Remote: Supporting UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office
Location: Home based supporting UNFPA Eastern and Southern Africa Regional office
Duration: The consultancy shall not exceed 25 days, between 16th of May and 29 July 2022.
Purpose:
UNFPA ESARO and UNICEF ESARO seeks to engage an international consultant to conduct the development of a Technical Brief on the Intersection between Mental Health and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, including evidence of effective integrated prevention and response to mental health and to mental health and SRHR, with a specific focus on East and Southern Africa and in particular in relation to adolescents and young people.
Background and Rationale:
There is an emerging body of research exploring the intersection between mental health and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in both development and humanitarian settings. The evidence shows that that poor mental health can be a driver of negative SRHR outcomes and an inability to fully realise one’s SRHR can, in turn, result in negative mental health outcomes. This especially among adolescents and young people.
Half of all mental health disorders in adulthood start by age 14, but most cases are undetected and untreated 1 . For adolescents – adolescent health is immediately benefited by promotion of positive behaviours (e.g. good sleep habits and constructive forms of risk-taking, such as sport or drama) and by prevention, early detection and treatment of problems (e.g. substance use disorders, mental disorders, injuries and sexually transmitted infections) 2. However, mental health issues, such as depression and drug and alcohol dependency, and SRH issues, such as adolescent pregnancy, or the result of VAWG, continue to be stigmatised and overlooked across the region. This can make it difficult for those affected to come forward for early, preventative support, and even when they do, mental health and SRHR services are often deprioritized and underfunded, and rarely fully integrated.
UNFPA, as the lead UN agency working on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights has a wealth of experience working on improving access to quality SRH information and services across the East and Southern African region which coupled with UNICEF’s experience in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for children and adolescents would facilitate the integration of mental health prevention and response for women and adolescent girls into our respective work.
Objectives:
The assessment is expected to include the underlisted scope of inquiry in relation to women, adolescents (10-19) and young people (20-24) with a focus on adolescent girls (10-19):
a. What does the existing research (including high quality grey literature) tell us about the intersection between common mental health conditions, individual elements of SRHR in ESAR and beyond, including the magnitude of the issues especially for adolescent girls and boys, young women and young men as well as vulnerable populations, such as those living with a disability? What are the gaps in the evidence?
b. What good or emerging practices have been documented in the region and beyond, that have effectively addressed prevention and response to mental health and to mental health and SRHR jointly? Are there are emerging innovations including the ones that directly empower clients, especially in the area of low resource, community based solutions?
c. Which are the key regional agencies, organizations and institutions working on mental health or mental health and SRHR addressing prevention, response and/or both?
d. How can we bring the greatest value add to address the mental health/SRHR challenges faced by adolescents and young people? Including recommendations on how best to integrated mental health considerations in SRHR programmes including adolescent sexual and reproductive health.
e. Which are the key partners at national and grassroots levels working on mental health or mental health and SRHR?
Schedule of Activities:
1. Inception report detailing the methodology and refining the scope of enquiry
2. Undertake desk review
3. Conduct Key informants’ interviews with key stakeholders
4. Draft technical brief with clear recommendations submitted for review
5. Draft journal article adapted to identified Journal
6. Final technical brief, journal article and master PPT submitted incorporating inputs and guidance provided.
Deliverables:
Inception report including tools – 30 May 2022
Technical brief and master PPT – 30 July 2022
Journal article – 15 July 2022
Note that the technical brief will include as a minimum a) an executive summary b) a thorough, critical analysis of the literature and data on the topic c) an annotated bibliography of tested interventions d) a mapping of UN, INGO and other key stakeholders working in the mental health/SRHR space e) recommendations on ways to integrated mental health in adolescent and young people’s programming f) a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the desk review findings and relevant recommendations. The consultant will be expected to consultant with researchers and practitioners working in this area in the region; UNFPA and UNICEF ESA Offices will facilitate these connections, if needed.
Requirements
Education
The consultant should have a higher degree (Master’s or PhD) from a recognized University in Public Health or Psychology or related social science.
Experience
Expertise in Mental Health and SRHR in Africa
Should have a minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in public health/mental health or related discipline with evidence a focus on mental health and SRHR.
Experience of having worked on desk reviews/strategic analytical assessments before.
Good written and spoken English.
Examples of previous reports and relevant publications should accompany applications.
How to Apply
The deadline for applications is 4 May 2022.
Interested applicants should send a short letter of motivation and a detailed CV with the subject clearly stated "Application for Consultancy – Mental Health" to jobs.esaro@unfpa.org.
UNFPA will only respond to those applicants in whom we have further interest.
The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training) or other fee, or request information on applicants’ bank accounts or HIV status.
