Caregiver Skills Training Consultant at Search for Common Ground (SFCG)

Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit organization that promotes the peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and Brussels, Belgium, Search’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict - away from destructive approaches towards cooperative solutions. With more than 600 staff worldwide, Search implements projects in more than 30 countries across the globe.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Caregiver Skills Training Consultant

Location: Maiduguri, Borno

Purpose of the Consultancy
An organisation is required to deliver skills based training for male and female caregivers of the Project’s beneficiary children to enable them to develop skills in income generating activities to better support their children and families. This sits within the economic reintegration component of the “Supporting the Socio-Economic Reintegration of Children Associated with Armed Groups, and other vulnerable children, in North East Nigeria” project.

This skills training is particularly required for caregivers of children engaged in the education component of the Project to enable them to generate income and support their families to purchase basic items, while children continue with their education. As such, 200 caregivers of the most vulnerable children will be identified to take part in skills training activities in key areas as identified by our market analysis. Start-up kits will then be provided to cooperatives that caregivers will form to enable them to begin putting their skills into action and generating incomes as a collective to improve their economic resilience as individual households.

The organisation will be required to deliver skills training to 200 caregivers in select locations in MMC and Jere in line with Search market assessment findings. The organisation will then provide 20 groups of 10 caregivers per group start up kits containing key items required to begin businesses in the respective areas caregivers have been trained in.

About the Project
In May 2018, Search began implementing the UNICEF-funded project “Supporting the Socio-Economic Reintegration of Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups including the CJTF in North East Nigeria.” This project aimed to ensure that children verified and separated from armed groups in three local government areas (LGAs) received a comprehensive child protection package including psychosocial support and socio-economic reintegration, and that their communities understand the importance of their separation and reintegration. The first phase of the project demonstrated the success of this holistic approach to reintegration, and furthermore, there is an increasing number of children that need to be reached by such programming.

In order to effectively and efficiently address the effects of the insurgency and break the cycle of violence, it is necessary to meet the physical, psychosocial and emotional needs of children in the North East who are growing up in a context of protracted conflict. As UNICEF’s verification process for the children separated from armed groups continues, there is a need to expand the project to engage newly verified children, and other vulnerable children. By increasing the resilience, acceptance, education and skills of children associated with armed groups, this project will facilitate lasting reintegration of these children and amplify positive narratives around their role in communities as productive civilian actors and agents for peace.

Objectives:

• Objective 1: Psychological reintegration- To strengthen the well-being and resilience of children formerly associated with armed groups, and other vulnerable children, in North East Nigeria.
• Objective 2: Social reintegration- To support children formerly associated with armed groups, or other vulnerable children, resume or return to school and become ambassadors for peace.
• Objective 3: Economic reintegration- To empower and support children formerly associated with armed groups, and other vulnerable children, for increased economic reintegration.
• Objective 4: Community strengthening- To create a conducive environment and community support for the social and economic reintegration and separation of children associated with armed groups.

Methodology:

• The consultancy organization will be required to deliver skills training to 200 caregivers in select locations in MMC and Jere in line with Search market assessment findings
• The organisation will then provide 20 groups of 10 caregivers per group start up kits containing key items required to begin businesses in the respective areas caregivers have been trained in.

Deliverables:

• Advise on skills gaps with economic potential within the market from rapid market analysis, in addition to Search market analysis conducted in 2018.
• Share skills training curriculum with Search Project team based on skills highlighted in market analysis.
• Ensure skills training curriculum is accessible, particularly for those with low levels of literacy and numeracy attainment.
• Adapt and tailor skills training as required, based on feedback from male and female caregivers, and Search Project team.
• Ensure qualified staff identified to deliver skills training.
• Deliver high quality trainings for 200 caregivers in a range of skills.
• Ensure full respect of Search Code of Conduct and reporting mechanisms to ensure well-being and dignity of training caregiver participants.
• Provide ongoing mentoring to caregivers to ensure their holistic needs are addressed.
• Submit regular weekly reports on progress of trainings, flagging any concerns to Child Protection Manager in a timely manner.
• Ensure timely procurement of start-up kit items, and necessary delivery to target beneficiaries in select locations.
• Support set-up of businesses by providing business skills and knowledge. Advise on problem solving skills. 

Reporting Line:

• Functional Line Manager: Deputy Project Manager. Direct Line Manager: Child Protection Manager.

Required Profile
Experience:

• Search is seeking a professional, experienced and already established organisation with expertise in skills training.
• The organisation must have already established skills training curriculums, to be reviewed by Search project team, which can be tailored to the context as required.
• The organisation must have an already existing pool of trainers, with experience delivering engaging skills training to vulnerable populations.
• The organisation must be experienced in delivering training to participants with low literacy and numeracy levels, and be able to adapt accordingly.
• Adherence to Search Code of Conduct is mandatory. The organisation will also need to respect reporting mechanisms in addition.
• In addition, knowledge of the context of Borno and these issues related to reintegration of children formerly associated with armed groups.
• Fluency in Hausa and Kanuri languages.

Timeframe:

• The consultancy will take place over 4 months, from June - September 2020.

Budget and Terms of Engagement:

• All costs incurred will be covered from the consultancy fee (including training and provision of start up kits).
• 5% withholding tax will be deducted at source from the total cost of the consultancy fee for a firm.
• 30% of the consultancy fee will be paid when initial the contract is signed, 30% will be paid upon completion of all training and the remaining balance of 40% will be paid on delivery of start-up kits to targeted caregivers.

The consultant is required to respect the following Ethical Principles:

• Accountability: Being accountable and passing on accountability for one's own actions and those of colleagues and the organization.
• Attention to detail: The ability to process detailed information effectively and consistently
• Collaboration: The ability to work effectively with others in order to achieve a shared goal – even when the object at stake is of no direct personal interest possibilities.
• Creativity: The ability to come up with original and innovative ideas and solutions, to adopt points of view outside the usual parameters.
• Focus on Quality: Setting high quality standards and striving for continuous improvement and quality assurance.
• Learning Ability: The ability to absorb new information readily and to put it into practice effectively
• Adaptability: The ability to remain fully functional by adapting to changing circumstances (environment, procedures and people).

Application Closing Date
26th November, 2019.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• The Application should consist of an up to date organizational CV and cover letter, detailing all relevant experience, in addition to a costed proposal. Successful organisations will then be contacted in due course to proceed with the recruitment process with an interview
• Candidates may be reviewed and contacted on a rolling basis.
• The system only has the functionality to upload two documents per application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Only experienced and already established organisation with expertise in skills training are required to apply for this position