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Tenders are invited for Consultancy SMSP Study on Mental Health Among Victims of Armed Conflict in the DRC Closing Date: 15 Aug 2026 Type: Consultancy Part A: Terms of reference of the study Context and challenges Child malnutrition is the result of multiple determinants, both immediate and underlying. While food insecurity and biomedical factors are widely documented, the international literature increasingly emphasizes the role of psychological distress, anxiety and depressive disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder in altering functional and parenting abilities. Perinatal depression and parental psychological distress are associated with lower quality parent-child interactions, reduced early stimulation abilities, and increased difficulty mobilizing available resources for child nutrition and health. From this perspective, mental health is a key underlying determinant of nutrition security. This issue is part of a global humanitarian context marked by an intensification of crises. In 2026, nearly fifty countries are in emergency situations and 239 million people are in need of assistance (OCHA, 2026). Protracted conflicts, forced displacement and epidemics have profound impacts on individuals, especially in long-standing exposed regions such as Ituri or North Kivu in the DRC. International estimates show a high burden of mental disorders in these environments, but the available data often remain global, heterogeneous and difficult to transpose to local realities. Areas affected by protracted crises, as well as certain vulnerable groups such as young children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women, caregivers and people with disabilities, remain particularly under-documented. Moreover, comparative and evolutionary analyses are rarely possible in an unstable environment. Since the 2000s, Action Against Hunger has integrated mental health and psychosocial support into its multisectoral strategy to fight malnutrition. In the DRC, the organization has built programmatic databases since 2019 including standardized measures of well-being, psychological distress, resilience and perinatal mental health. These data provide a unique opportunity to produce contextualized analyses to better understand the role of mental health in vulnerabilities and to assess the impact of psychosocial interventions implemented in areas such as Drodro, Bambo, Goma and Mweso since 2021. Main objectives - To estimate the prevalence of psychological distress at the level of the Drodro and Mweso health zones, in relation to nutritional vulnerabilities. - Document the mental health situation of understudied high-risk groups in humanitarian settings, including young children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women, and caregivers working in unstable settings. - Assess the impact of psychosocial interventions on indicators of well-being, resilience, and psychological symptoms. Summary of planned activities and expected results The study will be based on a meta-analysis of programmatic data collected by ACF between 2021 and the first quarter of 2026 in the health zones of Drodro, Bambo, Goma and Mweso. In coherence with the objects of study, the research will be deployed around two main methodological axes. The first axis focuses on the prevalence and determinants of psychosocial distress. It will be based on a descriptive epidemiology approach that will examine the variations observed according to displacement dynamics, sociodemographic characteristics as well as the specificities of different groups, including children, pregnant and lactating women (FEFA) and health care workers. The measures used will include, for adults, the WHO-5 to assess subjective well-being, the HAD for anxiety and depression, the PCL-5 for post-traumatic stress symptoms and the CD-RISC for individual resilience. For children and adolescents, the study will leverage the CPDS and CRIES, while the EPDS scale will be leveraged to document perinatal distress in pregnant and lactating women. The second axis concerns the evaluation of the impact of the psychological and psychosocial interventions implemented. It will consist of comparing the scores obtained before and after the interventions using the same tools. The protocols reviewed will include the Action Against Hunger protocol, the WHO protocol and the EMDR variants that are particularly relevant for nutrition security. Overall, the methodology used will aim to produce robust and contextualized empirical evidence to understand the evolution of mental health in humanitarian environments marked by instability, protracted crises and repeated displacement. Overall, the methodology used will aim to produce robust and contextualized empirical evidence to understand the evolution of mental health in humanitarian environments marked by instability, protracted crises and repeated displacement. Dissemination and use of results Feedback workshops will be organized with local health authorities and humanitarian partners. The analyses produced can feed into national strategic reflections and contribute to advocacy for a strengthened integration of mental health into strategies to combat malnutrition, particularly in contexts of protracted crisis. A scientific article will also be produced and submitted in a journal. The project is based on a longitudinal corpus of programmatic data accumulated over several years in the context of chronic crisis, allowing comparative and evolutionary analyses rarely possible in an unstable environment. It aims to produce subnational data that can be directly used by health authorities and clusters, and to empirically document mental health as an underlying determinant of malnutrition. By assessing the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions integrated into nutrition programmes, the study will help strengthen the available evidence on multisectoral approaches in constraining humanitarian settings. Part B: Data Analytics Consultants Terms of Reference Objectives of the mission - To carry out a rigorous analysis of the data - To highlight the relationships between the different variables - To develop statistical models - To produce a clear, structured and actionable report for scientific writing, advocacy, capitalization and programmatic decision-making. Tasks to be performed by the consultant a.)Getting started with the protocol and tools b.)Database cleaning and structuring c.)Quantitative statistical analysis (via Jamovi, SPSS, Statistica or equivalent) - Prevalence of psychological distress - Mental health situation of high-risk groups - Evolution of individual well-being and resilience; Trauma, depression, anxiety, mentalization skills - Influence of sociodemographic characteristics (gender, age, economic status, experience of conflict, etc.). d.) Qualitative analysis (via NVivo or equivalent tool) - Identification of key perceptions about well-being, resilience, and coping mechanisms. - Triangulation of qualitative and quantitative results. e.) Modelling of relationships between variables - Development of explanatory models of changes in psychosocial well-being, resilience and coping skills. - Graphical representation (diagrams, networks of variables, causal diagrams). - Proposal of composite indicators or overall scores, if applicable. f.) Expected deliverables - A complete analysis report including: Analysis methodology used; Detailed quantitative and qualitative results; Statistical models built; Interpretation of results; a PowerPoint presentation support. - A draft scientific article Required profile Statistics /epidemiology, applied social sciences or equivalent field. Proven experience in mixed data analysis (quantitative + qualitative). Proficiency in Jamovi, NVivo, staitistica or SPSS tools. Knowledge of humanitarian contexts and techniques and methods in epidemiology Rigour, autonomy and ability to popularize results. How to apply Candidates interested in this consulting service for the longitudinal analysis of Action Against Hungers programmatic data in the Democratic Republic of Congo must submit a file consisting of: 1. Composition of the file Administrative file: Commercial registry or proof of legal existence of the structure (or status of independent consultant) Mandatory Tax identification number (NIF/NIU) Mandatory Certificate of tax regularity (Tax receipt) Mandatory Bank certificate / RIB Mandatory A technical offer including: A methodological proposal; Work plan; An up-to-date curriculum vitae; Copy of diploma Sample of previous work (Certificates of successful completion of similar assignments); Detailed financial offer including a detailed budget (Consultancy, administrative and logistical costs). 2. Format of response Tenders should be submitted, by e-mail, to the address indicated below, procurement@cd-actioncontrelafaim.org with the mention: the longitudinal analysis of the programmatic data of Action Against Hunger in the Democratic Republic of Congo "DA-KSS-01726". No later than 15 August 2026 at 23:59 GMT+1 Bids will be presented in three separate parts as follows: 1.Administrative offer (PDF format) 2.Technical offer (PDF format) 3.Financial offer (PDF format) NB: Each part of the offer must be sealed and signed. 3. Late Proposal Proposals arriving after the deadline will not be accepted. No proposals may be amended once the closing date for the consultation request has passed. Action Against Hunger may seek clarification from any supplier if necessary. 4. Language of tenders and procedure Tenders and all correspondence and documents relating to the tender exchanged between the tenderer and Action Against Hunger must be written in French. Supporting documents and other documents provided by the Bidder may be written in another language, provided that they are accompanied by an accurate translation into French. Howev Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4221658/consultance-etude-smsp-sur-la-sante-mentale-chez-les-personnes-victimes-de-conflits-armes-en-rdc
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