UNICEF has launched a major opportunity in Ukraine to strengthen mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) within the national health system, with a strong focus on Kyiv. Running from December 2025 to January 2027, this initiative seeks a capable civil society organization (CSO) to train healthcare workers, support national mental health reforms, enhance leadership capacity and improve the wellbeing of frontline providers. The programme aims to create a resilient, skilled mental health workforce serving children, adolescents and adults across priority hromadas.

UNICEF Calls for CSO Partner to Strengthen Mental Health Services in Ukraine

Overview

UNICEF has opened a new opportunity to strengthen mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) within Ukraine’s health system. With a primary focus on Kyiv, the programme seeks a CSO partner capable of delivering large-scale capacity building, leadership development and psychosocial support for healthcare workers. The initiative aims to advance national mental health reform and expand high-quality services for diverse age groups—children, adolescents and adults.

Timeline

Project Duration: December 2025 – January 2027
Location: Kyiv + selected priority hromadas across Ukraine

Key Objectives of the Initiative

Strengthen MHPSS capacity across the health system.
Train primary healthcare workers, educators and specialized mental health professionals.
Support national strategies integrating mental health into pre-service medical and nursing education.
Improve wellbeing and resilience of frontline health workers.
Expand leadership capacity in mental health system governance.

Core Components of the Programme

1. Building Skills of Healthcare Workers Through mhGAP Training

The selected CSO will:

Conduct in-person mhGAP trainings in Kyiv using the official WHO curriculum.
Deliver modules for children, adolescents and adults.
Prioritize teaching staff from medical colleges to integrate mhGAP into pre-service nursing education.
Hold at least four sessions led by WHO-approved master trainers.
Evaluate impact through pre- and post-tests.
Provide ongoing supervision for trained providers.
Monitor adherence using WHO-recommended tools.

2. National Webinars Under the “How Are You?” Programme

A series of 17 national webinars will:

Target specialized mental health practitioners and facility managers.
Be designed with ESCAP and national partners.
Cover topics such as:
- Child and adolescent psychiatry
- Clinical competencies
- Innovative service delivery approaches
Be monitored and logistically managed by the selected CSO.
This programme is supported by Ukraine’s First Lady, making it a high-visibility national initiative.

3. Specialist Training Through International Collaboration

UNICEF will partner with King’s College London to develop advanced curriculum and training modules.
The CSO will:

Coordinate expert consultations.
Organize workshops to upgrade practitioner skills.
Implement two cycles of intensive two-week specialist workshops, training 60 professionals.
Support a potential train-the-trainers model for long-term sustainability.

4. Establishing a School of Leadership in Mental Health

Up to 100 professionals—including facility managers, medical university leaders and health directors—will join this leadership programme.
Focus areas:

Governance
System-wide mental health reform
Management of mental health services
This will be implemented in coordination with:
Ministry of Health of Ukraine
National Coordination Centre for Mental Health

5. Supporting Healthcare Worker Mental Wellbeing

UNICEF emphasizes caring for frontline teams who face chronic stress and trauma in their work.

The CSO will:

Organize confidential psychosocial support sessions for healthcare workers in selected hromadas.
Engage licensed psychologists and psychiatrists.
Use evidence-based approaches such as CBT techniques.
Measure outcomes through anonymized surveys.

Additionally, the programme will introduce:

WHO-adapted Stress Management Programmes in at least five health facilities.
These group-based sessions aim to build resilience and enhance coping strategies over several weeks.

Monitoring and Evaluation Requirements

The CSO must establish a strong M&E framework to:

Track training outcomes
Assess changes in provider competencies
Monitor wellbeing interventions
Evaluate system-level impact
Support continuous learning and programme improvement

Who Is Eligible?

Ideal applicants include CSOs with:

Proven experience in mental health, MHPSS or health system strengthening
Capacity to deliver large-scale trainings and webinars
Strong monitoring and evaluation systems
Ability to collaborate with national and international institutions
Experience working with WHO protocols and UNICEF standards

Why This Initiative Matters

Ukraine faces growing mental health needs due to ongoing crisis conditions.
Strengthening MHPSS within the health system is essential to meet rising demand.
Properly trained providers can deliver early, effective and evidence-based care.
Supporting healthcare workers protects the sustainability of the entire system.
Leadership development ensures long-term institutional transformation.

How the Programme Works (Step-by-Step)

Training Delivery
CSO conducts mhGAP sessions and specialist workshops.
Webinar Implementation
Manage and monitor the 17 national webinars.
Leadership School Setup
Launch and coordinate governance-focused training for health leaders.
Healthcare Worker Support
Implement psychosocial sessions and introduce Stress Management Programmes.
Monitoring & Reporting
Track progress, supervise trained staff and submit evidence-based reports.

Common Mistakes Applicants Should Avoid

Submitting proposals without a clear M&E plan.
Lacking experience with WHO or UNICEF mental health frameworks.
Overpromising deliverables beyond organizational capacity.
Not demonstrating sustainability or long-term impact.
Failing to align activities with national mental health reform priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the main focus of this UNICEF initiative?

Strengthening mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) capacity within Ukraine’s health system, with emphasis on Kyiv.

2. What time period does the project cover?

December 2025 to January 2027.

3. Who can apply?

Civil society organizations with experience in mental health, health training or system strengthening.

4. What training frameworks are used?

WHO’s mhGAP curriculum and additional modules developed with King’s College London.

5. Will the project include online or in-person activities?

Both—in-person mhGAP sessions and national webinars under the “How Are You?” programme.

6. How are healthcare workers supported?

Through psychosocial support sessions, stress management programmes and ongoing clinical supervision.

7. Why is leadership development included?

Strong leadership is essential for sustainable mental health reform and effective system-wide change.

Conclusion

This UNICEF initiative offers a transformative opportunity for a qualified CSO to help build a stronger, more resilient mental health system in Ukraine. Through specialized training, leadership development and support for healthcare worker wellbeing, the programme will enhance service quality and expand access to mental health care for children, adolescents and communities nationwide—laying the groundwork for long-term recovery and reform.