CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EoI)- Certified Training of Trainers (ToT) on Strategic Advocacy for Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) and National Action Plan (NAP) Implementation and Monitoring Skills (32 Required)

1. Background and Context

Over 25 years since the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, women and girls in Ethiopia continue to face disproportionate impacts from conflict, displacement, and insecurity. Despite their critical perspective, women and girls remain underrepresented in formal peacebuilding, mediation, and decision-making processes.

To contribute to bridging this gap, Empathy for Life Integrated Development Association (ELiDA), a prominent women-led civil society organization, in partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), is implementing the “Women Count for Peace” project. This initiative aims to amplify women’s participation, representation, and leadership in conflict resolution and peacebuilding in Ethiopia.

In collaboration with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) Ministry of Peace, ELiDA is launching a highly competitive, certified Training of Trainers (ToT) to build a premier pool of trained experts (trainers) who will be unique resource persons in the country to cascade WPS NAP implementation and monitoring skills after the Ethiopian WPS National Action Plan (NAP) is endorsed.

2. Training Objectives and Scope

The proposed intensive, residential, 5-day ToT will take place in Bishoftu in the third or last week of August 2026. The program is specifically designed to establish a stand-by pool of certified, high-caliber WPS trainers.

Therefore, specifically, the ToT will:

• Equip the participants with advanced facilitation skills and adult-learning methodologies focusing on WPS agenda and NAP implementation and monitoring.
• Enhance the participants’ skills on strategic advocacy and policy-influencing skills to shape WPS agendas in light of the Country’s peacebuilding efforts and how to cascade them to WPS actors in the country.
• Build the participants’ skills on designing communication, coalition-building, and networking across regional boundaries and guiding how local WPS actors can execute them effectively.
• Enable participants to confidently cascade WPS and NAP implementation and monitoring knowledge within their home regions.

3. Target Participants and Regional Cohorts

ELiDA is seeking a diverse, passionate, and highly committed cohort of 32 participants representing civil society organizations (CSOs), women’s peace networks, women’s rights organizations (WROs), and social media influencers in peace from the following target regions:

• Addis Ababa
• Amhara
• Oromia
• Tigray

The Opportunity: Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive an official Certificate of Completion jointly recognized and issued by ELiDA and the FDRE Ministry of Peace. Certified trainers will serve as key national and regional resources to cascade training on the implementation and monitoring & evaluation of the Ethiopian WPS NAP.

4. Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Admission to this ToT is highly competitive. Ideal candidates must meet the following criteria:

Education:

• Minimum, applicants should be 2nd degree (Master’s) holders in any social science studies. ELiDA will set specific assessment criteria to prioritize the most relevant fields of study against the main objectives of the training and WPS agenda as well as the project purpose.

Affiliation:

• Active membership or employment within a dynamic CSO or network, women-led group or movement, or youth-led organization or network working on peacebuilding, gender equality, human rights, or advocacy initiatives in the target regions.

Experience:

• Proven experience in training facilitation, workshop coordination, or stakeholder engagement expeditions focusing on local advocacy, community mobilization, dialogues, or conflict mediation. Prior exposure to WPS or gender-responsive and conflict-sensitive programming is highly advantageous.

Commitment:

• Individuals with explicit commitment to actively cascade this training to local WPS actors and communities in their respective region.

Language:

• Proficiency in English and at least one local language of their respective region (Amharic, Afaan Oromoo, or Tigrigna).

Diversity:

• We strongly encourage female applicants, and significantly appreciate applications from young women leaders, women peace-builders, experts in peace and conflict studies, and individuals from marginalized or conflict-affected communities.

Requirements*

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Admission to this ToT is highly competitive. Ideal candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Education: Minimum, applicants should be 2nd degree (Master’s) holders in any social science studies.
• Affiliation: Active membership or employment within a dynamic CSO or network, women-led group or movement, or youth-led organization or network working on peacebuilding, gender equality, human rights, or advocacy initiatives in the target regions.
• Experience: Proven experience in training facilitation, workshop coordination, or stakeholder engagement expeditions focusing on local advocacy, community mobilization, dialogues, or conflict mediation. Prior exposure to WPS or gender-responsive and conflict-sensitive programming is highly advantageous.
• Commitment: Individuals with explicit commitment to actively cascade this training to local WPS actors and communities in their respective region.
• Language: Proficiency in English and at least one local language of their respective region (Amharic, Afaan Oromoo, or Tigrigna).
• Diversity: We strongly encourage female applicants, and significantly appreciate applications from young women leaders, women peace-builders, experts in peace and conflict studies, and individuals from marginalized or conflict-affected communities.