Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)B
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeCONS International
Target Start Date2023-12-01
Job Posting End DateNovember 22, 2023
Terms of ReferenceSince the end of 2021, UNHCR Lebanon, with the technical support of Save the Children, has been building the capacity of Outreach Volunteers from the refugee community and other frontliners such as psychologists and OV coordinators to deliver a set of non-specialized community-based psychosocial support (PSS) interventions, one of which is group Problem Management Plus (PM+).
This was considered essential given the rise in the mental health needs among the refugee population in 2019 with the deteriorating socio-economic situation, the Beirut Blast and COVID-19 measures.
Problem Management Plus (PM+) is a five-session intervention based on cognitive-behavioural strategies for adults impaired by distress in communities exposed to adversity. These sessions can be delivered by lay or non-technical persons in multiple contexts. PM+ has been shown to address both psychological problems (e.g. stress, fear, feelings of helplessness) and, where possible, practical problems (e.g. livelihood problems, conflict in the family and so on), including when delivered by community workers. PM+ is available as an individual version and as a group version. The group version is currently being applied in Lebanon as a pilot. It should be noted that PM+ has been adapted for use with Syrian refugees (Akhtar et al., 2020, Uygun et al., 2020).
Therefore, this project seeks to review the implementation of group PM+ in terms of its outcomes, appropriateness and acceptability among facilitators such as OVs and recipients of PM+ sessions in Lebanon. The findings and recommendations will serve to inform the current and future interventions in Lebanon, as well as other countries in the MENA region and beyond. In line with Mental Health Gap Action Programme, UNHCR operation in Lebanon is promoting a task-shifting approach to inform the development of interventions that could be delivered in an affordable manner in under-resourced settings by trained lay providers.
To ensure technical oversight of the project deliverables, a Community-Based PSS Project Steering Committee was set up to provide technical oversight, guidance and endorsement of the materials delivered to OVs and frontline staff on the topics of Psychological First Aid (PFA), Group Problem Management Plus (PM+) and peer support. The committee members include the National Mental Health Programme of the Ministry of Public Health, UNICEF, WHO, Save the Children and UNHCR.
Qualification and experience required (degree required, years of work experience, field of expertise, language required):
• 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
• Relevant mental health or public health degree
• At least 3 years’ experience as Problem Management Plus trainer, including group Problem Management Plus
• At least 5 years of relevant MHPSS experience
• Relevant experience in project evaluation; quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis and report writing assignments
• Previous experience in MHPSS program evaluation in humanitarian/development contexts.
• Capacity to deliver all requested products within the established deadlines
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Excellent drafting skills
• Excellent knowledge of English language, Arabic is an asset
Disclaimer of Conflict of Interest
To be recruited, the consultant should not have any direct involvement in mental health and psychosocial work in Lebanon linked to this project, including relatives within UNHCR or Save the Children who are or have been involved in this project. He/she is obliged to disclose any potential conflict of interest before being recruited for this project review.
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SkillsDM-Data Collection and Analysis, PH-Clinical Mental Health, PH-Community Mental health and Psychosocial Support, PH-Needs Assessment-Public Health, PH-Public Health Research, PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Community based assessment methodologies, PR-Community-based Protection - Community engagement and capacity building, PR-Community-based Protection - Planning, implementing and analysing surveys/assessments, PR-Community Empowerment Projects, Researching
EducationBachelor of Arts (BA): Mental Health, Bachelor of Science (BS): Public Health
Certifications
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance