Request  for  Proposal

Hiring Child Mental Health Field Researcher is responsible for carrying out research into the charity’s new advocacy campaign; “Improving the social inclusion of children through identifying mental health symptoms within educational institutions.”

Brief overview of Muslim Hands:

Muslim Hands International, Bangladesh is an INGO registered with the Bureau of NGO Affairs since 1995. Our donor Muslim Hands is an international relief and development NGO, established in 1993 in UK with partners in nearly 25 countries, carrying out short and long-term projects in emergency relief, educational and vocational training, orphan sponsorship, medical care and safe water.

Terms of Employment:  3 months (Contracts can be extended / renewed subject to individual’s performance.)

Report to: Senior Projects Manager

Main purpose of the Role:

The Field Researcher is responsible for carrying out research into the charity’s new advocacy campaign; “Improving the social inclusion of children through identifying mental health symptoms within educational institutions.” The goal of the organization’s advocacy campaign is to push for schools in the developing world to implement training for educational professionals on identifying the first symptoms of menta health problems within children and adolescents. The researcher will promote our advocacy work both internally and externally and make a significant contribution to the furthering of our advocacy aimed at securing policy and practice change concerning mental health amongst children in formal and informal education at international level.

The field research will be carried out over a 3-month period minimum. The researcher will be expected to carry out an analysis on the socio-demographics of their location and gather data on the current perspectives of child mental health, amongst several areas. It will seek to address the concerns of caregivers/educational staff that not yet have a set standard in training when identifying mental health amongst children within formal and informal educational institutions. It will seek to analyse the current perspectives of child mental health amongst parents, teachers and children themselves.

The aim behind the research is to influence as effectively as possible across LIMIC. The researcher will also be expected to identify key contacts in Government, national stakeholders and ally organisations to develop and maintain effective relationships at the appropriate level.

The researcher will share the findings, which will be disseminated and presented throughout the advocacy campaign. The Researcher identifies and establishes working relationships and partnerships within the third sector, as well as within the educational and health sector. They will be required to participate in networking to help push the goal of policy change within the informal and formal education sector.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • To collect data and research (3 months) looking into the current situation of child and adolescent mental health in LIMIC (low income and middle-income countries) within formal educational institutions. The design of the assessment will be provided to the researcher as well as the designs of the questionnaires.
  • To investigate the current situation of child mental health in their location (amongst parents, children, community etc.
  • To investigate what problem persists with educational staff/caregivers when identifying mental health amongst children and their perspectives on the issue.
  • To arrange meetings with senior officials, heads of departments and ministers to discuss our advocacy aim)
  • To visit numerous schools to investigate topic
  • To conduct surveys, interviews and focus groups
  • To prepare necessary feedback and updates on a fortnight basis
  • To keep abreast of current relevant research, policy development and the international picture regarding child mental health
  • To work within the moral and ethical ethos of Muslim Hands and maintaining the reputation of the charity in the broader community always.
  • To undertake other tasks appropriate to the role to enhance performance of the department.

Person Specification:

E = Essential Requirements

D = Desired Requirements

 

 
  • Educated to degree level in relevant subject area - E
  • Experience of conducting research-based practice entailing; report writing, literature reviews, developing research methodology, one to one interview, compiling case studies and focus group work – E
  • Experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative research and demonstrate creativity and perseverance in finding data and information - E
  • Knowledge of intermediate written and spoken English as well as national language of location - E
  • Effective communication and report writing skills (oral and written) for a wide variety of audiences - E
  • Ability to work within conflicting demands, to tight deadlines and to manage several different projects at any given time, completing them to a high level of quality - E
  • Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail - E
  • Ability to work effectively in partnership with a range of services and partners - E
  • Ability to work independently and manage own time – E
  • Good influencing and networking skills - E

 
  • Educated to master’s degree level
  • Multi-linguistic skills - D
  • Knowledge of charity sector and familiarity of humanitarian work – D
  • 1-2 years’ experience in Advocacy - D
  • Willingness to work irregular and anti-social hours as required – D
  • 2-3 years’ experience of delivering time limited research in specialist related area(s). In this case, mental health - D
  • Proven experience in working independently – D
  • Experience in policy development or advocacy (at a national or local level) – D
  • Able to work diplomatically and professionally with internal and external stakeholders. Ability to translate sometimes complex policy ideas into a persuasive format for a public or political audience. - D

 

Note:     This Job Description is illustrative and non-exhaustive in scope.  The post-holder may be required to undertake any reasonable tasks as and when required by line manager from time to time to reflect the changing needs of the Organisation.

Interested qualified consultant/consulting firms are requested to submit a technical and a financial proposal through email at mohammad.ashrafuzzaman@bd.mhworldwide.org  with subject line -"Child Mental Health Field Researcher". The individual/firm must submit the following documents along with Technical & Financial Proposal along with NID, TIN and VAT Certificate. The financial proposal should include 15% VAT ONLY. Muslim Hands International will deduct Income Tax and VAT as per government rules and policy.

Application deadline: October 02, 2019