Terms of Reference (ToR) Midterm Review of the Project: Promoting Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in Nepal

Terms of Reference (ToR) Midterm Review of the Project:

Promoting Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in Nepal

A. 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. 25677), KOSHISH is recognized as an Organization of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) focused on psychosocial disability. It is 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, a commitment directly aligned with the rights enshrined in Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Our work operationalizes the right to live independently and be included in the community by mainstreaming mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services. We focus on marginalized communities, including persons with disabilities, Dalits, women, and broader populations, to advance the UNCRPD’s mandates of non-discrimination, accessibility, and the provision of necessary support services for full inclusion and participation in society.

B. Project Information

The Promoting Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in Nepal project is a four-year initiative (2024–2027) jointly funded by Australian Aid and CBM Global, and implemented by KOSHISH in close coordination with the governments.

This project builds on KOSHISH’s previous community mental health, self-advocacy, and suicide prevention initiatives. It aims to strengthen mental health systems and suicide prevention mechanisms, support the implementation of mental health strategies and policies by local governments using rights-based approaches, and improve the mental health and psychosocial well-being of persons with mental health problems and psychosocial disabilities and their families.

The project empowers right-holders, mainstreams mental health and disability inclusion into local government systems, and promotes suicide prevention strategies through multi-sectoral collaboration in the project municipalities (Gorkha M, MadhyaNepal M, Rainas M, Sundarbazar M, Pokhara MPC) of Gorkha, Lamjung, and Kaski districts of Gandaki Province.

Project Objective: The project aims to contribute to an inclusive environment where persons with psychosocial disabilities and other underrepresented or disadvantaged groups are able to fully enjoy their rights.

Specific Objectives (PSO):

• PSO01: Improved mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in communities through empowering the rights holders and mainstreaming mental health and disability inclusion into local government systems.
• PSO02: Suicide Prevention Strategies are adapted and promoted through multi-sectoral collaboration in project municipalities.

Key Results:

• Result 1: Persons with and at risk of psychosocial disabilities are empowered to claim their rights with the local level government.
• Result 2: Improved federal, provincial and local government systems for CRPD-compliant policies, programs, and services including mental health.
• Result 3: Reduced stigma and barriers associated with mental health and suicide to promote community inclusion in partnership with local government.
• Result 4: Improved psychosocial well-being among adolescent girls and boys at schools.
• Result 5: Strengthened government and community mechanisms for suicide prevention and response in collaboration with local, provincial and federal governments.

Expected Outcome: Empowering persons with mental health problems, psychosocial disabilities, and other marginalized groups to achieve improved mental health and psychosocial well-being by promoting their rights, reducing stigma, and ensuring the integration of CRPD-compliant mental health and suicide prevention services across strengthened government systems and inclusive community support systems, and school settings.

C. Purpose of the Midterm Review

The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct a midterm review of the project to evaluate progress, identify challenges and lessons learned, document good practices, and provide practical recommendations to strengthen implementation and sustainability during the remaining project period.

Specific Objectives:

1. To evaluate the progress of the project against the logframe indicators and planned outcomes/results.
2. To assess the satisfaction level of people using MHPSS services (using the satisfaction survey scale) and the extent to which suicide prevention crisis support has reduced suicidal ideation (self-reported).
3. To examine changes in attitudes and practices of health service providers, health-seeking behaviour of community members (including increased referrals), and changes in perceptions and attitudes of families, communities, and local governments toward people with mental health problems and their families.
4. To review the participation of adolescent girls and boys in wellbeing sessions (yearly increasing trend) and examine the effectiveness and sustainability of project activities.
5. To identify implementation challenges and opportunities and provide practical, evidence-based recommendations to strengthen project implementation during the remaining period.

