A consultant todesign and deliver a contextualized mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programme for children, facilitators and caregivers

REQUEST FOR CONSULTANTS

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is a global humanitarian organization with a mission to work with people in poverty and distress to create just and positive changes. ADRA Somalia belongs to the worldwide network, comprised of more than 130 supporting and implementing country offices. ADRA Somalia is seeking to recruit a consultant to design and deliver a contextualized mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programme for children, facilitators and caregivers.

Background Information

There is an increasing global recognition that human development must go beyond the acquisition of academic knowledge or technical skills to encompass the holistic wellbeing of individuals and communities. While literacy, numeracy, and livelihood skills remain vital, they alone are insufficient to enable individuals particularly those living in fragile and crisis-affected settings to thrive. To navigate today’s complex and often uncertain world, people must also demonstrate strong emotional resilience, self-awareness, empathy, interpersonal competence, and responsible decision-making. These competencies form the foundation of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), a critical domain that addresses the emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual dimensions of human wellbeing.

Research and practice globally affirm that learning and development are deeply social and emotional processes. People learn and grow through relationships, through interaction with facilitators, peers, families, and the broader community. Positive emotional states foster engagement, concentration, and motivation, whereas fear, anxiety, or prolonged stress can significantly diminish an individual’s ability to function, learn, and connect with others. For children and adolescents, in particular, stable and nurturing relationships are essential buffers against trauma and adversity. Without psychosocial stability, even the most well-designed learning interventions struggle to achieve meaningful outcomes.

In Somalia, the need for structured and community-based MHPSS interventions has become particularly urgent. Decades of conflict, cyclical droughts, displacement, and chronic poverty have eroded traditional support systems, leaving many individuals especially children and youth exposed to multiple layers of psychological distress. The 2023 Multi-Sector Needs Assessment (MSNA) highlighted that millions of young people continue to face displacement, loss, and insecurity, leading to heightened levels of anxiety, grief, and behavioural challenges. Families and caregivers, themselves burdened by hardship and uncertainty, often lack the resources, time, and coping strategies needed to support the emotional recovery of their children.

In such a context, the role of community-based learning and support spaces becomes indispensable. These spaces are often the firstand sometimes only platforms where children, youth, and caregivers can rebuild a sense of safety, belonging, and hope. Yet, most facilitators and caregivers operating in these environments have limited or no training in psychosocial support. As a result, opportunities for early identification of distress and timely intervention are frequently missed, and the potential of community actors to foster healing remains underutilized.

Integrating MHPSS into community learning initiatives and social programming is therefore not a luxury but a necessity. It transforms learning spaces and community gatherings into safe, nurturing environments that help individuals recover from trauma, develop positive coping mechanisms, and strengthen social connectedness. When facilitators, caregivers, and learners are equipped with psychosocial competencies, they become active agents of healing, capable of supporting themselves and others through crisis.

Globally, agencies such as UNICEF, Save the Children, UNHCR, and the Norwegian Refugee Council have demonstrated that layered, community-based MHPSS interventions ranging from peer-support groups and caregiver circles to expressive arts and mindfulness-based learning, can significantly enhance emotional wellbeing, resilience, and academic or livelihood outcomes. These interventions also strengthen social cohesion, reduce stigma around mental health, and promote inclusive recovery for displaced and vulnerable populations.

In Somalia’s evolving humanitarian landscape, where prolonged stress and displacement have become normalized, prioritizing mental health and psychosocial wellbeing is both a moral and strategic imperative. MHPSS enables individuals and communities to rebuild trust, recover a sense of dignity, and reimagine their future. When learners, facilitators, and caregivers are supported to understand and manage emotions, communicate effectively, and nurture hope, they contribute directly to peacebuilding and social stability.

In this light, ADRA Somalia’s initiative to design and deliver a comprehensive MHPSS training programme for children, facilitators, and caregivers responds to an urgent national need. It represents a practical and transformative investment in human capital, one that strengthens the emotional foundations of recovery and ensures that learning, in all its forms, becomes a pathway to healing, resilience, and sustainable development.

Purpose and Objective of the Consultancy

Community spaces and social support structures are more than venues for information sharing; they are vital ecosystems of human connection, emotional growth, and collective healing. They provide structure, belonging, and a sense of purpose that are essential for the holistic development of children, youth, and adults alike. In crisis-affected contexts such as Somalia, where conflict, drought, and displacement have fragmented families and communities, these spaces often serve as the only stable anchors of normalcy, hope, and continuity.

When learning and social engagement are disrupted whether by conflict, forced displacement, or the collapse of essential services, the effects reach far beyond the interruption of educational progress. Individuals, particularly children and adolescents, are deprived of safe and supportive interactions that nurture emotional wellbeing and social identity. The absence of regular routines and meaningful engagement increases stress, anxiety, and social withdrawal, and may trigger harmful coping behaviors such as aggression, isolation, or despair. Over time, these psychosocial challenges can undermine resilience, strain family relationships, and weaken community cohesion.

