Qualitative Researcher (Consultant) Mental Health Workforce Analysis, Ukraine

Led by NORC at the University of Chicago, the MHWA is a mixed-methods study consisting of a targeted desk review and stakeholder/systems mapping followed by primary data collection and secondary data analysis. To support these activities. NORC is seeking an experienced Qualitative Researcher (Consultant) based in Kyiv, Ukraine with relevant sectoral experience to:

• Lead Ukrainian language desk research and support mapping of the components of mental health care system, who they serve, and the makeup of the workforce;
• Conduct informational interviews with key stakeholders to identify and secure existing reports and administrative datasets;
• Review and translate primary data collection instruments including key informant interview (KII) and focus group discussion (FGD) protocols;
• Conduct KIIs and FGDs with key stakeholders identified through the aforementioned activities, including coordinating interviews both in-person and online;
• Contribute to writing the final report; and
• Review knowledge products and deliverables to ensure contextual soundness, as requested.

USAID’s Mission to Ukraine develops programs that support the recovery of Ukraine, which includes fostering an economy where public and private entities can achieve their potential and provide evidence-based quality services and products to the nation and world. The mental health of Ukrainians is critical to this effort. To this end, USAID is commissioning a Mental Health Workforce Analysis (MHWA) to assess the competencies, skills gaps, education background, as well as workforce and employment dynamics of Ukraine’s mental health system as it transforms and undergoes deinstitutionalization. The MHWA will support better understanding of the most significant health workforce needs to ensure there is a sufficient, qualified workforce with the competencies and experiences required to provide integrated support.

INPRO was established in 2005, and works with government and other organizations throughout the world to strengthen the effectiveness of international development assistance via design and implementation of rigorous impact and performance evaluations, surveys, qualitative data collection, statistical and qualitative analysis, and a range of related research and assessment activities. Our research spans a range of sectors including education and training, child and youth well-being, land and resource governance, environment and climate, democracy and governance, agriculture and food security, water and sanitation, infrastructure, housing, finance, and health. Since its establishment INPRO has implemented projects in more than 100 countries.

• Evaluate the existing mental health workforce in Ukraine, including their qualifications, accreditations, and training, to understand the current capacity and distribution of mental health professionals;
• Identify the essential competencies required for mental health professionals, both during crisis response and long-term care;
• Identify barriers and enablers for entry into the mental health field;
• Examine demographic trends within the mental health workforce, including disparities in employment opportunities across different groups, such as veterans, internally displaced persons, women, the diaspora, pensioners, people living with disabilities, and youth).
• Assess barriers and facilitators related to quality of care provided by workforce and identify promising workforce models.

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences or a related field.
• At least 5 years of qualitative research experience in the mental health field or other relevant sector(s).
• Experience conducting KIIs and FGDs with stakeholders ranging from government officials to program beneficiaries from marginalized groups.
• Experience liaising with government officials and acquiring secondary data from national health and labor agencies/institutions
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Ukrainian.
• Familiarity with the mental health landscape in Ukraine is strongly preferred.

NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, our teams have conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with us to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge.

For over 80 years, NORC has evolved in many ways, moving the needle with research methods, technical applications and groundbreaking research findings. But our tradition of excellence, passion for innovation, and commitment to collegiality have remained constant components of who we are as a brand, and who each of us is as a member of the NORC team. With world-class benefits, a business casual environment, and an emphasis on continuous learning, NORC is a place where people join for the stellar research and analysis work for which we’re known, and stay for the relationships they form with their colleagues who take pride in the impact their work is making on a global scale.

NORC is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer that values and actively seeks diversity in the workforce. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other legally protected characteristics.