Consultant - Conduct Training for Master Trainers

Training on Child Safeguarding for Master Trainers, Managers & Coordinators

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), is a private, non-denominational, international development agency established in 1967. It seeks sustainable solutions to long-term problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and ill health with special emphasis on the needs of rural communities in mountainous and other resource-poor regions, primarily in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Its main areas of focus are education, health, rural development, environment and strengthening civil society. 

A. Background: 

AKDN-Vroom Strategic partnership to improve ECD outcomes in Pakistan is a project funded by Bezos Family Foundation, tested in the Ghizer District of Pakistan. The first phase of this project promoted caregivers’ empowerment by providing contextually relevant ECD tips and tools via different accessible modalities. These resources supported caregivers to create enjoyable everyday moments for their children (0-5 ages) to grow, develop, and learn. The key outcome of the project is improved caregiver practices that support positive early childhood development in Ghizer District, Pakistan. During the implementation of the project, it became evident that frontline workers required comprehensive training on child safeguarding to enhance their interactions with children during Vroom activities and to equip caregivers with the necessary skills to ensure children's safety and well-being.

B. Scope of Work

AKF(P) will engage a consultant(s) to conduct training for master trainers, managers, and coordinators involved in projects where they or their teams have direct interactions with children and caregivers. The trained master trainers will then cascade the training to frontline workers who will be engaged with the children and caregivers in phase 2 of this project.

The consultant(s) will be responsible to:

1. Develop the training modules aligned with best practices in child safeguarding and relevant to the cultural context of Pakistan.
2. Deliver a 2-day training workshop for approximately 30-35 master trainers, managers, and coordinators.
3. Ensure participants understand child safeguarding policies, reporting procedures, handling disclosures, and safe engagement strategies with children.
4. Provide resources that participants can use for cascading the training.
5. Conduct a pre- and post-training assessment to evaluate the knowledge gained and the effectiveness of the training.

C. Key Objectives

The key objectives of the training are to:

1. Equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of child safeguarding principles and practices.
2. Enhance the capacity of participants to identify, respond to, and mitigate risks related to child protection in project activities.
3. Build skills to train frontline workers on safeguarding protocols to ensure a safe and supportive environment for children and caregivers.

D. Deliverables:

The consultant(s) will be expected to deliver:

1. Training modules tailored to the project's context.
2. Training resources, practical tools, and guidelines for cascading the training.
3. Pre- and post-training assessments to evaluate participants' knowledge.
4. A final report summarizing the training, including participant feedback, assessment results, and recommendations.

E. Duration & Timeline

7 days including preparation, delivery, and reporting

F. Qualification and Experience

This assignment is open to individuals/firms who have the below-mentioned competencies;

1. A Master’s degree in Child Safeguarding, Child Protection, Child Development, Psychology, or a related field.
2. At least 5 years of experience in child safeguarding, child protection  
3. Experience in designing and delivering training for adult learners, particularly in child safeguarding.
4. Understanding of Cultural Contexts in Pakistan
5. Excellent training delivery skills and proficiency in both Urdu and English
6. Ability to develop user-friendly training materials and resources.

G. Ethical Protocols:

1. The consultant(s) must adhere to the following ethical guidelines throughout the engagement:
2. The consultant(s) must sign a safeguarding policy provided by AKF(P) before commencing the training.
3. In case a participant discloses a safeguarding concern or incident during the training, the consultant(s) should be prepared to follow appropriate reporting procedures as per the project's safeguarding policy.
4. The training content should emphasize ethical engagement, ensuring that frontline workers prioritize the best interests of the child at all times.
5. Participants should be informed about the objectives of the training, how the information will be used, and their right to withdraw from any activity or discussion if they feel uncomfortable.
6. Ensure that the training environment is inclusive and respectful of all participants, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, or background.
7. The consultant(s) should be sensitive to cultural norms in Pakistan particularly Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral, while promoting universal child rights and protection principles

H. Reporting Line

The consultant/firm will report to the AKF ECD Coordinator and work closely with the project team to ensure the content aligns with project objectives.

I. Application Process

Interested candidates are requested to submit:

1. CV/CVs of the team
2. A tentative agenda of the workshop
3. A financial proposal detailing costs

AKF(P) offers a competitive remuneration package and a conducive working environment. We are an equal opportunity employer - females are encouraged to apply. Only shortlisted candidates/firms will be contacted for assessment/interview.

AKF(P) recruitment and selection policy and procedures reflect our commitment to equal opportunity and the safeguarding of children, beneficiaries, partners, community members and employees in accordance with AKF(P)’s Safeguarding policy.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.