Consultancy for a Rapid Assessment on Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Kasulu (Tanzania)

 

• Organization: IRC - International Rescue Committee
• Location: Kasulu
• Grade: Consultant - Contractors Agreement - Consultancy
• Occupational Groups:
  • Public Health and Health Service
  • Emergency Aid and Response
  • Social Affairs
  • Humanitarian Aid and Coordination
• Closing Date:

Consultancy for a Rapid Assessment on Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)

Kasulu (Tanzania)

Requisition ID: req3923
Job Title: Consultancy for a Rapid Assessment on Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)
Sector: Health
Employment Category: Consultant
Employment Type: Part-Time
Location: Kasulu, Tanzania
Job Description
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR A SHORT TERM CONSULTANCY FOR A RAPID ASSESSMENT ON MENTAL HEALTH & PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT (MHPSS) -TANZANIA
The International Rescue Committee responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers help to people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. IRC is currently working in Tanzania providing mental health and psychosocial support services as one among many other programs including education, Reproductive Heath, Women Protection & Empowerment and Child Protection in Nyarugusu, Nduta and Mtendeli refugee camps all in Kigoma region. As of 31 October 2018, Tanzania host 288,722 refugees and asylum-seekers, mainly from Burundi (203,781) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (84,320) and others (621).These Terms of Reference relate to an assessment on mental health and psychosocial support services including a component of the awareness, accessibility, addressing needs and coping mechanisms of the refugee population.
Main Goal
The primary goal is to identify mental health needs in the community, the availability of MHPSS services, identifying/exploring community perceptions on mental health concerns and on people with mental health concerns, the level of awareness and accessibility of/barriers to MHPSS services as well as the available community structure/mechanisms for coping. The outcome of this assessment will internally assist IRC’s MHPSS program to improve the program and as well it will help other MHPSS actors in Kigoma region and improve coordination among MHPSS WG members and other stakeholders serving the refugee population in Kigoma region.
Scope of work
The MHPSS assessment will be provided by a skilled and experienced MHPSS consultant. The candidate should have a concrete background and experience in conducting assessments.
The consultant will be responsible for adapting/updating of the assessment tools (questionnaires), methodology, training and supervision of data collectors as well as managing the process analysis, presentation of the findings and producing final report.
The candidate will ensure that all ethical considerations are taken into account from the design phase to the final stage of the assessment. The designed tool should aim to capture the following as per the objectives.
Objectives of Rapid Assessment:
IRC will conduct a rapid assessment of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) needs and services for refugee population in Kigoma region, in order to inform planning for expanded services. The specific objectives of the rapid assessment are:

1. To assess the range, scope and scale of mental health issues faced by refugee population in Kigoma region including those living in camps and those in other locations including reception and identification centers.
2. To map existing MHPSS services in the region and assess the capacity to meet the increased case load, scope and range of specific MHPSS support needs.
3. To identify good practices and possible gaps in MHPSS service provision response to the increased case load.
4. To propose a set of recommendations on how to best address existing gaps including immediate and medium/long term actions in light of the realities of the context.

Recommendations
The findings of the rapid assessment should include recommendations that address the following:
How can identification and accurate assessment and referral of refugees with MHPSS needs be strengthened among protection and health actors?
How can the capacity of existing MHPSS service providers and other actors (protection and health) be strengthened to provide MHPSS support?
How can coordination, referral and cooperation between different MHPSS and protection/health actors be strengthened?
What are the current positive coping mechanisms available in the community structure and how should this feed into current MHPSS programming?
Time Frame and Deliverables:
Weeks 1 – detailed research methodology and development of assessment tools (remote)
Weeks 2-3– field research and data collection: Site visits, interviews, FGD’s
Weeks 4-5 – draft report and recommendations
Weeks 6 – Final report – (maximum 25 pages); summary of findings and recommendations (maximum 3 pages). A draft final report of not more than 25 pages, excluding annexes, which should include as a minimum:

• The methodology used
• The analysis, findings and lessons learned – with clear findings for the objectives outlined in this TOR
• Clear recommendations for any identified gaps, strengths and other key issues that would lead to project adjustment or future design considerations.
• List of key informants/stakeholders interviewed.

A final report refined to address comments and feedback received from the team during the validation / review workshop.
Methodology
The rapid assessment methodology will include:

• Desk research/ Secondary data review of both qualitative and quantitative data
• Semi-structured key informant interviews with, MHPSS service providers, government authorities, and other stakeholders
• Site visits and observations
• Focus group discussions with and local community members.

Detailed assessment questions and methods will be developed by the consultant in close consultation with MHPSS Senior Manager. The preliminary findings will be shared with stakeholders and recommendations will be refined based on consultative discussions.
Methodological guidance may also be drawn from the following resource: Assessing mental health and psychosocial needs and resources - Toolkit for humanitarian settings (WHO and UNHCR`(2012)

• Focus Group Discussions of 8 to 10 facilitated by national staff in collaboration with incentive staff to 24 groups/8 per camp. This will comprise adolescents (Boys and girls), adults(F & M), the elderly (F&M) and influential people (zone leaders, religious leaders, teachers)(F&M)
• Individual respondents will be taken from the client feedback forms
• The Key informants will be from UNHCR, MSF, TRCS (members of the MHPSS/WG).
• The tools to be used for FGD will be derived from the WHO/ UNHCR assessment toolkit. 
• It should thus encompass a combination of both qualitative and quantitative methods. It should also allow for wide consultation with all interested partners and stakeholders.

Qualifications
Eligibility Criteria
The preferred candidate should meet the following criteria:

• Advanced university degree in mental health field
• Previous MHPSS assessment experience
• Familiarity with the Tanzania refugee mental health context
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills
• Fluency in English

Minimum criteria for submission of the proposal for the BID

• The consultant /institution should submit a technical and a financial proposal and is expected to demonstrate that it has a track record of not less than three (3) years of experience executing similar assignments.
• The Technical proposal should have the following details: Understanding of the assignment and its tasks, Methodology and approach to be used, Operational plan with clear timeline, Outline of the team that will implement the work, with CVs for key personnel and clearly specified roles for each team member (if any)
• Past Performance: Applicants must prove that they have enough experience in assignments comparable with the work they are bidding for in terms of scope and complexity as specified in section 6 of this TOR and proven experience in conducting search assignments.

Contractual issues
The IRC will provide the following at no cost to the consultant:

1. Travel costs (to and from their location) however no costs associated with preparing the applicationincluding proposal submission will be met by IRC
2. The consultant / team must comply with The IRC rules and procedures related to security and relations with the media
3. The consultant/ team must respect the ethics related to survey/assessment practices
4. The IRC team will be responsible for the safety of the consultant

Documents of reference (To be availed by IRC
Relevant project documents as deemed necessary
Others

• The consultant will work closely with the M & E Manager (Health and fully supported by the) Senior Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Manager
• The consultant will report to the IRC’s Senior Health Coordinator.

We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.

Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.

Apply

What does it mean?