Consultancy – Capacity Building to Protection Staffs in Psychosocial Social Support

Background – Scope of the Consultancy

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been operational in Myanmar since 2009, focusing on protection, livelihoods, CCCM, WASH and Mine Risk Education. We have been working in Rakhine since 2009, Kachin since 2012, and in Northern Shan State (NSS) since early 2016. To strengthen Protection Programme response to significant escalating Psychosocial Support needs, DRC seeks to develop the capacity of Protection Staff in Psychosocial Support skills and knowledge. Specifically, DRC seeks to build the skills and knowledge of DRC staff on basic psychosocial support and Psychological First Aid and seeks to build capacity of staff in the delivery of group PSS.

Background

DRC has been implementing protection programmes across all project locations in Kachin, Northern Shan and Rakhine State.

DRC protection teams are delivering case management support to survivors of rights violations and abuses and other vulnerable people in need of individual tailored support. Under DRC protection programming, the provision of psychosocial support by DRC case workers is inherent to case management.

DRC protection teams also provide Individual Protection Assistance (IPA), conduct Protection monitoring and facilitate community empowerment activities including group recreational activities and community-based protection strengthening. DRC Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding teams similarly work with individual victims of mine accidents, supporting them to access relevant services and cope with impacts of accidents. Capacity to provide Psychological First Aid and practice psychosocial support skills during these interventions are crucial to ensure outcome focused safe delivery of services.

DRC invests in the capacity building of staff and community-based incentive workers in order to strengthen their understanding of protection risks, capacity to mitigate those risks and enhance their own capacities and well-being. Through this approach DRC has developed a large network of community-based incentive workers, trained in reporting protection incidents, awareness raising, information provision and referrals to available services providers.

DRC is also looking to expand and strengthen the capacity of both its protection staff and community-based incentive workers to provide psychosocial first aid and basic psychosocial support for conflict-affected populations.

And similarly DRC has a team of MEAL staff including staff engaged in Complaints, Feedback and Response mechanisms that regularly engage with community members on areas that relate to social emotional wellbeing. DRC is committed to supporting skill and knowledge development amongst these staff members that better enable them to support individuals and themselves.

Objectives of the Consultancy

The goal of the consultancy is to strengthen the provision of PSS (including group PSS) and PFA within DRC response. This will entail the development of training materials and guidelines, and the provision of trainings for DRC staff (Protection staff, MEAL staff, HDP staff), including a ToT for DRC staff and community-based volunteers to provide PSS training to other community-based volunteers. This will be complemented with weekly coaching and mentoring sessions over a 1-month period to support staff in the implementation of skills and tools gained in the initial trainings.

The training, coaching and mentoring in the consultancy will be delivered in person in Rakhine as well as remotely to ensure staff within NSS and Kachin are also engaged.

Consultancy Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant is expected to:

1. Liaise with Protection Project Managers to understand the level of existing competency and training needs of the teams in PFA and PSS, as well as conduct a desk review of existing training materials, to support the development of the training packages under this consultancy.
2. Update and improve on an existing PSS training package on provision of remote and direct PSS and PFA. This package is targeted at DRC staff, in particular DRC protection staff, MEAL staff and HDP staff.
3. Facilitate and deliver training on provision of PSS and PFA for conflict affect populations both in person for Protection staff, HDP staff and MEAL staff in Rakhine and remotely for Protection, HDP and MEAL staff in Kachin and NSS (two separate trainings). This training should also be based on the training package developed under responsibility 1).
4. Provide a two-day in person training on an existing PSS toolkit to DRC Protection staff in Rakhine so participants can then deliver the PSS modules with communities.
5. Provide, remotely, one and a half hour bi-weekly coaching and mentoring sessions over the course of 1 month. The sessions will be for DRC Community Empowerment (CE) assistants and CE Officers and Team Leaders to support them with the practical implementation of the skills learnt and delivery of PSS and PFA to clients.

The consultant can provide recommendations on how much time is needed for trainings depending on the target group, noting that trainings need to be completed within the first 3 weeks of the consultancy.

Consultancy Outputs

Output 1: Updated DRC PSS training package (covering PSS within the case management process as well as PFA and general basic psychosocial support skills)

Output 2: 2 trainings (one remote for other states and one in person for Rakhine) on provision of PSS and PFA for conflict affect populations to DRC Protection, MEAL, HDP staff, and key community-based volunteers (based on output 1 training package)

Output 3: Practical 2 day in person training on the facilitation of PSS Toolkit (modules already developed)

Output 4: Deliver 4 one and a half hour, coaching and mentoring small group session to DRC Protection staff over the course of 1 month.

Output 5: Final report and recommendations on future PSS capacity building needs

Time Frame and Duration of the Consultancy

The expected number of working days is an estimated 40 working days. However, the consultant is welcome to propose otherwise in accordance with the task.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis due to urgency of the recruitment.

Minimum technical requirement of consultant:

The consultant is expected to have:

• At least 5 years of experience in the MHPSS field – the consultancy is open to clinical mental health practitioners and social workers
• Experience working with conflict-affected populations exposed to traumatic events and acute or toxic stress
• Experience crafting curricula of trauma-informed activities aimed at building resilience and promoting positive coping mechanisms
• Demonstrated experience facilitating interactive and practical trainings with participants from different education levels and cultures
• Good understanding of the context in Myanmar, particularly context in Rakhine
• Previous experience in collaborating with INGOs
• Demonstrated knowledge of protection issues in humanitarian settings and roles/responsibilities of humanitarian actors.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills
• Proficiency in English and Myanmar are required

The consultant must conduct him/herself in line with DRCs values and Code of Conduct.