Terms of Reference (ToR): Consultancy Service for Moderation of the Inter-Regional Human Rights-Based Peace Dialogue for Youth II and Panel Discussion

Background 

The Center for Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD) is a board-led, not-for-profit organization registered in Ethiopia under the Civil Societies Proclamation No. 1113/2019 with registry number 4307. CARD envisions an Ethiopia where democratic culture flourishes based on human rights values. Its mission is to empower citizens and civic groups to promote and defend human rights and contribute to the building of democratic culture.

With support from GIZ, CARD is implementing the Inter-Regional Human Rights-Based Peace Dialogue for Youth II initiative. The initiative seeks to strengthen the capacity of youth to promote peaceful coexistence, social cohesion, and constructive engagement across regional and community boundaries through a human rights-based approach.

As part of this initiative, CARD has engaged youth ambassadors from the Amhara and Oromia regions and provided them with training in human rights-based dialogue facilitation. Following the training, the youth ambassadors facilitated community dialogues in their respective locations across 12 cities, creating opportunities for community members to engage in discussions on peace, human rights, and social cohesion.

Building on these experiences, CARD plans to organize a one-day inter-regional dialogue bringing together youth ambassadors from Amhara and Oromia regions to exchange experiences, reflect on lessons learned from the community dialogues, and strengthen collaboration in promoting peaceful coexistence and social cohesion. The initiative will also include a half-day panel discussion on the theme “Youth-Led, Rights-Respecting Peace Dialogue for Social Cohesion.”

To ensure effective, inclusive, and constructive engagement, CARD seeks to recruit a qualified consultant to moderate the inter-regional dialogue and the panel discussion.

Objective of the Assignment

The specific objectives are to:

• Facilitate experience-sharing among youth ambassadors regarding the community dialogues conducted in their respective cities.
• Encourage reflection on achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and good practices from the community dialogue process.
• Promote mutual understanding, constructive engagement, and collaboration among youth ambassadors from the two regions.
• Ensure that discussions are guided by human rights principles, inclusivity, conflict sensitivity, impartiality, and respect for diverse perspectives.
• Moderate a panel discussion that explores the role of youth-led, rights-respecting peace dialogue in strengthening social cohesion and peaceful coexistence.

 Scope of Work

The selected consultant will be responsible for moderating the one-day inter-regional dialogue and the half-day panel discussion. The assignment will include the following tasks:

3.1. Preparation and coordination

• Review relevant project documents, background materials, and information provided by CARD regarding the youth ambassadors and the community dialogues conducted in 12 cities.
• Coordinate with CARD to understand the objectives, expected outcomes, participant profiles, and proposed agenda for both sessions.
• Develop a facilitation and moderation approach that promotes meaningful participation, balanced representation, and constructive dialogue.
• Review and provide input on the session agenda and guiding questions, as necessary, in consultation with CARD.

3.2. Moderation of the one-day inter-regional dialogue

• Open and guide the dialogue in line with its objectives and agreed agenda on October 29, 2026.
• Facilitate experience-sharing among youth ambassadors from Amhara and Oromia regions regarding their community dialogue activities.
• Guide discussions on the achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and good practices emerging from the 12-city community dialogue process.
• Encourage participants to identify common concerns, opportunities for collaboration, and practical approaches to strengthening youth-led peacebuilding initiatives.
• Promote respectful interaction, active listening, balanced participation, and constructive engagement among participants.
• Apply a human rights-based and conflict-sensitive approach when addressing sensitive issues, differing perspectives, and potential disagreements.
• Facilitate the identification of practical recommendations and possible follow-up actions to strengthen inter-regional youth engagement and social cohesion.

3.3. Moderation of the half-day panel discussion

Panel theme: “Youth-Led, Rights-Respecting Peace Dialogue for Social Cohesion.”

The consultant will moderate the panel discussion on October 30, 2026 by:

• Preparing relevant guiding questions in consultation with CARD and, where appropriate, the panelists.
• Introducing the panel theme, framing the discussion, and guiding panelists through the key issues.
• Exploring the contribution of youth-led dialogue to peaceful coexistence, trust-building, and social cohesion.
• Guiding discussion on the application of human rights principles, inclusivity, conflict sensitivity, and respect for diversity in peace dialogue initiatives.
• Encouraging panelists to share practical experiences, challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations for strengthening youth participation in peacebuilding.
• Facilitating meaningful interaction between panelists and participants through questions and answers.
• Ensuring balanced participation, effective time management, and constructive engagement throughout the session.
• Summarizing key insights and recommendations emerging from the discussion.

 Expected Deliverables

The consultant will be expected to deliver the following:

1. Moderation of the inter-regional dialogue: Effective moderation of the one-day dialogue among youth ambassadors from Amhara and Oromia regions.
2. Moderation of the panel discussion: Effective moderation of the half-day panel discussion on youth-led, rights-respecting peace dialogue for social cohesion.
3. Brief assignment report: A concise report summarizing the sessions, major discussion points, key lessons learned, recommendations, and proposed follow-up actions.
4.  Ethical Considerations

The consultant shall:

• Maintain neutrality and impartiality throughout the dialogue and panel discussion.
• Uphold human rights principles, including equality, non-discrimination, respect for diversity, and meaningful participation.
• Apply conflict-sensitive approaches and avoid language or facilitation practices that could reinforce stereotypes, stigmatization, or tensions between communities.
• Respect the confidentiality of sensitive information shared during the sessions and obtain CARD’s guidance before using any information for external purposes.
• Comply with CARD’s applicable policies, safeguarding requirements, and professional standards

For more information refer this link: >> TOR LINK

Required Qualifications and Experience

Interested consultants should meet the following minimum requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree in Law, Human Rights, Peace and Conflict Studies, Political Science, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or a related field. A postgraduate qualification in a relevant field will be an advantage.
• At least five years of relevant professional experience in dialogue facilitation, peacebuilding, conflict transformation, human rights, civic engagement, or related areas.
• Demonstrated experience moderating multi-stakeholder dialogues, inter-regional discussions, public forums, or panel discussions.
• Proven ability to facilitate discussions involving diverse participants and sensitive or potentially contentious issues in a neutral, respectful, and constructive manner.
• Strong understanding of human rights-based approaches, conflict sensitivity, youth participation, social cohesion, and peaceful coexistence.
• Experience working with youth groups, civil society organizations, community-based initiatives, or peacebuilding programs.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports documenting key discussion points, lessons learned, and recommendations.