Consultant – Review of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Interventions and Guidance for Integration across Mercy Corps’ Programs – Remote

Background:

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps’ Technical Support Unit (TSU) is a key part of the Program Department. TSU subject-matter experts help set agency strategy and provide consultation – from assessment and design through project implementation and results measurement – to field offices worldwide, in some of the world’s toughest places. TSU team members lead research, foster organizational learning, represent Mercy Corps to external audiences, and develop partnerships. The TSU is also integral to global business development and revenue. The Young People and Protection (YPP) department under the TSU provides technical guidance to country teams implementing adolescent and youth and focused programming as part of its Future Proof Framework, a multi-sector approach that places safety and well-being at its foundation and layers on support for knowledge and skills development, meaningful participation, and economic opportunities. In addition, other TSU departments (Peace and Governance and Youth Employment) collaborate closely with the YPP team on multi-sector youth programming.

Purpose / Project Description:

Mercy Corps currently contributes to strengthening the foundations of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in communities through a variety of methodologies. Often these methodologies vary by technical focus of the program, the human and physical resources, and/or the geographic and humanitarian or non-humanitarian context that guide and influence program implementation. Recognizing the importance that enabling environments have with enhancing young peoples’ ability to develop, cope, adapt, and thrive, MHPSS approaches are an essential element of the Future Proof Framework, central to YPP’s mandate, and are highly complementary to multi-sectoral programming in Mercy Corps’ other sectors of focus. Mercy Corps’ MHPSS approaches are often layered into programming and are designed to strengthen young people’s abilities to navigate and respond to safety issues they experience, strengthen their confidence and participation, garner stronger relationships and support networks, and foster stronger bonds with peers and influential people in their lives. They can range from approaches that aim to strengthen systems of support to responding to individual psychological, emotional, and social support needs, and include approaches developed by other NGOs and those curated within Mercy Corps. Depending on the project goals, the use of MHPSS in Mercy Corps projects may be a primary objective or secondary outcome that strengthens adolescents and young peoples’ ability to attain learning and employment/economic opportunities. Despite the usage and importance of MHPSS in our work, Mercy Corps YPP does not have a centralized toolbox for MHPSS interventions, making it difficult for teams to know which interventions are appropriate and when.

The purpose of this consultancy is to:

1) conduct a landscape review and analysis of the various MHPSS methodologies currently in use with adolescent and young people in humanitarian and development settings within and outside of Mercy Corps – including conflict prevention and youth employment programs – and identify strengths/weaknesses and recommended use cases (i.e. what approach works best in a given context, outcomes, etc.). Methodologies reviewed and analyzed should align with the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies Intervention Pyramid(see p. 13), with a focus on interventions at Level II & III of the pyramid: Community and Family Supports/Focused non-Specialized Supports.

2) develop a user-friendly catalog of existing relevant materials (technical guidance notes, training guides, curricula, budget templates, etc.) to assist program designers and implementers with the integration of MHPSS approaches in programming with adolescents and young people in accordance with program resources and capacity, and with intentionality towards different intersectional needs of participants. This catalog should clearly articulate the needed resources and capacity (time, personnel, financial resources) needed to implement each approach, as well as examples where approaches would be most appropriate.

Consultant Activities:

The Consultant will:

• Conduct a review of a selection of 10-15 current and recent past Mercy Corps programs – and targeted external peer agency programs – that utilize(d) MHPSS Community and Family Supports activities with adolescent and young people in humanitarian and development settings. This will include but not be limited to:

  • document the methodology design and implementation;
  • categorize the use of MHPSS as a stand-alone or integrated activity within a larger multi-sector program;
  • document the operational context (humanitarian, conflict, post-conflict, etc.);
  • document factors that enabled or limited impact;
  • collect available program process and outcome data; and
  • collect relevant materials (training guides, curricula, budget templates, etc.)

• Use information gathered to inform a guidance catalog that includes an annotated list of MHPSS methodologies that should be considered for integration in future program design and implementation with and for adolescent girls and young people within Mercy Corps. Ensure the catalog includes annexes or links to materials that can be used by program teams to operationalize the identified MHPSS methodologies, and clearly articulates the minimum level of resources and capacity needed for an intervention to be successful.

• Conduct a comparative and strategic analysis of the MHPSS activities/interventions included in the review and catalog to inform the development/ adoption of a framework/approach for MCs adolescent and Youth programming.

Consultant Deliverables:

The Consultant will:

• Prepare a landscape review reference document of MHPSS methodologies that align with Community and Family Supports (IASC guidelines).
• Prepare a written catalog of selected Community and Family Supports MHPSS interventions with adolescents and young people. The catalog should include annexes or links to materials that can be used by program teams to operationalize the identified MHPSS methodologies.
• Write a brief (5-7 pages) narrative strategic analysis of the MHPSS interventions that are most relevant for Mercy Corps to adopt more widely across our programs with adolescents and young people.

Timeframe / Schedule:

• 11 November – Consultant starts tasks
• 25 November – Consultant shares first draft of landscape review reference document for MC review and feedback.
• 2 December – MC sends feedback on landscape review to consultant
• 5 December – Consultant shares first draft of catalog
• 9 December – MC sends feedback on first draft of catalog
• 12 December – Consultant shares final draft of landscape review reference document
• 20 December – Consultant shares final draft of catalog
• 6 January – Consultant shares first draft of strategic analysis document
• 11 January – MC sends feedback to consultant on strategic analysis document
• 20 January – Consultant delivers final version of strategic analysis document

Number of days

15 days paid at a daily rate to take place from 11 November 2022 to 20 January 2023

The Consultant will report to:

Director Young People and Protection

The Consultant will work closely with:

• Director Young People & Protection
• Senior Protection Advisor
• Advisor Adolescent Girls and Youth Programs
• Senior Advisor Youth Development
• Interview members of additional technical teams (Peace and Governance and Youth Employment) and review methodologies in use.

Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to write in a clear and concise manner.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and structure information.
• Demonstrated knowledge of MHPSS approaches for adolescents (especially girls) and young people in different settings – humanitarian/fragile, post-conflict, development..
• Demonstrated knowledge of adolescent girls and young people programming.
• Technical knowledge of GBV, Child Protection, and youth interventions
• Demonstrated accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to be flexible and respond to changes as part of the review and feedback process.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and work under changing circumstances.

Required skills and experience

• Masters degree or equivalent in mental health studies, psychology, social sciences, gender and international development required.
• 5-7 years of field and research experience in MHPSS for adolescents and young people is required.
• Experience in MHPSS in conflict or crisis-affected settings is required
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in designing and conducting similar research and analysis is required.
• Experience in drafting reports and knowledge products in a related field is required.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills demonstrating fluency in English language.
• French is highly advantageous and will be an asset.
• Attention to detail

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.