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PRIDES sSA – CAPACITY BUILDING

 

Terms of Reference (TOR) for Seed Team Members

Background

“Partnerships in Research to Implement and Disseminate Sustainable and Scalable Evidence-based Practices in sub-Saharan Africa” (PRIDES sSA) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded project to strengthen mental health implementation research in sub-Saharan Africa. The project consists of two complementary components: (1) a research study in Mozambique to evaluate the scale up of an evidence-based community approach to mental health, and (2) a regional partnership to build capacity of policymakers, researchers, community trainers, and faculty members to conduct mental health implementation research. This TOR focuses on the second “Capacity Building” component.

 

PRIDES sSA is led by Co-Principal Investigators Dr. Milton Wainberg of Columbia University (NY, USA) and Dr. Maria Oquendo of the University of Pennsylvania (USA). The project is implemented by Dr. Ilana Pinsky of Columbia University, the Project Director, in partnership with Dr. Latifat Ibisomi and Dr. Sumaya Mall of Wits University (South Africa) and Dr. Andrew Medina-Marino of the Foundation for Professional Development (South Africa).

 

Capacity Building Seed Teams

PRIDES sSA aims to recruit 4-person “seed teams” from each of the 5 partner countries (Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zambia) to be trained on mental health implementation research. Each seed team will work together on a pilot study in their respective country to generate preliminary data that can be used to apply for a larger research grant in the future. The seed teams will ideally be comprised of (1) a junior researcher, (2) a policy maker, (3) an experienced community trainer of trainer/implementer, and (4) a senior researcher or faculty member. However, the composition may vary for each country, as the selection committee will choose teams with complementary backgrounds, skill sets, and perspectives to maximize successful collaboration.

 

Seed team members will receive: (1) online and in-person training in implementation science, mental health and evidence-based treatment methods for low-income settings, scientific writing, and grant proposal development; and (2) mentoring in support of their mental health field research practica. The total duration of the Capacity Building project is anticipated to last up to 4 years, contingent upon annual renewal of funding, starting in January 2018.

 

In-person trainings will take place for approximately 2.5 weeks in April 2018 at Wits University and at the Foundation for Professional Development in South Africa. Prior to the intensive in-person training, seed team members will be required to participate in monthly webinars, conduct background research on mental health policies and issues in their respective country, and take a one-week online course. After the training in April, seed team members are expected to continue working together on a pilot research study, communicate with their mentors routinely, and develop a grant proposal for a larger study (time commitment will vary depending on the proposed project). Seed team members will return to South Africa each year for ongoing training and professional development.

 

2018 tentative time frame

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Monthly Webinars
  Training  
  Collaboration on pilot study & proposal writing
                         

 

Eligibility

  • Interest in and commitment to conducting mental health implementation research
  • Degree in public health, medicine, mental health, nursing, or related field
  • Policy maker: Bachelor’s level or higher
  • Community trainer/implementer: Bachelor’s level or higher
  • Junior researcher: Master’s level or higher
  • Senior researcher: PhD
  • Buy-in (and a letter of support) from your full-time employer or academic institution
  • Availability to meet the time commitment:
  • Participation in a monthly webinar (approx. 1.25 hours), beginning in January 2018
  • 5 weeks of intensive training (online and in-person) in April 2018
  • Collaboration with other seed team members on pilot project(s) and proposal development (time commitment will vary, but is estimated to average roughly 2 hours/week)
  • Citizenship or permanent residency in one of the five partner countries
  • Ability and willingness to travel to South Africa (annually)
  • Working proficiency in written and spoken English
  • Previous research experience preferred (but not required)

 

Benefits

  • Training in implementation science, mental health and evidence-based treatment methods for low-income settings, scientific writing, and grant proposal development (all coursework fees covered)
  • Mentoring and guidance from mental health researchers and faculty members from leading universities in Brazil, Mozambique, South Africa, the UK, and the US
  • Network of mental health experts and researchers in sub-Saharan Africa
  • Annual trips to South Africa (airfare, accommodation, ground transportation, some meals, and modest per diem included)
  • Seed funding for pilot projects (up to $1,000 per seed team per year)
  • Support for grant proposal development

 

NOTE: Seed team members will not be remunerated for their time and participation. Applicants should have full-time employment or affiliation (e.g., a fellowship) with an institution that is supportive of their participation in the PRIDES sSA Capacity Building initiative.

 

Application Process

The PRIDES sSA team is accepting nominations for seed team members from leading mental health specialists in academia, civil society, and ministries of health in each partner country. Eligible applicants should submit their (a) curriculum vitae, (b) completed application form, and (c) institutional letter of support to Dr. Stefan Holzer AND Michael Udedi with the subject line “PRIDES sSA Seed Team Application”:

  • Stefan Holzer (Head of Department of Mental Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi): sholzer@medcol.mw
  • Michael Udedi (Assistant Director of Clinical Services, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Ministry of Health): mphatsoudedi@yahoo.co.uk

 

The deadline for applications is November 15, 2017. Shortlisted nominees will be interviewed by a selection committee comprised of members of the PRIDES sSA leadership team. Selected seed team members will be notified of the decision by December 31, 2017.

 

Find attached the PRIDES Capacity Building Application Form_Malawi