Consultant: MHPSS specialized team

Call for Consulting Services for

MHPSS specialized team 

Terms of Reference

Contracting Consulting Services to carry out MHPSS services in East Jerusalem and area C in four locations; in Bethlehem (Tuqu’), East Jerusalem (Essawiyyeh, Jabal al-Mukabir, and Shu’fat Refugee Camp), as a part project  “ MHPSS, Child Protection and educational intervention to prevent and mitigate the impact of conflict related violence in East Jerusalem, area C and H2 area of Hebron” OPT-19/DDA-3482/SA2/PROT-EDU/INGO/14056. This project is funded under HFU Management, implemented by Médecins du Monde Suisse in partnership with East Jerusalem YMCA and The Palestinian Counseling Center.

Introduction

Médecins du Monde, an independent international non-governmental organization founded in 1980, provides humanitarian relief and development aid to those in greatest need. The organization operates within the principles of medical ethics and humanitarian assistance and is currently active in more than 65 countries around the world. Doctors of the World - Switzerland was established in 1993 and has been operating in Palestine since 1994.

During the period 2009-2014, Médecins du Monde Suisse supported the Palestinian Ministry of Health in establishing the first Palestinian Public Community Mental Health Center specialized in Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Halhoul in Hebron governorate. Since then, MdM_CH is working in the provision of Mental Health and psychosocial support in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. 

Project Summary

The occupation and its practices, manifest in the excessive use of force, movement restrictions, prevention of PA action in Area C and EJ, demolitions, forced eviction, settlement expansion, settler violence, attacks against schools, killings, injuries and arrests, specifically among minors, combined with ever growing shortfalls in humanitarian funding, an enduring intra-Palestinian political divide, economic hardship, the absence of a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the horizon, anticipated escalation resulting from enforcement of the “Deal of the Century”, restrictions and attacks on humanitarian partners, violations of international humanitarian law, are all factors that pose increased protection threats for the Palestinian population, which necessitate urgent responses to meet emerging or worsening needs and facilitate access to basic services for vulnerable people. The project will target the following locations and groups:

- Targeted Locations: Vulnerable and marginalized communities witnessing increased exposure to Israeli political violence in Area C in Bethlehem (Tuqu’), East Jerusalem (Essawiyyeh, Jabal al-Mukabir, and Shu’fat Refugee Camp) and H2 area of Hebron.

- Targeted beneficiaries: Children: boys and girls, aged 6-18, Adults: vulnerable men and women (including families) exposed to grave violations, including child detention, demolitions, evictions and settler violence.

- Aim: The project will seek to address protection risks, enhance the psychosocial well-being and mental health of the targeted beneficiaries and communities and enable better access to basic services (education, health) and smooth reintegration into community life and structures. This shall be attained through the provision of a holistic package of services, based on a human rights approach as described below: 

The project will seek to address the psychosocial impacts of conflict related violence, through the provision of urgent and timely responses, as well as structured PSS emergency interventions a and MHPSS. This will include conducting emergency visits within the first 48 hours of an emergency, screening resulting needs and providing PFA. Children of H2 area will also receive PFA sessions provided by their own community members (teachers, counselors).

The project foresees tailored case management, MH and PSS plans that will include psychosocial group and individual counseling sessions for children and adults (caretakers and the wider community), peer to peer groups and further screening, detection and treatment of children/adults facing psychosocial challenges, referrals and rehabilitative care when required; as well as remedial education after school hours and for children under home arrest. Summer camps and ventilation days for children and families will also be organized under the education cluster priorities.

The project will seek to prevent future protection risks, through enhancing beneficiary awareness of needs and rights, equipping them with life skills to upgrade their resilience, especially when faced with future emergencies. Capacitation trainings and resilience building activities will be provided to both staff and CBO personnel, to enable them to address basic protection needs and provide sustainable and long-term solutions. Moreover, the project will invest in existing community structures, through rehabilitation works to facilitate the delivery of the planned interventions. 

Project Overview

The general objective is to provide quality services on protection, mental health and psychosocial support and education for children and adults affected by conflict related violence, improving their capacity and coping mechanisms. 

The specific objective is to deliver timely, coordinated and principled assistance in order to prevent and mitigate the negative impacts of conflict related violence through protection, mental health, PSS and educational activities in East Jerusalem, area C and H2 area of Hebron. 

The proposed intervention aims at improving psychological well-being and resilience of children and adults, exposed to conflict related violence with a focus on detention and incidents of grave violations against children, in the localities of Issawiyeh, Jabal Al Mukaber Shu’fat Refugee Camp,Tuqua in area C and H2 area of Hebron.

Scope of Assignment

In frame of Project, Médecins du Monde Suisse is planning to carry out the MHPSS services activity and through two indicators; 1- Number of vulnerable men and women affected by conflict related violence benefiting from structured psychosocial services 2- Number of children affected by conflict related violence benefiting from structured psychosocial services and child protection interventions.  

The senior psychologists will screen relevant cases and help individuals and communities to improve their psychological well-being. Individual counseling and therapy will be provided in a safe place in the targeted locations.  

The average number of the cases is nine per month. The same person – and so case – may need an additional batch of sessions (maximum 3 sessions), until they either complete their support cycle or are referred for specialized long-term intervention to a third provider.

The project will ensure that people who are in need of profound psychological interventions, mainly boys and girls, will be referred externally to specialized psychological treatment which based on the project indicators and will receive in-depth psychological intervention.

Following are main tasks of the team;

• Mapping and screening of cases profound individuals therapeutic counselling.
• Working with the people in need to help them make changes to their behavior through a variety of psychological therapies.
• Providing counselling.
• Identifying and diagnosing mental, behavioral or emotional disorders.
• Developing treatment plans.
• Administering psychological tests and assessing the results.

Deliverables and Timeframe 

The specialized external services is expected to produce the following documents during the assignment:

• Reporting for each case in English and Based on indicators mentioned above.
• The duration will be 11 months from Dec 2019 to Oct 2020. 

Reporting

The specialized external services will work in close collaboration with the Project Team. The expert will report to the Médecins du Monde Suisse , Project Coordinator in Jerusalem office. 

Terms of Payment

The remuneration of work performed will be conducted after the completion of the consultancy

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.

Required Skills and Experience

The consultant is expected to have the following qualification:

• An advanced degree in M.Sc. Psychology or MHPSS or another relevant field. 
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in Psychology.
• English proficiency is required.
• Advantage- familiarity with the specific conditions of Mental Health and Psychosocial support in Emergency settings can be considered.
• Experienced with specialist psychological assessment and treatment of a wide range of mental health problems of varying severity and complexity.
• Proficient with psychological therapies, risk assessment, training and supervision.
• Proficient with planning and performing psychological interventions.
• Current awareness of developments in relevant fields.
• Ability to maintain and complete clinical documentation consistently

Application Requirements 

Applicants shall submit the following documents:

1. Cover letter.
2. Technical Proposal outlining methodology for conducting the service.
3. CV including information about past experiences in similar projects / assignments.
4. Financial Offer.

Financial proposal

The financial proposal shall specify the expected level of effort and the amount needed to conduct the consultancy. 

Payments are output based i.e. upon satisfactory delivery of the agreed products and services as specified in the Terms of Reference for Consulting Services. 

Médecins du Monde Suisse will be responsible for all administrative expenses associated with undertaking this assignment including printing, stationary, and venue.

Kindly send your CV, technical offer and price offer to, [email protected] and [email protected] no later than 25th Dec 2019. Title MHPSS specialized team