Programme Specialist (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support), P-3, TA (364 days), #137950, MCP, Pacific Office, Suva, Fiji (Pacific Islands) - EAPR

For every child, the right to Protection

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

The Pacific Multi-Country Office is the oldest and largest MCO in UNICEF. As such it is a model for the new MCOs being established. All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. UNICEF’s programme focuses on advancing children’s rights and wellbeing through integrated efforts in health, nutrition, education, child protection, climate resilience, and social policy addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing small island developing states, including vulnerability to climate change, geographic isolation, and service delivery constraints.

The Pacific Island countries are facing rapid societal changes due to climate change, digitalization, and migration. These pressures have contributed to declining mental well-being, loss of cultural identity, and rising suicide rates—especially among Indigenous communities. Children and adolescents are particularly affected, with the region reporting some of the world’s highest estimated rates of child sexual abuse (approx 34%), leading to serious mental health issues.

Adolescent suicidality is alarmingly high, in the context of limited accessible mental health services. Countries such as Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and Vanuatu have suicide rates well above the global average according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global health estimate (2000-2019). A shortage of trained mental health professionals and limited implementation of standardized care protocols further limits effective responses. Implementation of minimum standards for those providing psychological support to children are urgently needed. In order to improve understanding, further studies and research on child and adolescent mental health, including through participatory approaches are needed.

In response, the UNICEF Pacific MCO has partnered with Pacific governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs) to address these challenges through a range of multi-sectoral child protection and MHPSS initiatives interventions. Between 2023 to 2025, several initiatives have been launched to prevent abuse, reduce risk, and close service gaps. (2023–2025) aimed at preventing abuse, reducing risks, and closing service gaps.

Living in Fiji

Working and living in Fiji offers a rewarding experience in one of the Pacific’s most vibrant and culturally rich settings. Based in Suva, the country’s administrative and commercial hub, staff benefit from a welcoming community, diverse cultural traditions, and access to a range of amenities including quality housing, healthcare, education, banking, and reliable communications. Fiji’s tropical maritime climate brings warm temperatures year-round, with a wet and cyclone season that requires preparedness and flexibility. While the cost of imported goods can be relatively high and occasional service interruptions may occur during severe weather, Suva provides a generally comfortable and supportive living environment. With its strong sense of community, emphasis on respect and cultural awareness, and opportunities to travel across the Pacific, the duty station offers a unique balance of professional fulfillment and personal enrichment, ideal for those ready to adapt and make a meaningful impact for children and communities.

How can you make a difference?

The Programme Specialist (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support) Specialist reports to the Chief of Child Protection. Given that schools represent a vital entry for prevention, early intervention, and promotion of positive mental health, the overall objective of the Specialist is to strengthen mental health systems and services, contributing to the improvement of mental health and psychosocial well-being of children and adolescents across the Pacific. The Specialist will be based in the Child Protection section, working across all Pacific Island States and in close collaboration with the Education Section as well as the Health, Protection, and WASH teams.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities

• Lead UNICEF Pacific MHPSS program oversight and coordination
• Provide technical assistance and capacity building to program staff and partners.
• Support training and roll-out of global and locally adapted packages including “I Support My Friends” peer-support for adolescents.

Build capacity of frontline service providers through development and delivery of training materials, coaching local trainers, providing coaching, and quality monitoring.

• Contribute to legislative and policy reform for mental health frameworks.
• Promote cross-sectoral harmonization of standards and requirements for child/adolescent mental health providers in education, health, protection, and justice.
• Coordinate awareness-raising campaigns to improve mental health literacy, reduce stigma, and promote help-seeking.
• Support integration of MHPSS into pre-service teacher training curricula.
• Strengthen prevention and response to bullying, including school-based and online bullying.
• As the office focal point for MHPSS, provide leadership to coordinate MHPSS program across sections/countries to ensure a multisectoral approach to planning and implementing MHPSS programmes within UNICEF Pacific MCO.
• Coordinate research and assessments being conducted with partners on chlid and adolescent mental health in the Pacific.

Minimum requirements

Desirables

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Clinical training in Psychology or Social Work are highly desirable.
• Regional or international development experience.
• Experience in building capacity for programs to respond to child survivors of sexual violence is highly desirable.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
• Experience in a Pacific or small island developing state (SIDS) context is desirable, including familiarity with challenges related to remoteness, geographic dispersion, and climate vulnerability.
• Strong coordination, facilitation, and partnership management skills, with the ability to work effectively across sectors and institutions, is desirable.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates, candidates from the East Asia and Pacific region and people with disability are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.