National Consulting for Implementation UNICEF Methodologies of Mental Health and Strengthening of the VAC Prevention System in Independence ( Guairá ), Paraguay, 5 months long.
Job no: 563732
Position type: Consultant
Location: Paraguay Division / Equivalent: Latin America and Caribbean Regional Off
School / Unit: Paraguay
Department / Office: Asuncion, Paraguay
Categories: Child Protection
National Consulting for Implementation UNICEF Methodologies of Mental Health and Strengthening of the VAC Prevention System in Independence ( Guairá ), Paraguay, 5 months long.
For Every Child, Protection
Purpose of the activity / assignment:: Implement in the field the methodologies developed by UNICEF Paraguay for adolescents, on Mental Health and promotion of culture for Peace in support of educational institutions in the city of Independence.
- How can you make a difference?
Scope of work:
The United Nations Children’s Fund ( UNICEF ) is in its third year of implementation of the cooperation program in Paraguay 2020-2024, which focuses on the most vulnerable children and adolescents, such as those living in poverty, in rural areas, indigenous populations and people with disabilities, promoting the guarantee of the fulfillment of your rights. With a strong emphasis on strengthening civil society and communities, through innovative actions.
UNICEF cooperation provides technical assistance, knowledge and international experience, as well as non-reimbursable financing with own resources and from donors for four programmatic axes: a ) “ Early years ”, that prioritizes the integral development of girls and boys from 0 to 10 years old; b ) “ Adolescents ”, that addresses the factors that determine the full development of people from 11 to 17 years old; c ) “ Generation of evidence for the strengthening of public policies, plans and programs ”, that accompanies the actions; and d ) “ Program effectiveness ”, which deals with coordination, management, monitoring and evaluation.
It includes strategies such as evidence-based advocacy to influence at the level of public policies and decision-making that favor children, strengthening the capacities of institutions and the promotion of practices and protective and healthy social norms, to the promotion of innovation, evidence-based management and the promotion of social dialogue with the participation of adolescents and key stakeholders.
- Why work with Adolescents?
The work with Adolescents has been prioritized by UNICEF Paraguay in its current cooperation program oriented towards life cycles, with the desire to provide relevant answers to adolescents and young people, since they have particular needs that require different methodologies and approaches than in the first years and early childhood boys and girls, where adolescent development with an emphasis on the right to participation and the development of transferable skills are key elements of the processes.
The importance of mental health in adolescents and young people.
Mental health care involves a state of well-being in which the person is able to cope with the normal stresses of life, be productive, contribute to their community, and be happy. In this positive sense, mental health is fundamental to individual well-being and the effective functioning of the community. Mental health and well-being are fundamental to our collective and individual ability to think, express feelings, interact with others and enjoy life. On this basis it can be considered that the promotion, protection and restoration of mental health are vital concerns of individuals, communities and societies around the world.
Global estimates indicate that more than 13% of adolescents suffer from a mental disorder. This means that around 86 million adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 and 80 million between the ages of 10 and 14 live with a mental disorder, according to the WHO definition.
The problem of violence in Paraguay.
Paraguay has one of the highest adolescent pregnancy rates in the region, with 72 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 ( 2019, UNFPA ). According to data from the Juan Rassmuss Echecopar Foundation, 13,166 births to adolescent mothers between the ages of 10 and 19 were registered in 2021. Of those 472 corresponded to girls between the ages of 10 and 14.
In the last 2 years there has been an increase in public cases of sexual violence against children and adolescents in the school environment ( both adults and adolescents ) and since 2017 sexual abuse is the crime against children with the highest number of reported complaints before the Public Ministry, reaching more than 4,000 complaints by 2021. Violence between peers and the scant monitoring of situations such as bullying makes it difficult to estimate its prevalence, but it is clear that it is a problem that strongly affects adolescents, especially their health mental health, as reported by the Ministry of Education ( MEC ). As in recent times, violence in educational institutions has been one of the most alarming topics of discussion.
- What are Culture of Peace guides in educational environments free of violence, social dialogue, mediation of interpersonal conflicts, for adolescents?
It is a practical guide for working with students on educational projects focused on the development of individual and collective skills within the school, as a meeting place for healthy coexistence and the generation of solidarity ties that extend to the community and generate protected contexts. to learn and prosper. It seeks to provide tools to teachers and directors to work with groups of students on conflict resolution, the promotion of a culture of peace through the creation of educational projects promoted by the students themselves and the development of soft skills, above all those focused on dialogue and collaborative work. Incorporate activities for students and teachers, which contain 12 meetings ( each one works, a specific skill ( based on UNICEF transferable skills ) ) that include playful and reflective activities. Additionally, it incorporates a guide for the implementation of projects and the putting into practice of the skills learned in the contexts learned, promoted by the students themselves who went through the training process.
The implementation of this methodology implies the realization of two 3-hour workshops with teachers ( 6 hours in total ), 12 meetings of 80 minutes with students of the 3rd cycle of the institution ( 16 hours in total ) and 4 additional meetings with the same students. , also 80 minutes ( 5 hours in total ). It is planned to work with groups of up to 25 students, who can be from the same course / section or a selection.
Its implementation implies the following responsibilities: a ) Contact with authorities of the educational institutions b ) Become a local reference for UNICEF in response to project queries, with the support of the supervisor c ) Implementation of the guide for students and teachers, as well as the internship d ) preparation of the final implementation report based on the financing company’s requirements e ) audiovisual record of the process and management of image use permits f ) Collection of statistical data from beneficiaries based on UNICEF requirements and g ) Support to the audiovisual team for making stories of lives in selected communities.
- What does the implementation of I Support My Friends imply?
It is a resource kit to facilitate the training of children and adolescents to help a friend in distress, based on the principles of psychological first aid. Psychological first aid is an initial response of support and containment to a person who is suffering and who may need help, it is based on providing practical help and support, in a non-invasive way, helping people meet their basic needs, listening to people, but not pressure them to talk, reassure people and help them feel calm, help people access information, services and social supports, and protect people from possible danger. Part of the idea that adolescents share their concerns with their peers first,
Its implementation involves 6 sessions of 3 hours each where they work on playful reflection activities. The methodology is designed to be implemented with adolescents from 14 to 17 years of age or with young people from 18 to 24 years of age. Additionally, 2 complementary meetings of 2 hours each are included.
Its implementation implies the following responsibilities: a ) Contact with groups of adolescents linked to safe spaces and focal point for project consultations, mainly for fathers, mothers and other authorities c ) Implementation of the methodology with adolescents d ) Preparation of the final implementation report based on funding requirements e ) Audiovisual record of the process and management of image use permits, the audiovisual record must include photos and HD video or of good resolution and good audio quality f ) Collection of statistical data from beneficiaries in databases to UNICEF requirements and g ) Support to audiovisual equipment to carry out life stories in selected communities.f ) Implementation of a knowledge test at the end of the training in order to measure the degree of appropriation of these competencies and g ) Support the UNICEF Communication area to receive guidance on the contents and on the management of permits for the use of images of children and adolescents in case of need when preparing communication materials.
In this context, UNICEF, within the framework of this consultancy, proposes the hiring of a human resource to support the intervention of the Ministry of Education in the city of Independence, specifically two educational institutions, through the implementation of UNICEF methodologies to work on the problem. of violence in institutions; the first, the manuals for educational institutions to promote the culture of peace and the UNICEF methodology “ I Support my Friends ”. At the same time, support locally, in coordination with the UNICEF Paraguay Protection and Education area, the city’s multidisciplinary work team in terms of protection actions against violence and promotion of mental health.
This contract does not imply the adaptation of any methodology, but rather the direct implementation of closed methodologies, validated by UNICEF.
Consulting costs must include mobility expenses. UNICEF does not cover the same outside the amount established in the future contract.
- In which Communities does the work take place?
This contract must implement the methodologies with the following number of groups and localities: – Independencia (Guairá)
o Implementation of the Culture of Peace Guide in 2 schools selected by the Ministry of Education.
o I support my friends with 2 locally selected teen student groups.
o Support workshops for the multidisciplinary group of the city (8 workshops)
Overview of Work Assignments
Product 1 – August 2023 – Corresponding to 25% of the total budget.
- Contact and Scheduling of Workshops I Support my Friends + Culture of Peace + Jeré + Faith and Joy with selected groups.
Deliverables:
- Progress report.
- List of potential candidates.
Product 2 – September 2023 – Corresponding to 35% of the total budget.
- 40% of the workshops carried out
Deliverables:
- Progress report.
- List of Contestants.
- Audiovisual record.
Product 3 – November 2023 – Corresponding to 30% of the total budget.
- The remaining 50% of the workshops carried out
Deliverables:
- Progress report.
- List of Contestants.
- Audiovisual record.
Product 4 – December 2023 – Corresponding to 10% of the total budget.
- Final report of results and activities carried out.
To qualify as an advocate for all children you must have…
- Have recently completed, or in recent years a university degree.
- Community work experience.
- Previous work experience with adolescents and/or young people in the implementation of workshops (not exclusive).
- Ability to prepare reports.
- Knowledge of basic notions of social work, mental health or protection against violence.
For every Child, you show…
UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Responsibility and Sustainability (CRITAS).
To view our competency framework, visit here.
Persons recruited under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” in accordance with the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules and UNICEF policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as license fees and health insurance coverage ). Your conditions of service will be governed by your contract and the General Conditions of Contract for Consultant and Individual Contractor Services. Individual consultants and contractors are responsible for determining their tax liability and payment of any taxes and / or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.
The selected candidate is solely responsible for ensuring that the visa ( if applicable ) and health insurance required to perform the contract obligations are valid for the entire contract term. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of their full vaccination status against SARS-CoV-2 ( Covid-19 ) with a World Health Organization ( WHO ) endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to starting assignment. This is not applicable for consultants who will be working remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF campuses, program delivery locations, or interact directly with communities UNICEF works with, or travel to perform duties for UNICEF during the term of their consultancy contracts.
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodations for consultants with disabilities, which may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal assistants. We ask that you indicate your disability during the processing of your application in case you require reasonable accommodation during the selection process and later during your placement.
Advertised: Jul 05 2023 Paraguay Standard Time
Application close: Jul 18 2023 Paraguay Standard Time
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- Closes Jul 18 2023National Consultancy for Implementation of UNICEF Mental Health Methodologies and Strengthening of VAC Prevention System in Independencia ( Guairá ), Paraguay, 5 months duration. in Paraguay
Implementation in the field the methodologies developed by UNICEF Paraguay for adolescents, on Mental Health and promotion of culture for Peace in support of educational institutions in the city of Independencia.
