Job ID
49312
Job Title
National Consultant to Support the Update, Consultation, Endorsement, and Dissemination of the National Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Strategy in Syria
To work for
WHO | World Health Organization
Country
Syria
City
Damascus
Field of Work
Medicine/Nursing - Humanitarian/Disasters
Job Type
Full time
Minimum Education Level
Bachelor/ License Degree
Responsibilities
Work to Be Performed
Output 1: Inception, Desk Review, and Strategic Revision Plan
Deliverables:
• Conduct a desk review of existing national MHPSS documents, previous strategy drafts, MoH/MH priorities, MoH strategy 2026-2028, MoSAL strategic framework 2026-2028, Interministerial council for Mental Health and substance use documents, TWG outputs, national health sector documents, and relevant WHO/IASC guidance.
• Review available MHPSS service data, capacity-building outputs, coordination mechanisms, and identified service gaps.
• provide technical support in Drafting a Map relevant to the role of the Interministerial council for Mental Health and substance use in supporting the strategy update, endorsement, and future implementation, based on MoH/MH directorate request accordioning to Interministerial council for Mental Health and substance use ToR.
• Develop an inception report outlining the proposed methodology, consultation plan, key stakeholders, role of the Interministerial Committee, EU project-aligned timeline, expected products, risks, and mitigation measures.
• Develop a detailed workplan for the strategy update process, including milestones for consultations, drafting, validation, endorsement, translation, printing, and dissemination.
Output 2: Stakeholder Consultations and Situation Analysis
Deliverables:
• Design consultation tools and guiding questions for national and governorate-level consultations.
• Conduct consultations with the MoH Mental Health Directorate, members of the Interministerial council for Mental Health and substance use, PHC Directorate and relevant MoH departments, relevant ministries and national institutions, MHPSS Technical Working Group members, UN agencies, NGOs, academic and professional bodies, service providers, and community-based actors.
• Facilitate structured consultations in Damascus and selected governorates, as agreed with WHO and MoH.
• Ensure that consultation findings are presented to and discussed with the Interministerial Committee as part of the national validation process.
• Prepare a concise consultation summary report capturing key priorities, gaps, opportunities, service delivery challenges, governance and coordination needs, interministerial coordination priorities, and recommended strategic directions.
Output 3: Drafting and Updating the National MHPSS St rategy
Deliverables:
• Prepare the first updated draft of the National MHPSS Strategy based on desk review and consultations.
• Ensure that the strategy includes vision, mission, principles, strategic objectives, governance and coordination arrangements, and the role of the Interministerial Committee for Mental Health.
• Ensure the strategy covers service delivery across community, primary health care, secondary, and specialized levels; integration of MHPSS in emergency response and recovery; child and adolescent mental health; substance use integration where relevant; suicide prevention and crisis response; GBV-sensitive and protection-sensitive approaches; workforce development and task-sharing; supervision and quality assurance; information systems, monitoring, evaluation and learning; human rights, QualityRights and anti-stigma priorities; and an implementation roadmap with responsible actors and indicative timelines.
• Incorporate feedback from WHO, MoH, the Interministerial council for Mental Health and substance use, the MHPSS TWG, and key partners.
• Produce revised versions of the strategy after each major consultation or validation round.
• Prepare a near-final draft for endorsement during Q3 2026.
Output 4: Orientation and Endorsement Sessions
Deliverables:
• Support the planning, preparation, and facilitation of orientation and endorsement sessions for the updated National MHPSS Strategy.
• Prepare presentations, agendas, briefing notes, and facilitation materials.
• Support one central-level orientation/endorsement meeting in Damascus.
• Support four outside-Damascus orientation/endorsement sessions, one day each, subject to operational feasibility and clearance.
• Ensure participation of relevant Interministerial Committee members in orientation and endorsement sessions where appropriate.
• Document each session through concise reports covering participants, key discussion points, comments received, agreed revisions, interministerial follow-up actions, and next steps.
• Consolidate all feedback from central, governorate-level, TWG, and Interministerial Committee discussions into a feedback matrix.
• Revise the strategy accordingly and prepare the final version for endorsement.
Output 5: Finalization, Translation, Printing, and Dissemination Support
Deliverables:
• Prepare the final English and/or Arabic version of the updated National MHPSS Strategy, as required.
• Support technical review of translation to ensure accuracy and consistency of terminology.
• Support development of outreach and dissemination materials, including a strategy summary, key messages, brief presentation, executive summary, and partner-facing dissemination note.
• Support dissemination of the final strategy through MoH, the Interministerial Committee, TWG, and relevant national platforms.
• Provide technical input for formatting, printing, and dissemination of the final strategy and outreach materials.
• Prepare a final consultancy report summarizing work completed, key achievements, challenges, recommendations, and proposed next steps for implementation, monitoring, and scale-up.
