Consultancy Terms of Reference

The MHPSS Collaborative is a global platform for MHPSS research, innovation, learning, and advocacy, hosted by Save the Children Denmark since 2018. The MHPSS Collaborative consists of one team with a total of eight employees and a number of associated consultants. The MHPSS Collaborative is led by the Director, who refers to the Save the Children Denmark (Red Barnet) Secretary General.

We build connections, knowledge and new ways of improving the mental health and wellbeing of children, youth and families in adversity by connecting key academic and various humanitarian actors with local civil society to support quality MHPSS programmes at scale. Based upon meaningful partnerships and local realities and solutions, the Collaborative works to:

• Convene key stakeholders local to global for MHPSS sharing, exchange, learning and innovation.
• Develop and share knowledge to ensure that child and family evidence-informed child and family
• MHPSS interventions and knowledge are widely accessible and available for frontline stakeholders.
• Champion MHPSS as lifesaving for children and families through evidence-based advocacy.
• Address emerging challenges by identifying and bringing to focus emerging critical issues with tangible guidance and actions to address MHPSS needs of children, youth and families in adversity.

Due to staff turnover and maternity leave, the Collaborative is seeking a consultant to serve as an expert in MHPSS for the Collaborative to support ongoing projects and delivery of a range of technical tasks that the Collaborative is leading for key actors, including: the Lego Foundation, the EU, and WHO.

Scope of the assignment

The MHPSS Technical Specialist will work with the Director to ensure delivery of the Collaborative’s Strategy 2022-25, ensuring the Collaborative continues to be a key partner for MHPSS policy makers, implementers and researchers working on evidence-based MHPSS for children, youth and families in adversity. The Consultant will serve as a part of the Collaborative’s advisory team during the assignment period, working with key consultants, advocacy, and communications staff, as well as with external strategic partners – donors, researchers and policy makers. The consultant will deliver a range of tasks under the supervision of the Director.

Responsibilities and tasks

• Support to the EU-funded SciEarly project, including the development of a multi-country research protocol and methodology to inform the facilitation of multi-stakeholder seminar on mental health, wellbeing and school dropouts among refugees, migrants and vulnerable populations across Europe.
• Technical support on two research projects: 1) Lego Foundation evaluation of the Ukraine Programme; 2) WHO multi-sectoral mapping of MHPSS programming in Bangladesh and oPt.
• Supporting finalization and roll-out of the Humanitarian Leadership Academy eLearning on Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing and the adaptation of the course to the Türkiye and Syria earthquake response.
• Adapt the IASC Basic Psychosocial Support Skills Guide for child and families as part of the Children and Families thematic group under IASC.
• Other technical MHPSS contributions to the Collaborative’s ongoing priorities, aligned with the Strategy as requested.

Key deliverables

Component 1: Consultancy Workplan drafted and finalized together with the Director.

Component 2: Development of SciEarly Research Protocol and Methodology for multi-country multi-stakeholder consultations, including incorporation of feedback and inputs from project partners.

Component 3:  Co-drafted final evaluation report for Lego Foundation.

Component 4:  Adaptation plan for the Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing course on HLA.

Qualifications

• Advanced MHPSS degree (MD, psychology, clinical social work) or other relevant qualification. Significant and documented relevant work experience may also be accepted in leu of a formal qualification.
• Degree in Early Child Development, Education or potentially Child Protection, an advantage.
• Course credits in Humanitarian Action or a professional track record of relevant expertise in MHPSS programming in fragile and humanitarian settings an advantage.