Consultant - MHPSS Consultant - Protection Case Management

Project Background: Global Protection Case Management Initiative

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) works in more than 40 countries to help people affected by humanitarian crises to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. Our vision is that the IRC will lead the humanitarian field by implementing high-impact, cost-effective programs for people affected by crisis, and shape global policy and practice by sharing our learning and experience with others. The Violence, Prevention and Response Unit (VPRU) at IRC implements protection programming that prevents violence against women, children, especially girls, and other vulnerable groups, and responds to it when it does occur.

The value of case management services is well established in specialized sectors, such as Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Child Protection (CP). These services, however, are limited to respond to a narrow sub-set of protection violations; the coordinated and focused support of case management is also essential when applied to other violations, such as the risk of abduction or being killed, persons threatened with violence associated with their perceived political or religious affiliations; those targeted for their association with, or membership of, minority groups, or persons excluded from service provision including persons with disabilities or older persons. 

In 2021, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and UNHCR developed the Protection Case Management Guidance [Field-Test Version], in response to this need.  The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), with IRC and UNHCR, is committed to sharing this resource with protection actors, seeking informal interagency support and elevating protection case management as a critical, core area of protection response.

This project aims to establish a structured approach to protection case management (PCM) at the global level, providing an endorsed interagency standard for case management to affected populations. To achieve this, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and IRC will provide the humanitarian protection sector with the knowledge, tools and guidance needed to develop and scale up a more standardized, coordinated, and quality PCM services. Building on the PCM Guidance [Field-Test Version], the project focuses on three key goals:   

1.       Increase global learning on PCM through incorporation of lessons drawn from country level implementation, leading to the elevation of this intervention to a core protection programming module in the humanitarian program cycle.   

2.       Integrate essential Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services into the revised PCM Guidance in order to support the appropriate skill development of case workers through resources and capacity building.  

3.       Strengthen the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) approach within the revised PCM Guidance to ensure delivery of quality services.   

IRC is leading on the integration of essential MHPSS services for the revised PCM Guidance and seeking an experienced MHPSS Consultant to support on specific project activities. While it is globally recognized that case managers have an essential role in supporting the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of their clients, there is a lack of practical guidance and training for PCM on how to provide MHPSS services within their scope of practice. Recognizing this gap, IRC is committed to ensuring that the revised PCM Guidance includes essential MHPSS components.

Scope of Work:

During March – April 2023, IRC is collating global resources on best practices for protection actors in MHPSS and conducting a targeted MHPSS review of the PCM Guidance [Field-Test Version].  Findings from this review will be shared with interagency actors for feedback and inputs. The goal of this review is to identify key gaps and opportunities for the integration of MHPSS into the revised PCM Guidance and accompanying training materials.

Known gaps in the PCM Guidance [Field-Test Version] include the integration of core MHPSS approaches and principles and guidance on focused, non-specialized MHPSS interventions for caseworkers. IRC will lead on the integration of core MHPSS approaches and principles into the revised PCM Guidance and accompanying training materials. The Consultant will lead on developing the content for focused, non-specialized MHPSS interventions for caseworkers – including MHPSS activity guides – for the revised PCM Guidance and accompanying training materials. IRC will be responsible for integrating the materials developed by the Consultant into the revised Guidance and training package.

The Consultant, IRCs VPRU MHPSS Technical Advisor (TA), and IRCs PCM Project Lead will work together at the beginning of the consultancy to clearly outline and confirm expected deliverables. These IRC focal points will work alongside the Consultant throughout the consultancy to provide supervision and support and ensure that key deliverables align with overarching project goals.  The content for MHPSS deliverables will be discussed and approved prior to the Consultant moving into the development phase of this project. Deliverables should be contextually and culturally adaptable across multiple contexts. Materials to be created in English (for later translation into additional languages).

Deliverables:

•  Review PCM Guidance [Field-Test Version] IRCs gap analysis  on MHPSS content on the PCM Guidance ; share informal feedback, questions and recommendations – ½  day
•  Participate in working sessions with IRC focal points to brainstorm and finalize key MHPSS content for consultants deliverables – 1 day
•  Develop content on focused, non-specialized MHPSS interventions for caseworkers for revised PCM Guidance – 6 ½  days
•  Develop complementary training package on focused, non-specialized MHPSS interventions for caseworkers (e.g., PowerPoint Slide decks, Handouts, Facilitation notes, MHPSS activity guides, etc.) – 12 days