Somalia: Development of a Community Conversations Manual and conducting a ToT on Community Conversations in Somaliland

Terms of Reference to develop a Community Conversation Manual and conduct a Training of Trainers on Community Conversation in Somaliland

1.Background

For over 90 years, Save the Children (SC) has been making a difference in children's lives in more than 120 countries. We are the world's largest independent child rights organisation, underpinned by a vision in a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. Our mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. Save the Children Somalia/Somaliland (SCSOM) has over 40 years’ experience working in Somalia/Somaliland in several thematic areas including child protection.

SCSOM is implementing a 5 year project ILAALINTA CARUURTA in Somaliland in Hargeisa and in Berbera aimed to protect the most vulnerable and marginalised children, including children with disabilities from multiple child protection risks and harms by building a child protection system which will be truly owned by the communities and will also have a strong link to relevant national laws and policies e.g. the Child Rights Act, the National Plan of Action for Children, the Child Protection Policy and the Alternative Care Policy.

The project will apply a bottom-up approach by ensuring that women/men and girls/boys themselves identify key child protection issues in their communities through participatory community dialogue sessions, awareness raising sessions and child-led research. Communities’ capacities to identify and respond to potential risks of abuse, violence, neglect and other harm against children will be a critical focus of the action.

Community conversations (CC) entail a process that encourages dialogue, creates space for mutual learning, and fosters new perspectives and helps local communities mobilize around agreed actions. The process helps transform relationships and enhances the capacity of all involved. In this way community, conversation creates a space for mutual sharing and leaning, which can lead to new perspectives that are more positive and behaviour.

Save the Children Somalia/Somaliland does not have a contextualized guide/manual to guide community conversation sessions in support of child protection outcomes. In view of this, Save the Children Somalia/Somaliland wishes to engage the services of a qualified consultant/s or a consultancy firm to develop a guide/manual and facilitate a training of trainers (ToT) for SC and partner staff.

2.Consultancy Objectives

The overall objective of the consultancy is to review any existing materials on CC and develop a detailed and contextualised CC guide/manual that will both support community facilitators and also help ensure that community conversations are delivered with a consistent approach and meeting minimum standards of facilitation. The consultant/s will also conduct a TOT for 25 SC and partner staff in two phases (5 days each). TOT will also be used as an opportunity to field test a draft manual. TOT participants are expected to become qualified trainers who will cascade CC trainings to community facilitators.

3.Scope of Services

The consultancy firm/consultant/s will ensure the completion of the following activities:

1. Development of a comprehensive context specific and tailor made Community Conversation manual; with appropriate modules/sessions that builds the information, skills and confidence of community facilitators to facilitate community conversations on child protection, leading participants through a participative process of reflection and action. Ultimately, the aim of the community conversation is to deepen a community’s understanding on child protection risks and harms that leads to decision-making and taking action in the local context. CC process is interactive, which brings people together and engages communities to discuss and explore the underlying causes of child abuse.

Specifically the CC manual will provide community facilitators with:

• Knowledge of child protection and how this can be applied within the community conversations.
• Knowledge and understanding of violence/abuse against children in Somaliland.
• A clear framework and guidance on how to implement the community conversation model, including:

o Objectives and outcomes of community conversations

o Roles and responsibilities of a community conversation facilitator within each step of a community conversation

o Step by step process, guidance and tools for facilitating a participatory process and stimulating dialogue

o Guidance how to ensure inclusiveness and participation by all (women, men, girls and boys of different ages, people and children with disabilities and other marginalized groups)

1. Facilitate a 5 days TOT training (1^st Phase) for 25 SC and partner staff in Hargeisa town in Somaliland immediately after finalisation of a draft CC manual. The consultant/s are expected to use the manual developed and act as the master trainers in conducting the TOT training which is also used as an opportunity to field test the appropriateness of the draft manual.
2. Based on feedback received from SC staff and TOT participants, revise the draft manual.
3. Facilitate a 5 days TOT follow up training (2^nd Phase) after about one to two months from the first TOT training. This training will focus on sharing and learning from practical experiences since the participants will facilitate CC sessions in communities between the two TOT trainings. During the 2^nd TOT, participants will also share ideas how to further improve the draft CC manual.
4. Include final revisions to the manual and produce a final document.
5. Develop a brief training report (two hard copies and an electronic copy) describing briefly the objectives, methods used, limitations of the training, participants and the process followed. The report should also provide an analysis of challenges encountered in the process and recommendations for future action.

4.Methodology

The consultant is expected to produce a community conversation guide/manual through a participatory process and engagement of relevant stakeholders by reviewing existing manuals developed by other organisations and by developing a tailor made modules/sessions.

