1. Background
Current trends in the nature of armed conflicts and disasters are resulting in an increase in the scale and scope of protection issues affecting children and women in humanitarian contexts. After a decade of decline in the number of armed conflicts, since 2010 there has been an escalation in armed conflict globally. By 2013, more people were refugees (16.7 million) and internally displaced (33.3 million) than at any time since 1994. One half of these people are children. Children and women suffer disproportionately, physically and psychologically, when their country is ripped apart by war and conflict.
The escalation of conflicts and conflict-related displacement around the world and its impact on the development and overall well-being of children present the humanitarian and development community with acute challenges. Concerns are being expressed over the direct impact these conflicts have on children in terms of their education, development and overall well-being, but also about the long-term impacts on societies in terms of social cohesion. Initiatives like the #NoLostGeneration is a reflection of the importance being placed on issues of education, child protection and psychosocial well-being.
We know a lot more today about these issues compared to a few decades ago, but at the same time there are huge gaps in our knowledge and evidence. Given the scale of the problem, there is a need for the humanitarian actors to take stock of what we know about the impact of conflicts on children and re-examine what science and practice tells us. There is also a need to revisit strategies being adapted to deal with children in these conflict settings. In many contexts, because of limited access and because of the scale of affected populations, many of the traditional ways of facilitating psychosocial support are found to be inadequate.
Given this background, UNICEF and the Government of the Netherlands are convening a Symposium on children’s mental health and well-being in protracted armed conflicts on 26-28 March in The Hague, in partnership with the Child Protection Working Group (CPWG), the Inter-agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS RG) City University of New York (CUNY), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Johns Hopkins University (JHU), MHPSS.net, Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)/U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), REPPSI, Save the Children, Terre Des Hommes, UNHCR, WHO and World Vision.
This consultancy, being undertaken in support of the symposium, is a desk review of the current evidence, knowledge and practice on the issue of Mental Health and Psychosocial support with a special focus on the impacts of conflicts on children’s mental health and psychosocial well-being so that it can first inform the symposium, but can also be used as a useful reference for practitioners in the field.
2. Purpose
The purpose of this consultancy is to undertake a 1) review of the existing evidence on the mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian contexts 2) review of promising programme experiences with recommendations for additional interventions and scaling up in the field.
A draft report produced by this consultancy will be made available for the symposium. This would then be updated and revised after the symposium, to be used as a compendium of resource for the field.
3. Scope of the Review
The review would cover a range of topics, as outlined below:
- MHPSS consequences of conflicts and displacement on children – A review of the evidence base, ranging from findings from neuroscience, social psychology and the social sciences.
- An overview of literature on resilience of children, families, and communities -the role of culture and context in MHPSS
- The impact of conflict on wider social structures and processes – including social cohesion and peacebuilding
- Beyond posttraumatic stress disorder: towards a comprehensive paradigm that includes the effects of chronic stress and structural adversity and integrates protective/ risk factors at multiple levels – current approaches, thinking and knowledge and practice.
- Experience from the field including safe spaces, child friendly spaces and community based psychosocial support, including brief case studies/snapshots from the field.
- Reviewing current programmes and approaches: identifying gaps and opportunities
1. Deliverables
The key deliverables of the consultancy will be the following:
1) A review document of about 150 pages, to be made available as a draft by May 15, 2015.
2) A final compendium of evidence and practice by July 30, 2015.
3) A presentation to be available for the symposium by May 15, 2015.
1. Key Tasks and methodology
Key tasks of the consultant/s will include the following:
1) Review existing research papers, impact evaluation reports and academic journals to assess and reproduce existing knowledge base.
2) Collate and review programme documents, reports, evaluations and other relevant documents from countries where MHPSS was a significant component of programme response. Existing studies and evaluations will be used. The consultant/s will refer extensively to the IASC Guidelines and related tools available.
3) Conduct interviews with key staff in MHPSS RG partner agencies and research organizations/universities to gain an understanding of existing tools, practices.
2. Supervision, Roles and Responsibilities
The Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF, coordinating the symposium will supervise the consultancy. The drafts will be reviewed by a group of agencies who are partnering with UNICEF in organizing this symposium.
3. Location
The consultant may work from a remote location; there will be no travel required.
4. Duration
60 working days over 4 months, proposed to start from March 2015 and end by June 2015.
5. Key competences, technical background, and experience required
UNICEF seeks to engage the services of one consultant with the following profile:
Advanced Degree in Social Work/Psychology/Public Health or related fields.
· 10 to 15 years (senior level) of experience either in the design, development, evaluation and implementation of psychosocial support programmes or related work on the issue.
· Proven research skills and demonstrated expertise in analysis and development of technical papers and reports as well as programmatic guidance related to MHPSS. Published work.
· Knowledge and experience in working in emergencies
- Capacity to work independently yet with ability to share information, receive feedback and engage in dialogue with partners.
· Good writing and analytical skills.
· Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to promote collaboration and consensus building.
· Fluency in English and knowledge of at least one additional UN language.
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