Purpose of consultancy

The National Consultant for Specialized Community Mental Health Care will work together with the Mental Health Specialist on projects of the Specialized Mental Health Services Stream of the WHO CO Mental Health Programme.

The consultant will work closely with the WHO stuff to support the development and implementation of community-based mental health services in Ukraine. They will assist in up to 8 training sessions for healthcare professionals, contributing to the preparation of materials and training delivery.

The consultant will draft sections of the training manual for the basic training program on community mental health care, providing technical inputs that will guide the implementation of services. Additionally, they will draft the revised version of the online learning course, ensuring it aligns with WHO guidance on the community mental health care model. Consultant will also contribute to the development of the QualityRights initiative program by drafting a plan that includes timelines, activities, and stakeholders. They will also assist in designing a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tool for specialized services and prepare a technical paper summarizing this tool.

Background

Since 24 February 2022, Ukraine has been facing one of the largest humanitarian emergencies in Europe since World War II. The armed aggression by the Russian Federation has resulted in significant loss of life, mass injuries, and widespread displacement, both internally and across borders. While many people affected by the conflict demonstrate resilience, ensuring access to mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services is essential to address distress, foster coping, and prevent the escalation of mental health conditions. WHO has prioritized these efforts by rolling out interventions such as Doing What Matters in Times of Stress and Self Help Plus, and supporting the Ministry of Health (MoH) in managing common mental health conditions through the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) at the primary care level.

WHO promotes the development of community-based mental health services, following international frameworks such as the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030 and the European Framework for Action on Mental Health (2021-2025). These frameworks emphasize person-centered, recovery-oriented care and call for services that are accessible within communities, fostering independence, social inclusion and reducing stigma.
In Ukraine, two key models implement this approach: Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs) and Mental Health Centers (MHCs). CMHTs provide multidisciplinary care to individuals with moderate to severe mental health conditions, delivering patient- and family-centered services. In 2024, the CMHT model is evolving into Mental Health Centers (MHCs), which will expand the range of services available and offer more comprehensive care to meet growing needs, especially in conflict-affected areas.

Additionally, WHO is preparing the launch of the QualityRights initiative in Ukraine to embed a human rights-based approach into mental health care. This initiative will help transform existing and newly establishing services, align them with international standards, and promote dignity, inclusion, and recovery-focused practices.
To support these efforts, WHO is seeking a consultant to strengthen the rollout of community-based services and the QualityRights initiative, ensuring sustainable, high-quality mental health care across Ukraine.

Objectives

Under the technical supervision of WHO CO Ukraine Mental Health Specialist, the National Consultant for Specialized Community Mental Health Care will be responsible for the following objectives:

1. Conduct training sessions, supervisions and community building activities around community mental health care for healthcare professionals.

2. Draft sections of the training manual on the core modules of the basic training program for specialized community mental health care, providing technical inputs for implementing and sustaining community-based mental health services.

3. Revise the content of the online course to align with the community mental health care model and WHO guidance.

4. Develop a draft of the programme for  QualityRights initiative and it’s roll-out in Ukraine.

5. Contribute to the design of a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tool to assess the effectiveness and outcomes of community mental health services and draft a technical paper outlining this tool.

6. Prepare sections for capacity-building reports and ensure all training materials, records, and presentations are uploaded to SharePoint.

Deliverables

1. Participate in up to 8 trainings on community mental health care and provide 1-2 page technical reports according to WHO standard form after each of them.

2. Draft up to 10 sections of the training manual (based on the previously developed training program) covering core modules of the basic training program for specialized community mental health care, to be submitted by 30th of November.

3.Provide technical comments draft a new structure for the existing version of the online course on specialized services, ensuring alignment with the community mental health care model and WHO guidance, to be submitted by the end of December 2024.

4. Develop a draft version of the Quality Rights initiative program (in a form of the technical paper with the timeline, activities planned, stakeholders and expectations) and a rollout plan for Ukraine, to be submitted by the end of February 2025.

5. Contribute to the design and development of a draft monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tool for community mental health services and submit a technical paper outlining this tool by mid-December 2024.

6. Draft sections of training materials, presentations, and other technical papers related to work of the stream and uploaded them to SharePoint, with access provided to relevant staff by the end of February.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Bachelor university degree in social sciences, medicine (including nursing), social work, psychology, public health, law, or a related field.

Experience

Essential:

• At least 1 year of professional experience in mental health or public health.
• Proven record in writing technical reports, conducting literature reviews, and policy analysis.
• Experience in organizing trainings.

Desirable:

• Experience in mental health capacity-building activities, particularly in community-based specialized mental health care.

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

• Strong writing and reporting skills, strong communication skills, training/facilitation skills, training organization skills.
• Effective use of Microsoft Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, PowerPoint, Teams and SharePoint

Desirable:

• Good knowledge of WHO mental health guidelines, recommendations, programmes, tools;

Languages and level required :

Essential: Ukranian and English (Read – Write – Speak / Expert-level)

Location

On-site. Kyiv-based with travel to other locations in Ukraine as required and agreed by the candidate

Travel

The consultant is expected to other locations in Ukraine as required and agreed by the candidate, following discussion with WHO Unit Lead.

Remuneration and budget:

Expected duration of contract : 3 months, from 2 of December 2024 till 28 Feb 2025

Payband level NO-A

Contract total value: 7,158 USD

Monthly rate: 2 386 USD per month

Total number of  working days: 20 working days per month

Terms of payment: The payment will be done on a monthly basis after provision of Technical Report and approval from Responsible Officer.

Other

A candidate with a lived experience of disability is desirable

Any reasonable accommodations will be provided to enable candidate to carry out role.

Additional Information:

•    This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.

•    Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

•    A written test may be used as a form of screening.

•    If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

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