The consultant is also expected to come up with a specific methodology for convening the TOT training. He/she should use an interactive, participatory and practical teaching methodology and approaches.

5.Outputs and Duration of the Task

· A tailor made guide/manual on community conversations in support of child protection outcomes (with tools for the community facilitators to use during community conversations, and to monitor outcome of CC sessions)

o It is expected that the consultant/s will produce a draft handbook for comments and feedback from TOT participants and SC staff during the first and second phase of TOT training, and then take these comments on board to produce a revised and a final version of the manual.

o The final manual should be well presented and ready for printing.

· Two 5 days TOT Training workshops for 25 SC and partner staff. The fist TOT phase will focus on how to use the manual/handbook, and the methodologies, tools and processes within the document. The training will also be an opportunity to field test the manual. Trainers should be equipped with information, skills and confidence to be able to train community facilitators to facilitate community conversation meetings to different sectors in their target communities. The second TOT will focus on sharing and learning from practical experiences as the participants have been facilitating CC sessions in communities between the two TOT phases.

· Develop a training report after each training (two hard copies and an electronic copy) describing briefly the objectives, methods used, limitations of the training, participants and the process followed. The report should also provide an analysis of challenges encountered in the process and recommendations for future action. In addition the training reports should provide recommendations on how facilitator should cascade the trainings to the community-based structures.

A tentative timeline for this consultancy is presented below. This will be finalized in consultation and agreement with the consultant.

Activity

Person days

1. Development and submission of an inception report: this will include review of existing manuals and development of a proposed outline (structure and methodology) for a contextualised community conversation manual. The inception report needs to also include outline (draft programme) for TOT trainings. The inception report will be reviewed by SC and comments need to be addressed before the consultant can continue with the assignment. - 6 Person Days
2. Developing a draft CC manual - 6 Person Days
3. Finalizing CC manual based on comments from SC and producing a final draft - 3 Person Days
4. Development of a detailed TOT training programme with training materials (First Phase of TOT) - 3 Person Days
5. Training for selected participants designed and delivered (First Phase of TOT) - 5 Person Days
6. Revise CC manual based on experiences and comments from the training - 3 Person Days
7. Writing a report on the training outcomes and recommendations - 1 Person Days
8. Development of a detailed TOT training programme with training materials (Second Phase of TOT) - 3 Person Days
9. Training for selected participants designed and delivered (Second Phase of TOT) - 5 Person Days
10. Revise CC manual based on experiences and comments from the training and produce the final manual - 3 Person Days
11. Writing a report on the training outcomes and recommendations - 1 Person Day

Total working days - 39

6.Preparations and Logistical Support

Save the Children Somaliland ILAALINTA CARUURTA project team will provide the following logistical support and guidance:

• Ensure prompt payment of professional fee and other costs arising from the contract;
• Provide logistical support (transport, accommodation, food, visa) during the assignment when out of duty station;
• If a consultant is coming outside Somaliland, purchase an air ticket in economic class and provide airport transfer in Hargeisa;
• Provide guidance, input and support during the exercise;
• Provision of training venue, stationery, and refreshments for the two 5 days training.

7.Consultant Requirements & Qualifications

The consultant should have:

· A minimum of first degree relevant to the area of the task (e.g. human rights, social science, social work)

• Excellent knowledge on children’s rights and child protection
• Knowledge and experience on working in support of gender equality
• Demonstrable experience in designing community conversation manuals and developing relevant handbook/manuals
• Experience in working with NGO/INGOs
• Experience in facilitating participatory trainings including TOTs
• Effective facilitation and communication skills
• Understanding and commitment to Save the Children’s vision, mission and values
• Experience in working in Somalia/Somaliland will be an added value

8.Payment details

• · Payment will be in accordance with a detailed budget breakdown as submitted through the proposal, and invoices will be expected from the consultant prior to payment.
• · SCSOM will pay the consultant according to SCISOM’s guidelines on procurement of services.
• · A contract will be signed by the consultant before commencement of the action. The contract will detail terms and conditions of service, aspects on inputs and deliverables.

9.Application requirements

Candidates interested in the position will be expected to provide the following documentation:

• Cover letter
• Detailed technical proposal to ToR, with specific focus addressing the scope of work, methodology to be used and key selection criteria
• CVs of consultant(s) with minimum of 3 traceable and recent referees; company profile if relevant
• Detailed financial proposal based on expected daily rates
• Initial work plan and availability of the consultant

Somalia.consultants@savethechildren.org

Save the Children Somaliland Applications close on 4^th June, 2017 by COB.