Introduction

In collaboration with the government of Liberia (GoL), the United Nations (UN) is seeking to address the growing challenges faced by marginalized youth in Liberia, particularly in combating illicit drug and substance abuse. The efforts are through the initiatives of the UN Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund Project “Enhancing Social Cohesion through Rehabilitation and Empowerment of Marginalized Youth in Liberia, which is part of the joint GoL and United Nations ten-year At-Risk Youth Empowerment Programme – A-YEP, expected to be implemented in phases within the 15 counties of Liberia. The emergency phase of the At-Risk Youth Programme successfully graduated 123 formerly drug-addicted youth persons in April 2024.

From the 123 formerly drug-addicted young persons, UNFPA, in collaboration with government ministries, will train 25 youth leaders from Montserrado and Grand Bassa counties in peacebuilding, problem-solving, coping skills, and civic education. The goal of the training is to equip these young leaders with the knowledge and tools necessary to improve their own lives and serve as peer educators, and community advocates for the prevention of drugs and substance abuse.
To support this effort, UNFPA seeks to engage a national consultant to design, deliver, and evaluate a 23-day comprehensive Training of Trainers (ToT) program.

Objectives of the Assignment

The primary objective of this consultancy is to equip 25 marginalized youth leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to promote peace, resolve conflicts, and lead community-based initiatives that prevent illicit drugs and substance abuse. Additionally, the consultant will help youth leaders gain essential civic education skills, preparing them to educate their peers, foster leadership in their communities, and promote violence-free communities for peace and social cohesion.

As part of the assignment, the consultant will prepare training materials, including appropriate handouts for participants, and submit a final report on the training, including recommendations for future capacity-building efforts.

Scope of Work

Pre-training Phase:

• Conduct a desk review of existing peacebuilding training manuals to adapt the training materials according to the specific needs of the At-Risk Youth Empowerment Programme.  
• Review the existing peacebuilding training materials and develop a comprehensive training manual that includes modules on peacebuilding, problem-solving, coping mechanisms, and civic education.
• Revise existing peacebuilding training manuals to address better the specific needs and challenges faced by at-risk youth involved with drugs and substance abuse.
• To integrate contemporary methodologies and best practices in conflict resolution, peaceful coexistence, substance abuse prevention, and leadership development amongst the youth.
• Ensure the content is contextually relevant and considers Liberia's socio-political realities and challenges around peace and security, drugs, and substance abuse.
• Ensure that the training manual is culturally sensitive and appropriate for the young people who have been At-Risk Youth, incorporating local perspectives, traditions, and languages.

Training Delivery Phase:

Deliver a 5-day in-person training of trainers to 25 young persons recovering from Drug and substance Abuse, using participatory and youth-friendly methodologies.

Facilitate practical sessions that emphasize:

• Peacebuilding strategies in drug and substance abuse susceptible environments.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving techniques.
• Coping strategies for managing peer pressure and substance abuse.
• Civic responsibility and the role of youth in governance and leadership.
• Promote an inclusive and supportive learning environment, allowing participants to actively engage and share experiences.
• Conduct a pre-and-post training test evaluation to ascertain level of knowledge and knowledge gained from the training.
   

Post-training Phase:

Develop a final training report that captures:

• An overview of the training sessions.
• Key feedback and evaluations from participants.
• Assessment of the participants’ ability to train other youth in their communities.
• Recommendations for further support or training.

Deliverables

The consultant will be expected to provide the following outputs:

• A finalized training manual that covers peacebuilding, problem-solving, coping strategies, and civic education.
• Delivery of a five-day ToT for 25 marginalized youth leaders. 
• Provide a detailed report upon completion of the training, summarizing the training process, an assessment of participants’ readiness to act as trainers, Participant feedback, and training evaluation recommendations for future capacity-building interventions.
   

Duration and Location of the Consultancy

The consultancy will last for a total of 23 days (October-November, 2024 ), broken down as follows:

• Fifteen (15) days for preparation and development of the training materials and printing of Handouts.
• Five days for delivering the ToT and
• Three days for compiling the report.
• The training will take place in Grand Bassa County with participation from  25 youth in recovery from illicit drug and substance use.
   

Required Qualifications

The consultant must meet the following criteria:

• A University degree in a relevant field such as Peace Studies, Education, Psychology, International Development, or Social Development.
• Experience in curriculum development with a Minimum of 5 years of proven experience in developing education materials, manuals/ curricula preferably related to peacebuilding, health education, or substance abuse prevention.
• Expertise in designing and delivering participatory training programs.
• Proven experience in conducting training programs related to peacebuilding, civic education, and leadership for youth, preferably with experience in working with marginalized youth.
• At least five (5) years of experience in capacity building, youth empowerment, and leadership development.
• Knowledge of the Liberian context, particularly the challenges faced by the At-Risk Youth.
• Excellent communication skills, particularly in facilitating training using participatory approaches and methodology.
• Strong report-writing skills and the ability to produce actionable recommendations.
• Knowledge of Liberia's social and cultural context, particularly youth challenges and leadership dynamics.
   

Payment and Terms

The consultant will be paid based on satisfactory completion of the deliverables:

• Development of training materials
• After successful completion of the training delivery.
• Upon submission and approval of the final report.

Application Procedure and Deadline

Interested consultants should submit the following:

• A detailed technical proposal that outlines the methodology and approach for conducting the training.
• A financial proposal that includes a breakdown of costs.
• A current CV detailing relevant qualifications and experience.
• Two examples of previous work in similar areas (e.g., training manuals, reports, or curricula).

To the below email addresses:

mulumba@unfpa.org and neblett@unfpa.org

The deadline for application is 18 October 2024, 17:00 GMT.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

Note

UNFPA is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well-qualified candidates, particularly women, are strongly encouraged to apply. The successful candidate should be ready to assume duty at short notice. 

Disclaimer 
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing, or other fees in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters, or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm