Result of Service

A. UN System capacity: Strengthen internal UN system capacity in the prevention and management of critical incident stress, equipping the EMHPs with both the latest evidence-based skills and expertise and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Incorporate innovative models of psychosocial support delivery in environments where there are resource constraints or travel restrictions. B. Psychosocial support to member states: Strengthen the capacity of psychosocial support services in member states, by training mental health professionals in the host community to support UN personnel and dependents impacted by critical incidents and deliver similar high-quality services for people impacted in the host community such as in low-and-middle income countries where the UN provides peacekeeping assistance. C. Hybrid delivery model: Revision of the training delivery model from in-person to hybrid delivery to facilitate the expansion of the certification programme and reduce delivery costs for the UN in the long term. This will also make the certification programme more sustainable over time. With the hybrid form, 30% of the learning will be delivered online and 70% in-person. Thus, the cost of each training will be reduced by an average of 30% in terms of travel and DSA cost for the trainers and participants.

Work Location

Remote/ Home-based.

Expected duration

Through 30 June 2025 in line with Donor/Grant Agreement.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the CISMS Chief of Section, the consultant will coordinate the development, implementation, and of the CISMS project ‘capacity building for crisis psychosocial support. This will encompass the following deliverables: 1. Conduct a systematic review of the current Scientific literature, best practices, and technical guidelines for training on critical incident stress management and crisis psychosocial support from within the UN as well as the larger scientific community. Review the current CISMS certification training package for UN Counsellors and External Mental Health Professionals. 2. Submit the literature review paper, inception report and workplan to Chief CISMS for approval, for the deliverables mentioned in this consultancy contract. 3. Establish and coordinate the activities of a technical advisory group consisting of experts on critical incident stress management and crisis management from within the UN system and from leading academic institutions collaborating with CISMS. 4. Revise the CISMS certification program for UN counselors and external mental health professionals with a view towards incorporating the latest scientific guidelines, best practices provided in the UN Field Manual on Crisis Psychosocial support lessons learnt from the COVID19 pandemic, and lessons learnt from major recent emergencies and crises. 5. Revise the training delivery model from an in-person model to a hybrid model where some of the modules can be delivered online while others can be delivered in-person. 6. Develop the revised facilitators manual and participants manual for the certification program, in English and in French 7. Organize and deliver a pilot CISMS certification program for UN counsellors and EMHPs (external mental health professionals) from the MENA region. 8. Organize and deliver a pilot CISMS certification program for UN counsellors and EMHPs (external mental health professionals) from the West and Central Africa Region. 9. Monitor and evaluate the two training workshops for level 1 (participant feedback) and level 2 (improvement in knowledge and skills). 10. Incorporate the lessons learned from the pilot workshops into the revised certification programme documents. 11. Conduct a systematic review of the current Scientific literature, best practices, and technical guidelines for training and managing peer helpers. Peer support volunteers, family focal points, or equivalent programs from within the UN as well as the larger scientific community. 12. Revise the current CISMS Peer Helper training package, to update the content and bring it in line with the revised CISMS Certification Program. 13. Revise the training delivery model to a two-phase hybrid model where some modules can be delivered online while others can be delivered in-person. 14. Develop the revised facilitators manual and participants manual for the CISMS revised peer helper program, in English and in French. 15. Organize and conduct two training-of-trainer (TOT) workshops on the revised CISMS Peer helper training program, for CISMS field counsellors, one in English and one in French. 16. The two TOT workshops are to be conducted online (via MS Teams). Monitor and evaluate the two training workshops for level 1 (participant feedback) and level 2 (improvement in knowledge and skills). 17. Incorporate the lessons learned from the TOT workshops into the revised peer helper training documents. 18. Finalize the project report with monitoring and evaluation of the deliverables, lessons learnt and recommendations.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent degree) in clinical psychology, or a medical doctorate with certificate of specialization or completion of residency in psychiatry is required. • A first level university degree or certification in training, instructional design, learning technology, or a related field is required. • Upon review of the profile, an advanced university degree (Masters’ degree or equivalent), in training, learning and development or education, with experience in designing and delivering psychosocial support training programs, may be accepted in lieu of the indicated requirement of an advanced degree in clinical psychology, or a medical doctorate with certificate of specialization or completion of residency in psychiatry. • Additional qualifications or certifications in public health, disaster management, community mental health or related fields is desirable. • A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in clinical psychology, stress counselling, mental health program management, developing psychosocial training programs, conducting research; designing, monitoring, and evaluating training programs is required.

Languages

English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the consultancy advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Fluency in oral and written French is desirable.

Additional Information

Payment will be based on established deliverables as indicated in Terms of Reference.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.