1. Purpose of the Consultancy
To support the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (UNIATF) mobilize investment and resources for the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund to Catalyze Country Action for Non-Communicable Diseases and
Mental Health.
2. Background
The United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund to Catalyze Country Action for Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health (NCD and Mental Health Catalytic Fund) is being established by the United Nations Development System through the United Nations Inter-Agency
Task Force on the Prevention and Control of NCDs (Task Force) with three of its members taking the initial lead in its establishment (WHO, UNDP and UNICEF).
Despite the scale and impact of NCDs and poor mental health on sustainable development, domestic funding and action for prevention and management remains far from sufficient to meet the demand from low- and middle-income countries for technical support.
The NCD and Mental Health Catalytic Fund is designed to enable countries to catalyze domestic financing and action to address this imbalance, and in a way that responds to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development pledge to leave no one behind.
The NCD and Mental Health Catalytic Fund will support national (and where appropriate sub-national) governments, WHO, the UN development system (UNDS) and other partners to work towards common NCD and mental health results and NCD- and mental health-related
indicators that are included in UN resolutions and declarations on NCDs and mental health.
The NCD and Mental Health Catalytic Fund will support countries in catalysing action in the following areas: (i) the mobilization and effective use of domestic funding for a scaled up NCDs and mental health response; (ii) the development and implementation
of effective policy, legislative and regulatory measures, including fiscal measures, aimed at minimizing the impact of the main risk factors for NCDs and mental health conditions, and to enable people to live healthy lives and meet their full potential
– including mental health service reform/reconfiguration (from institutions to community-based care); (iii) ensuring access to essential NCD health services and medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and health technologies and ensuring access to
healthcare for mental health conditions as part of universal health coverage benefit packages; (iv) promoting policy coherence and mutual accountability across government sectors of different spheres of policy making that have a bearing on NCDs and
mental health; (v) engaging all relevant stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector, as appropriate, through the establishment of participatory and transparent multi-stakeholder platforms and partnerships, to mobilize a population-wide
responses to NCDs; and (vi) strengthening the collection and use of data for NCDs and mental health. Support can also be for innovation and/or implementation research across any of the above areas.
Proposals for accessing funding from the NCD and Mental Health Catalytic Fund will be jointly developed by governments, WHO and the wider UNDS (at country, regional and headquarter level), with the expectation that other development partners will also
be involved in the developing proposals.
The NCD and Mental Health Catalytic Fund will be governed through a Steering Committee. Members will be those with proven experience and expertise in global and country-level action on tackling NCDs and improving mental health and will include a
small number of agencies that are members of the Task Force, Member States and development partners (including non-State actors). The UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office will act as the Administrative Agent.
The Secretariat for the NCD and Mental Health Catalytic Fund will have the Task Force Secretariat (which is based in WHO) as a hub with engagement across other parts of WHO as well as UNDP and UNICEF. The roles and responsibilities of the Steering Committee,
Secretariat, Administrative Agent and Participating UN Organizations will be in line with standard procedures for UN multi-partner trust funds.
The Secretariat for the NCD and Mental Health Catalytic Fund is now recruiting two consultant positions. One is to support investment strategy and resource mobilisation efforts. The second is to support policy and strategy development. The two positions will work in synergy with one another as part of the Secretariat for the NCD and Mental Health Catalytic Fund.
3. Technical Supervision
The selected Consultant will work on the supervision of:
Dr Nick Banatvala, Head of Secretariat, GNP/UNIATF
Email: banatvalan@who.int
4. Deliverables
Output 1: Development of an investment and resource mobilisation strategy for the NCD and Mental Health Catalytic Fund
Activity 1.1 Develop first and subsequent drafts of an investment and resource mobilisation strategy, drawing on the inputs from existing staff across WHO, UNDP, UNICEF (and other members of the Task Force) that lead on technical aspects of NCDs and mental health and those with cross cutting responsibilities for resource mobilization, as well as the UN Multi-partner Trust Fund Office, Member States and development partners.
Activity 1.2 Receive inputs from the Steering Committee before developing a final strategy.
Delivery: months 1-3
Output 2: A core group of investors engaged in supporting the NCD and Mental Health Catalytic Fund
Activity 2.1 Research potential multilateral, bilateral and other investors and donors that would be interesting in investing in and supporting the NCD and Mental Health Catalytic Fund drawing on the inputs of those listed in Activity 1.1.
Activity 2.2 Support the Task Force reach out to potential investors/donors (individually and collectively), tailoring the investment and resource mobilisation strategy for individual donors.
Activity 2.3 Support the Task Force finalise agreements with investors/donors.
Delivery: months 3-12
5. Duration
Start date: as soon as possible for a period of 12 months
6. Specific requirements
Experience and qualifications required:
- A proven track record in leading investment and resource mobilisation at strategic and operational levels, with strong donor/investment networks;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Written and verbal communication skills in any other UN language would be an asset;
- An understanding of the way that the UN system works and engages with partners, including the private sector, with experience in garnering investment and mobilising resources from the private sector and other non-state actors;
- Advanced university degree in a field relevant for this position.
7. Place of assignment
The consultant will be contracted to work in their normal place of residence, i.e. will not be expected to be based in Geneva.
8. Travel
The will be some travel associated with this consultancy, for example to participate in strategic discussions, donor meetings and other resource mobilisation activities where these need to be face-to-face. 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 in line with the instructions
applicable locally, or up to the maximum of the UN DSA. The Consultant may apply for a UN Certificate prior to travelling. Visas requirements: it is the Consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s)
if needed.
9. Application and deadline
Interested candidates should apply by sending a CV, a covering letter and a financial proposal to johnsonr@who.int.
This should be received by 28 February 2021.
Short listed candidates will in the first instance be invited for an interview by video link.