Remote consultancy: Adaptation of life skills curriculum for AWARE programme, Afghanistan At Concern Worldwide

1. Background

The Advancing Women-led Agro Businesses to Reach Economic Empowerment (AWARE) programme aims to promote community business development through agriculture in five value chains – Dairy, Fruit, Vegetables, Almonds, and Saffron. The project will be implemented in five provinces of Northern Afghanistan―Badakhshan, Takhar, Kunduz, Jawzjan, and Balkh―over four years by the AWARE Consortium. The AWARE Consortium comprises Concern Worldwide, Save the Children, and New Way Social & Development Organization (NSDO).

The programme takes an Islamic approach to economic development, supporting the household to contribute to poverty reduction in their community by increasing incomes in agriculture. The programme will either increase agricultural income with the support of women who are currently working in agriculture or with women who want to start agricultural activities by joining women’s agricultural and community savings groups. The programme will provide agricultural and financial literacy training and resources to programme participants. The programme will work with both men in their respective roles as heads of the family, and with women given their roles as carers of family livestock, and cultivators and processors of fruit, vegetables, saffron and almonds. In addition, the programme will work with men, boys and religious leaders in their roles as community leaders to support women to access markets for the produce, thereby increasing incomes.**

2. Requirement

As a component of the programme, female beneficiaries in self-help groups will be provided with life skills training.

An approximately 250-page life skills curriculum has been developed in English by the consortium team.

The short-term services of an experienced life skills consultant are required to further enhance the curriculum already drafted, particularly adapting it for adult women beneficiaries with no literacy. We estimate this to require ten days work in total.

This is an entirely remote desk-based activity which can be conducted from any location. Virtual meetings will be held with the consortium team to discuss the work required and feedback on its progression.

The adaptation of the curriculum must ensure that the end product:

· Takes account of the needs of beneficiaries with no literacy;

· Makes consideration of gender inclusion and that the end beneficiaries are adult female beneficiaries;

· Is designed to be interactive and engaging;

· Takes account of cultural norms and the changed context in Afghanistan since August 2021.

The consultant will have the opportunity to discuss cultural issues collaboratively with the Master Life Skills Trainers of Concern Worldwide to assist in the adaptation. The assignment has a duration from 24^th December 2021 to 10^th January 2022. The curriculum must be adapted by 7^th January 2022.

Deliverables:

1. Life Skills Curriculum in English, adapted for adult female beneficiaries of no literacy: Final version by 7 January 2022
2. Post-adaptation discussion with Master Trainers to answer any questions they may have on the adapted curriculum – Virtual meeting on 10th January 2022

3. Terms of Payment

Daily rate to be negotiated as part of the recruitment process. Payment will be made in a single lump sum when the work has been completed to the satisfaction of the Consortium Director.**

4. Required Experience

· Previous experience in the design of life skills training for beneficiaries with no literacy;

· Previous experience in the design of life skills training for adult women;

· High proficiency in English language.

5. Application Requirements

Applicants should send the below in English:

· Cover Letter outlining how the applicant fulfils the requirements of the consultancy

· CV

· Financial Proposal in EUR using Concern’s standard template at this link

Proposals should be submitted with the subject line “AWARE Life Skills Consultancy Application” to Afghanistan.DeskOfficer@concern.net by 11:59pm GMT on 19^th December 2021.

For any queries, email Afghanistan.deskofficer@concern.net with the subject line “AWARE Life Skills Consultancy”.