, manager, and trainer of people in the use of online digital platforms or systems to identify, manage and monitor processes of access to public education, health and social assistance services.
• Knowledge and expertise on children’s rights issues, including the Convention of Rights of the Child, Statute of the Child and the Adolescent, Brazilian Educational Legislation and Learning Law (Law 10.097/2000).
• Proven experience in monitoring and advising public managers to implement municipal policies.
• Proven experience in developing approaches, methodologies, and processes for training and engaging adolescents.
• Knowledge on preventing sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Teamwork skills and capacity to work with tight deadlines.
• Availability to live in Fortaleza, Ceará

Area(s) of expertise
Community development, Development programmes, Health

Driving license
–

Languages
Portuguese, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in Psychology, with experience in Social, Community or Educational Psychology. Postgraduate degree in management or psychology desirable

Competencies and values
KEY COMPETENCES
Builds and maintains partnerships; Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness; Drive to achieve results for impact; Innovates and embraces change; Manages ambiguity and complexity; Thinks and acts strategically; Works collaboratively with others.

CORE VALUES
1. Care
2. Respect
3. Integrity
4. Trust
5. Accountability

Other information
Living conditions and remarks
The assignment will be in Fortaleza, State capital of Ceará. The living conditions in Fortaleza are good as well as the access to health services. The accommodation facilities are in general good, and the choice is wide.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging their own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.

Brazil is security level 3 (moderate). United Nations Department of Safety and Security UNDSS Brazil advises to exercise a high degree of caution in Brazil due to high levels of serious and violent crime, particularly in major cities. Violent crime as muggings, armed robbery, kidnappings, and sexual assault, is very high. Avoid shanty towns (favelas) in the big cities and if you are attacked or robbed, do not resist. Demonstrations can occur at any time and may turn violent with little or no warning. All United Nations personnel must scrupulously comply with UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their assignment in Brazil. For missions in rural areas or indigenous reservations, special procedures may apply; UN personnel should consult with the local DSS office in advance.

The UN Volunteer will receive a monthly living allowance and other benefits, including medical and life insurance. Specific UN Volunteer entitlements, including insurance coverage, Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), and Deployment / Repatriation lump sums, among others, are available at https://app.unv.org/calculator . The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos

Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Reasonable accommodation
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers 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 recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments 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 appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers 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 contracts.

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