Job Openings at UNICEF

List specific tasks/activities and issues to be addressed under this assignment, including expected boundaries of the assignment. 

The institution will: 

• Provide Country-Level Technical Support on CRVS Systems 
• Lead in-depth assessments of CRVS systems in four selected countries, building on existing national reviews and evaluations where available. 
• Engage strategically with government agencies, UN Country Teams (UNCTs), national statistical offices, civil society organizations, and development partners to strengthen collaboration and ownership. 
• Identify systemic bottlenecks and opportunities for strengthening CRVS systems, including legislative frameworks, policy environments, digitalization efforts, inter-agency coordination, financing, and community-level registration processes. 
• Provide country-specific, actionable recommendations and strategic roadmaps for CRVS system strengthening, aligned with national priorities and development plans. 
• Deliver high-quality technical reports and strategic presentations to UNICEF and relevant stakeholders, ensuring that recommendations promote sustainability, scalability, and alignment with broader national and regional strategies. 
• Support strategic Engagement and Advocacy on CRVS in Africa 
• Lead and support UNICEF’s strategic engagement with key African regional and continental actors, including the African Union (AU), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the Africa Programme for Accelerated Improvement of CRVS (APAI-CRVS). 
• Provide high-quality technical and strategic inputs for high-level policy dialogues, advocacy campaigns, and regional meetings to position CRVS strengthening as a critical development priority. 
• Develop evidence-based briefing notes, advocacy materials, and targeted policy recommendations to influence CRVS reforms at national, regional, and continental levels. 
• Facilitate and actively promote knowledge exchange, peer learning, and dissemination of best practices among countries to foster a community of practice around CRVS system strengthening. 
• State the responsibilities of the parties involved in the assignment. 
• The consultant will be expected to deliver the following key outputs: 
• In-depth assessment reports and strategic roadmaps for CRVS strengthening in four selected countries (one report per country). 
• Technical presentations summarizing findings and recommendations for each country and at regional forums. 
• High-quality briefing notes, advocacy materials, and policy recommendations to support UNICEF’s 
• engagement with regional and continental partners. 
• Documentation of knowledge exchange events and a synthesis report of best practices and lessons learned across countries. 
• Final consultancy report summarizing achievements, challenges encountered, and strategic recommendations for sustaining CRVS systems strengthening in Eastern and Southern Africa.  

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

Desired competencies, technical background and experience  

The consulting institution should possess the following qualifications: 

• In-depth knowledge of CRVS systems, including digitization and integration with other national registries. 
• Proven experience with CRVS assessments, bottlenecks identification and development of roadmaps and developments for strengthening CRVS National Systems. 
• Understanding of the technical aspects of civil registration systems, including software and hardware requirements 
• Familiarity with the legal requirements and regulations governing civil registration. 
• Experience working with UNICEF, government agencies, or international organizations is an asset 
• Demonstrated experience in conducting CRVS assessments and delivering training programs 
• Proven track record in training and capacity building for CRVS systems. 
• Ability to analyze data and trends to provide actionable insights 
• Ability to work with various stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations. 
• Experience in conducting research and evaluations related to CRVS. 

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Activities and Tasks:

The consultant will work with UNICEF country and regional level teams and with external partner organisations to implement, monitor, evaluation and report on evidence generating and evidence informed interventions as defined within the regional workplan. The consultant will gather lessons learned to inform the new strategic regional vision for MHPSS including providing recommendations for the development of the next set of priorities and investment.

More specifically, the post holder will support the Regional Office in the following 3 main areas of work:

• Provide direct technical support, assistance and oversight to the country offices and regional office sectors implementing funded MHPSS activities and interventions and maintain relationships with the partners involved in funding and implementing these. Specific activities include supporting the completion and dissemination of research into Adolescent Suicide, Regional Guidance Briefing on Safe Youth Engagement and Mental Health Storybook; technical support and regional coordination of evidence informed interventions including Peer Support Models (Mother Mentors, I Support my Friends), Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE), ‘Take-5’ and #Onmymind (SPOTIFY).
• Quality assures the lessons learnt and reporting for the donor funded MHPSS programmes and activities (7% MHPSS Set Aside, Swiss national committee C mental health thematic fund).
• Undertake a final review of the implementation of the Regional MHPSS programme note and workplan (2023-25), and provide a report and set of recommendations to UNICEF ESARO including areas for doner investment (draft investment case) for continued scaling of evidence informed MHPSS programming (2026-2030)
• Working relationship: The consultant will work under the supervision of the ESARO Regional Advisor for Child Protection and under the overall leadership of the Deputy Regional Director. The consultant will work in close collaboration with the ESARO and country office sectoral MHPSS focal persons, especially in Child Protection, Health, Gender C adolescent, HIV C SRHR Education, SBC and Communication sections. The consultant will also work with youth advocates for mental health

Education: Advanced degree from a recognized academic institution in related field (Mental Health, Social Work, Medical Sciences, Psychology or related field) and a licensure to practice as a mental health professional. A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 5 years professional experience and evidence of relevant professional trainings can act in lieu of an advanced degree)

Required:

• Minimum 10 years of professional experience working in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Programmes.
• Experience and familiarity with the low intensity psychosocial interventions used within UNICEF ESAR programmes including being a certified trainer in EASE.
• Experience of training, capacity building, supervision and mentoring of staff providing MHPSS, ideally with a qualification in teaching/training or supervision.
• Experience working within LMIC supporting MHPSS programmes across the humanitarian- development-peace nexus.
• Previous experience of leading and working within cross-sectoral MHPSS programmes and teams with a demonstrated understanding of MHPSS in Child Protection, Health, HIV C SRHR and Education settings.
• Demonstrated experience of establishing and implementing MEAL for MHPSS
• Ability to gather, sort and analyse technical, research and programme information and present it simply in a variety of formats for audiences including formal donor report writing.
• Experience of drafting and presenting investment cases for child and adolescent mental health.
• Language: Excellent English oral and written communication skills.