PROJECT NAME:

Partner National Society - Partner – Host National Society

Joint MHPSS pilot project in xxx

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT:

This joint MHPSS pilot project has been developed as part of the <Partner National Society> - <Partner (eg ICRC)> Partnership Agreement Framework. The <Partner> and the <Partner National Society> share a joint commitment to ensure that the mental health and psychosocial needs arising from armed conflict, natural disasters, and other emergencies are addressed, as well as strengthening the normative and institutional environment conducive to the prevention and mitigation of mental health and psychosocial needs.

The immediate objective of <Partner> and <Partner National Society> collaboration in xxx is to xxx.

The key activities of the pilot project include: xxx.

The pilot project targets xxx.

SITUATION AND CONTEXT ANALYSIS:

Include here a short context analsyis of the MHPSS needs

PARTNERS

Host National Society

The primary focus of the <HNS> with regards to MHPSS, is community based psychosocial activities, psychological first aid, caring for staff and volunteers and mainstreaming protection, gender and inclusion.

The HNS [add detail about the NS and their capcity to provide MHPSS and external Movement parterns for referral purposes].

<Partner>

The Mental Health and Psychosocial support program for xxx [outline the <Partner> MHPSS framework relevant here].

The program activities consist of the following: [add <Partner> content]

<Partner National Society>

<Partner National Society> advocates for and support mainstreaming of mental health and psychosocial support in integrated emergency responses, and in safe and inclusive community services aiming to prevent further distress and promote mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. Thus, MHPSS is part of <Partner National Society> work in both emergency, recovery, and long-term programming ensuring that people have capacities to promote, achieve and sustain mental health and psychosocial well-being. It is included in the international strategy of <Partner National Society> which focuses on xxxx. MHPSS work in <Partner National Society> is based on the five principles of psychosocial interventions in emergencies (Hobfoll et al., 2007) which aim to promote a sense of safety, calming, self- and community efficacy, connectedness, and hope.

<Partner National Society> primarily supports partner National Societies to implement early responses such as psychological first aid and to promote well-being through basic services and focused psychosocial activities whilst ensuring referrals for further treatment of mental ill-health and to other levels of care in alignment with the Movement framework on MHPSS.

<Partner National Society> has been present in xxx since xxx as a key partner of xxx. As per <Partner National Society> country strategy 2022-2025, the focus is on xxx.

A MHPSS Delegate is supporting the development and capacity strengthening of xxx through the development and adaptation of tools, facilitation of trainings and ongoing technical and program management support. The MHPSS Delegate is supervised and supported by the <Partner National Society> MHPSS Advisor.

The program activities consist of the following:

TARGET AREA:

This joint pilot project will be implemented in location xxx targeting xxx communities/people. In the first phase, the project will be implemented in xxx. The same project will be replicated in xxx.

COLLABORATION & IMPLEMENTATION:

The <Partner> and the <Partner National Society> share a joint commitment to ensure that the mental health and psychosocial needs arising from armed conflict, natural disasters and other emergencies are addressed, as well as strengthening the normative and institutional environment conducive to the prevention and mitigation of mental health and psychosocial needs.

<Partner> and <Partner National Society> operate under the framework of the Movement MHPSS pyramid which consists of four layers of interventions:

Basic psychosocial support

Focused psychosocial support

Psychological support

Specialized mental health care

<Partner National Society> and <Partner> have a Partnership Framework Agreement (PFA) which is valid from xxxx-xxxx. The operational aims of the MHPSS component of the PFA are to:

Strengthen collaboration on addressing MHPSS needs in joint operational contexts. Ensuring complementarity in seeking to address these needs in a holistic, comprehensive, and integrated manner, through shared assessments, joint training, and tools development where possible and relevant;

Strengthen complementary capacity development of NS partners in joint operational contexts based on expertise and experience (<Partner National Society> and <Partner> );

Integrate mental health support to implementing NS staff and volunteers.

Explore the possibility of sharing MHPSS delegates, where relevant, in joint operational contexts.

This document is to assist in implemention of the PFA supporting the collaboration in xxx.

[Add context specific text about the collaboration- for example - The teams from both institutions have been finding that the programs of both complement each other and that a joint project would give synergy, greater scope and impact to the results of the respective programs.

Immediate Objective

The immediate objective, beyond the individual and organsisational indicators for target population change, is the collaboration effectiveness and impact.

[Target group] has access to timely and relevant MHPSS services which cover all layers of the Movement MHPSS pyramid.

Indicators for Immediate Objective:

See examples below and modify accordingly

Number of beneficiaries who reported that MHPSS services have been timely and relevant

Number of referrals made to project partners’ activities (such as Specialized Mental Health Care, social and recreational activities)

Number of trained staff and volunteers who report improved knowledge and confidence of MHPSS.

Output 1:

HNS volunteers and/or PSS teams increased their capacities in xxx

Activity 1.1: Development of training material for xxx

<Partner> and <Partner National Society> will develop training material on xxx consistent with layer xxx of the MHPSS pyramid. Training material will be adapted and/or developed based on the needs of the target population and the HNS PSS team’s capacities to respond to beneficiary needs. The material will align with the MHPSS Movement pyramid. Topics for training materials will be mutually agreed based on needs.

Responsibilities: The xxx will be responsible for the development of training material and tools including monitoring and evaluation (i.e., attendance sheet, , quarterly action plans).

Costs: Translation of training material will be covered by xxx

Activity 1.2: Train xxx staff and volunteers on xxx training material

xxx will train xxx team on xxx consistent with layer xxx of the MHPSS pyramid.

The objective of the training will be to strengthen PSS teams’ knowledge and skills to apply the minimum principles of doing no harm, meaningful access, dignity and respect, safety, and confidentiality when working with beneficiaries as well as on how to refer a person applying respected principles.

To measure the knowledge increase and to improve future trainings, pre- and post-test and training evaluation will be conducted.

Facilitators will generate the training reports, with analysis, and share with relevant partners.

Responsibilities: The xxx will be responsible to ensure participation of the volunteers/staff, attendance sheets and feedback of the trainees about the training. The xxx will be responsible to provide managerial and technical support to HNS for overall implementation of all activities under output 1 and 2.

Costs: xxx will cover the cost of per diems of HNS volunteers and staff and their travel to the training venue. xxx will cover refreishments for coffee breaks and light lunch.

Output 2:

[Target group] receive MHPSS services which are timely and relevant to their needs.

Activity 2.1: Provision of basic PSS (and consider adding focused PSS)

xxx will provide basic PSS. This will include, as suitable for the context, activities on the first layer of the MHPSS pyramid. This layer is intended to promote positive mental health and psychosocial wellbeing, resilience, social interaction and social cohesion activities within communities. Activities in this layer are often integrated into health, protection and education sectors and should be accessible to 100% of the affected population, where possible. Examples of activities include psychological first aid (PFA) and recreational activities. Basic psychosocial support can be provided by trained Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers and/or trained community members.

In this context, basic PSS will include xxx [list all activities and create a paragraph like below for each]

Example: xxx will conduct awareness raising sessions for the affected population in the selected locations in a safe and supportive way. The sessions will help to educate beneficiaries on topics linked to MHPSS which are necessary to improve their knowledge in relation to mental health and psychosocial wellbeing and provide them with psychoeducation for promotion of positive mental health.

The xxx volunteers and staff who have received training on awareness raising will prepare an awareness raising implementation plan in the selected locations and will conduct the sessions. Each session would comprise xxx [insert content and duration]. Technical supervision will be provided by xxx.

Reporting: The xxx will be responsible for the consolidation of the data and deliverables. The xxx will provide monthly report of the activity to the xxx.

Monitoring: xxx will do joint monitoring of the sessions.

Costs: The travel cost of the xxx staff and volunteers, per diems and incentives and the cost for printing of handouts will be borne by xxx.

[Consider also adding activities from the second layer of the MHPSS pyramid - Focused PSS. Focused PSS activities include promotion of positive mental health and psychosocial wellbeing and prevention activities, with a specific focus on groups, families and individuals at risk. Examples of activities include peer support and group work. Focused psychosocial support can be provided by trained and supervised Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers and/or trained community members]

Activity 2.2: Conduct safe referrals for vulnerable individuals

As an output of the training, the xxx will take the lead with support from <Partner> and <Partner National Society> to establish a safe referral pathway between Movement partners.

Responsibilities: xxx will adapt/prepare tools for referral and reporting of referals. HNS volunteers/staff will report to xxx the numbers of referred beneficiaries and the services referred to. The xxx will have regular coordination meetings to ensure the pathway is working smoothly.

Costs: In cases where people require a referral to a specialized mental health service, best practie tio ensure contiunum should take into account the opportunity for payment of the costs of transport to a sepcility service. Who makes this payment should be part of the project planning.

Activity 2.3: Provision of psychological support

The provision of psycholoical support should be provided to ensure access to the continuum of MHPSS care. Psychological support is the third layer of the MHPSS pyramid. It includes prevention and treatment activities for individuals and families who present with more complicated psychological distress and for people at risk of developing mental health conditions. Examples of activities include basic psychological interventions, such as counselling or psychotherapy, which are usually provided in health-care facilities with accompanying outreach work or in community facilities, where this is culturally acceptable.

In cases where the program offers psychological support, then please include the points below in the pilot project document. Otherwise, mapping and referral should be made for layer 3 and 4 MHPSS services. In this case, this paragraph referring to activity 2.3 should be deleted from this project document.

Responsibilities and reporting: xxx will coordinate with the xxx and will share information about total number of people who received psychological support and the frequency of sessions per month with xxx. xxx will report this to xxx on a monthly basis and they will further submit the monthly report to xxx.

COORDINATION:

To ensure quality of the service, a coordination meeting will be held every month involving <Partner> , <Partner National Society> and xxx focal points. These coordination meetings are important and should be attended by all partners.

COMMUNICATION: