Consultants - Brain Health Across the Life Course at World Health Organization (WHO)

World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Consultant - Brain Health Across the Life Course

Reference No: 2201958
Location: Nigeria (Anywhere)
Schedule: Full-time
Organisation: HQ/MSD Mental Health and Substance Use
Contractual Arrangement: External consultant
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 3 to 11 months

Purpose of Consultancy

• The Brain Health Unit within the Department of Mental Health and Substance Use (MSD) is building a roster of qualified consultants to conduct a variety of technical tasks with all levels of experience to actively contribute to specific elements of the Unit’s work.
• There may be opportunities to participate in an array of brief and longer-term projects, meetings, research and/or public health initiatives.

Background  

• Within the WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Use (MSD), the Brain Health Unit (BRH) aims to promote optimal brain development, cognitive health and wellbeing and prevention and care for neurological disorders across the life course.
• BRH contributes to the overall mission of MSD through leadership and policy dialogue, development of technical and normative products and country capacity building in the following areas:
  • Child and adolescent brain health and neurodevelopment 
  • Maternal mental health
  • Treatment and care for neurological disorders (e.g. epilepsy, dementia,) and neurodevelopmental disabilities
  • Promotion of brain health and prevention of neurological disorders 
• Additionally, BRH promotes collaborations and synergies with other public health areas (i.e. facilitating linkages and integration at country-level with other public health programmes such as mental health, non-communicable diseases, infections, child, adolescent and maternal health, ageing, disability and injury and violence prevention, etc.)

Deliverables
The consultant is expected to perform a variety of tasks, not limited to the following:

• Writing and editing technical documents and normative tools; including training materials and manuals
• Contributing to resource mobilization efforts by developing results-focused proposals, donor agreements and other grant-related instruments ensuring quality and alignment with WHO policies, pertinent documents and other administrative provisions.
• Reviewing and preparing project documentation (e.g., logical frameworks, project strategies, operational/implementation plans, project reports, presentations)
• Organize peer-review process and consultation with relevant stakeholders for technical products or global public health goods. 
• Conduct literature and scientific reviews
• Facilitate field-testing, generation of evidence, and dissemination and implementation of WHO’s technical products at regional and country level  
• Specific deliverables will be pre-defined for each consultancy.

Qualifications, Experience, Skills and Languages
Educational Qualifications:
Essential:

• For band level A: First University Degree in Psychology, Medicine, Social Science or related Health field
• For band level B:  An advanced University Degree in Public Health, Child Health, Neuroscience, Neurology, Psychiatry/Psychology, Epidemiology, Social science or related field.

Experience:
Essential:

For band level A:  

• Up to 5 years of relevant experience in the focus areas of the BRH unit. 
• Experience working in low- and middle-income countries; 

For band level B:

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in the focus areas of the BRH unit. 
• Experience working in low- and middle-income countries. 

Desirable: 

• Experience working with international organizations. 
• A strong academic or publication record for consultancies involving research-related tasks. 

Skills / Knowledge:

• Demonstrated knowledge in the focus areas of the BRH unit (specific area depending on the task of the consultancy) 
• Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills
• Excellent writing skills
• Excellent organizational and scheduling skills
• Self-discipline with the ability to work with autonomy and as part of a team
• Able to exercise mature judgment and sensitivity in dealing with complex situations and issues

Depending on the type of consultancy, demonstrated expertise and knowledge will be required in the following areas of:

• Resource mobilization; and/or
• Project management; and/or
• Conduct desk/scientific reviews; and/or
• Normative work includes developing training materials and conducting training workshops; and/or
• Data management; and/or
• Supporting/advising on development of policies and services;
• Conducting large-scale research activities. 

Languages required:
Essential:  

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Working knowledge of other UN languages.

Location:

• Home-based – Off-site. 

Travel:

• Currently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, travel is not expected.
• This may change in the future and will be discussed for specific consultancy opportunities. 

Expected duration of the contract: 

• The actual duration of the contract will depend on the needs of the Unit. 
• Both full and part-time assignments with different durations could be offered.  
• Minimum 3 months is preferred. 
• The maximum contract duration is 11 months.

Remuneration
Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):
Based on qualifications and skills and specific tasks to be undertaken: 

• Band level A (USD 3,955 to 6,980) per month
• Band level B (USD 7000 to 9980) per month
• Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited): N/A.

Application Closing Date
4th April, 2022 (11:59 PM)