Terms of Reference (TOR) for Positive Parenting Skill Training to Partner NGO

Islamic Relief Worldwide-Nepal

Terms of Reference (TOR) 

Positive Parenting Skill Training to Partner NGO

Organizational background: 

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is an independent humanitarian and development organization that provides development programs and humanitarian relief around the globe, regardless of race, political affiliation, gender or beliefs. (http://www.islamic-relief.org/). IRW has been serving humanity for more than 35 years. With an active presence in over 40 countries across the globe, IR strives to make the world a better and fairer place for the three billion people still living in poverty. Since 1984, IRW has helped millions of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. IRW-Nepal is affiliated with the Social Welfare Council as an International Non-Government Organization.

IRW-Nepal projects provide poor people with access to vital services and prioritize protecting communities, women and children. It provides lasting routes out of poverty and empowers vulnerable people to transform their lives and their communities. This international agency is working through different local implementing partners in Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi and Mahottari districts in the Madhesh province and Kapilvastu and Rupandehi districts in the Lumbini province.

Islamic Relief Worldwide - Nepal is currently implementing a protection-specific project in the Rautahat district, emphasizing interventions in both protection and livelihoods. This project is being implemented in partnership with the local implementing partner- Rural Development Centre (RDC) Nepal. The project "Accelerating Actions to Reduce Gender-Based Violence (GARVA)," was initiated in June 2023 and is implemented in the Rajpur and Chandrapur municipalities within Rautahat. This project aims to reduce GBV and enhance the well-being of 34,155 women, men, girls, and boys in the project's target municipalities. This goal will be achieved through several key strategies, including improving the economic empowerment of GBV survivors or at-risk women and girls, enhancing the capacity of service providers and local bodies, and raising awareness about GBV prevention and available services.

Rational and consultancy background:

Physical and emotional punishment of children by parents and caregivers is deeply entrenched in the project area. This is attributed to the limited understanding of positive parenting skills among parents and caregivers. Positive parental skills are essential to support the psychosocial needs of their children, nurturing healthy child development and fostering strong parent-child relationships regardless of their socioeconomic conditions. These skills involve creating a supportive and nurturing environment, effective communication, and utilizing non-violent discipline strategies. By employing positive parenting techniques, parents can enhance their children's emotional well-being, cognitive development, and overall resilience. Thus, structured, and standard sensitization sessions to enhance the culturally appropriate knowledge and practices of 36,000 parents and caregivers regarding parenting, care practices, and effective child-rearing skills are provisioned in the project.

Furthermore, the rationale for providing positive parenting skills training to the implementing partner staff is based on the findings of a thorough training needs assessment. The assessment highlighted the necessity for project staff to acquire essential skills and knowledge across various aspects and components of positive parenting. Thus, through this Terms of Reference (ToR), IRW- Nepal solicits proposals from qualified and experienced consultant(s), firms, and agency institutions to facilitate a 4-day training program on Positive Parenting Skills to implementing partner staff members. The purpose is to supply trainees with practical skills and knowledge to promote a positive and nurturing environment for the optimal development of children. It is anticipated that this training equips them (project team) to proficiently facilitate rounds of sensitization sessions on different dimensions of positive parenting skills to the targeted rightsholders.

Training objectives:

The main and ultimate objective of the training on positive parenting skills for implementing partner teams is to equip and enable them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools to conduct impactful sensitization sessions for parents, caregivers, and members of self-help and social support groups. 

The consultant is expected to achieve the following objectives:

• Enhance participants' understanding of positive parenting principles and skills and their impact on child development.
• Enhance the competence of project staff so that they can efficiently disseminate information on positive parenting skills to parents and caregivers. 
• Ensure trainees' understanding of key principles such as empathy and communication for creating a supportive parenting environment.
• Familiarize trainees with consistent and positive discipline methods, emphasizing non-punitive measures to encourage self-discipline and responsible behaviour in children.

Role or scope of consultant: 

The consultant will provide a 4-day Positive Parenting Skills training to the local implementing partner team (RDC Nepal) in close coordination and understanding with IRW- Nepal representatives. This training will be conducted in Chapur-Rautahat. The number of participants/trainees for the proposed training will be around 25. 

The role of the consultant includes the following:

• Identify the specific positive parenting skills that staff members need to develop.
• Conduct surveys or interviews to understand the current level of knowledge and skills among staff.
• Design comprehensive training programs that cover key aspects of positive parenting focusing on nurturing care, positive parental involvement, and non-violent practices for the ages 0 to 18.
• provide relevant techniques and tools as well as methodologies and practical exercises on how to train caregivers and parents in positive parenting skills.
• Deliver training on positive parenting skills to staff. 
• Provide/present relevant case studies and real-life examples to illustrate positive parenting concepts.
• Prepare, collect, and compile relevant training materials and handouts in Nepali and share them with the participants/trainees.
• Submit a final training report summarizing the training process and outcomes.

Approach and methodologies:

A participatory approach should be applied throughout the course to ensure the active participation of all trainees. 

In addition, the consultant needs to prioritize and apply the following approaches/methodologies while facilitating the training.

• Interactive training techniques: Utilize a variety of training techniques to keep the learning process interactive such as group discussions, role-plays, case studies, practical exercises, demonstrations, simulations, games etc.
• Audio visual aid: Integrate multimedia elements such as videos, audio clips, and visual aids to enhance the learning experience.
• Support and guidance: Offer individualized support and guidance to participants, as needed.
• Pre and post-training evaluation: At the beginning and end of the training to compare and evaluate the progress and the level of knowledge acquired. 

Deliverables:

• Provide a comprehensive training plan, and pre-test and post-test questionnaires, and compare the results to demonstrate the participants' increased skill levels.
• Supply training materials and handouts in the Nepali language.
• Prepare training reports in English, including a compilation of relevant documents.

Report to:

Project lead from Islamic Relief Worldwide- Nepal.

Targeted Participants:

Partner NGOs project staff.

Timeline and Budget:

This consultancy will start as soon as possible, beginning with the development of the training content. The actual training will take place towards the third week of December 2023. The consultant will prepare a detailed work plan that will be part of the contract. The budget will cover the expert fee for the consultant to develop and implement the training. IRW Nepal will cover additional expenditures as/if required like travel and accommodation for the assigned consultant directly.

Qualifications/requirements of consultant:

• Extensive relevant experience in designing and delivering practical training in the NGO sector.
• Proven experience and expertise in facilitating positive parenting skills training 
• Substantial knowledge and understanding of the GBV and related cultural and contextual dynamics.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills.
• Knowledge of child development and family dynamics.
• Relevant academic qualifications (at least a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree preferably) in psychology, social science, or a related field.

Payment schedule

The payment will be done as follows:

• 30% upon both parties’ agreement.
• 70 % after completion of training and submission of final report.

Application Process and assessment process

Interested applicants should submit their letter, profiles and CVs together with technical and financial proposals in pdf format by 14 December 2023 (before 5 pm) as softcopy by emailing info.nepal@islamic-relief.org.np with the subject line: Trainer for Positive Parenting Skills Training

IRN reserves the right to cancel the bid and is not bound by any legal claim in this regard fully or partially.

A consultant will be evaluated based on: