Purpose of the Consultancy
Under the supervision of the Technical Lead for Mental Health and Substance Use (MHS), and the guidance
of the Director of the Division of Programmes for Disease Control (DDC), the incumbent is expected to
provide strategic and technical guidance to support programmatic priorities and strategic engagement
with Member States and stakeholders.
2. Background
There is no health without mental health. Mental health is essential to the well-being of individuals,
families, and communities. Good mental health empowers people to realize their full potential,
promotes resiliency in the face of life's adversities, supports productivity, and helps maintain social
cohesion through meaningful connections. Unfortunately, in the Western Pacific Region, mental and
substance use disorders, suicide, and neurological disorders such as dementia affect over 200 million
people. Stigma against people living with mental disorders remains persistent and pervasive leaving
them vulnerable to abuse while denying access to much needed support and services.
For the Future: Towards the Healthiest and Safest Region is a strategic document that articulates WHO's
vision of public health and its priorities in the Western Pacific. It highlights mental health and dementia,
alongside noncommunicable disease and aging, and health inequity, as significant public health concerns
that call for a system approach to scaling-up services and community engagement. Guided by these
principles, a new Regional Framework for the Future of Mental Health in the Western Pacific is
forthcoming. The new regional framework is envisioned to support Member States in developing
national plans and policies, strengthen political advocacy for greater resources and commitment, and
encourage collaboration across all stakeholders through new ways of working. Mental health is
everyone's business. Realizing this vision calls for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach
to ensuring mental health for all.
In order to facilitate strategic engagement with Member States and key stakeholders to co-create the
vision for the future of mental health, expert technical support is needed to provide strategic and technical
support for planned activities.
3. Planned timelines
Start date: 1 April 2021
End date: 31 March 2022
4. Work to be performed
Output 1: Strategic and technical guidance to support:
• Regional expert consultation on the future of mental health
• Strengthening the network of young mental health professionals in the Region;
• Side event on the future of mental health during the 72nd Regional Committee Meeting; and,
• Country support activities and engagement.
Deliverable 1.1: Technical materials to support regional meetings and consultations (e.g. PowerPoint
presentation and technical references on co-creating the vision for the future of mental health);
Deliverable 1.2: Technical materials to support high-level advocacy (e.g. discussion guide and
communication materials for the side event during the 72nd Regional Committee Meeting);
Deliverable 1.3: Project report on strengthening the network of young mental health professionals in the
Region; and,
Deliverable 1.4: Technical references (e.g. annotated bibliography) on addressing the social determinants
of mental health.
Methods and tasks to carry out the proposed scope of work include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Scoping review of related literature, technical writing;
• Participation in regular teleconferences (frequency to be determined) with MHS/DDC for the
duration of the assignment;
• Participation in upcoming consultation meetings, with duty travel as necessary;
• Liaison with partners and stakeholders; and,
• Other tasks or assignments that may be assigned as appropriate. 
Technical Supervision
The selected Consultant will work under the supervision of
Responsible    Mr Martin Vandendyck,
officer     :  Technical Lead, Mental Health and Substance Use,
               Division of Programmes for Disease Control
               Email:mvandendyck@who.int
Manager     :  Dr Huong Tran, Director, Division of Programmes for Disease Control
               Emsil::tranh@who.int
6. Specific requirements
Qualifications required:
Essential: Postgraduate degree in medicine, social sciences; preferably with knowledge of psychiatry,
psychology, behavioural science, sociology and/or public mental health.
Desirable: Postgraduate training in public health.
Experience required:
Essential: At least ten years of work experience in public health, psychiatry, psychology, behavioural
medicine and/or programme management.
Desirable: Experience with the UN system or international organizations.
Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:
Public mental health, psychiatry, health system development, research and technical writing, and
networking.
Language requirements:
Written and spoken fluency in English is essential. Working knowledge of other UN languages is an
advantage.
7. Competencies
• Communication: Expresses oneself clearly in conversation and interaction with others, actively
listens. Produces effective written communication and ensure that information is shared.
• Producing results: Produces and delivers quality results. Is action-oriented and committed to
achieving outcomes/outputs.
• Moving forward in a changing environment: Is open to, and proposes, new approaches and ideas.
Adapts and responds positively to change.
8. Place of assignment
The selected consultant will be working remotely to perform the tasks related to this activity but will
require interaction with the technical unit via teleconference on the development of the aforementioned
deliverables.
9. Medical clearance
The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.
10. Travel
The Consultant is expected to travel to carry out mission/s, if needed and as conditions allow in light of
COVID-19.
All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the
Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this
consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.
Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support
letter(s) if needed.