Designation of a Consultant mental health expert on migration that will assist the MdM office in Croatia in achieving the objectives of the UNICEF-supported project project by contributing mental health expertise in the field of migration.
Mission Context
Médecins du Monde ASBL – Dokters van de Wereld VZW has been operating since 2016 in Croatia, registered as a foreign non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the country. Since that date, the organisation conducts programs supporting asylum seekers and members of Roma national minority. Through its Migration programme, MdM is active in Croatia since 2016 providing medical care to asylum seekers (including mental health and psychosocial support as well as support to health referrals) in both reception centers for asylum seekers of the country (Zagreb, Kutina). Since 2019 and through its Inclusion programme, the organisation is also supporting members of Roma national minority in 6 settlements in Međimurje County in accessing public healthcare system (and other related public (services) such as education, social welfare, employment, etc.)
Based on its experience and with the support of UNICEF, MdM plans to provide recommendations to national authorities regarding improvements of tools and procedures for initial medical examinations of asylum seekers, enabling better early identification of vulnerabilities.
In accordance with the “Pravilnik o standardima zdravstvene zaštite tražitelja međunarodne zaštite i stranca pod privremenom zaštitom (NN 28/2020) / Ordinance on Healthcare Standards for Applicants for International Protection and Foreigners with Temporary Protection (Official Gazette No. 28/2020)”, all newly arrived asylum seekers undergo a mandatory medical examination conducted by a general practitioner (currently MdM’s staff) within 5 days of arrival at the reception centre. This examination aims to detect acute and chronic infectious diseases, assess vaccination status, and evaluate overall health conditions. It also includes recommendations for further specialist consultations, diagnostic procedures, and accommodation adjustments based on individual health needs. Any infectious diseases identified are reported to the competent epidemiological service.
Among these newly arrived individuals, there is highly vulnerable groups: newborns, children, unaccompanied minors, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, survivors of GBV and torture, and individuals with severe physical and/or mental illnesses.
Given the critical timing of the initial medical examination, it presents a unique opportunity for healthcare professionals to identify vulnerabilities – especially children who have or are at-risk for developmental delays or disabilities – and ensure timely access to care and follow-up support. However, the current official form used during these examinations is insufficient for capturing the full spectrum of vulnerabilities.
With UNICEF’s support, MdM thus plans to draw formal recommendations to authorities for a new official form that is age-, gender-, and vulnerability-sensitive, and better suited to the specific characteristics of the asylum-seeking population. Related to this, MdM also plans to strengthen capacity of professionals on early identification of vulnerable young children and their caregivers in migration and providing adequate support to young children and caregivers.
Description of the mission / Terms of Reference
Key responsibilities include:
Desk review:
- Co-conduct a comparative desk review of medical examination forms, mental health assessment tools and vulnerability assessment tools used in Croatia, the EU, and internationally.
Report development:
- Co-author a comprehensive report with recommendations – related to mental health aspects – for improving the “Pravilnik o standardima zdravstvene zaštite tražitelja međunarodne zaštite i stranca pod privremenom zaštitom (NN 28/2020) / Ordinance on Healthcare Standards for Applicants for International Protection and Foreigners with Temporary Protection (Official Gazette No. 28/2020)”. Report will be in Croatian but with key parts translated into English too.
- Proposing revisions – related to mental health aspects – to Annex 1 (medical examination form) to ensure it is age-, gender-, and vulnerability-sensitive.
Training development and delivery:
- Develop PowerPoint presentations for three training sessions (two in-person, one online).
- Co-lead training sessions, focusing on mental health aspects of vulnerability identification and rights of asylum seekers.
- Providing guidance on mental health procedures and support strategies for professionals conducting initial medical examinations.
Stakeholder engagement:
- Support MdM in liaising with relevant stakeholders, including government bodies and healthcare institutions, as needed.
The consultant is expected to:
- Ensure content is well-structured
- Promote a rights-based approach, especially regarding the protection of people in migration and especially most vulnerable among them
Location: desk research and writing tasks can be home based; trainings will take place in Zagreb and in Kutina.
Mission planning
The consultancy will be performed by following schedule:
#
Deliverable
Location
Timeframe
1 – Draft Report: Co-authored report with recommendations and inputs for revised medical examination form (related to mental health aspects)
Online
15 September 2025
2 – Final Report: Final version incorporating feedback validation related to mental health aspects
Online
10 November 2025
3 – Training Delivery: Co-lead 3 training sessions (2 in-person, 1 online)
Zagreb, Kutina, Online
15 September – 31 October 2025
How to apply
Contact persons for the offer
Applications must be sent by email to the following address:
For any information concerning this call for tender, you can contact :
- Matilda PROTULIPAC (person in charge of the request) by email [email protected].
In case of withdrawal, or if you do not wish to respond to this invitation to tender, please inform us by email. Once the award decision has been made, the bidders will be informed in writing.
Evaluation of offers
The following analysis grid will enable MdM-BE to evaluate the offers received. The Organization will assign a certain value to each criterion. Based on the evaluation of all these criteria and taking into account the value attributed to each, the contract will be awarded to the bidder with the most advantageous offer.
These criteria are given as an indication to enable candidates to draw up the most complete offer possible. MdM-BE reserves the right to modify and/or add any criteria to make the evaluation as meaningful as possible.
N°
Description
Weighting
1
Price
/50
2
Passing in front of a panel
/50
The various bidders will develop how they intend to carry out the mission as defined in this specification. The presentation must be accompanied by a written support and must allow the quality of the proposed solutions to be evaluated.
2.1
Methodological approach
/20
Approach and methodology applied to the realization of the consultancy mission
2.2
Experience
/20
Experience of the consultant in the associative sector and in partnership with organizations
2.3
Other criterion(s).
/10
MdM might identify other criteria that it considers relevant to the evaluation of applications.
Total weighting of award criteria
/100
Content of the Offer
The submission package must include
- A technical offer including the applicant’s updated CV[1] and a description of the methodological approach envisaged to answer the questions and objectives outlined above, as well as a detailed timetable.
- A financial offer including a detailed financial proposal in EUR including in particular all envisaged costs.
The bidder’s attention is drawn to the fact that the total lump-sum price relates to one mission, it includes the fees and expenses inherent to the missions (travel and subsistence expenses) or any other expenses that will result providing consultancy services.
The candidate’s offer, the documents attached to it and the documents exchanged are written in English or Croatian.
By submitting its offer, the bidder accepts all the clauses of the Specifications and waives all other conditions. If the contracting authority finds, during the analysis of the bids, that the bidder has added conditions that make the bid imprecise, or if the bidder expresses reservations about the conditions of the Specifications, the contracting authority reserves the right to consider the bid substantially irregular.
Deadlines
Offers must reach the contact person by e-mail by 20/08/2025 at 24.00 hrs at the latest.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the procedure on 25/08/2025.
[1] The bidder’s CVs should clearly and in detail (organization, type of services and period of services) indicate similar experiences.
