Vulnerability Assessment Trainer

Project information

Search is implementing a nine-month project, Takaamul, in partnership with Chemonics (prime), with an aim to build resilience and prevent violent extremism (VE) primarily by engaging those most vulnerable to recruitment across conflict dividing lines, creating safe spaces where they can develop constructive skills and relationships, and creating positive opportunities to self-develop and engage in society.

Purpose of Assignment 

Search is seeking to recruit an experienced trainer to provide online training and coaching sessions for representatives of community-based organisations on “Vulnerability and Resilience Assessment” (VRA). The aim is to introduce them to the concepts of Vulnerability, Resilience and the VRA as a tool to better understand risks, needs and opportunities in their communities. The training and coaching scheme will build their capacities to conduct the VRA with a target group of youths aged 12 to 18 years old, through Focal Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and perform the required analysis. The online training should include a component on gender mainstreaming and sensitivity, child safeguarding and protection, and ethical considerations when conducting such assessments.

Duration of the Assignment

This assignment is to last from December 1, 2021 to January 14, 2022. The training will be delivered as a virtual 3-day training on VRA and five (5) days of virtual coaching sessions, with one day for preparation and one day for reporting.

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of and in collaboration with Search, the following represents a general outline for the work to be conducted by the Trainer:

Training Methodology: The trainer will develop a training curriculum and deliver a report on the methodology and a schedule of the sessions. The report should not be more than 10 pages of main content. It must have annexes that include a training programme/agenda, program guides, pre and post-tests forms/tools, explanations of session methodologies, PowerPoint presentations to be used, handouts to be given to participants, links of videos, and other learning aids to be used in the training. The training must be in Arabic, adapted to the MENA region, participatory and experiential.  

The trainer is expected to clearly include and explain the notion of child safeguarding, and should ensure that the participants acquire relevant knowledge and skills which will enable promoting strong safeguarding practices, understanding the child safeguarding policy and procedures.

Pre-test: A pre-test needs to be conducted to assess the knowledge base of  the participants. This test will also be used to conduct any adaptations needed to the training curriculum. The pre-test will be distributed to all participants before/during the first session.

Training and Coaching Sessions: Over the course of three working days, the online training will target 20 participants. The curriculum will deliver a contextually literate training program on VRA in Arabic. The training program should expose participants to topics, activities and tools that will contribute to improving their knowledge on the VRA and tools for conducting it. The online coaching sessions will be given over the course of five days and will target the same 20 participants to support in addressing gaps where needed. The aim of the coaching sessions is to build their capacity to conduct the assessment through KIIs and FGDs, and will ensure continuous accompaniment through the process. Most importantly, both the training and coaching sessions should ensure gender sensitivity and a Do No Harm approach.

Post-test: A post-test needs to be conducted on the last day of the training once the sessions are completed in order to ascertain whether the participants were able to absorb the training’s key messages and tools. The post-test is also indicative of the success of this assignment.

Final Report: Upon completion of the training, the trainer is expected to provide a report that includes results of the post-pre tests, observations, challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations to be shared with the project team. Similarly, upon the completion of the coaching sessions, the trainer is expected to provide an update detailing content of the sessions.

All sessions and activities will be conducted in Arabic only. Similarly, the training curriculum and report should be submitted in Arabic and English. Additionally, the trainers might be required to exercise utmost flexibility to changes that may occur in the delivery of the activity.  Finally, the trainer should be able to provide  training and coaching sessions virtually.

Deliverables

The trainer is required to submit the following in Arabic and English:

• Methodology;
• Agenda, attendance sheets and trainer timesheets;
• Presentations, supporting documents, handouts and any additional learning aids;
• Pre and post tests; and
• Report for the training and short updates for the coaching sessions.

Qualifications and Skills

• Proven experience in conducting vulnerability assessments in the MENA region, and preferably targeting youths and adolescents;
• This assignment will be conducted in Arabic, therefore fluency in Arabic as well as English, both written and spoken, is required;
• Certificates for ToT completion on similar assignments;
• Experience working in research and data collection, notably qualitative research;
• Knowledge and/or experience working with vulnerable communities;
• Strong knowledge and experience working on Violent Extremism, Preventing and Countering Violent extremism;
• Experience in working with international organizations;
• Effective communication skills;
• Experience in facilitating similar trainings in sensitive contexts;
• Excellent organisational and time management skills; and
• Experience in using online platforms, in online communication and virtual coordination.