TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR): Assessment of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) and Resource Mapping

TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR)

Assessment of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) and Resource Mapping

1. Organizational Background

KOSHISH is a national-level organization established in 2008 to promote mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in Nepal. Registered with the District Administration Office, Kathmandu (Reg. No. 086/065) and affiliated with the Social Welfare Council, Nepal (Reg. No. 25676), KOSHISH is recognized as an Organization of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) focused on psychosocial disability. It has been a member organization of the National Federation of the Disabled-Nepal (NFDN) since 2066/07/19 B.S.

Guided by the principle of “NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US,” KOSHISH advocates for the inclusive and meaningful participation of individuals with mental health problems and psychosocial disabilities. The organization works to mainstream MHPSS, with a focus on marginalized communities, including persons with disabilities, Dalit’s, women, and broader communities.

KOSHISH also has demonstrated experience in conducting assessments and learning-oriented research to inform evidence-based MHPSS programming, monitoring, evaluation, and policy advocacy at local and national levels.

2. Project Information

The project “Strengthening Health Systems for the Provision of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Services in Municipalities of Sudurpaschim and Lumbini Provinces” is an 18-month initiative (November 2025 – April 2027), funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and implemented by KOSHISH in close coordination with local governments.

Target Locations:

• Panchadewal Binayak Municipality, Achham (Sudurpaschim Province)
• Triveni Municipality, Bajura (Sudurpaschim Province)
• Bijaynagar Rural Municipality, Kapilbastu (Lumbini Province)

Project Goal (Impact Level): Strengthened health systems for sustainable provision of quality MHPSS services in the target municipalities of Sudurpaschim and Lumbini Provinces.

Project Objective (Outcome Level): Improved accessibility and quality of MHPSS services for marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities, OPDs, persons with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities, Dalit’s, women, and other vulnerable populations, in alignment with the "Leave No One Behind" (LNOB) principle.

Project Outputs:

1. Output 1: The MHPSS system in all three selected municipalities in Sudurpaschim and Lumbini Provinces is strengthened (including improved service delivery mechanisms, integration into local health systems, and enhanced capacity of frontline providers).
2. Output 2: Increased community awareness and reduced stigma towards mental health conditions, psychosocial disabilities, and MHPSS services among marginalized groups (persons with disabilities, Dalit’s, women) and the broader community, achieved through local government-led campaigns and participatory communication strategies.
3. Output 3: Established and strengthened capacity of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), OPDs, and local systems to sustainably support MHPSS service delivery, advocacy, and community-based support mechanisms.

3. Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of existing MHPSS services and develop a systematic MHPSS resource map in the targeted municipalities. The assessment will serve as a baseline and strategic planning tool for municipalities and stakeholders. The assessment aims to generate reliable and evidence-based information on the availability, accessibility, quality and coordination of mental health and psychosocial services across different levels of the health and community systems. It will also examine equity in access, utilization and referral of services.

Specifically, the assignment seeks to:

• Provide a clear overview of existing MHPSS service providers, including government facilities, private sector actors, NGOs/INGOs and community-based organizations.
• Assess the capacity of health facilities and service providers in terms of trained human resources, infrastructure, availability of essential psychotropic medicines, and adherence to national guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Population, as well as supervision mechanisms and service quality standards. In addition, the assessment will also consider broader aspects of accessibility and quality of care that, while not exclusively mental health-specific, significantly influence service utilization and user experience. These include language accessibility, availability of assistive devices, presence of support persons where appropriate, and the provision of respectful, non-discriminatory, and dignified care for all service users, including persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
• Examine the extent to which mental health services are integrated within primary health care in alignment with the Mental Health Gap Action Program (mhGAP) framework promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO), and identify barriers to effective integration.
• Identify gaps, duplication and inequities in service delivery, particularly affecting vulnerable and marginalized populations including women, persons with disabilities.
• Analyze the effectiveness and actual implementation of referral pathways, coordination mechanisms, and case management systems among stakeholders.
• Assess the extent to which referral pathways are functioning in practice, including potential gaps that may limit access to basic health and psychosocial services at the community level.
• Evaluate the knowledge and awareness of different stakeholders (service providers, community actors, and relevant institutions) regarding existing referral points, service availability, and appropriate referral procedures.
• Identify bottlenecks in referral processes, including delays, weak linkages, or breakdowns in coordination between levels of care and sectors
• Map formal and informal psychosocial support structures at community level, including peer groups, volunteers, schools, Self Help Group (SHGs) and local support networks, and assess their linkages with formal health systems.
• Develop a practical and user-friendly MHPSS resource directory and referral map that can be used by municipalities, health facilities, service providers, and communities, including digital and visual formats where feasible.

Ultimately, the purpose of this assignment is to strengthen local and provincial mental health systems by informing strategic planning, improving coordination among actors, enhancing service accessibility, and guiding future program design and resource allocation. The findings will support municipalities and relevant stakeholders in developing targeted interventions, capacity-building initiatives and sustainable mental health integration strategies within existing health and social protection systems. It will also contribute to improved awareness and utilization of MHPSS services by the community through enhanced service accessibility, strengthened referral systems, and increased community engagement.

Click on the link below for the detailed TOR:

ToR_MHPSS Assessment

Application Process

The proposal should reach the address below either by courier or hand delivery by 30th April 2026, before COB. Please enclose “Proposal for Assessment of MHPSS Services and Resource Mapping– Strengthening Health Systems for MHPSS Services (Sudurpaschim & Lumbini)” in a sealed envelope and drop it at the following address:

KOSHISH Central Office, Balkhu, Kathmandu (For location, please visit www.koshish.org.np)

Note:

• KOSHISH promotes equal opportunities and encourages applications from qualified women, persons with disabilities, and individuals from marginalized communities.
• KOSHISH is committed to ensuring the safety, dignity, and well-being of all individuals and maintains zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, or any other form of harm. All shortlisted candidates should be required to comply with KOSHISH’s Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct and will undergo appropriate safeguarding checks.
• KOSHISH reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals without assigning any reason.

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