Consultancy for CMHC lesson-learnt and modeling for publication

The objectives and the target AUDIENCE

In the scope of MdM global strategy to integrate MHPSS in primary health care linked with a community-based approach, this consultancy aims at documenting the CMHC projects, both the processes of opening and the implementation, the present running of activities in regards to the initial objective of the projects and the constraints faced in Lebanon since October 2019. The document should gather knowledge and understanding gained by experience through the review of the challenges, the identification of good practices and recommendations that will be used to create process change.

The consultant should also formalize the lesson-learned document as a guideline or a tool, allowing MdM to support the opening of other CMHCs.

Consultancy goals : The consultancy have two main goals:

1. Learning from the experience of opening 3 CMHCs:

The lesson-learned should analyse differences, advantages and drawbacks between Zahle and Beirut and Baalbek CMHC model as well as challenges and limits of the overall model in order to provide key recommendation for promoting community based mental health services. In particular, it should provide key components needed for achieving the sustainability of such services especially in term of finance, of ownership from national and local stakeholders and of exit strategy for MdM.   

It should answer to those questions:

• Was the objective of providing comprehensive, integrated and responsive mental health and social care services in community-based settings reached?
• Are the CMHCs centered and adapted to people’s needs through a recovery-oriented approach?
• Is the integration of mental health and substance use an added-value?

It should also review how MdM adapted its strategy and services to the socio-political context in Lebanon since October 2019 and to the COVID pandemic.

2. Tool box aiming at supporting the opening of other CMHCs:

After reviewing the experiences of MdM and Skoun in Lebanon and having a literature review of the experience of community mental health centers implemented by other organizations and in other locations, design a tool box / guide that MdM could use to ease the opening of other CMHCs.

Both parts should take into account the following components:

1. The steps to follow before the opening of the center (including administrative issues, logistics and assessments)

2. Internal functioning of the centers (HR issues, operational issues, services offered- tools, capacity building, data collection)

3.  Involvement of the community (mental health community based approach – activities, challenges, visibility, feedback et.c )

4. Referrals (mapping, capacity building, monitoring f referrals etc)

5. Network of health and MH partners to ensure CMHC integration and pathways from PHCC to CMHC

 

Quantitative/qualitative methods

The evaluation is expected to be a mix method approach, using qualitative (semi-structured individual interviews and/or focus groups with CMHC staff, patients, partners and other relevant stakeholders and observations) and quantitative tools to collect data. In the evaluation should be mention in  a clear manner the data collection tools (semi structure interviews, questionnaires, focus group discussion), the reason of selection  and the goal based on the target persons the consultancy will focus on.

Key persons/institutions the consultancy will focus are:

• CMHC staff (12)
• Patients (10)
• NMHP (3)
• Hospital directors or head nurses (2)
• ICRC psychiatrist (2)
• PHCC directors or staff (3)
• Community Outreach Volunteers (4)
• Representatives of the consortium partners (4)

EXPECTED outpuT

During the period of the mission, the consultant needs to submit an Inception report, a primary results and recommendation presentation and in the end the Final report of the consultancy.

Inception report

 

An inception report, including the methodology, the work plan as well as the tools used for the process of lesson-learned (questionnaires, interview, guides) will be submitted and reviewed by a steering committee prior to the field work phase.

 

Preliminary results and recommendations

 

After the field work phase, the consultant will present to MdM preliminary results. A workshop will be organized during which the consultant will report their results through a powerpoint presentation which will be used for feedback and discussions. The preliminary resultas will be sent to the steering committee for their information.

 

 Final Report

The final report will be issues in English. A provisional final report is produced at the end of the field work phase. MdM then has a few weeks from receiving the provisional report to circulate its comments and observations.

 

The definitive final report has to incorporate these comments /remarks/exchanges/discussions.

 

The report has to be between 40 and 50 pages (without counting the annexes), with type size 12 and in single spacing and has to include the following parts:

• Executive summary (5 pages maximum)
• List of acronyms
• Context (description of the project)
• Objectives of the document
• Methodology and limitations
• Main results
• Constraints which have an impact on the project
• Analysis and lessons learned (positive and negative)
• Tool box / guideline of a CMHC
• Conclusions and recommendations
• Annexes: Terms of reference, list of the persons that have been seen and a schedule, questionnaires, interview guides, guides for monitoring etc.

 

 

Organization of The Mission

The mission should take place ASAP and should be finalized until  the 1st of June 2021.

The consultant will be briefed by MDM key resource persons (Project Managers, Consortium Manager, MH coordinator, HQ MHPSS Advisor) and also MDM will provide some key documents related to the CMHC implementation in mission level (AFD Proposal and Reports, Presentation of CMHC ,NMHP strategy)

The indicative timetable is liable to change at any time depending on how the situation develops and especially on the security situation. 

 

The consultant should provide the consortium manager, every two months, a written update of the evaluation, listing completed activities, ongoing activities, challenges and way forward.

 

• Logistic and management:

 

• A laptop can be made available to the evaluator/consultant, upon request. The consultant can use MdM offices in Lebanon to work (and use the printers available there) and schedule interviews.
• The consultant is expected to use their own mobile/phone number for work purposes. However, when the consultant is at MdM offices in Lebanon, local landline and internet can be used.  
• The consultant is responsible for their own movement and accommodation for this mission. The consultant is expected to have their personal health insurance coverage.
• To enter Lebanon, foreign nationals need a passport, valid for a minimum of 6 months. There should be no stamp or mark on your passport that show a previous trip to Israel. If this is the case, visitors/coordinators must renew their passport before traveling, otherwise they will be denied entry in Lebanon and forced to take an immediate return flight.  For most nationalities, no preliminary procedure is needed before your arrival in Lebanon. Visitors will get an on-arrival visa at the airport. It is free of charge and usually valid one month (three for some nationalities).

 

• The final report needs to be submitted in English only. However, during the data collection, some tools will be translated to Arabic; this will be the responsibility of the consultant to arrange.

 

• Security: The consultant will be added to MdM Lebanon security group, so that s/he receive updates on the security situation. However, the consultant will be responsible to take decisions regarding their movements except if he/she moves with a MdM car.

 

 

Budget

A detailed budget suggested by the consultant, using the below format, should be shared along with the technical offer submitted by the consultant (Monetary amount suggested by the external consultant are “All tax included”). It is not mandatory to add all the budget lines, and it is possible to add new budget lines, however, the same template should be used.

 

 

Number of days

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TOTAL

     

     

     

     

 

Skills required for conducting the MISSion

 

The skills required may cover the following areas:

• Knowledge and professional experience of evaluation/lesson-learning
• Professional experience in NGOs
• Previous experience working with NGOs
• Technical expertise in MHPSS
• Knowledge and professional experience in Lebanon
• Arabic and English proficiency – French an asset

application file

The consultant who will apply should submit the following:

1. A technical proposal including:

• An appreciation of the terms of reference
• The technical approach developed and the detailed methodology (mentioned in clear manner the goals, the tools and the participants -target population-)  
• The team’s composition, the assignment of responsibilities to each of its members, the proposed CVs and the members’ availability.
• The provisional working plan, and an estimate of required staff time in working days

Planning broken as follow:

1. • Preparation phase (review of the documents and briefings)
   • Field work phase (data collection and analysis)
   • Provisional final report drafting phase
   • Feedback and finalization phase
2. A financial proposal including:

• The total financial quotation (including tax) incorporating the budget allocation (fees, living expenses, transportation, interpreter, etc.)

3. References to 2 similar previous works