TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR): Consultancy Service for Development of a Training of Trainers (ToT) Manual on Peer Support Group Mobilization

TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR)

Consultancy Service for Development of a Training of Trainers (ToT) Manual on Peer Support Group Mobilization

1. Organizational Background

KOSHISH is a national-level non-governmental organization established in 2008 to promote mental health and psychosocial well-being in Nepal. Registered with the District Administration Office, Kathmandu (Reg. No. 086/065) and affiliated with the Social Welfare Council, Nepal (Reg. No. 25677), KOSHISH is recognized as an Organization of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) focused on psychosocial disability.

Guided by the principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us,” KOSHISH works through a rights-based, person-centered, and recovery-oriented approach. Its core areas of work include advocacy and awareness, community engagement, direct mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services, and humanitarian response.

KOSHISH promotes peer support, self-advocacy, and collective action as important approaches to strengthen the voice, participation, recovery, and social inclusion of persons with psychosocial disabilities.

2. Background of the Assignment

Peer Support Groups (PSGs) provide an important platform for persons with mental health problems and psychosocial disabilities to come together, share lived experiences, provide mutual support, build confidence, strengthen self-advocacy, and participate in community and policy-level advocacy.

KOSHISH has been supporting the formation and strengthening of Peer Support Groups in different project locations in Nepal. These groups have contributed to improving peer relationships, confidence, social participation, self-advocacy, and collective advocacy among persons with mental health problems and psychosocial disabilities. PSGs provide a safe and supportive space where members can address experiences of stigma, discrimination, social isolation, and negative attitudes related to mental health problems and psychosocial disabilities.

Sustainable and effective mobilization of PSGs requires individuals with appropriate knowledge, skills, and practical facilitation capacity. Self-advocates, community campaigners and focal persons from Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are well-positioned an important role in facilitating PSG meetings, supporting members, promoting participation, addressing group-level challenges, and linking PSGs with relevant services and stakeholders.

As KOSHISH continues to scale its community-based work, there is a recognized need for a standardized training resource. Therefore, KOSHISH seeks the services of a qualified consultant to develop a practical and user-friendly Training of Trainers (ToT) Manual on Peer Support Group Mobilization for self-advocates, community campaigners and OPD/SHG focal persons. The Manual will provide structured content, practical tools, facilitation guidance, and context-specific approaches that can be used by KOSHISH and relevant facilitators in future ToT activities.

3. Purpose of the Assignment

The primary purpose of this consultancy is to develop a practical, inclusive, rights-based, and user-friendly ToT Manual on Peer Support Group Mobilization that equips self-advocates and OPD/SHG focal persons with the knowledge and practical skills required to form, mobilize, facilitate, and strengthen Peer Support Groups.

The Manual will also promote safe, inclusive, and supportive peer environments that contribute to reducing social isolation, stigma, discrimination, and negative attitudes among members and within the community. The final manual is expected to serve as the primary resource for KOSHISH's future ToT programs on PSG mobilization.

4. Objectives

4.1 General Objective

To develop a comprehensive and practical ToT Manual that provides guidance for effective Peer Support Group formation, mobilization, facilitation, and strengthening using participatory, rights-based, recovery-oriented, and person-centered approaches.

4.2 Specific Objectives

• Strengthen Understanding: Enhance comprehension of the concepts, principles, and value of peer support and Peer Support Groups.
• Build Practical Skills: Equip participants with practical skills to form, mobilize, facilitate, and sustain effective PSGs.
• Enhance Facilitation Capacity: Build facilitation, communication, active listening, leadership, and group management skills.
• Promote Core Values: Promote self-advocacy, inclusion, dignity, confidentiality, and mutual support within PSGs.
• Address Challenges: Equip members to address common challenges, including stigma, discrimination, and social isolation.
• Provide Practical Tools: Offer practical tools, session plans, case examples, and guidance for linking PSGs with OPDs/SHGs, families, communities, local governments, and available services.
• Support Sustainability: Provide guidance on the regular functioning, documentation, and simple monitoring of PSG activities.

5. Scope of Work

The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

5.1 Inception and Preparation

• Conduct an inception meeting with the KOSHISH team.
• Review relevant KOSHISH documents, PSG practices, existing materials (KOSHISH - PSG Guidelines), project documents, and other national/international relevant documents.
• Meeting with KOSHISH community campaigners and self-advocates.
• Develop a detailed methodology, consultation plan, Manual outline, and work plan.
• Submit a brief inception note, including the proposed Manual outline and work plan, for approval by KOSHISH.

5.2 Development of ToT Manual

The consultant will develop a comprehensive, practical, and user-friendly 3 days ToT Manual that will include the following key areas:

• Concept and principles of peer support
• Understanding Peer Support Groups
• Importance and benefits of PSGs
• Formation and mobilization of PSGs
• Roles and responsibilities of PSG members and facilitators
• Facilitation of PSG meetings
  • Communication and active listening skills
  • Confidentiality, trust, and creating safe spaces
  • Managing group dynamics and conflicts
  • Self-advocacy and leadership
  • Basic Psychological First Aid (PFA) and peer-to-peer emotional support for members with lived experience
  • Inclusion, dignity, rights, and non-discrimination
  • Creating supportive peer environments and addressing experiences of stigma and discrimination
  • Supported Decision-Making
• Linkage and referral to available services
• Community participation and advocacy
• Sustainability and regular functioning of PSGs
• Documentation and simple monitoring of PSG activities

The Manual should include practical exercises with illustrations/visuals for easy understanding, group work, role plays, case studies, sample session plans, facilitation tips, practical PSG tools, and other relevant resources.

