Afghanistan: A Psychosocial First Aid (PFA) and Mental Health Advisor Consultant position in Afghanistan

Première Urgence Internationale (PUI) is a non-governmental, non-profit, non-political and non-religious international aid organization. Our teams are committed to supporting civilians’ victims of marginalization and exclusion, or hit by natural disasters, wars and economic collapses, by answering their fundamental needs. Our aim is to provide emergency relief to uprooted people in order to help them recover their dignity and regain self-sufficiency. The association leads in average 140 projects by year in the following sectors of intervention: food security, health, nutrition, construction and rehabilitation of infrastructures, water, sanitation, hygiene and economic recovery. PUI is providing assistance to around 4 million people in 22 countries – in Africa, Asia, Middle East, Caucasus and Europe.

INTRODUCTION

• CONTEXT


• Afghanistan country profile


• Afghanistan has been torn by conflict for decades. Though a national union government, representing all the ethnic components of the country has been put in power in 2014 after months of negotiations, its legitimacy has been constantly contested by various Armed Opposition Groups all over the country and notably the Taliban movement.


• In the 2012 Tokyo Conference, Afghanistan announced its road map toward self-reliance. However, great challenges remain to overcome. Security, social and economic development, good governance, and justice are, among other issues, essential pre-conditions in order to achieve the country’s ambitious objectives.


• The preparation of withdrawal of international troops in 2014 as well as the preparation for the presidential elections in April 2014 also questions the stability of the country. Humanitarian stakeholders forecast an increased level of violence, a rise in unemployment and criminality.


• Rebuilding and strengthening the health-care system is still a priority in Afghanistan, with the country-wide continuation of the implementation of BPHS (Basic Package of Health Services), and the EPHS (Essential Package of Hospital Services), initiated in 2003 and 2005.


• The security situation remains unstable. Many attacks continue to claim lives, mostly among the Afghan population


• Due to gradual withdrawal of Nato-led foreign combat troops since 2014 and deteriorated relation with Pakistan, the security situation is constantly degrading in most provinces of the country.


• Chronic instability with intensification of fights and consequent slummed economy conduct continuous flow of immigration, especially of young people who flee the country (Afghan nationals are the second contingent of refugees flow to Europe).

Eastern region (Nangarhar and kunar provinces)

Eastern Region

Eastern region are characterized since 2007 by chronic instability (it is since then ranking constantly in top 3 in terms of security incidents reported) and multiple conflicts mostly between multiple AOGs and ANF. Both provinces are neighboring the Pakistan border, and are as such considered as sanctuary for Taliban fighters. But it also it has enabled development of trade, especially as Afghanistan is a landlocked country. Jalalabad (3^rd most populated city of the country) – Kabul Highway is then a strategic axis for the economy of the country. Trade and agriculture (the provinces benefit from agricultural land constantly irrigated by mountain rivers) are main economic activities in the region, although cultivation of poppies and smuggling are also considered to generate significant resources.

The Nangarhar and Kunar provinces are mostly populated with Pachtou populations and characterized by tribal allegiances system.

From mid-2015, the raise of El Khorasan movement, claiming allegiance to ISIS, has contributed to rise in violence and conflict mostly in the Nangarhar province, with opening of frontlines in between AOGs.

Natural Disaster

Both provinces are regularly affected by floods especially in the spring season, and in highly populated areas where urbanization have caused significant modification of the topography.

In 2015, both provinces have also been affected by 2 major earthquakes within a 2 months period (October and December 2015), which have cause affected 4.500 people in the Eastern region.

AMI – and then PUI – has been working in Afghanistan since 1980 in several provinces (Pansjheer, Logar, Laghman, Nuristan, Bamyan, Blkh, Samangan, Kabul, Kunar and Daykundi).

PUI is currently working on strengthening the health system in Afghanistan:

• PUI is the current implementer for BPHS and EPHS in Kunar (since 2003) and BPHS Implementer in Daykundi (since 2012).


• PUI also works on emergency programs funded by ECHO (since 2013) in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, consisting in providing emergency heath assistance to conflict affected populations (direct casualties, IDPs), including Psycho-social First Aid. A particular focus is put on this intervention, as number of conflict affected people is rising in the country and notably in the Eastern Region.


• PUI is also implementing complementary projects funded by the WHO, the WFP and UNICEF in Kunar and Daykundi, in order to cover humanitarian gaps (white areas) and to implement emergency responses (vaccination campaigns).


• PUI is publishing the Salamati and Roghtia magazines (since 1994) distributed in the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. Those two magazines are health promotion tools distributed to all Health professionals and Community Health Workers in Afghanistan.

PUI’s strategy in the country:

PUI strategy is to address the fundamental needs of the Afghan population in respect with all humanitarian principles. Indeed, Neutrality and impartiality are key principles to respect in order to enable humanitarian access to the affected populations.

PUI has a strong health expertise in the country that can be used as an entry point to implement an integrated approach to support the population to regain their most basic needs and also to their self-sufficiency. Indeed, such problems as malnutrition and undernutrition request a multi sectoral and comprehensive response in order to decrease the prevalence of the phenomenon.

Due to the violent recent history of the country and the constantly increasing number of security incidents in the country, PUI is developing an advocacy plan for development of PFA in the country, in order to support the development of such activity countrywide.

• . CONSULTANCY JUSTIFICATION

Although Afghanistan has been almost continuously at war for the last 3 decades (exception of the Taliban Regime 1995-2001) with high trauma caseload and indiscriminate targeting between civilians and fighters, Psychosocial First Aid is very little developed.

This can be explained by the overall destruction of the Health system after soviet invasion, and the many challenges linked with the rebuilding enterprise throughout BPHS and EPHS services.

As BPHS and EPHS implementer in Kunar Province, PUI is working with 49 heath Facilities to provide Basic Primary and secondary Healthcare services. Linked with continuous fights in the areas and increasing pressure from AOGs on strategic axis and locations, trauma caseload has been increasing as well.

Parallel to the medical response developed at community or health facility level, PUI has been developing, first as a pilot project, provision of Psycho-social First Aid as integrated to the trauma care services. Thus, in Kunar Province 1,310 PFA consultations and 1,661 community awareness have been conducted in 2015, far above expectations.

Although Psychological trauma largely remain a taboo and that resilience of population in Afghanistan seems quite high, it however highlights the need for PFA in order to decrease the risk of mental disorders and to document the causes of trauma as well (according to PFA consultations data, 42% of the PFA consultations are directly linked with war causes, explosions, fights, bombings..).

Consultancy objectives

2.1 overall Objective:

To strengthen PUI capacity in the response to conflict affected people by providing of adapted Psychosocial First Aid in Afghanistan.

2.2 Specific Objectives: To conduct and supervise implementation of PFA activities in the frame of PUI emergency response in Eastern Region
To develop PUI internal capacity on PFA management (Afghan Mission and organization level: HQ+ Regional Office) by development of internal curriculums and human resources

To ensure representation and lead advocacy process by national partners in Afghanistan (MoPH, International and National NGOs, local authorities) for development of PFA and integration in the emergency response phase).

Tasks

To conduct and supervise implementation of PFA activities in the frame of PUI emergency response in Eastern RegionIdentify the zones most affected, the population categories most vulnerable (according to status, age, gender, professional category…), and define the vulnerability criteria that allows these groups to be distinguished throughout the intervention.

Assess the specific needs in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces related to psycho-social counseling, through meetings with the medical department in Kabul and key medical experts in JalalabadIs accountable for the PFA database management, data provision and analysis (disaggregated data by cause of trauma, gender, age, geographical area, seasonal analysis)
Identify the zones most affected, the population categories most vulnerable (according to status, age, gender, professional category…), and define the vulnerability criteria that allows these groups to be distinguished throughout the intervention.
Prepares a training curriculum for health facilities staff
Plans, organizes and conducts the training of 80 health facilities staff on psycho-social counseling for Internally Displaced People and returnees, in accordance to the project work plan
Provides detailed report on the trainings conducted and provides recommendations to the Head of Base, the Program Coordinator and the Medical Team in Kabul

Whenever possible, provides on-job training for health facilities staffTo develop PUI internal capacity on PFA management

Development of relevant training plan for PFA national staffs based on relevant international PFA and mental health standards. Trains PUI medical staff on the basic PFA level
Provides HQ and Regional Staff with basic training sessions

Development of internal PUI guidelines on PFA matching with PUI mandate and standardsTo ensure representation and lead advocacy process by national partners FOR PFA INTERVENTION

Identify stakeholders and potential partners involved in PFA delivery: Proactive participation in the regional health and protection clusters;
Links with MOPH mental department in the development
Organizing of roundtable about PFA curriculum standards both at regional and national level
Conducts meetings with other stakeholders including NGOs working on mental health and psycho-social counseling
Under the supervision and in collaboration with the Head of Base, represents PUI with its implementing partners (NGOs, WHO, UNHCR and other partners) at provincial level, including local authorities for matters related to mental health and psycho-social support in the program.

assess local priorities in terms of needs and identify local capacity and resources available to respond to these needs

Organisation of the mission

• Duration of the consultancy Mission

11 months (1st February 2016- 31ST December 2016)

Location of the mission

50% time in Eastern Region (Kunar and Nangarhar provinces)
50% time in Kabul
Trips for technical seminars at HQ / Regional Office level

• Conditions
  R&R regime (every 3 months)

Medical and evacuation insurance shall be subscribed by the consultant

“PFA and mental Health advisor” requirements:

• Strong Mental health and PFA background in conflicted affected countries (at least 5 years)


• Good knowledge in Nutrition, wash and care practices.


• At least 5 years of humanitarian experience,


• Fluent in English,


• Previous experience in Afghanistan


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  Fluency in Dari/ Pachtou

  
  


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  logistics, security and administrative Organisation

  
  


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  All travel issues for international consultant such plane ticket or Visa, will be arranged by the HQ.

  
  


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  Domestic flight are booked by the HR department in Kabul according to flights schedule,

  
  


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  The mission (Kabul office and Jalalabad/ Assadabad Bases) will be in charge of supporting the PFA team for all logistics and administrative aspects.

  
  


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  Recruitment of national PFA staffs will under the responsibility of the assessment team leader, support will be provided by the HR department

  
  


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  Security management will be under the responsibility of and under supervision/ validation of the Head of Mission and Field Coordinator.

  
  


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  Expected deliverables

  
  
  • PFA emergency response implementation plan
  
  

Following the established framework and a maximum of 15 pages, excluding appendixes.

• A Project monitoring tool updated on a monthly base


• Draft of the report must be presented to the Head of Mission during the last a week before the definite meeting date.


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  The report must be released with 3 paper copies as well as one electronic version.

  
  


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  All versions must be released to the mission and HQ and on the date formerly agreed

  
  


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  The technical referent, Head of Mission, Programme Officer or Desk Manager can request corrections or modifications after the report is released and the evaluator must ensure that he is available if necessary.

  
  


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  power point presentation

  
  

A PPT summarizing main results and information collected should be prepared in English.

It will review:

To be proposed by the consultant