Call for Consultancy: Trainer for Advocacy / External Communication

The Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation (PCF) is a unique Swiss non-profit organisation based in Trogen, Switzerland. We are committed to creating access to quality and equitable education for all children and young people in Switzerland and worldwide. The implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child forms the framework of our projects. The Children’s Village is a place of encounter and the heart of our foundation.

In Ethiopia, PCF works with local partner organisations to improve access to inclusive and equitable quality primary education. Together with the Ethiopian Centre for Development (ECD), Future of Hope Integrated Development Organization (FHIDO), and Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organization (JeCCDO), projects focus on creating safe learning environments, enhancing teaching skills, and ensuring continuity of education in emergencies.

Objective and participants

PCF provides funding to local partner organisations and aims to strengthen their staff capacities and skills to achieve programme outcomes. To support this goal, PCF is commissioning a short-term consultancy on Advocacy and External Communication for executive directors, programme managers/coordinators, project managers, education supervisors, and monitoring and evaluation personnel.

The consultancy will be tailored to the specific needs and knowledge of PCF’s Ethiopian partner organisations and developed in close collaboration with PCF HQ and the Ethiopia Country Office. It will enable participants to enhance their capacity in advocacy and external communication by equipping them with tools and methods to advance children’s right to education, develop effective policy-level strategies, and design advo-cacy plans and communication channels tailored to different audiences.

The participants will be selected from PCF’s partner organisations in Ethiopia, which are medium-sized NGOs with intermediate knowledge of advocacy and communication. A total of 12–15 participants (approximately 4–5 per organisation) will attend.

Tentative Agenda

The agenda will be finalised jointly with the consultant, based on a needs assessment. It is expected to cover the following:

Day 1 – Advocacy

• Understanding advocacy in development contexts and its relevance for children’s right to education
• Identifying key policy issues, stakeholders, and mapping power dynamics
• Developing effective advocacy strategies and policy messages
• Case studies and practical exercises

Day 2 – External Communication

• Principles of strategic communication and ethical storytelling
• Crafting clear, compelling messages for different audiences
• Selecting and using communication channels effectively (media, social media, digital platforms)
• Case studies and practical exercises

Note: The consultant is expected to provide the detailed content and agenda with potential sub-topics in the submitted technical offer.

An assessment questionnaire shall be developed and circulated by the facilitator in advance to determine participants’ current knowledge and needs.

The results will inform the detailed planning and agenda of the assignment. A follow-up assignment for the participants shall also be part of the consultancy package (participants return to their work and apply their learning); the exact format will be agreed with the facilitator.

Main responsibilities

• Develop and facilitate a two-day advocacy and external communication workshop for executive direc-tors, managers, supervisors, and M&E staff of PCF’s partner organisations.
• Tailor the content to the specific needs and prior knowledge of participants.
• Cover both advocacy and external communication with practical exercises and case studies.
• Design and circulate a needs assessment questionnaire in advance; integrate findings into the agenda.
• Provide a follow-up assignment enabling participants to apply their learning in practice.
• Collaborate closely with PCF headquarters and the Ethiopia Country Office.

Qualifications and experience

• Master’s degree in communication, political science, social sciences, or related field.
• At least 5 years of professional experience in training facilitation relevant to advocacy, communication, and networking.
• Substantial expertise in advocacy, communication strategies, and networking with civil society organisations and NGOs.
• Demonstrated skills in participatory, contextually relevant training methods.
• Legally registered consultancy/consultant with valid documentation (license, TIN, at least three references from INGOs/LNGOs/IOs).
• Excellent command of English; Amharic is an advantage.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Dates, Language and Place

• Dates: The assignment is scheduled to take place between 13–14 November 2025. The duration will not exceed two days (excluding arrival and departure).
• Language: The workshop will be delivered in English, with interpretation into Amharic during discussions.
• Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
• Logistics: Costs for transport, accommodation, and meals are covered by PCF.

How to Apply