Consultant - Methodologist for the development a Handbook for Teachers on basic MHPSS interventions
OVERVIEW
Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)
Duty Station: Ukraine
Job Family: Education
Type of contract : Non Staff
Duration of contract : 15 April 2025 – 15 June 2025
Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates
Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time) : 28.03.2025
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
Background and Objective
As the lead coordinator of SDG 4, UNESCO supports Member States facing emergencies and protracted crises to strengthen the resilience of education systems, integrate humanitarian, development and peacebuilding responses, address the root causes of vulnerability and strengthen capacities for crisis response and recovery planning and management. UNESCO also supports laying the foundations for recovery and long-term development from the outset of emergency response through active engagement in addressing the impact of violence and conflict on education. With this in mind, UNESCO continues to fulfill its commitment to further support the national authorities in Ukraine in addressing the needs and priorities identified in the National Recovery Plan of Ukraine through the UNESCO Emergency Assistance Program for Ukraine.
The ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine is undermining the ability of education to provide stability and support for children.
In wartime, when children face new challenges and experience trauma and stress, teachers need additional support to be able to recognize symptoms of trauma in children and respond and support them appropriately.
According to a survey of teachers conducted in October 2024 by the NGO Responsible Citizens, 60% of educators are in dire need of advanced training in psychosocial support for children in crisis. These data emphasize the need to provide teachers with additional knowledge and resources to effectively provide psychosocial support to students in crisis.
Thus, there is an urgent need to develop simple and effective tools for teachers' daily work to identify and respond to the manifestations of mental health problems in children during school, as well as emergency algorithms for responding to crisis situations.
In response to these challenges, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MESU) is actively working to implement and expand initiatives aimed at creating a physically and psychologically safe educational environment for both students and teachers.
A key part of this work was the implementation of a pilot project in 12 communities in Zhytomyr and Odesa regions from September 2023 to December 2024.
As part of these initiatives, 7400 teachers were trained in basic MHPSS interventions. These teachers are now working with nearly 38,000 students from 244 educational institutions.
As an important step in disseminating the materials of this pilot project and ensuring its sustainability, UNESCO is looking for a methodologist to summarize and systematize the training materials used in the pilot communities and to develop a Handbook for Teachers on basic MHPSS interventions.
Long Description
Duties/Tasks and Expected Output:
• Analysis and Adaptation of Existing Materials: gather and analyze all available training materials (pilot projects, international manuals, training sessions, etc.), extract the most relevant and useful content, and adapt it to the Ukrainian context.
• Structuring the Handbook: develop a clear, logical, and easy-to-navigate structure for the handbook, ensuring quick access to critical information. Each section should smoothly transition from theoretical knowledge to practical recommendations.
• Developing Practical Interventions and Tools: create a set of tools that are simple and practical for quick use in the classroom. Each tool should be concise, understandable, and effective for teachers to quickly implement in crisis situations.
• Developing Crisis Response Algorithms: Design clear, step-by-step instructions for each type of crisis, ensuring teachers have a ready reference for immediate action in emergencies.
• Developing Self-Care and Burnout Prevention Strategies for Teachers: develop specific exercises, techniques, and advice for teachers to effectively cope with their own stress and prevent emotional burnout.
• Finalize the Handbook, considering the recommendations of the two reviews received from supervision practitioners and supervision theorists provided by UNESCO.
• Coordinating with the proofreader and editor during the processing of materials, ensuring that the Handbook meets high professional and linguistic standards in close cooperation with UNESCO.
Long Description
Timetable and Deliverables
The contractor shall submit to UNESCO for its approval:
Deliverable 1. First draft of the Handbook has been developed:
(1) the available materials have been systematized and algorithms of actions for crisis scenarios have been formed;
(2) the structure, content and practical tools of the Handbook have been developed;
(3) the draft Handbook for School Psychologists in Crisis has been approved by UNESCO (by mid-May).
Deliverable 2. Revised version of the Handbook ready for publication and use:
(1) the Handbook has been reviewed by practitioners and one by theorists, and recommendations have been taken into account;
(2) the Handbook has been edited and corrected in cooperation with the editor to ensure high professional and linguistic standards;
(3) the final draft of the Handbook containing no less than 50 pages of Times New Roman font 12, has been approved by UNESCO (by mid-June).
COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
• Master’s degree or higher in psychology, pedagogy, social sciences, or education (psychology background preferred).
Professional Experience:
• At least 5 years of experience in educational settings (preferably as a teacher/psychologist/methodologist).
• Proven experience in developing educational materials and tools for teachers, particularly in crisis management or psychosocial support.
• Experience in creating practical psychological interventions for teachers to support students in distress or trauma.
Skills:
• Psychosocial Support Knowledge: Solid understanding of basic psychological interventions and strategies for supporting children in crisis, even without deep psychological expertise.
• Practical Tools Development: Ability to create simple, effective, and evidence-based tools for teachers to apply in real-life crisis situations.
• Teacher-Centric Approach: Understanding of the teaching process and the challenges teachers face when managing students' emotional and psychological needs, particularly in crisis situations.
• Content Structuring: Strong ability to structure and simplify complex materials into easy-to-use, accessible formats for teachers.
• Crisis Intervention Design: Experience in developing step-by-step action plans for teachers to implement during crises, ensuring these tools are grounded in evidence-based practices.
• Writing and Editing: Strong skills in writing and editing instructional materials, ensuring content is clear, concise, and suitable for educators’ needs.
• Collaboration: Ability to work closely with psychologists, educators, and experts to ensure that the handbook aligns with both educational and psychological standards.
Other Requirements:
• Ability to deliver high-quality, practical content on tight deadlines (2 months).
• Fluency in Ukrainian, with strong written and verbal communication skills (English is an advantage).
• A collaborative and flexible approach to work, with the ability to adapt materials to meet the diverse needs of teachers and students in crisis.
• A practical, results-oriented mindset focused on producing tools that teachers can immediately implement in classrooms.
Long Description
Supervisory arrangements
The methodologist will work under the general supervision of the National Project Officer of UNESCO, ensuring alignment with project objectives and quality standards. Regular coordination meetings will be held to discuss progress, provide feedback, and address any challenges. The methodologist will also collaborate with expert reviewers, editors, and other stakeholders to ensure the high quality of the final Handbook.
Facilities to be Provided by UNESCO (if any)
The work will be conducted remotely, with regular online coordination meetings facilitated by UNESCO. The methodologist will have access to relevant project materials, expert consultations, and feedback from UNESCO’s National Project Officer and other key stakeholders to ensure the successful completion of the assignment.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Long Description
BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS
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SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.
The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as an interview.
UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.
Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.
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