Consultancy for Developing a Comprehensive Training Manual for “Stigma Reduction on Mental Health”

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.

Guided by the principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us”, KOSHISH works through a rights-based, person-centered, and recovery-oriented approach. Its core operational areas include advocacy and policy reform, community engagement, direct mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services, capacity building, and humanitarian response. Reducing stigma and discrimination associated with mental health problems and psychosocial disabilities remains central to its mission.

2. Background of the Assignment

Stigma related to mental health problems and psychosocial disabilities remains one of the most pervasive barriers to treatment-seeking, early identification, quality health service utilization, recovery, and social inclusion across Nepal. Stigma operates through complex, interrelated layers:

Aligning directly with KOSHISH’s strategic objectives; wellbeing and empowerment of persons with lived experience, awareness and advocacy on mental health and strengthened community support system - this assignment addresses these systemic challenges regarding stigma towards mental health. Despite progressive national commitments (such as the Disability Rights Act 2017, the National Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan 2020, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - UNCRPD), practical and actionable resources to guide diverse stakeholders in stigma reduction are severely lacking in Nepal.

To bridge this gap, KOSHISH seeks a qualified consultant/firm to develop a practical, standardized, and adaptable Comprehensive Training Manual for “Stigma Reduction on Mental Health”. The training manual will serve a multi-stakeholder target audience, including primary health workers, Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs), Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), Peer Support Groups (PSGs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), local government actors, and community facilitators.

The primary purpose of this consultancy is to develop a high-quality, practical, evidence-informed, and culturally appropriate Comprehensive Training Manual for “Stigma Reduction on Mental Health” tailored to the Nepali context.

The primary deliverable will lead and structure a 2-day Stigma Reduction Capacity Development Training comprising 8 sessions (4 sessions of 1.5 hours each day). This manual will equip health workers, FCHVs, OPDs, PSGs/SHGs, and local stakeholders with actionable tools, interactive modules, and practical strategies to recognize, challenge, and systematically reduce stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings and community spaces.

To develop a comprehensive, standardized Stigma Reduction Training Manual and facilitator guide for a 2-day workshop that strengthens the capacity of health workers, FCHVs, OPDs, PSGs/SHGs, and local stakeholders to mitigate stigma, protect human rights, and promote full inclusion for persons with psychosocial disabilities in Nepal.

The specific objectives of the assignment are as below;

The consultant/firm will undertake the following tasks

5.2 Document and Literature Review

Review key policy, legal, and operational documents, including

Ensure meaningful, safe, and ethical involvement of rights-holders following the principles of informed consent and safeguarding.

5.4 Development of the Stigma Reduction Manual

The manual must be explicitly tailored to the Nepali socio-cultural, legal, and operational healthcare landscape. It must adopt an accessible, low-literacy-friendly, pictorial, and practical approach.

The core of the manual will be structured around a 2-Day (8-Session x 1.5 Hours) curriculum.

5.5 Review, Validation, and Finalization

The consultant/firm will be required to deliver the following outputs

7. Duration of Assignment and Reporting

8. Required Qualifications and Expertise

The prospective consultant or firm should possess the following qualifications

Education: Master’s degree or higher in Public Health, Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, Psychiatric Nursing, Social Work, Medical Anthropology, Disability Studies, or related Social Sciences.

Payment will be disbursed in installments based on the achievement of key milestones

(Applicable taxes will be withheld at source as per the existing tax laws of the Government of Nepal.)

10. Proposal Submission Guidelines

Interested individual consultants or consulting firms are requested to submit the following documents:

Sealed proposals marked “Consultancy for Development of Comprehensive Training Manual for Stigma Reduction on Mental Health” must be delivered by courier or hand to: KOSHISH Central Office, Dakshinkali Road, Balkhu, Kathmandu, Nepal by 5th October.

https://www.jobsnepal.com/terms-of-reference-tor-consultancy-for-developing-a-comprehensive-training-manual-for-stigma-reduction-on-mental-health-144265