D. Methodology

The Consultant must propose a detailed mixed-methods, participatory methodology within their Technical Proposal. The methodology must include:

• Desk Review: Comprehensive review of project documents, including training reports, monitoring reports, technical tools and guidelines, policy and advocacy documentation, and project reports.
• Sampling Strategy: The predetermined sample for the mid-term review is 158, ie; 97 rightholders and 61 community people.
• Data Collection Tools: The data collection tool for the mid-term review should be updated and adapted from the baseline tool.
• Data Collection Procedures: Detailed plans for participatory logframe reflection sessions, KIIs, FGDs, ethical recruitment, informed consent, data collection, translation, coding, and real-time quality assurance.
• Data Analysis Plan: Separate and integrated analysis plans for quantitative (and qualitative data, leading to convergent interpretation.
• Ethical Considerations: Comprehensive plan adhering to national and international ethical guidelines, including informed consent, confidentiality, anonymity, respect for the dignity and rights of persons with lived experience, safeguarding, trauma-sensitive facilitation, reasonable accommodation, and adherence to KOSHISH and CBM Global policies.

E. Scope of Work

The Consultant must manage the full review cycle, including:

1. Inception: Finalize detailed work plan, methodology, and data collection tools in consultation with KOSHISH.
2. Document Review and Preparation: Conduct desk review and prepare for field activities.
3. Field Data Collection & Coordination: Facilitate participatory logframe review workshops with project staff in the two project areas; conduct KIIs and FGDs; coordinate closely with KOSHISH for field visits, issue resolution, and policy compliance; support KOSHISH staff in monitoring visits.
4. Data Management & Analysis: Clean, code, and analyze data; triangulate quantitative and qualitative findings; interpret results against project objectives and logframe.
5. Reporting & Validation: Produce a draft report, present findings to KOSHISH and CBM Global for feedback, and finalize the report in the agreed CBM Global/KOSHISH template.
6. Dissemination Support: Prepare a concise presentation of key findings and recommendations for internal use and stakeholder sharing.

F. Deliverables

1. Inception Report: Detailed work plan, final methodology, and data collection tools.
2. Draft Midterm Review Report: Incorporating progress against logframe, key findings, lessons learned, good practices, practical recommendations, and a brief section on service satisfaction.
3. Presentation of Draft Findings: To KOSHISH and CBM Global.
4. Final Midterm Review Report: Incorporating feedback (concise, evidence-based, and action-oriented, maximum 35–40 pages plus annexes).
5. PowerPoint Presentation of Final Findings.

G. Required Qualification and Expertise

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, Psychology, Disability Studies, or related field.
• Minimum 5–7 years of proven experience conducting midterm/end-term reviews, evaluations, or similar studies in mental health, psychosocial disability, or rights-based development projects in Nepal.
• Strong knowledge of Nepal’s mental health systems, CRPD, suicide prevention, and participatory methods with persons with lived experience.
• Demonstrated experience with mixed-methods research (quantitative and qualitative) and excellent analytical and report-writing skills in English and Nepali.
• Experience working with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and sensitivity to psychosocial disability issues (preferred).
• The consultant/firm applying must be registered on VAT (registered firm/company will be given priority).

H. Payment Modality

The total payment will be made in three installments, based on the completion of key deliverables:

• First installment: 30% (after submission and approval of Inception Report)
• Second installment: 30% (after submission of satisfactory Draft Final Report)
• Final installment: 40% (after submission and approval of all Final Deliverables)

I. Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on:

• Technical proposal and methodology (40%)
• Relevant experience and qualifications (30%)
• Financial proposal (20%)
• Quality of previous work (10%)

J. Intellectual Property and Confidentiality

All data, reports, and intellectual property generated during the assignment will remain the property of KOSHISH. The Consultant agrees that information obtained remains confidential, and any publication or citation needs prior written approval from KOSHISH. The consultant/firm must ensure confidentiality of all review participants and data.

K. Reporting and Supervision

The Consultant will report directly to the MEAL Coordinator at KOSHISH and work closely with the project team. The MEAL Coordinator will serve as the primary contact for all communication and regular progress updates.

L. Application Process

Interested qualified consultants/teams are invited to submit:

• A technical proposal including all elements mentioned in the methodology.
• A financial proposal outlining the cost structure, including expected working days and cost of the team members.
• Organizational Profile and CVs of key personnel highlighting relevant experience.
• Examples of similar work conducted in the past.
• Copy of legal registration and tax clearance certificates.

Proposals should be submitted to procurement@koshish.org.np by CoB 7th April, 2025.

Note: KOSHISH reserves the right to discard any applications that do not meet the specified qualifications or that do not align with our procurement criteria.