Trauma-Informed Translation Services

Terms of Reference (ToR): Trauma-Informed Translation Services (English → Amharic)

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Organization: The Center for Victims of Torture (CVT)

Deadline: April 28, 2026

Job Description

BACKGROUND: Center for Victims of Torture is an international nonprofit dedicated to providing healing services to survivors of trauma. CVT works toward a future in which these violations cease to exist and victims have hope for a new life. We are headquartered in Minnesota, USA with offices in Africa and the Middle East. We work locally, nationally and internationally through programs that provide trauma rehabilitation, conduct technical assistance and capacity building to frontline workers, civil society organizations, and local service providers around the world who can prevent and treat survivors of severe trauma.

CVT is seeking a qualified Amharic translator to provide trauma-informed translation of MHPSS training materials. The documents will be used for partner CSOs capacity building, supervision, and wellbeing initiatives.

OBJECTIVE: To produce high-quality English-Amharic translations that maintain conceptual accuracy, technical clarity, and trauma-informed language suitable for professional and community-based audiences.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The translator will translate the following materials from English into Amharic:

Trauma-Informed Approaches: (86-slide PowerPoint presentation)
Stress Management and Self-Care: (4-page Word document)
Professional Quality of Life (ProQoL): Foundational Skills (Word documents)
- Visualization handout (4 pages)
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) handout (3 pages)
Professional Quality of Life (ProQoL): Core Concepts (Word documents)
- Compassion Satisfaction handout (2 pages)
- Compassion Fatigue handout (5 pages)
- Perceived Support handout (5 pages)
- Burnout handout (5 pages)
- Secondary Traumatic Stress handout (5 pages)
- Moral Distress handout (6 pages)

DELIVERABLES:

Final translated documents in Amharic (editable formats) as well as back translation for items III and IV above (It is expected that the final translation should already incorporate corrections of any inaccuracies and inappropriateness identified through back translation)
Brief glossary of key technical terms (English-Amharic)
Expected duration: 4-weeks from the start date.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Proven experience translating MHPSS or trauma content
Native-level proficiency in Amharic and strong English skills
Demonstrated use of trauma-sensitive and non-stigmatizing language
Experience with NGOs or humanitarian settings is an asset

Required Skills

Excellent writing and communication skills in English (Amharic an asset).

How to Apply

Interested applicants who meet the criteria should submit the following to Daniel Woldegebriel at: Daniel.Weldegebriel@CVT.ORG by Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 5pm with the subject line “Application for Trauma-Informed Translation Services”:

CV and a short cover letter highlighting relevant experience
Financial proposal (considering applicable tax deductions as per the Ethiopian tax law)
Sample translation: Please translate the below paragraph into Amharic and include this in your application

“Intrusive thoughts and flashbacks

What are intrusive thoughts? Occasionally, people that have been exposed to traumatic stories might have intrusive thoughts, which are distressing ideas and memories that suddenly and unexpectedly come to mind and trigger a response of fear, worry, or grief.

What are flashbacks? At times thoughts and memories can be so strong that they feel like they are really happening, or that the person is transported to the traumatic event. These are called flashbacks. Sometimes professionals may have a very vivid imagination, so when a person is talking about a traumatic experience, it plays “like a movie” in their mind. The imagery is then repeated intrusively. While flashbacks are not common in secondary trauma, repetition in our minds of scenarios from what our clients have shared with us is more common.

Why do they occur? Intrusive thoughts and flashbacks happen as we are trying to process information that is difficult. Our brain tries to make sense, to see the logic of an event, but cannot. They can also occur in response to triggers, which also might be difficult to pinpoint, as they can happen very quickly. The triggers, as well as flashbacks and intrusive thought at times activate the emergency response in our system, and so they feel as if we are in danger even if the current situation is perfectly safe.”

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