Job Description

Terms of Reference (TOR)

Consultant Position for Licensed Therapist -Baidoa

EMERGE Project

World Vision Somalia

1. Background

World Vision Somalia (WVS) is implementing the “Empowering Marginalized Groups through Economic Graduation in Somalia” (EMERGE) Project, which aims to enhance resilience and improve the well-being of vulnerable communities in Southwest State (SWS) through integrated interventions. These include consumption support, skills development, improved access to savings and financial services, and provision of productive assets. A critical component of the EMERGE Graduation Approach is psychosocial support (PSS), which addresses trauma, builds human capital, and supports participants’ ability to engage in livelihood activities. To this end, WVS seeks to engage a Licensed Therapist to provide technical leadership, capacity building, and quality assurance for the delivery of trauma-informed, culturally appropriate PSS services.

Licensed therapists will provide specific training to PSS Mentors to ensure they can provide interpersonal psychotherapy support to groups that are based on international standards of trauma-informed care as well as adapted to the needs and nuances of the local context, including such topics as grief, disputes, devastating life changes, social isolation, and loneliness, as was shown to be effective under SPIR in Ethiopia. Given the dearth of mental health professionals in the context, licensed therapists will likely provide remote support from Mogadishu, Nairobi, or the diaspora. PSS mentors will also learn how to screen participants to determine who needs additional individualized support, including through referrals to more specialized psychosocial providers.

2. Objectives

The overall objective is to ensure that psychosocial support services under the EMERGE project are trauma-informed, contextually relevant, and aligned with international standards.

Specific objectives include:

• To adapt and contextualize PSS materials for use in Baidoa and Hudur.
• To train and mentor PSS Mentors in delivering group-based interpersonal psychotherapy and basic mental health support.
• To supervise and ensure quality assurance of PSS delivery.
• To support the development of contextualized referral pathways for specialized mental health services.

3. Scope of Work

The Licensed Therapist will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Review and adapt existing PSS materials to the Somali context.
• Deliver Training of Trainers (ToT) for PSS Mentors.
• Provide ongoing mentorship and refresher trainings.
• Supervise PSS Mentors remotely or in person.
• Develop and implement quality assurance, and monitoring tools.
• Support the development of referral pathways and train on screening tools.
• Provide technical input into the psychosocial components of the Graduation Approach.
• Document lessons learned on integrating MHPSS into the EMERGE program, and efficacy of delivering these trainings through coaches.

4. Methodology

The therapist will use a combination of:

• Desk review of existing PSS materials and EMERGE documentation.
• Virtual or in-person training sessions.
• Supervision and mentoring through regular check-ins and field visits (if feasible).
• Use of quality assurance tools and feedback mechanisms.
• Alignment with World Vision’s PSS standards, GYSI principles, and Do No Harm approach.

5. Deliverables

• Adapted PSS training curriculum and materials.
• ToT sessions delivered to PSS Mentors.
• Monthly supervision and quality assurance reports.
• Functional referral pathways and protocols.
• Final report summarizing activities, lessons learned, outcomes, and recommendations.

6. Duration of the Assignment

• Part-time consultancy (approx. 6 months per cohort), renewable based on performance and funding.
• Primarily remote, with potential short-term field visits to Somalia if security permits.
• Engagement aligned with EMERGE’s 24-month cohort cycles.
• Remote work (with possible short-term deployment to Somalia if security permits).

Experiences and Qualifications

7. Required

• Licensed clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, or psychiatrist with valid credentials.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), preferably in trauma-informed care/ interpersonal psychotherapy, in fragile or displacement contexts.
• Experience training and supervising lay counselors or community-based PSS providers.
• Familiarity with Somali cultural and social dynamics is highly desirable.
• Fluency in English required; Somali language skills are a strong asset.

8. Coordination & Reporting

The Licensed Therapist will report to the MHPSS TS and the Graduation Approach Advisor. Regular coordination meetings will be held to review progress, validate deliverables, and ensure alignment with project goals.

9. Submission Requirements

• Technical proposal detailing understanding of the assignment, methodology, and work plan.
• Financial proposal (in USD).
• CVs of key personnel.
• Sample(s) of similar work.
• Valid registration or license to operate in Somalia or remotely.

Skills Required

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