For vulnerable and marginalized groups including displaced children, adolescents living in poverty, and persons with disabilities, the psychosocial impact is even more severe. Many face multiple and compounding adversities that limit their access to learning opportunities, emotional support, and protective networks. For them, participation in community learning and peer-based activities is not just a chance to gain knowledge, but a lifeline to safety, belonging, and recovery.

In such circumstances, the role of facilitators, caregivers, and community actors becomes critically important. They are often the first and most consistent points of contact for children and youth experiencing distress. Yet, in many communities, these frontline actors lack the knowledge, tools, and confidence to identify psychosocial challenges, provide basic emotional support, or safely refer individuals to specialized services. This capacity gap limits the ability of communities to prevent further harm and to nurture the emotional recovery and development of their members.

In response to these challenges, ADRA Somalia is initiating a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Training Programme targeting children, facilitators, and caregivers across community-based learning and social support platforms. The consultancy will design and implement this training as an integrated capacity-building initiative that strengthens local knowledge, builds resilience, and promotes sustainable, community-led support systems for wellbeing.

The purpose of the consultancy is therefore to develop, contextualize, and deliver a comprehensive MHPSS and PFA training package that equips community facilitators, caregivers, and children with the skills and resources to promote emotional wellbeing, manage stress, and support recovery from trauma.

The specific objectives are to:

1. Develop a structured and culturally relevant MHPSS training curriculum aligned with international standards (IASC, INEE, UNICEF, UNHCR) and adapted to the Somali context.
2. Strengthen the capacities of community facilitators and caregivers to recognize signs of distress, apply basic psychosocial support techniques, and build safe, inclusive, and nurturing environments for children and youth.
3. Empower children with emotional regulation, problem-solving, and coping skills to help them navigate adversity and strengthen their resilience.
4. Establish practical linkages between learning spaces, households, and community support networks to ensure continuity of psychosocial care and referral.
5. Promote a culture of wellbeing, empathy, and inclusion across communities, transforming learning environments into safe and healing spaces that foster individual and collective recovery.

This initiative is both timely and transformative. By prioritizing mental health and psychosocial wellbeing as integral components of learning and community development, ADRA Somalia affirms that true recovery goes beyond rebuilding infrastructure or delivering content, it involves healing minds, restoring dignity and strengthening the social fabric that sustains peace and progress.

Scope of Work and Timeline of Activities

The consultancy is expected to officially commence in January 2026. Prior to the start of activities, the selected consultant(s) will be required to submit a comprehensive technical and financial proposal outlining the proposed number of consultancy days, daily professional rate, and a realistic, results-oriented work plan. This proposal will serve as the foundation for discussion and final agreement between the consultant and ADRA Somalia.

The proposal should clearly define a structured work plan with specific deliverables, methodologies, and timelines, to be reviewed and validated during the inception phase. The consultancy is expected to follow a phased approach to ensure coherence, accountability, and quality in delivery. As a guideline, the consultancy will include the following key phases:

Phase 1: Inception and Planning

This phase will focus on establishing a shared understanding of the assignment’s objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. The consultant will:

• Engage with ADRA Somalia and relevant stakeholders to clarify expectations, scope, and logistical arrangements.
• Review existing MHPSS frameworks, prior interventions, and available resources to ensure alignment with international and national standards.
• Finalize the conceptual framework, proposed training architecture, and timeline.
• Submit an Inception Report summarizing the agreed approach, detailed methodology, deliverables, and schedule.

Expected Output: Approved Inception Report with refined methodology and work plan.

Phase 2: Pre-Training Preparation and Materials Development

Building on insights from the inception phase, this stage will involve in-depth contextualization and preparation of training materials. The consultant will:

• Conduct a rapid training needs assessment to identify knowledge, attitude, and practice gaps among facilitators, learners, and caregivers.
• Review existing MHPSS training packages (e.g., HEART, BLP, Caring for the Caregiver, IASC/INEE frameworks) and adapt or synthesize content relevant to the Somali context.
• Develop or refine a comprehensive MHPSS Training Manual with differentiated modules for learners, facilitators, and caregivers.
• Prepare visual aids, activity sheets, and session plans to support participatory delivery.
• Share draft materials with ADRA and stakeholders for review and validation prior to the training.

Expected Output: Contextualized MHPSS Training Manual and accompanying tools validated by ADRA Somalia.

Phase 3: Training Workshop Implementation

This phase will focus on delivering the MHPSS capacity-building activities. The consultant will:

• Conduct Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions for selected master trainers, facilitators, and community focal points.
• Facilitate direct, face-to-face trainings for learners, facilitators, and caregivers in community learning spaces and social support hubs.
• Employ experiential and interactive training methodologies (role plays, group reflection, storytelling, art-based exercises, and peer-learning circles).
• Provide coaching and mentoring support to trained facilitators and caregivers, ensuring practical application and sustainability of skills.
• Collect participant feedback and document key lessons learned throughout the sessions.

Expected Output: Trained cohorts of facilitators, caregivers, and learners equipped with MHPSS competencies and practical tools for implementation.

Phase 4: Reporting and Knowledge Consolidation

Following the training sessions, the consultant will synthesize outcomes and recommendations into a comprehensive final report. Tasks will include:

• Compilation of quantitative and qualitative data on training coverage, participation, and results.
• Analysis of key findings, including improvements in knowledge, attitudes, and practice.
• Documentation of promising practices, challenges, and recommendations for future scale-up.
• Submission of a Final MHPSS Training Report accompanied by the finalized and formatted Training Manual and all supporting materials.

Expected Output: Comprehensive final report and finalized training package ready for replication and institutional use.

Indicative Timeline

The consultancy is expected to span approximately 40–45 working days over a period of two to three months, distributed roughly as follows:

Phase

Description

Indicative Duration

Phase 1

Inception and Planning

5–7 days

Phase 2

Pre-Training Preparation and Material Development

10–12 days

Phase 3

Training Implementation (ToT and direct sessions)

15–18 days

Phase 4

Reporting and Knowledge Consolidation

8–10 days

This phased and time-bound structure ensures clarity, accountability, and effective implementation throughout the assignment. Each phase builds on the previous one, culminating in a practical, field-tested, and scalable MHPSS training package that strengthens community resilience and psychosocial wellbeing across Somalia.

Methodology

Active participation will be the cornerstone of the methodology applied in this consultancy. The consultant is expected to adopt a participatory, inclusive, and context-sensitive approach that ensures meaningful engagement of all relevant stakeholders particularly learning facilitators, caregivers, community representatives, and local authorities throughout the design, implementation, and evaluation phases of the assignment.

The methodology should recognize that psychosocial wellbeing is both an individual and collective experience, and that lasting impact is achieved when communities themselves take ownership of the process. To this end, the consultant will employ approaches that promote collaboration, mutual learning, and empowerment of participants.

In developing the methodology, the consultant is expected to propose a cost-effective yet high-impact strategy that balances efficiency with depth of engagement. The proposed approach should:

• Reflect a clear understanding of the Somali context, including social norms, cultural dynamics, and the psychosocial realities of communities affected by conflict and displacement;
• Integrate adult learning principles, experiential methods, and creative facilitation techniques that encourage active participation, self-reflection, and skill practice;
• Apply trauma-sensitive and gender-responsive approaches to ensure emotional safety, inclusion, and relevance for all participants;
• Utilize layered MHPSS interventions aligned with the IASC framework—combining promotive, preventive, and focused psychosocial support activities that can be delivered at the community level;
• Embed peer support mechanisms, enabling participants to continue learning and supporting one another beyond the training period;
• Include feedback loops and adaptive learning, ensuring that the training materials and methods evolve based on participant insights and contextual feedback.

All proposed tools, facilitation processes, and delivery methods will be reviewed and approved by the ADRA Somalia project team prior to implementation. The consultant must ensure that all materials are ethically sound, culturally appropriate, and aligned with ADRA’s safeguarding principles and psychosocial support standards.

Emphasis will be placed on approaches that are practical, scalable, and sustainable, those that generate meaningful outcomes within available resources while upholding inclusivity, quality, and measurable impact. The overall goal is to build lasting community capacity for psychosocial wellbeing, enabling children, facilitators, and parents/caregivers to support one another and foster resilience in their environments.

Expected Deliverables

All deliverables under this consultancy will be developed in close coordination with, and under the guidance of, the Project Manager or a designated representative from ADRA Somalia. Continuous communication, feedback, and technical review will be essential to ensure full alignment with project objectives, contextual relevance, and quality assurance throughout the duration of the assignment.

The consultant will be expected to produce the following key outputs:

1. Detailed Work Plan

A comprehensive, time-bound work plan outlining the proposed methodology, activities, tools, and timelines for conducting the MHPSS capacity-building initiative.

The work plan should clearly define phases of engagement covering inception, preparation, training implementation, and reporting and specify deliverables for each stage.

This plan will be finalized and approved by ADRA Somalia prior to the commencement of field activities.

Expected Output: Approved work plan and implementation schedule guiding all consultancy activities.

2. Contextualized MHPSS Training Package

A complete and user-friendly MHPSS Training Package tailored for learners, facilitators, and caregivers in community learning and support environments.

The package should include:

• Facilitator manuals for each participant group;
• Session guides and activity outlines;
• Visual aids and handouts;
• Monitoring and reflection tools; and
• Adaptation notes for various regions or contexts.

