Country: Turkey
Closing date: 30 Jul 2018
Scope of Work (SoW) for engaging an Academic Institution to support RI with Research
ABOUT RI:
Relief International is a nonprofit organization whose sole mission is to reduce human suffering. We respond to natural disasters, humanitarian emergencies and chronic poverty. We are non-sectarian and non-political.
RI started implementing programs in Turkey in 2015 and currently the scope of program has grown to 11 projects in 6 provinces:
• Contribute in health service delivery for refugees, focusing on MHPSS, physiotherapy, prosthesis & orthotics, dental hygiene;
• Work with local partners to build their capacity (organizational and project management) in order to ensure long term sustainability;
• Replicate the existing successful models in other geographic areas with high numbers of refugees;
• Contribute to scientific studies and assessments to fill the evidence gap on disability and MHPSS for refugees in Turkey
Background to the Assignment:
In 2016, the United Nations identified around 5 million refugees outside of Syria, from which more than 3 and a half millions are registered in Turkey. Access to health care for refugees is mostly restricted in host countries with great variation in entitlements.[1] Practical barriers impede access to health-care services for refugees —eg. Inadequate information and awareness about the availability of services, insufficient financial means, restricted access to transport, culturally insensitive care, and inadequate provision of interpreters.[2]
For refugees with disabilities, locally available health care focuses on emergency medical situations and not the continuous healthcare support that many adults and children with disabilities often need. The lack of chronic care coverage for displaced PWDs in health care and rehabilitation services creates frustration, anger, and deteriorating health issues, and can sometimes lead to death.[3] In Turkey, the lack of interpretation services, especially for secondary and tertiary health care services, is an underlined gap. Nonregistered refugees face barriers in accessing curative care and specialized health care and treatment.[4]
Several studies have showed significant levels of anxiety, grief and social isolation among people with disabilities[5]. Psychological adjustment plays a vital role among amputees quality of life, difficulties in adjustment are associated with reports of depression, feelings of hopelessness, low self-esteem, fatigue, anxiety and sometimes suicidal ideation[6]. A multitude of related problems, including maladaptive coping behaviors (e.g, drug/alcohol consumption), greater disability, poorer social functioning, and loss of functional independence, may result from difficulties in psychological adjustment (Shobhana et al., 2000).
Moreover, the stigma related to Mental Health among Syrian refugees[7] and difficulties in accessing those services in Turkey represent important barriers to address the specific mental health needs of people with disabilities.
In Istanbul, which has nearly half a million Syrian refugees, while there is no concrete data regarding the number of Syrian refugees with disabilities and their specific needs, Relief International’s rapid assessment that is based on the data collected by Mülteciler Association’s physiotherapy center (supported by Handicap International until the end of August 2017 and by Relief International since then) shows significant needs for physical rehabilitation and MHPSS services that need in-depth analysis and understanding.
Scope of Work:
RI Turkey is seeking an experienced service provider to conduct MHPSS research which is planned to be conducted in two phases with the following overall Objective:
A research aiming to gather information at individual level to understand better the burden of disability among Syrian refugees in Sultanbeyli municipality, analyzing their specific needs, understanding the disability impact on wellbeing, access to services, barriers, and identifying important psycho-social factors which affect quality of life among people with disabilities and their care givers.
The assessment aims to identify priority needs within the physical rehabilitation and Mental Health and Psycho Social Support (MHPSS) sectors, and to highlight gaps as well as to recommend good practices and services to meet these needs.
The overall aim is to enhance the understanding of refugees needs in MHPSS and physical rehabilitation in Turkey, in view to reinforce further project designing.
Due to the lack of data related to MHPSS and physical rehabilitation in Sultanbeyli municipality data base, both quantitative and qualitative approach will be used for this survey.
Data related to disability and physical rehab will be collected through quantity approach using individual survey which will include:
Demographics information
Subjective functional assessment
Wellbeing
Access to services and barriers
As well, FGD will be conducted to get better understanding about affordability, accessibility and quality of rehabilitation services.
MHPSS related measurements will be conducted through qualitative approach based on focus group discussion (FGD) and in-depth interview (IDI) with people with disabilities and their care givers in Sultanbeyli.
MHPSS information will be collected through the following tools:
Quality of life questionnaire: in depth interviews will be conducted by psychologist
Group discussion: based on grid developed for this specific survey
The qualitative findings will be presented as descriptive summaries and interpretations of the key themes, supported and illustrated by quotes from the raw data.
For quantitative data (for rehabilitation issues) RI will conduct household survey in Sultanbeyli municipality, it will be small scale surveys in one geographical area with concentrated populations (the number of Syrian families in Sultanbeyli municipality are an estimated 4,500).
PHASE I includes the following deliverable all to be provided to RI by 31/08/2018
Detailed methodology for conducting the research that corresponds to the above-mentioned outlines;
Inclusion Criteria;
Development of complete assessment/data collection tools for each type of assessment;
Obtaining IRB approval.
PHASE II including the following deliverables:
Beginning of October till the end of December 2018:
Training of enumerators;
Access to the target communities is planned and needed local approvals are discussed and in place;
Conducting the research in coordination with RI local partner (Mülteciler Association)
By the end of January 2019:
Data analysis
Producing the research report.
A clear and detailed budget and a work plan covering Phase I and Phase II activities are required as part of the application package.
Qualifications/Experience:
The successful Service provider should:
Ø At least 4 years’ experience designing and conducting assessments/researches with experience on MHPSS.
Ø Previous experience working with INGOs is a plus.
Ø Can provide at least three references from previous clients for which similar project were provided.
Ø Academic institutions are prioritized for this request for application.
Application Process:
Tender dossier is available from tender.turkey@ri.org email address and all applicants shall request to have tender dossier to be eligible to submit bid. The deadline for bid submission is 30 July 2018 at 5 pm and further submission requirements can be found in tender dossier.
RI Values:
We uphold the Humanitarian Principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and operational independence. We affirmatively engage the most vulnerable communities. We value:
- Inclusiveness
- Transparency and Accountability
- Agility and Innovation
- Collaboration
- Sustainability
[1] Norredam M, Mygind A, Krasnik A. Access to health care for asylum seekers in the European Union-a comparative study of country policies. Eur J Public Health. 2006;16:286–90.
[2] Ibid
[3] Members of the Arab Forum for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Disability Inclusion Among Refugees in the Middle East and North Africa. 2016
4 Regional Refugee & Resilience Plan (3RP) 2018-2019
[5] Schubert et al., 1992;Frierson and Lippmann, 1987;Thompson and Haran, 1984
[6] Desmond and MacLachlan, 2002
[7] Culture, Context and the Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing of Syrians, UNHCR, 2015
How to apply:
