Background:
UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security
The Liberia Spotlight Initiative 2.0 is a multi-year, multi-stakeholder programme funded by the European, committed to eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG), including harmful practices and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The Initiative is implemented in eight counties of Liberia (Montserrado, Nimba, Grand Cape Mount, Bong, Lofa, Grand Gedeh, Maryland, and Grand Bassa) through a coordinated partnership involving UN agencies, government institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and community actors.
A key pillar of the Initiative’s Comprehensive Prevention Strategy is community mobilization, which seeks to transform harmful social norms and address the underlying drivers of gender-based violence, harmful practices, and violations of women’s rights. At the heart of this approach is the SASA! Together methodology, an evidence-based model developed by Raising Voices. SASA! Together (which stands for Start, Awareness, Support, Action) engages communities critically examining power dynamics and fostering positive behavioral change to prevent violence and advance women’s rights.
Through UN Women, the Liberia Spotlight Initiative 2.0 will implement the SASA! Together methodology to address gender-based violence (GBV) and promote gender equality at the community level. To ensure effective implementation, the intervention seeks to strengthen the capacity of local facilitators, community leaders, and organizational staff through a comprehensive Training of Trainers (ToT) programme.
To introduce, expand and sustain the SASA! Together approach across target communities, UN Women is seeking to engage a qualified consultant to lead Training Trainers (ToT). This training will strengthen the capacity of selected stakeholders (including CSOs, community-based facilitators, and government partners) to effectively implement and cascade the SASA! Together methodology, ensuring long-term impact and fostering local ownership. This intervention will complement Liberia’s National GBV Action Plan and align with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection’s community-based prevention priorities. It will also support the sustainability of the Spotlight Initiative 2.0 by building a national pool of SASA! trainers who can continue to mentor and cascade the approach beyond the life of the programme
1. Objectives of the Assignment
The primary objective of this consultancy is to enhance the capacity of local civil society organizations, community leaders, and program staff in Liberia through a Training of Trainers (ToT) on the SASA! Together methodology. This initiative aims to establish a cohort of skilled facilitators equipped to implement and scale the SASA! Together approach within and beyond the LSI 2.0 target communities, thereby contributing to the long-term sustainability of violence prevention efforts under the LSI 2.0. The assignment will also support the institutionalization of SASA! Together within partner organizations, enabling them to independently implement, monitor, and adapt the approach for diverse community contexts.
Specific objectives include:
- Strengthening the capacity of selected trainers and facilitators in Liberia on the SASA! Together methodology by equipping them with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to implement and replicate SASA! Together activities within Spotlight Initiative 2.0 target communities and institutions.
- Supporting the integration of the SASA! Together approach into existing community-based violence prevention programmes.
- Fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among UN agencies, civil society organizations, women’s rights groups, youth networks, and traditional leaders on the SASA! Together Approach implementation.
- Developing a pool of qualified trainers capable of delivering the SASA! Together methodology effectively to local stakeholders.
- Promoting local ownership and institutional capacity to sustain and scale community-based prevention efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls (VAWG)
Under the direct supervision of the EVAW pillar Lead and in close coordination with the Spotlight Coordinator, other UN agencies participating in the LSI 2.0, and Spotlight focal point from the EU and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks.
Methodological Planning and Inception Reporting
- Develop a comprehensive methodological approach outlining the consultancy’s strategy and timeline in view of expected deliverables.
- Prepare and submit an Inception Report for review and approval, including a detailed work plan, training framework, and implementation methodology.
Contextualization of Curriculum and Training Materials
- Support review and adaption of existing SASA! Together training materials for the first phase to reflect Liberia’s cultural and social context, ensuring alignment with the Spotlight Initiative’s principles and objectives.
- Deliver a ToT program for the start phase on the SASA! Together methodology, tailored to the Liberian context.
- Administer post-training assessments to measure knowledge retention and skill acquisition.
- Provide a training report within one week of the workshop, summarizing activities, participant performance, and recommendations.
Post-Training Support and Mentorship
- Support the roll out of the Start Phase of the SASA! methodology
- Provide ongoing mentorship and remote technical support to trained facilitators as implement the SASA! Together Phase in their communities.
- Support the utilization of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools to track cascading activities and assess impact.
- Provide a roll out and mentorship report
Contextualization of Curriculum and Training Materials
- Support review and adaption of existing SASA! Together training materials for the second phase to reflect Liberia’s cultural and social context, ensuring alignment with the Spotlight Initiative’s principles and objectives.
- Deliver a ToT program for the Awareness Phase on the SASA! Together methodology, tailored to the Liberian context.
- Administer post-training assessments to measure knowledge retention and skill acquisition.
- Provide a training report within one week of the workshop, summarizing activities, participant performance, and recommendations.
Post-Training Support and Mentorship
- Support the roll out of the awareness phase of the SASA! Together methodology
- Provide ongoing mentorship and remote technical support to trained facilitators as implement the SASA! Together Phase in their communities.
- Support the utilization of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools to track cascading activities and assess impact.
- Provide a roll out and mentorship report
Contextualization of Curriculum and Training Materials
- Support review and adaption of existing SASA! Together training materials for all the third phase to reflect Liberia’s cultural and social context, ensuring alignment with the Spotlight Initiative’s principles and objectives.
- Deliver a ToT program the Support Phase on the SASA! Together methodology, tailored to the Liberian context.
- Administer post-training assessments to measure knowledge retention and skill acquisition.
- Provide a training report within one week of the workshop, summarizing activities, participant performance, and recommendations.
Post-Training Support and Mentorship
- Support the roll out of the Support Phase of the SASA! Together methodology
- Provide ongoing mentorship and remote technical support to trained facilitators as implement the SASA! Together Phase in their communities.
- Support the utilization of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools to track cascading activities and assess impact.
- Provide a roll out and mentorship report
Contextualization of Curriculum and Training Materials
- Support review and adaption of existing SASA! Together training materials for the fourth phase to reflect Liberia’s cultural and social context, ensuring alignment with the Spotlight Initiative’s principles and objectives.
- Deliver a ToT program Action Phase on the SASA! Together methodology, tailored to the Liberian context.
- Administer post-training assessments to measure knowledge retention and skill acquisition.
- Provide a training report within one week of the workshop, summarizing activities, participant performance, and recommendations.
Post-Training Support and Mentorship
- Support the roll up of the Action Phase of the SASA! Together methodology
- Provide ongoing mentorship and remote technical support to trained facilitators as implement the SASA! Together Phase in their communities.
- Support the utilization of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools to track cascading training activities and assess impact.
- Provide a final comprehensive SASA! Together methodology implementation report for Liberia on all the four phases (Start, awareness, support, action) capturing key lessons and impact, considering sustainability.
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Develop and submit a comprehensive inception report for review and approval prior to commencement of activities. Develop and submit a comprehensive methodological approach outlining the consultancy’s strategy and timeline/ detailed work plan in view of expected deliverables including implementation methodology. | | |
Contextualization of Curriculum and Training Materials - Support review and adaption of existing SASA! Together training materials for the first phase to reflect Liberia’s cultural and social context, ensuring alignment with the Spotlight Initiative’s principles and objectives.
- Deliver a ToT program for the start phase on the SASA! Together methodology, tailored to the Liberian context.
- Administer post-training assessments to measure knowledge retention and skill acquisition.
- Provide a training report within one week of the workshop, summarizing activities, participant performance, and recommendations.
Post-Training Support and Mentorship - Support the roll out of the Start Phase of the SASA! methodology
- Provide ongoing mentorship and remote technical support to trained facilitators as implement the SASA! Together Phase in their communities.
- Support the utilization of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools to track cascading activities and assess impact.
- Provide a roll out and mentorship report
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iii. Second Phase (Awareness) Contextualization of Curriculum and Training Materials - Support review and adaption of existing SASA! Together training materials for the second phase to reflect Liberia’s cultural and social context, ensuring alignment with the Spotlight Initiative’s principles and objectives.
- Deliver a ToT program for the Awareness Phase on the SASA! Together methodology, tailored to the Liberian context.
- Administer post-training assessments to measure knowledge retention and skill acquisition.
- Provide a training report within one week of the workshop, summarizing activities, participant performance, and recommendations.
Post-Training Support and Mentorship - Support the roll out of the awareness phase of the SASA! Together methodology
- Provide ongoing mentorship and remote technical support to trained facilitators as implement the SASA! Together Phase in their communities.
- Support the utilization of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools to track cascading activities and assess impact.
- Provide a roll out and mentorship report
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iv. Third Phase (Support) Contextualization of Curriculum and Training Materials - Support review and adaption of existing SASA! Together training materials for all the third phase to reflect Liberia’s cultural and social context, ensuring alignment with the Spotlight Initiative’s principles and objectives.
- Deliver a ToT program the Support Phase on the SASA! Together methodology, tailored to the Liberian context.
- Administer post-training assessments to measure knowledge retention and skill acquisition.
- Provide a training report within one week of the workshop, summarizing activities, participant performance, and recommendations.
Post-Training Support and Mentorship - Support the roll out of the Support Phase of the SASA! Together methodology
- Provide ongoing mentorship and remote technical support to trained facilitators as implement the SASA! Together Phase in their communities.
- Support the utilization of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools to track cascading activities and assess impact.
- Provide a roll out and mentorship report
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Contextualization of Curriculum and Training Materials - Support review and adaption of existing SASA! Together training materials for the fourth phase to reflect Liberia’s cultural and social context, ensuring alignment with the Spotlight Initiative’s principles and objectives.
- Deliver a ToT program Action Phase on the SASA! Together methodology, tailored to the Liberian context.
- Administer post-training assessments to measure knowledge retention and skill acquisition.
- Provide a training report within one week of the workshop, summarizing activities, participant performance, and recommendations.
Post-Training Support and Mentorship - Support the roll up of the Action Phase of the SASA! Together methodology
- Provide ongoing mentorship and remote technical support to trained facilitators as implement the SASA! Together Phase in their communities.
- Support the utilization of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools to track cascading training activities and assess impact.
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Provide a final comprehensive SASA! Together methodology implementation report for Liberia on all the four phases (start, awareness, support, action) capturing lessons and impact. | | |
The duration of this assignment will be for up to 24-months work assignment, tentatively from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028. Completion and payment depend on the submission and approval of deliverables by the UN Women EVAW Pillar Lead.
Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel
This consultancy will be home-based with travel to Monrovia, Liberia. This consultant will complement Liberia’s National GBV Action Plan and align with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection’s community-based prevention priorities.
The Consultant’s performance will be evaluated based on timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered.
Payments will be disbursed to the consultant on a deliverable-based arrangement aligned to the “Expected Deliverables” of section of the ToR and certification by the EVAW Pillar Lead that services have been satisfactorily performed.
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- Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: - Strategic campaign planning and facilitation
- Knowledge of gender-based violence and digital rights
- Experience with feminist movement-building and advocacy
- Strong analytical and synthesis skills
- Ability to engage diverse stakeholders in virtual settings
- Proven ability to mentor and build capacity of local organizations and government partners in violence prevention methodologies.
- Understanding of cultural and contextual factors influencing gender norms and violence prevention in Liberia or Africa.
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I V. Required Qualifications |
- Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Public Health, International Development, or a related field is required
- A bachelor’s degree and additional 2 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of a master’s degree
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, community mobilization, or social norm change programming.
- Five years of proven track record in designing and facilitating Training of Trainers (ToT) workshops using participatory methodologies such as SASA!
- Demonstrated experience working with community-based organizations, women’s rights groups, youth networks, and local government structures—preferably in Liberia or similar contexts.
- Experience in developing training manuals, facilitation guides, and evaluation tools for adult learners.
- Certification as a Technical Support Provider or Master Trainer for the SASA! methodology by Raising Voices is highly desirable.
- Fluency in English is required.
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