Expected Output: Comprehensive and validated MHPSS Training Package ready for use and replication.

3. Training Delivery and Capacity Building

Successful delivery of MHPSS training sessions, including:

• Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions for identified master facilitators and partner representatives;
• Direct, community-based trainings for learners, facilitators, and caregivers;
• Application of participatory, experiential, and trauma-sensitive methodologies; and
• Real-time documentation of participant engagement, lessons learned, and feedback.

Expected Output: Cohorts of trained facilitators, caregivers, and learners equipped with practical psychosocial support skills and tools.

4. Debriefing Session with ADRA Programme Team

A structured debriefing meeting to present and discuss preliminary outcomes, key insights, and lessons from the training process.

This interactive session will provide space for reflection, clarification of findings, and collective agreement on next steps for integration and scale-up within ADRA’s programming.

Expected Output: Documented debrief notes and agreed action points for continued collaboration and improvement.

5. Draft and Final MHPSS Training Report

A comprehensive, well-structured report summarizing the entire consultancy process.

The report will document:

• Methodology and scope of work;
• Description of training activities and participant profiles;
• Key results, lessons learned, and participant feedback;
• Recommendations for scaling and institutionalization; and
• Finalized versions of the training materials (manuals, tools, handouts) as annexes.

Expected Output: Final MHPSS Training Report, incorporating feedback from ADRA Somalia and partners, and ready for dissemination and future reference.

This deliverables framework ensures clarity, accountability, and quality assurance throughout the consultancy, resulting in practical, evidence-based outputs that strengthen community resilience and psychosocial wellbeing across Somalia.

Further Information:

• Logistics: The consultant’s travel from base to the field and back after the end of the contract will be covered by ADRA.
• Professional fee: The consultant will propose the professional fee as part of their financial proposal. (Daily rate X number of days = Total professional fee).
• Tax and insurance: The consultants shall be responsible for their income tax and/or insurance during the assignment.
• Code of conduct: The consultant is bound by the principles and conditions of ADRA’s Code of Conduct.

A contract will be signed by the consultant upon commencement of the assignment which will detail additional terms and conditions of service, aspects on inputs and deliverables.

Qualifications of the Consultant

The assignment requires a consultant (individual or firm) with a strong background in mental health, psychosocial wellbeing, and community-based capacity development. The ideal candidate will combine technical expertise with contextual understanding of Somalia’s humanitarian and development landscape.

The consultant should possess the following qualifications and competencies:

i. Academic Background: Advanced professional or graduate studies in Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Mental Health, Social Work, Education, or Social Sciences, with specialization or certification in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), or related fields.

ii. Technical Expertise: Proven technical knowledge and practical experience in child protection, child rights, and community-based psychosocial interventions, including approaches such as trauma-informed care, psychological first aid, and community resilience-building.

iii. Professional Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of direct experience in designing and implementing psychological or psychotherapeutic interventions, with demonstrated focus on MHPSS system development, SEL integration, or mental health promotion in low-resource or fragile settings.

iv. Field Experience in Crisis-Affected Contexts: At least three (3) years of experience working with displaced, migrant, refugee, or conflict-affected populations, preferably in protracted humanitarian contexts. Familiarity with the psychosocial and cultural dynamics of displacement-affected communities in Somalia or the wider Horn of Africa region is highly desirable.

v. Training and Facilitation Skills: Demonstrated experience in the development of training curricula, facilitation guides, and participatory learning materials for adult and youth audiences. Strong command of adult learning principles and experience facilitating interactive, experiential, and trauma-sensitive trainings.

vi. Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups including community leaders, caregivers, learners, and organizational partners. Strong report writing, documentation, and presentation abilities in professional English.

vii. Language Requirements: Fluency in Somali (spoken and written) is a mandatory requirement for this assignment. Proficiency in English is required for documentation, training materials, and reporting.

All expressions of interest should include:

• Cover letter, maximum three pages.
• Detailed curriculum vitae.
• Technical Proposal: maximum 5 pages interpreting the understanding of the TOR, detailed methodology of executing the task, as well as draft work plan.
• Financial Proposal: should provide cost estimates for services rendered including daily consultancy fees but to exclude accommodation and living costs; transport cost; stationeries, and supplies needed for the training as well as costs to be incurred by trainees

How to apply

Applications for this consultancy should be emailed to the Human Resource Manager using the email hr@adrasom.org on or before COB 12Th December 2025, with “Expression of Interest for MHPSS and PFA Knowledge & Capacity Strengthening” in the subject line.

‘’ADRA Somalia is committed to upholding the rights of all children and vulnerable adults that we serve and those we interact with in the course of our work. We endevour to protect all from all forms of abuse and exploitation as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) six core principles on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). ADRA Somalia has zero tolerance to abuse and exploitation of beneficiaries and staff.’’