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, Protection

UNICEF Gulf Area Office (GAO) supports the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its line ministries and authorities to advance the rights of children under the framework of a Gulf Area Programme (2019-2023), extended to 2025.  Through this framework, UNICEF GAO signed AWPs with its partners in the UAE, the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood (SCMC) and Sharjah Child Friendly Office (SCFO) to work on key areas in collaboration with different authorities (both public and private) to implement programmes on Early Childhood Development (ECD 1000 days), Child Protection, Data, and Child Friendly City Initiative (CFCI).

A key UNICEF programme in UAE is child protection, including a focus on mental health antibullying. With COVID19 pandemic that impacted children and adolescents worldwide, UNICEF expanded its programming engagement in the country, to include child protection related issues which addresses issues such as child protection online, mental health and psychosocial support, Antibullying, social work force strengthening and overall strengthening of child protection systems. Other areas include supporting overall policy reforms and capacity in the area of early childhood development and data for children. Other key partners that contribute to this national priority include Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior, Community Development Authority among others.

One of the key priorities for the year 2024 include child protection related issues such as mental health and psychosocial support, antibullying in schools, social work force strengthening and overall strengthening of child protection systems. The lead partner, Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood (SCMC) has confirmed the organization of a global mental health forum in November 2024 in Abu Dhabi. SCMC is also preparing for rolling out a community based mental health awareness and capacity building initiative as a build up to the forum in November 2024.

On the other hand, in 2015-2016, UNICEF in collaboration with SCMC, MoE, and other partners developed a comprehensive antibullying program and a bullying prevention training manual based on the 6 methods for intervention: direct sanctions, restorative practice, mediation, support group, shared concern, and strengthening the victim. A section on social skills activities was also developed which compiled different interactive activities to equip students with adequate social skills. The program was implemented in 64 public and private schools across UAE.

UNICEF recently concluded the evaluation of the antibullying program in schools, and one of the key recommendations was to scale up the program among all schools in UAE. Based on that, SCMC, UNICEF and Emirati School Establishment (ESE) agreed to start the first phase of scaling up in all public schools in Abu Dhabi Emirate estimated at 200 schools across Abu Dhabi City, Al-Ain, and Al-Dhafra. The next phase will include private and public schools in the Northern Emirates in collaboration with ESE and other educational local authorities.

UNICEF is seeking a pool of consultants/trainers (5-6) to be based in the UAE, (or be available in person when the training take place) to work with the programme team in Abu Dhabi to support the SCMC and its partners in scaling up the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and Antibullying training, especially with the capacity building initiatives for school community. Once phase I is completed, the consultant contracts may be extended to start phase II of the training in other Emirates.

There are training packages already available for Psychological First Aid (PFA) and I Support My Friends. The trainers will only adapt the content to suit the needs of the target groups and the work expected for this is minimal.  The trainings for scaling up anti-bullying and for rolling out of PFA and ISMF will be coordinated and overseen by two existing lead consultants who are on board with UNICEF to support the project.

How can you make a difference?

The consultancy seeks to support the UAE partners in the capacity building initiatives on mental health and child protection.

The consultant will be responsible for the following Tasks:

-Support in the roll out of the capacity building initiatives as trainers for the MHPSS and Antibullying trainings including:

– Review and get familiar with the existing training materials

– Contribute to the finalization of the agenda, handouts, Pre and post assessment tool of the trainees…. etc

– Hold training sessions in Arabic/english for groups of trainees on Antibullying and MHPSS on the training materials

– Ensure effective and smooth running of the training sessions.

– Provide a final report that documents the trainings.

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

• Education: A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, social sciences, related fields
• Experience: Demonstrable at least 5 years’ experience in the field of child protection and mental health
• An extensive experience in conducting training workshops especially in child protection and mental health
• Knowledge of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and international guidelines and standards related to child protection and mental health
• Prior experience of working directly with children, preferred.
• Pervious experiences and exposure to the Arab/Gulf region context
• Skills: Demonstrable expertise in participatory approaches to conducting trainings
• Language: Fluency in English and Arabic (written and spoken). Some English-speaking candidates may be considered.
• Those candidates who are based in the UAE are encouraged to apply

• This is a re-advertisement. Those who have applied in the first round do not need to reapply and will be duly considered.

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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors 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 selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks: 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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.