Common factors in psychological treatments delivered by non-specialists in low- and middle-income countries: Manual review of competencies

•Fifteen common factors were identified across 16 manuals for psychological and psychosocial treatments delivered by non-specialists in low- and middle-income countries.•Common factors are present across all manuals for delivery of evidence-supported psychological and psychosocial interventions.•Manuals covered most common factors in detail, with 75% or more of manuals including description for 8 common factors: hope and expectancy for change, confidentiality, giving praise, psychoeducation, rapport building, empathy, incorporating coping mechanisms, and collaborative goal setting.•Harmonization of descriptions and concepts of common factors was possible across manuals.