Lead Consultant and Co-Consultant Full Time NEW

Terms of Reference (ToR) – Consultancy Team

Development of Gender-Responsive Community Courts SOP and Capacity Building

Consultancy Positions: Lead Consultant and Co-Consultant

Location: Shegger- Oromia, Ethiopia

Employment Type: Contract

Duration: 1 month (September, 2026)

Professional fee: Based on negotiation

Application Deadline: August 28, 2026

1. Background

Adoye Center for Ethiopian Women Empowerment (Adoye CEWE), in partnership with the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA), is implementing a project entitled “Advancing Gender-Responsive Community Courts to Strengthen Justice at the Grassroots in Sheger City.”

The project aims to strengthen the capacity and gender responsiveness of community courts in Eka Tafo, Furi, Koye Fache, and Gelan Sub-Cities. While community courts provide accessible community-level dispute resolution, the needs assessment identified important gaps in gender-sensitive communication and case handling, identification of gender bias, handling cases involving women and girls, and women’s meaningful participation.

The assessment also recommends practical, case-based training and a simple SOP that builds on existing community court procedures. Priority areas include gender-sensitive questioning, protection of vulnerable persons, and women’s participation.

Adoye CEWE therefore seeks a two-member consultancy team comprising a Lead Trainer and Co-Trainer to develop a practical Gender-Responsive Community Court SOP in Afaan Oromo and deliver a one-day practical training in each of the four target sub-cities.

2. Purpose of the Consultancy

The overall purpose of the consultancy is to strengthen the practical capacity of community court members to provide fair, inclusive, safe, and gender-responsive justice services, particularly for women and girls.

The consultancy will achieve this through two closely linked outputs:

1. Development of a practical and context-sensitive Gender-Responsive Community Court SOP in Afaan Oromo; and

1. Delivery of a one-day practical training in each of the four agreed target areas, using the SOP as a core practical reference.

3. Specific Objectives

The consultancy will be expected to:

• Strengthen practical understanding of gender equality, women’s rights, and non-discrimination;
• Improve the ability to identify gender bias and stereotypes in case handling and decision-making;
• Strengthen gender-sensitive communication, questioning, listening, and handling of cases involving women and girls;
• Promote women’s meaningful participation in deliberation and decision-making;
• Clarify confidentiality, safeguarding, referral, and appropriate use of mediation and reconciliation; and
• Provide a simple SOP and practical tools that community court members can use in their day-to-day work.

4. Scope of Work

The consultancy will undertake two interconnected components:

1. Development of the Gender-Responsive Community Court SOP

The consultancy team will review the needs assessment, existing community court procedures/guidelines, and relevant project materials and develop a concise, practical SOP in Afaan Oromo. At minimum, the SOP should address the following priority areas:

• Gender-Sensitive Communication and Questioning
• Gender-Sensitive Case Handling and Decision-Making
• Women’s Meaningful Participation
• Safeguarding, Confidentiality and Appropriate Referral

The consultancy team may refine or consolidate the above areas based on the existing community court procedures, needs assessment, and consultations with Adoye CEWE.

1. One-Day Practical Training

The consultancy team will deliver one full day of training in each of the four target sub-cities: Eka Tafo Sub-City; Furi Sub-City; Koye Fache Sub-City; and Gelan Sub-City.  Given the one-day format, the training should focus on practical application rather than extensive theoretical coverage.

The core training areas will be:

• Gender-Responsive Community Justice
• Gender-Sensitive Communication and Case Handling
• Identifying Gender Bias in Case Handling and Decision-Making
• Practical Application of the SOP

The training should use case studies, role plays, mock hearings, group exercises, and scenario-based problem solving. The needs assessment specifically recommends these approaches to help participants translate gender principles into daily practice.

5. Consultancy Team Composition and Responsibilities

The assignment requires one Lead Trainer and one Co-Trainer who will work as a coordinated team.

• Lead Trainer

The Lead Trainer will have overall technical responsibility for:

• Reviewing the needs assessment and existing procedures;
• Leading development of the SOP and training package;
• Leading the four training sessions;
• Ensuring integration of gender, safeguarding, confidentiality, and do-no-harm principles;
• Incorporating feedback and finalizing the SOP; and
• Coordinating submission of all deliverables.
  • Co-Trainer

The Co-Trainer will support the Lead Trainer by:

• Contributing to the SOP and training package development;
• Co-facilitating the four training sessions;
• Facilitating case studies, group exercises, role plays, and mock hearings;
• Supporting participant engagement and documentation;
• Supporting collection of training feedback and assessment results; and
• Providing technical input for finalization of the SOP.

