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

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

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.

Explore the different areas of our work here:  UNICEF Pacific Islands and in the short video: Work for UNICEF in the Pacific

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.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Programme Specialist Level 3.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in one of the following fields is required: psychology, public health, social sciences, child development, or other related fields. Two years of additional relevant work that was gained after obtaining a Bachelors degree may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced degree.
• Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant professional experience including mental health and psychosocial support is required. Practitioner experience in child and adolescent mental health is required. Experience in delivering practical capacity building in low resource / remote environments is required.
• Skills: Excellent communication, advocacy and stakeholder engagement skills; Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with local community structures, including faith networks, leaders and community groups; Strong facilitation and interpersonal skills, with experience in community-led and participatory approaches; Ability to work effectively across sectors and within decentralised service delivery contexts; Strong ability to leverage digital communication platforms and tools (including social media, mobile, and community media) to design, deliver and scale SBC interventions; Experience leveraging digital and AI tools to generate, localise and optimise SBC content and media products at scale; Cultural sensitivity and ability to work effectively in Pacific or multi-cultural contexts. Strong analytical, research, and drafting skills.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

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's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

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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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.