Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Capacity Strengthening

Background of the project 

The integration of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) within primary health care programs is a strategic priority for IRC health programs. To meet our ambition for MHPSS to be integrated within primary health care programs, there is a need for enhanced capacity within the Health Technical Unit (HTU) and country programs to design, implement, monitor and evaluate comprehensive MHPSS programs that are based on evidence and best practices.

The IRC will engage a consultant to develop a three-month focused capacity strengthening program for Health Technical Advisors, Emergency Unit Health Coordinators and Health leadership within select countries.MHPSS Advisors and MHPSS focals in country programs will be engaged in the development of the content of the capacity strengthening plan, but they will not be the targeted audience. The three-month program will engage staff an average of 1-2 hours per week, and will used mixed learning methods, including assigned readings, live webinars, asynchronous webinars, small group exercises, and 1-1 meetings.The specific methods and learning goals will be determined through a pre-assessment that will assess pre-existing knowledge and attitudes towards mental health, and preferred learning methodologies.The capacity strengthening program will be grounded in IRC’s MHPSS work, not general MHPSS approaches or theories, with the goal to make this program extremely practical.

Scope of Work:

1. Develop a MHPSS in Health programs capacity strengthening program for Health Technical Advisors and Health leadership within country programs.  The capacity strengthening program will be developed based on relevance to IRC health and MHPSS programs, participant knowledge and attitudes towards MHPSS, participant’s stated preferred learning methods, and agreed learning objectives. It is expected that this area of work will take approximately 15 days.
2. Delivery of capacity strengthening program to an estimated 20 staff across 12+ countries. It is estimated that this will require 1 day of work per week over a 12-week period.

Deliverables:

1. Written capacity strengthening program plan.
2. Delivery of capacity strengthening program to 20 IRC colleagues.
3. Delivery of all capacity strengthening curriculum materials (Slide decks, readings, notes for group exercises, etc), organized in a shared drive for easy access.