Both experts are expected to participate in the four training sessions and work collaboratively throughout the assignment.

6. Expected Deliverables

The consultancy team will submit:

Deliverable 1: Inception Work Plan

• A brief work plan covering the methodology, schedule, SOP development approach, training approach, and information required from Adoye CEWE.

Deliverable 2: Training Package

• A practical training package in Afaan Oromo, including:
• Facilitator’s guide;
• Presentation materials;
• Case studies/scenarios;
• Practical exercises and role plays; and
• Pre/post-training assessment tools.

Deliverable 3: Draft SOP

• A draft Gender-Responsive Community Court SOP in Afaan Oromo for review by Adoye CEWE.

Deliverable 4: Four One-Day Trainings

• One full-day practical training in each of the four target sub-cities.

Deliverable 5: Final SOP and Brief Completion Report

• The final SOP shall incorporate relevant feedback from Adoye CEWE and lessons from the training sessions. The consultancy team will also submit a brief completion report summarizing the assignment, participation, key issues raised, and recommendations.

7. Required Qualifications and Experience
8. Lead Trainer

• University degree in Gender Studies, Law, Human Rights, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, or a related field;
• At least five years of relevant professional experience in gender-responsive justice, access to justice, community justice, women’s rights, training, facilitation, or related areas;
• Demonstrated experience developing SOPs, guidelines, training manuals, or similar practical tools;
• Strong experience in participatory and adult-learning training;
• Strong knowledge of gender equality, women’s rights, non-discrimination, and gender-responsive justice;
• Excellent facilitation, writing, and communication skills; and
• Professional proficiency in Afaan Oromo, including the ability to develop materials in Afaan Oromo.

1. Co-Trainer

The Co-Trainer should have:

• At least a Bachelor’s degree, preferably a Master’s degree, in a relevant field;
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in gender, women’s rights, justice, community development, training, or related areas;
• Experience supporting or delivering participatory training;
• Good understanding of gender-responsive approaches and women’s access to justice;
• Good facilitation, communication, and teamwork skills; and
• Professional proficiency in Afaan Oromo is an advantage.

Desirable Team Experience

Preference will be given to teams with experience in:

• Community/customary justice structures in Ethiopia;
• Women’s rights and gender-responsive programming;
• Gender-sensitive adjudication or community dispute resolution;
• Development of practical referral or case-handling procedures; and
• Working in Oromia or similar grassroots justice settings.

8. Safeguarding and Ethical Requirements

The consultancy team shall apply the following principles throughout the assignment:

• Do-no-harm;
• Confidentiality and privacy;
• Respect for dignity;
• Gender sensitivity and non-discrimination;
• Appropriate handling of sensitive information;
• Safe and appropriate referral principles; and
• Protection of participants from unnecessary exposure, harm, or re-traumatization.

Training exercises should not require participants to disclose personal experiences of violence or trauma.

9. Responsibilities of Adoye CEWE

Adoye CEWE will:

• Provide the needs assessment and relevant project documents;
• Facilitate access to available community court procedures and guidelines;
• Coordinate with relevant community court structures and stakeholders;
• Facilitate participant mobilization and training arrangements;
• Review and provide feedback on deliverables; and
• Provide overall coordination and supervision.

10. Duration, Location and Reporting

• The consultancy will be undertaken over one month in September 2026, covering preparation, SOP development, training delivery, revision, and finalization.
• The four training sessions will be conducted in Eka Tafo, Furi, Koye Fache, and Gelan Sub-Cities, with one full training day in each location.
• The consultancy team will work under the overall supervision of the Project Coordinator of Adoye CEWE and submit all deliverables electronically for review and approval.

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11. Payment

• The consultancy shall submit a financial proposal indicating the proposed professional fee for the assignment.
• Payment will be made based on the agreed consultancy fee and satisfactory completion and acceptance of the agreed deliverables, in accordance with the consultancy agreement.
• Applicable taxes will be handled in accordance with Ethiopian law.

12. Application Requirements

Interested consultancy teams/consultancy firms should submit:

1. Technical proposal demonstrating understanding of the assignment and proposed approach;
2. Brief methodology and work plan;
3. CV of the Lead Trainer;
4. CV of the Co-Trainer;
5. Financial proposal for the complete assignment;
6. At least two relevant samples or descriptions of previous work, preferably SOPs, guidelines, training manuals, or similar assignments; and
7. Contact details of at least two professional referees.

Applications should be submitted to adoyecewe@gmail.com with the subject Gender-Responsive Community Courts SOP and Training Consultancy – [Lead Trainer Name/Firm Name]

NB: Adoye CEWE may invite shortlisted candidates for an interview or technical discussion before final selectio