USAID Mental Health Coordinator

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has decided to engage an expert to serve as the Agency’s Mental Health Coordinator. The Agency Mental Health Coordinator will oversee implementation of the Mental Health Policy and assist the Agency in strengthening and integrating mental health considerations across our programs. The Mental Health Coordinator will report to both the Bureau for Global Health, as well as the Inclusive Development (ID) Hub of the Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI) Bureau. The Mental Health Coordinator’s work will be overseen by both the Bureau for Global Health, as well as the Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI) Bureau, however the DDI/Inclusive Development Hub Director will serve as the supervisor of record. The Coordinator is an experienced expert in the field of global mental health, with strong mental health technical expertise, as well as field experience leading global health programs, and will assist USAID in the full range of strategic, policy, planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation responsibilities across sectors to ensure technical soundness when integrating mental health into programs.  The Coordinator is the most senior official at the Agency responsible for mental health programming. The Coordinator will perform under general administrative discretion with wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment, work of significant difficulty and responsibility, and formal decision making authority in a broad program area. The Coordinator will advise Agency leadership in the development of program and training tools designed to increase integration of mental health programming with sectors and regions, including but not limited to the Global Health Bureau; the Center for Education; the Center for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment; the Inclusive Development Hub, and the regional Bureaus for Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Europe and Eurasia, and the Middle East.

The duration of the contract period is anticipated to be one, two-year, base period with three optional one-year periods for a maximum duration of five years in total.

The solicitation will be published on System for Award Management (SAM).  Interested parties are advised to periodically monitor this website for updates on this potential opportunity.

Statement of Duties:

1. Oversee the implementation of USAID’s (forthcoming) Mental Health Policy.
2. Promote integration of evidence-based MHPSS practices throughout the Agency, as appropriate.
3. Lead engagement with global partners on MHPSS, partner governments, donors, philanthropy, and local organizations, to strengthen local leadership of mental health efforts, and reduce stigmatization of mental health conditions.

The Advisor will carry out the following specific tasks related to the functions above. The objective is to integrate solid research, utilize best practice, and build upon USAID’s existing strengths.

1. Advise on the allocation and coordination of USAID resources, programs, projects, and activities to address mental health needs.

2. Provide technical oversight of tools, training, and technical resources on MHPSS for Agency use.

3. Carry out a full range of consultative, advisory, strategic, and planning responsibilities across sectors to ensure technical and programmatic soundness when considering mental health programs, strategies and evaluations, including considering cultural specific best practices.

4. Advance and disseminate evidence on proven MHPSS interventions.

5. Participate as an expert in meetings with foreign governments, multilateral institutions, nongovernmental organizations, National Security Council, US Congress and other stakeholders on issues relating to MHPSS.

6. Make recommendations on how to track, report, and measure the impact of USAID’s MHPSS work.

7. Advise on MHPSS needs and approaches in regards to marginalized, vulnerable, or underrepresented groups, such as - but not limited to - children in adversity; LGBTQI+ people; persons with disabilities; racial, ethnic, and religious minorities; victims of conflict; women; and youth.

8. Maintain and strengthen relationships across the United States Government, including collaborating on key initiatives.

9. Coordinate the analysis and synthesis of key MHPSS technical lessons learned and best practice recommendations based upon the research and documentation of experiences.

10. Develop recommendations to support USAID’s “do no harm” approach, by overseeing technical advice and tools on trauma-informed approaches for all sectors of development programming. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION: The Coordinator will be an expert in the area of global mental health and psychosocial support; understand principles, best practices, and key trends associated with this complex field; and have experience implementing mental health programs in developing countries.