Psychosocial support service during consultations with CSOs and victim associations at Advocacy Center for Democracy and Development (ACDD)

Advocacy Center for Democracy and Development (ACDD) is a civil society organization established on April 3, 2020, in Ethiopia under registration number 4867. ACDD’s mission is to advocate for and nurture the establishment and consolidation of true democracy and sustainable, equitable, and inclusive development in Ethiopia. Hence, its thematic scope of intervention places mainly evidence-based advocacy at the center to promote peace building and conflict resolution, human rights protection and democratic culture, inclusive development, and local community empowerment through a right-based approach and employing community participation, dialogue, and media strategic tools.

Advocacy Center for Democracy and Development (ACDD), in collaboration with the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), is implementing a project funded by the European Union titled “Strengthening Civil Societies’ Capacities to contribute to the Transitional Justice Process in Ethiopia – Phase II.” This project will be implemented in four regions: Amhara, Oromia, Somali, and Tigray. The project aims at advancing accountability, the rule of law, gender justice, affirm victims’ dignity, and promote responsive institutions through increased engagement of victims and other civil society organizations (CSOs) with state institutions as a step toward coming to terms with past violations and preventing new ones.

The project will involve consultations and training sessions across four regions, targeting CSOs and victim associations. These consultation workshops aim to equip participants with essential skills and knowledge to support their communities and effectively contribute to the transitional justice process. Given the conflict and post-conflict context, many participants may still be experiencing the fresh impacts of these events. Therefore, all activities must be designed and delivered with a mental health and trauma-informed approach.

With this in mind, this Terms of Reference (ToR) aims to identify a qualified consultant to conduct a one-day training on psychosocial and trauma-informed approaches during the consultations workshops in the Somali region.

Objectives

• Guide and oversee the integration of trauma-informed knowledge into workshop activities and content.
• Provide MHPSS support to participants during the workshop.
• Foster a safe space for open dialogue on participants’ experiences and challenges.

Scope of Work

• Collaborate with ACDD and ICTJ teams to integrate psychosocial support into the program design.
• Deliver a one-day training on psychosocial and trauma-informed approaches.
• Provide introductory training on key skills and strategies for trauma coping.
• Conduct pre-workshop assessments to identify participants’ psychosocial needs.
• Facilitate activities like group discussions, emotional resilience and stress and burnout management, and individual support as needed.
• Monitor participant engagement and emotional well-being during the workshop.

Target Audience

The service will be directed to CSOs and victim associations’ representatives attending the workshop in Somali region.

Methodology

• Adopt a participatory approach to foster sharing and mutual support among participants.
• Apply trauma-informed practices to ensure sensitivity to participants’ experiences.
• Incorporate culturally relevant practices and materials into all activities.

Date and duration

The workshops are tentatively planned to take place in Mid-April, 2025, in Jigjiga, Somali Region.

Reporting Requirements

• Psychosocial Support Needs Assessment: Summary of pre-workshop findings.
• Workshop Materials: Final participant manual, facilitator guide, and presentation slides.
• Participant Insights: Engagement and well-being summaries.
• Evaluation Report: Analysis of MHPSS intervention effectiveness with participant feedback.

Qualifications:

• Required qualifications and experience for the consultant, such as background in psychology, Psychiatry, or related fields, and experience working with CSOs and victim support.
• The consultant must be able to deliver content in the local language, i.e in Af Soomaali.