Call for Trainer – Training on Mental Wellbeing

Context and Rationale

About SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia

SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia (SOS CVE) has been serving vulnerable children and families since 1974, combining Alternative Care Programmes (ACP) with Family Strengthening Programmes (FSP). Through these initiatives, SOS CVE provides family-like care for children at risk of losing parental support and empowers communities to build resilience against social and economic challenges.

Rationale for the Training: Staff Wellbeing as a Strategic Priority

Recognizing that staff wellbeing is central to organizational performance and culture, SOS CVE has consistently invested in initiatives that strengthen resilience and engagement. The 2025 Stress Management and Resilience Training laid the foundation for equipping employees with coping strategies to manage psychological stressors. Building on this, the 2026 Mental Wellbeing Training consolidates three critical dimensions—Mental Health, Advanced Stress Management, and Work-Life Balance—into one integrated program. This holistic approach recognizes the diverse challenges faced by staff across program locations, ranging from psychological stressors to balancing professional and personal responsibilities. The training is designed to equip employees with practical knowledge, coping strategies, and resilience skills that foster balance, engagement, and safety in both professional and personal contexts.

Objective

The overarching objective is to strengthen staff wellbeing by providing comprehensive training that enhances mental, emotional, and physical resilience, contributing to a healthier, more engaged, and productive workforce.

Specific Objectives

• Deliver an Integrated Mental Wellbeing training that has specialized tiers for staff groups

1. All staff tier (a half day training)
2. Caregivers separate need-based tier (a half day training)
3. Emergency response teams separate need-based tier (a half day training)

• Mental Health: Build awareness of mental health issues, reduce stigma, and provide tools for early identification and support.
• Advanced Stress Management: Deepen understanding of stress dynamics and introduce trauma-sensitive strategies tailored to high-stress work nature and environments.
• Work-Life Balance: Equip staff with practical techniques to harmonize professional responsibilities and personal wellbeing.
• Conduct pretraining assessment to measure baseline knowledge.
• Impact Assessment: Conduct structured post-training impact assessments twice, at 3-month intervals, to evaluate sustained outcomes and inform future wellbeing initiatives with actionable recommendations.

Scope of Work

The external consultant will:

• Design and deliver one integrated Mental Wellbeing Training module, with three tiers.
• Facilitate training using participatory methods (presentations, group work, peer sharing, simulations).
• Provide training materials, including toolkits and reference guides.
• Conduct pre- and post-training tests and compile findings.
• Submit a comprehensive final report with recommendations.

Methodology

• Expert-led sessions with practical demonstrations.
• Interactive group discussions and peer learning.
• Scenario-based simulations (especially for trauma-sensitive stress management).
• Self-reflection activities encourage personal application of concepts.
• Virtual delivery to ensure inclusiveness and cost-effectiveness, with tailored sessions for all staff, care givers, and emergency response staffs.

Expected Outcomes

• Enhanced Mental Health Literacy: Staff will recognize signs of mental health challenges and know how to seek or provide support.
• Strengthened Resilience: Employees will apply advanced coping mechanisms to manage stress in diverse contexts.
• Improved Work-Life Balance: Staff will adopt strategies that reduce burnout and foster sustainable engagement.
• Data-Driven Insights: Pre and post assessments will provide measurable indicators of knowledge improvement.

Timeline

April to November 2026

• April – June 2026: Implementation of the integrated Mental Wellbeing Training (covering Mental Health, Advanced Stress Management, and Work-Life Balance) across three tiers. This phase will also include the baseline/pre‑training assessment. The three‑month window accounts for preparation, administration of the baseline assessment, and delivery of a half‑day training sessions per tiers.
• August & November 2026: Two structured impact assessments will be conducted at three‑month intervals following the training. These assessments will measure sustained outcomes, evaluate knowledge retention, and provide actionable recommendations for future wellbeing initiatives.

Coordination and Support

The HROD team will coordinate planning, mobilization, and communication. The external consultant will receive necessary background information and logistical support.

Conclusion

The 2026 Wellbeing Training Program represents a strategic expansion of SOS CVE’s commitment to staff wellbeing. By integrating mental health, advanced stress management, work-life balance, the initiative will empower employees with holistic skills to thrive personally and professionally, while strengthening organizational resilience and culture.

External Consultant Background and Deliverables and Method of Application

Responsibilities and Deliverables

The selected external consultant will be responsible for the following:

• Pre-Training and Impact Assessments: Design and administer a pre-training test to assess baseline knowledge of mental health, stress management, work life balance. And conduct an impact assessment twice after training (3-month intervals) with reports on sustained outcomes to measure learning outcomes and training effectiveness.
• Training Delivery: Deliver one integrated Mental Wellbeing Training module, structured into three tiers to address the specific needs of different staff groups:

  Tier 1: Mental Wellbeing for all staff

  Tier 2: Mental Wellbeing for caregivers (specialized tier)

  Tier 3: Mental Wellbeing for emergency response teams (specialized tier)

• Use participatory methods, including interactive sessions, group discussions, and exercises.
• Prepare comprehensive training manuals, handouts, and digital resources as applicable
• Provide post-training reference materials (e.g., guides, toolkits) for continued learning and reinforcement.
• Report Writing: Submit a detailed final report including:

  – Key findings from pre-training and impact assessments

  – Participant feedback and training impact analysis

  – Recommendations for future staff wellbeing interventions

Logistical Scope

• Number of participants: Approximately [644] employees across SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia locations.
• Mode: Virtual

Desired Qualifications and Experience

The ideal consultant/service provider should possess:

• A master’s degree or higher in psychology, counseling, social work, organizational development, or a related field
• Proven experience (minimum 5 years) in designing and delivering stress management, work life balance, and mental wellbeing training programs.
• Experience working with international NGOs
• Strong facilitation skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Familiarity with specialized training approaches.
• Excellent report-writing and analytical skills.
• Fluency in English and fluency in local languages is an added advantage (Afan Oromo, Amharic, Somali, Tigrigna)

Interested applicants should submit the following:

1. A technical proposal outlining their approach to the assignment, including methodology and timelines.
2. A financial proposal
3. Profiles of team members, highlighting relevant experience and qualifications.
4. Contact details of at least three references for similar work completed.