5. Expected Final Products
1. Inception report and detailed workplan aligned with the EU project timeline.
2. Desk review and consultation methodology.
3. Consultation summary report, including inputs from the Interministerial Committee.
4. Updated draft National MHPSS Strategy.
5. Feedback matrix from consultation, orientation, TWG, and Interministerial Committee discussions.
6. Final National MHPSS Strategy ready for endorsement.
7. Executive summary and dissemination materials.
8. Final consultancy report with recommendations for implementation and follow-up
Output 1: Inception, Desk Review, and Strategic Revision Plan
Deliverables:
• Conduct a desk review of existing national MHPSS documents, previous strategy drafts, MoH/MH priorities, MoH strategy 2026-2028, MoSAL strategic framework 2026-2028, Interministerial council for Mental Health and substance use documents, TWG outputs, national health sector documents, and relevant WHO/IASC guidance.
• Review available MHPSS service data, capacity-building outputs, coordination mechanisms, and identified service gaps.
• provide technical support in Drafting a Map relevant to the role of the Interministerial council for Mental Health and substance use in supporting the strategy update, endorsement, and future implementation, based on MoH/MH directorate request accordioning to Interministerial council for Mental Health and substance use ToR.
• Develop an inception report outlining the proposed methodology, consultation plan, key stakeholders, role of the Interministerial Committee, EU project-aligned timeline, expected products, risks, and mitigation measures.
• Develop a detailed workplan for the strategy update process, including milestones for consultations, drafting, validation, endorsement, translation, printing, and dissemination.
Output 2: Stakeholder Consultations and Situation Analysis
Deliverables:
• Design consultation tools and guiding questions for national and governorate-level consultations.
• Conduct consultations with the MoH Mental Health Directorate, members of the Interministerial council for Mental Health and substance use, PHC Directorate and relevant MoH departments, relevant ministries and national institutions, MHPSS Technical Working Group members, UN agencies, NGOs, academic and professional bodies, service providers, and community-based actors.
• Facilitate structured consultations in Damascus and selected governorates, as agreed with WHO and MoH.
• Ensure that consultation findings are presented to and discussed with the Interministerial Committee as part of the national validation process.
• Prepare a concise consultation summary report capturing key priorities, gaps, opportunities, service delivery challenges, governance and coordination needs, interministerial coordination priorities, and recommended strategic directions.
Output 3: Drafting and Updating the National MHPSS St rategy
Deliverables:
• Prepare the first updated draft of the National MHPSS Strategy based on desk review and consultations.
• Ensure that the strategy includes vision, mission, principles, strategic objectives, governance and coordination arrangements, and the role of the Interministerial Committee for Mental Health.
• Ensure the strategy covers service delivery across community, primary health care, secondary, and specialized levels; integration of MHPSS in emergency response and recovery; child and adolescent mental health; substance use integration where relevant; suicide prevention and crisis response; GBV-sensitive and protection-sensitive approaches; workforce development and task-sharing; supervision and quality assurance; information systems, monitoring, evaluation and learning; human rights, QualityRights and anti-stigma priorities; and an implementation roadmap with responsible actors and indicative timelines.
• Incorporate feedback from WHO, MoH, the Interministerial council for Mental Health and substance use, the MHPSS TWG, and key partners.
• Produce revised versions of the strategy after each major consultation or validation round.
• Prepare a near-final draft for endorsement during Q3 2026.
Output 4: Orientation and Endorsement Sessions
Deliverables:
• Support the planning, preparation, and facilitation of orientation and endorsement sessions for the updated National MHPSS Strategy.
• Prepare presentations, agendas, briefing notes, and facilitation materials.
• Support one central-level orientation/endorsement meeting in Damascus.
• Support four outside-Damascus orientation/endorsement sessions, one day each, subject to operational feasibility and clearance.
• Ensure participation of relevant Interministerial Committee members in orientation and endorsement sessions where appropriate.
• Document each session through concise reports covering participants, key discussion points, comments received, agreed revisions, interministerial follow-up actions, and next steps.
• Consolidate all feedback from central, governorate-level, TWG, and Interministerial Committee discussions into a feedback matrix.
• Revise the strategy accordingly and prepare the final version for endorsement.
Output 5: Finalization, Translation, Printing, and Dissemination Support
Deliverables:
• Prepare the final English and/or Arabic version of the updated National MHPSS Strategy, as required.
• Support technical review of translation to ensure accuracy and consistency of terminology.
• Support development of outreach and dissemination materials, including a strategy summary, key messages, brief presentation, executive summary, and partner-facing dissemination note.
• Support dissemination of the final strategy through MoH, the Interministerial Committee, TWG, and relevant national platforms.
• Provide technical input for formatting, printing, and dissemination of the final strategy and outreach materials.
• Prepare a final consultancy report summarizing work completed, key achievements, challenges, recommendations, and proposed next steps for implementation, monitoring, and scale-up.
