Technical Assistance for the On-site mhGAP-IG ver 2.0 Capacity Building with Support and Supervision for Health Care Providers in Maguindanao, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Mindanao (BARMM)

The World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines is looking for a contractual partner/institution on the effective coordination and conduct On-site mhGAP-IG 2.0 Capacity Building with Support and Supervision for Health Care Providers in the Province of Maguindanao, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) under an Agreement for the Performance of Work (APW)

BACKGROUND

The Philippine Statistics Authority in 2020 estimated the population of BARMM at 4.4 million, majority of which were in Maguindanao (1.3 million, eluding City of Cotabato) and Lanao del Sur (1.2 million). Majority of the population in the region are regarded at a disadvantage, stemming from a combination of natural disasters, geographic and socioeconomic challenges, and conflicts between identity groups.

The demand for mental health care in the community is high. This highlights the importance of expanding the mental health workforce in non-specialized settings and ensure access to quality mental health care and support to people with mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorder. The Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) was developed to scale up care for identified MNS disorders, accompanied by the mhGAP-Intervention Guide mhGAP Intervention Guide - Version 2.0 (who.int). The mhGAP training manuals are designed to give healthcare providers the knowledge and skills necessary to use the mhGAP-IG.  However, to achieve real behaviour change, the healthcare providers need to be supported to develop the confidence and competency to integrate mhGAP into daily clinical practice. Training starts in the classroom but continues through post training supervision programmes. During the WHO-DOH-MOH assessment in March 2022, majority of healthcare providers in Maguindanao, including doctors and nurses, has already been trained in mhGAP-IG, however, implementation and roll-out is still low due to lack of continuous mentoring and supervision. Community health workers, although on a limited capacity, already contribute in identifying patients requiring mental health services.

In January 2023, the BARMM Ministry of Health and IPHO Maguindanao in partnership with the Department of Health and World Health Organization conducted MhGAP-IG 2.0 Refresher and Basic Course among Municipal Health Officers, Nurses, and some District personnel (Clusters I,II,IV). Out of the 36 Municipalities in the region, 35 of which successfully participated in the training. Of these participants, 18 participants including 14 newly hired Physicians, 3 Nurses and 1 Midwife attended the Basic MhGAP-IG 2.0 training while 26 Participants including 15 MHOs, 8 Nurses, 1 Psychologist, 1 Psychometrician and 1 Dentist attended the Refresher course.

The WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health supports the delivery of key outputs and outcomes of the Philippines’ Mental Health Strategic Plan 2019-2023, and strengthen the implementation of the Mental Health Act. BARMM MOH has requested WHO Philippines to further support its work in building capacity for quality mental health services at the PHC in the remaining clusters in the province of Maguindanao in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

REQUIREMENTS/WORK TO BE PERFORMED

Output 1: Inception Report with itemized work plan and Gantt chart of activities

Deliverable 1.1 Develop an Inception Report with itemized workplan and Gantt Chart of activities with the following minimum content:

• Background of the project
• Objectives and outputs
• Proposed methodology
• Program of activities
• Project support structure

The inception report, to be submitted within 7 days of commencing the assignment, will demonstrate the contractual partner’s conceptual and implementation approach and methodology, scope of work, resources required, and the timeline of activities to guide the assignment and to meet the agreed upon deliverables.

Deliverable 1.2: Discuss the inception report and work plan with DOH and WHO Philippines.

Output 2: Situational Analysis and review of literatures, models and materials for the mhGAP capacity building in the remaining clusters in Maguindanao

Deliverable 2.1: Conduct and submit Situational Analysis on mhGAP implementation and overall status of mental health service delivery in  focus areas/clusters, including a comprehensive documentation of the process and its results. Reference: mhGAP Operations Manual (who.int)

Deliverable 2.2: Review related literature, models, and materials regarding mental health including assessment and management (pharmacologic and psychosocial interventions) of MNS conditions, and existing capacity-building frameworks.

Deliverable 2.3: Submit report on the review of literatures, models, materials

Output 3: Conduct of on-site mhGAP- IG ver 2.0 training with support and supervision in the remaining clusters in Maguindanao

Deliverable 3.1: Plan, design, and facilitate onsite mhGAP trainings for non-specialist health care provider in primary health care facilities focusing on locally adapted Psychoses (psychosis and bipolar disorder), Depression, Epilepsy, and Self-harm / Suicide and ECP modules.

Deliverable 3.2: Plan, design and  facilitate post-training support and supervision sessions to participating municipal/rural health care providers with secondary or tertiary facilities providing mental health services, including but not limited to case conferences, developing referral networks, with possible immersions.

Deliverable 3.3: Submit final draft of Support and Supervision Protocol/design for mhGAP

Deliverable 3.4: Submit proper documentation of trainings, support and supervision sessions conducted (write-ups, photos/videos, presentations) as well as supporting documents to facilitate processing of CPD credits (draft MOH approved Certicate of Completion / Attendance, post-activity reports, evaluation reports).

Deliverable 3.5: Provide logistics support to program staff including, but not limited to, transportation (land, air) and accommodation as part of program monitoring and oversight. (at least 3)

Deliverable 3.6: Plan and conduct at least one (1) post-event face-to-face meeting with WHO, DOH-SCD (Mental Health), MOH BARMM, IPHO and other key stakeholders following completion of all trainings with support and supervision. Submit presentations and supporting documents.

Output 4: Final Technical Narrative and Financial Report

Deliverable 4.1 Submit Final Technical Report including documentation and analysis of outcome of the capacity building (training, support and supervision), situation analysis, and adaptation of mhGAP-IG ver 2.0 resources, possible recommendations with supporting documentation (e.g. proceedings, minutes, photos, videos, recordings, attendance sheet, evaluation summary, presentations).

Deliverable 4.2: Submit brief Financial Report

CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTRACTOR

Mandatory experience:

• Essential: The team leader and members must have at least a Master’s degree in any of the following fields: public health, epidemiology, medicine, psychiatry or related fields from a recognized university
• Team Leader must have at least 5 years of relevant work experience in mental health capacity building design interventions and implementation of public health, rights-based programmes

Desirable experience:

• With at least five (5) years of relevant work experience in designing and conducting mental health capacity building including mhGAP, or public health programmes.
• Relevant experience in mental health program planning, operations, and implementation; familiar with the health system and community system of the country.
• Team lead and members have relevant clinical mental health and mhGAP training and supervision experience.

TECHNICAL SKILL & KNOWLEDGE

• With good technical writing and facilitation skills, knowledgeable in basic computer programs and virtual/online platforms, efficient organizational and management skills

LANGUAGE

• With excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Filipino

COMPETENCIES

• Communicating in a credible and effective way
• Moving forward in a changing environment
• Fostering integration and teamwork
• Producing results

SUBMISSIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit the following documents to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 24 May 2023

• • Company Profile {for institutional applications}
• • Technical proposal indicating methodology and timelines, in addition to the below annexes
  • Annex 2: Confidentiality Undertaking
  • Annex 3: Vendor Information Form
• • Financial proposal

Please use Tender Notice No. MHS-005-2023 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.

Last day of receiving queries for this tender is on 18 May 2023