5.3 Consultation with KOSHISH and Stakeholders

• Consult with KOSHISH project staff, self-advocates, OPD/SHG focal persons, PSG members, and other relevant stakeholders to understand existing PSG practices, challenges, and user needs.
• Ensure that the Manual reflects the experiences and needs of persons with lived experience, self-advocates, and OPD/SHG focal persons.
• Incorporate practical examples from the Nepali context and KOSHISH’s experience, particularly related to peer support, self-advocacy, inclusion, participation, and community engagement.

5.4 Review, Validation, and Finalization

The consultant will:

• Present the draft ToT Manual to KOSHISH for review and feedback.
• Incorporate feedback and revise the Manual accordingly.
• Prepare a standalone document of "What works?" and "What Doesn't?" (good practices and things to avoid for PSGs, with real-life examples)
• Conduct a validation/review process with relevant stakeholders, as agreed with KOSHISH.
• Ensure the final Manual is practical, culturally relevant, disability-inclusive, gender-sensitive, and accessible.
• Finalize and submit the Manual in the required formats.

6. Methodology

The consultant will employ a participatory, practical, inclusive, and consultative approach, co-creating the manual in close coordination with the KOSHISH project team, community campaigners, and self-advocates. The methodology will include:

• Review of relevant KOSHISH documents, PSG practices, existing materials, policies, literature, and relevant resources;
• Consultation with KOSHISH staff, self-advocates, OPD/SHG focal persons, persons with lived experience, PSG members, and relevant stakeholders;
• Development of the Manual through collaborative drafting and iterative feedback;
• Use of practical exercises, case studies, role plays, sample session plans, and facilitation tools;
• Integration of the Nepali context, lived experience, and practical examples;
• Validation/review of the draft Manual for practicality, cultural relevance, accessibility, and usability;
• Revision and finalization based on feedback.

The Manual should be grounded in rights-based, recovery-oriented, person-centered, peer-support, self-advocacy, inclusion, and non-discrimination approaches, with meaningful participation of persons with lived experience.

7. Deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

Note: All materials and outputs developed under this consultancy will be the sole property of KOSHISH and shall not be used or shared externally without prior approval from KOSHISH. All deliverables must be delivered in both Nepali and English.

8. Duration of Assignment and Reporting

Duration: The assignment shall be completed within one month from the date of contract signing.

Reporting: The consultant will work in close coordination with the designated focal person at KOSHISH and under the overall guidance of the Executive Director.

9. Required Qualification and Expertise

The consultant should have:

• Education: A Master's degree or equivalent in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Mental Health, Public Health, Development Studies, Disability Studies, or a relevant field.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in mental health, psychosocial support, peer support, disability rights, self-advocacy, or community mobilization.
  • Demonstrated experience in developing training manuals, modules, toolkits, guidelines, or similar capacity-building materials.
  • Strong practical knowledge of peer support, self-advocacy, and community-based approaches.
  • Experience working with OPDs, SHGs, persons with psychosocial disabilities, or persons with lived experience.
• Skills:
  • Excellent analytical, writing, consultation, and communication skills in both English and Nepali.
  • Strong understanding of rights-based, recovery-oriented, and person-centered approaches.
• Advantageous:
  • Experience working with organizations of persons with disabilities and/or mental health organizations.
  • Proven track record of similar assignments (samples of previous work should be provided).

10. Payment

Payment Schedule:

• 30% upon approval of the inception note and proposed Manual outline;
• 40% upon submission and acceptance of the first/revised draft of the ToT Manual;
• 30% upon submission and acceptance of the final ToT Manual and all agreed final materials.

Applicable taxes will be deducted as per the rules of Government of Nepal.

11. Proposal Requirements

Interested consultants (individuals or firms) are requested to submit the following documents:

• Technical Proposal: Including the proposed methodology, consultation approach, and manual development approach.
• Financial Proposal: Submitted separately.
• CV(s): Updated CV(s) of the proposed consultant/team members.
• Relevant Experience: A brief description of relevant experience and evidence of similar work.
• Work Samples: Samples of previously developed training manuals, modules, toolkits, or similar materials (if available).
• Registration Documents: Company registration documents (if applying as a firm).
• Tax Certificates: PAN/VAT registration certificate, as applicable.

Submission Address:

Proposals must be submitted via e-mail with subject “Consultancy Service for Development of a ToT Manual on Peer Support Group Mobilization,” to procurement@koshish.org.np by 30th September.

Note:

• Equal Opportunity: KOSHISH promotes equal opportunities and encourages applications from qualified women, persons with disabilities, persons with lived experience, and individuals from marginalized communities.
• Safeguarding: KOSHISH is committed to ensuring the safety, dignity, and well-being of all individuals and maintains a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, or any other form of harm.  All consultants are required to adhere to KOSHISH's Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct
• Compliance: All shortlisted candidates will be required to comply with KOSHISH’s Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct and undergo appropriate safeguarding checks.
• Rights Reserved: KOSHISH reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals without assigning any reason.