5. Expected Final Products
1. Inception report and detailed workplan aligned with the EU project timeline.
2. Desk review and consultation methodology.
3. Consultation summary report, including inputs from the Interministerial Committee.
4. Updated draft National MHPSS Strategy.
5. Feedback matrix from consultation, orientation, TWG, and Interministerial Committee discussions.
6. Final National MHPSS Strategy ready for endorsement.
7. Executive summary and dissemination materials.
8. Final consultancy report with recommendations for implementation and follow-up
Qualifications
Specific Requirements
Qualifications Required
• Advanced university degree in public health, public mental health, psychiatry, psychology, mental health policy, health systems strengthening, or another relevant field.
• Additional certification or demonstrated professional experience in public mental health, MHPSS, health policy, MHPSS leadership programs, strategic planning, or health system strengthening is an asset.
Experience Required
• At least 7 years of professional experience in mental health, MHPSS, public health, health policy, or health system strengthening.
• Demonstrated experience in developing or contributing to national strategies, policies, technical frameworks, operational plans, or implementation roadmaps.
• Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations, including with government, UN agencies, NGOs, and technical working groups.
• Experience supporting intersectoral or interministerial coordination processes is highly desirable.
• Experience in Syria emergency/recovery contexts and mental health reformation is an asset.
• Familiarity with WHO mental health tools, mhGAP, EQUIP, IASC MHPSS Guidelines, QualityRights, Human Rights-Based Approaches, and MHPSS coordination mechanisms is desirable.
Skills and Technical Knowledge
• Strong technical writing and strategic planning skills.
• Ability to facilitate multi-stakeholder and interministerial consultations.
• Strong understanding of mental health service integration within primary health care, community systems, and broader health systems.
• Knowledge of MHPSS in humanitarian, transition, and recovery settings.
• Ability to synthesize technical inputs into clear strategic documents.
• Strong coordination, communication, and reporting skills.
• Ability to produce high-quality deliverables in a timely manner.
Language Requirements
• Fluency in Arabic and English, both written and spoken.
• Ability to draft and review technical documents in both languages is required.
Qualifications Required
• Advanced university degree in public health, public mental health, psychiatry, psychology, mental health policy, health systems strengthening, or another relevant field.
• Additional certification or demonstrated professional experience in public mental health, MHPSS, health policy, MHPSS leadership programs, strategic planning, or health system strengthening is an asset.
Experience Required
• At least 7 years of professional experience in mental health, MHPSS, public health, health policy, or health system strengthening.
• Demonstrated experience in developing or contributing to national strategies, policies, technical frameworks, operational plans, or implementation roadmaps.
• Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations, including with government, UN agencies, NGOs, and technical working groups.
• Experience supporting intersectoral or interministerial coordination processes is highly desirable.
• Experience in Syria emergency/recovery contexts and mental health reformation is an asset.
• Familiarity with WHO mental health tools, mhGAP, EQUIP, IASC MHPSS Guidelines, QualityRights, Human Rights-Based Approaches, and MHPSS coordination mechanisms is desirable.
Skills and Technical Knowledge
• Strong technical writing and strategic planning skills.
• Ability to facilitate multi-stakeholder and interministerial consultations.
• Strong understanding of mental health service integration within primary health care, community systems, and broader health systems.
• Knowledge of MHPSS in humanitarian, transition, and recovery settings.
• Ability to synthesize technical inputs into clear strategic documents.
• Strong coordination, communication, and reporting skills.
• Ability to produce high-quality deliverables in a timely manner.
Language Requirements
• Fluency in Arabic and English, both written and spoken.
• Ability to draft and review technical documents in both languages is required.
Specific Vacancy Requirements
Place of Assignment
Damascus, Syria, with possible travel to selected governorates for consultations, orientation sessions, and endorsement meetings, subject to security clearance and operational feasibility.
Possible governorates may include, but are not limited to: Rural Damascus, Homs, Hama, Aleppo, Lattakia, Tartous, Deir Ezzor, Hassakeh, and other areas as agreed by WHO and MoH.
Travel
The consultant is expected to travel within Syria as required for consultations, orientation sessions, and coordination meetings. All travel will be subject to WHO procedures, security clearance, and operational feasibility.
Damascus, Syria, with possible travel to selected governorates for consultations, orientation sessions, and endorsement meetings, subject to security clearance and operational feasibility.
Possible governorates may include, but are not limited to: Rural Damascus, Homs, Hama, Aleppo, Lattakia, Tartous, Deir Ezzor, Hassakeh, and other areas as agreed by WHO and MoH.
Travel
The consultant is expected to travel within Syria as required for consultations, orientation sessions, and coordination meetings. All travel will be subject to WHO procedures, security clearance, and operational feasibility.
Salary and Benefits
The consultancy grade is equal to NO-D and the salary is as per UN salary scale.
The duration of the contract is 9 months
The advertisement will be closed 10 July 2026.
The duration of the contract is 9 months
The advertisement will be closed 10 July 2026.
About us
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.
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“WHO is committed to providing equal opportunities to all candidates for employment. As a policy, WHO does not charge candidates any fees for recruitment process. If anyone asks you to pay money, it is fraudulent and not in WHO interest. Please report such incidents to the Ethics Office-
Required employees number
1
Posted On
Jun 28, 2026
Expiry Date
Jul 28, 2026
CV Language
English