Terms of Reference for Training on Disability Inclusion and Programming to ISF staff and implementing partners in Somaliland

Terms of Reference for Training on Disability Inclusion and Programming to ISF staff and implementing partners in Somaliland

Background

The International Solidarity Foundation (ISF) is a Finnish development organization, founded in 1970. ISF operates currently in Kenya, Somaliland, and Ethiopia. ISF’s ongoing 2022-25 Development Programme as well as the incoming 2026-29 programme prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG), promote women’s livelihoods and build the capacities of local civil societies to promotes women’s rights.

In ISF programme areas, patriarchal systems reinforce deeply rooted inequalities and rigid gender roles that hinder women’s opportunities in productive work and normalize violence against women and girls (VAWG). Biased stereotypes and norms ascribe lower social status to women and girls, shape women’s self-confidence and are used to justify control of women’s bodies and restrict their self-determination. These challenges are further exacerbated by the volatile conditions, fragile structures, extreme weather events, displacement and shrinking civil society space.

People with disabilities (PwD) face similar discrimination and negative stereotypes. ISF’s 2026-29 programme will pay special attention to this group. The impact on the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as risks for the realization of those rights, will be assessed and mitigated during project planning, and partners supported to identify and remove barriers for equal participation, accessible environment, information, communication, transportation and services.

In Somaliland, ISF has operated since 2000 and has a country office in Hargeisa, and a local office in Burao. The 2022-2025 Somaliland programme includes eight projects that are implemented by local partner organizations in Togdheer, Sahil and Sanaag regions. In addition, the programme has a national scope to improve coordination and advocacy against FGM.

Purpose of the training

The purpose of the consultancy is to prepare and guide ISF Somaliland team and partners towards the 2026-29 project planning phase by

–   Mapping participants’ preunderstanding on disability inclusion principles and partners prerequisites inclusive programming

–   Capacitating participants in identifying barriers for participation that PwD may face within the current project/programme

–   Identifying feasible tools and ways to ensure equal participation, accessible environment, information, communication, transportation and services for PwD

Timing, duration, and expected deliverables

The consultancy is expected to take place in Burao in April 2025 for an estimated duration of 7 working days (2 days of which should go into the training). The consultant is expected to submit the following deliverables within the agreed timeframe and budget:

1.    An inception report no later than 1 week from the time of being notified about selection, including the following items:

•       Pretraining survey method and questions to map the current disability inclusion capacity

•       Reference to international frameworks, guidelines and policies e.g. applied in the training

•       Reference to national legal and policy frameworks in Somaliland applied in the training

•       Training methodology and detailed curriculum

•       Detailed schedule of the consultancy incl. travelling

•       Detailed budget, incl. possible costs for sign language interpreter or another supporting person(s)

2.    A digital pretraining survey on the current disability inclusion capacity

3.    Training sessions

•       One day training on disability inclusion principles and barriers for participation

•       One day training to identify concrete tools to ensure equal participation, accessible environment, information, communication, transportation and services for PwD

4.    Training report (5-10 pages) no later than 1 week after completion of the training.

Qualifications of the consultant

The profile of the individual consultant(s) needs to meet the below requirements:

•       Minimum 5 years of experience in disability inclusion, including experience of planning and implementing disability inclusion training, including in Somali context

•       Experience in conducting trainings

•       Evidence of high-quality outputs from previous assignments

•       Fluent in English and Somali.

•       Good reporting and presentation skills

The tender must be submitted no later than 31st March 2025 to [email protected], including

•       qualification of the consultant (CV, max 3 pages)

•       a draft training plan including a short description on the methods (max 3 pages)

•       cost of the consultancy: facilitation fee/day, other costs

ISF will choose the consultant according to the professional capacity of the consultant, the quality and content of the tender and the cost of the tender. Persons with disabilities will be prioritized.

The selection of the consultant will be done by ISF. Only the selected candidate will be notified of the results of the selection process.