Independent Consultant at TIMRAN, Ethiopia

Terms of Reference (TOR) to:

Facilitate Training and Mentorship Program on Women Peace and Security (WPS Agenda), Advocacy Strategies, and Negotiation Skills in Amhara Region, Bahir Dar

About TIMRAN

TIMRAN is an indigenous, not-for-profit organization established in January 2020. As a local, nonpartisan civil society organization, TIMRAN is dedicated to advancing women’s participation in politics and public decision-making in Ethiopia, regardless of their political opinions or party affiliations.

Project Summary

TIMRAN is currently implementing a project titled “Women Count for Peace: Promoting the Participation, Representation, and Leadership of Women in Peacebuilding Processes in Ethiopia”. This project aims to increase women’s participation, representation, and leadership in conflict resolution and peace-building processes in the Amhara Region. The project will address the challenges of limited participation, representation, and leadership of women in peace processes by providing capacity development support to women’s organizations and their leadership, media engagements, and advocacy campaigns, and fostering cross-regional collaboration to overcome key structural and social barriers that hinder the meaningful participation of women, in alignment with the UNSC Resolution 132, WPS Agendas and the Ethiopian Draft Action Plan.

As part of this initiative, TIMRAN seeks to hire an independent consultant to design and deliver training focussed on WPS Agenda, advocacy strategies, and negotiation skills for women-led CSOs and women’s rights organizations in the Amhara Region. After the training sessions, the consultant will also support designing and facilitating a mentorship program that pairs participants with experienced women leaders in the peace building field.

Role Context

The trainer will design and deliver a three-day training program tailored to the context and needs of women-led CSOs and women’s rights organizations in the Amhara Region. Following the training, the consultant will facilitate a structured three-month mentorship program by also facilitating platforms to link them with experienced women leaders in the sector. The training is expected to cover, at a minimum, the following topics:

• Overview of WPS Agenda, UNSC Resolution 1325 and the Ethiopian Draft National Action Plan
• The role of women in peace building and conflict resolution
• Fundamentals of advocacy in the context of peace and gender equality
• Developing and executing effective advocacy strategies and campaigns
• Negotiation strategies and techniques, particularly in conflict and peace building
• Building alliances and networks for influence and collaboration
• Understanding and navigating gender dynamics in peace and conflict, strategic advocacy for women’s rights, and empowering women as effective peace builders.

The objective of the Assignment

To design and deliver high-quality, interactive training sessions and support implementing a 3-month mentorship program for women leaders in women’s rights organizations and women-led CSOs, equipping them with essential knowledge and practical skills in WPS Agenda, advocacy, and negotiation.

Expected outcome of the training

• Enhanced participants’ understanding of the WPS agenda and UNSCR 1325, including its application within Ethiopia’s peace processes.
• Strengthened participant’s advocacy skills to effectively influence the draft National Action Plan (NAP), Peace Policy, and Transitional Justice processes.
• Improved participants’ negotiation and dialogue skills to engage meaningfully in formal and informal peace building and decision-making platforms.
• Participants actively engaged in structured mentorship relationships.
• Participants will be able to critically assess gender dynamics in peace and conflict contexts
• Participants will be able to develop and refine advocacy strategies and campaign plans
• The trainer will review and provide constructive feedback on the advocacy strategies and campaign plans developed by participants and will submit the final versions to TIMRAN to inform potential follow-up support

Methodology

Training methods include:

• The training will adopt a participatory, feminist, and adult-learning approach that centers on the experiences, knowledge, and leadership of women peace builders and civil society actors in the Amhara Region. It is designed to be inclusive, interactive, and practical, encouraging active engagement from all participants.
• Facilitated group discussions, to encourage experience sharing, reflection, and critical analysis on the WPS agenda, and women’s roles in peace building.
• Case studies, real-life scenarios, global and local, including Amhara-specific to explore challenges, solutions, and best practices.
• Hands-on exercises and role plays, to practice negotiation, advocacy planning, and problem-solving skills.
• PowerPoint-supported sessions, structure content delivery, and reinforce learning through visual aids.
• Scenario-based simulations for applying negotiation and dialogue skills in mock peace talks or policy consultation settings.
• Peer learning and networking opportunities, the training will provide space for experience sharing, mutual support, and solidarity, and strengthen regional networks.

Mentorship Methodology should include

• Development of mentorship plans outlining objectives, expectations, and timelines.
• Regular meetings (virtual or in-person, depending on the access and capacity of the participants), on a biweekly basis.
• Creation and coordination of platforms for group reflection and peer learning.
• Feedback mechanisms and tools to monitor progress and mentor effectiveness
• Experience sharing and learning by identifying women leaders in the area and linking them with the participants

Scope of Work

The Trainer will be responsible for the following:

• Training design and preparation
• Facilitation of training sessions
• Prepare pre- and post-training assessment tools
• Mentorship Support including designing a three-month mentorship plan, and monitoring the progress of the mentees
• Monitoring and Reporting

Deliverables:

• Training content detailing the methodology, tools, and materials of the training and the mentorship program.
• Detailed training agenda and materials
• PowerPoint before the training date
• Training sessions facilitation for three consecutive days in Bahir Dar Town
• Pre- and post-assessment tests analysis report including raw data of pre- and post-assessment responses upon the completion of the training
• Mentorship framework and guidance materials
• Compiled package of trainers’ advocacy strategies and campaign plans along with evaluation of therein
• Final report with participant feedback and training impact stories.

Time Frame

• Training sessions must be completed before June 30, 2025.
• The mentorship program will run for three months, starting from the completion of training session delivery.

About the Applicant

Required Qualifications

• Minimum Master’s degree in Gender Studies, Peace and Security Studies, Human Rights, or a related field.
• Minimum 4 years of experience facilitating training on WPS, gender, peacebuilding, or advocacy.
• Knowledge of UNSCR 1325, the WPS Agenda, and National Action Plan, and policy frameworks.
• Strong understanding of the gender dynamics and women’s issues in the peace and justice system in Ethiopia
• Fluency in English, and Amharic (spoken and written).
• Proven experience with participatory training and adult learning methodologies.
• Familiarity with the political and conflict context and understanding of women’s peace and justice issues in the Amhara Region is a strong asset.

Preferred qualifications and skills:

• Understanding of the civil society landscape in Ethiopia in the context of women-led CSOs and other similar actors working on peace-building and women’s agendas.
• Prior knowledge of working with women-led CSOs, and supporting local CSOs.
• Excellent communication and report-writing skills in English.
• Understanding and commitment to employing ‘Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Harassment and Abuse’, ‘Do no harm’, and ‘Safeguarding’ principles during training. (TIMRAN follows a zero-tolerance policy and is committed to ensuring ‘do no harm’, ‘Safeguarding’, and PSEHA principles in all its operations. To this end, TIMRAN may involve a ‘reference check’ to the consultant’s background regarding these key issues).
• Demonstrated alignment with TIMRAN’s core values and mission.