Training of G.R.A.C.E Africa NPI Partners on Memory Work

Background to the Consultancy

Grassroots Alliance for Community Education (G.R.A.C.E) Africa is a Non Governmental Organization implementing a program aimed at improving the quality of care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Nyanza, Eastern and Central.

Through the program, 15 local partner organizations in the program sites have been supported to recruit more than 1,500 OVC into community Early Childhood Development centers, through which they are supported with essential services, including education, medical care, psychosocial support, protection, shelter and food.

The Assignment
One of the services provided to OVC and their caregivers by G.R.A.C.E and its partner organizations is psychosocial care and support. This is aimed at addressing the emotional needs of the children and their caregivers through focused group discussions on issues affecting emotional imbalance in children and through the facilitation of art and play sessions for children.

G.R.A.C.E Africa seeks to engage a suitably qualified consultant or consultancy firm to conduct a Training of Training (ToT) on memory work, to further improve the psychosocial well being of the target groups.. The ToT’s will comprise teachers who are in charge of the day to day management of the ECD centers as well as representatives of partner CBOs in the three provinces.

The trainees will be expected to pass on the skills learnt to the caregivers of the vulnerable children as well as to community members. The consultancy will entail 4-day workshop targeting a total of 30 participants.

Scope of Work

• Develop a four day training programme on memory work development in consultation with G.R.A.C.E.
• Conduct a four day training workshop for G.R.A.C.E partners on memory work and memory book development.
• Facilitate the development of action plans for subsequent outreach activities on psychosocial support and memory work to be implemented by partners in their respective areas of operation.
• Based on the action plans developed , undertake one monitoring and support supervision field visit to all the 15 partner organizations to assess the implementation of the memory work activities and provide the required technical assistance

Expected Deliverables

• A workshop report not exceeding 40 pages, detailing content of the training, approaches used, feedback from the trainees on the training areas and a list of participants.
• Follow up report for each partner visited detailing activity progress, challenges , identified gaps and recommendations.

G.R.A.C.E Africa Responsibilities

The Consultant will be responsible to the G.R.A.C.E Program Officer in charge of ECD.

In addition, the G.R.A.C.E CEO, Director and the Programmes Co-ordinator, will be available for consultation with the consultant before and after the exercise to guide the planning and report preparation exercise.

Specifically G.R.A.C.E Africa will provide the following:

• Background information on the organization, the assignment and any other information relevant and necessary for the undertaking of the exercise.
• Meals during the training workshops, transport, accommodation and meals during the field visits.

Background and Experience

• Degree or diploma in social sciences or other relevant social science
• Proven experience in facilitation of training workshops for adult participants , focusing on Psychosocial Support in general and memory work in particular.
• Experience in training on psychosocial care and support using the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI).
• Sound understanding on psychosocial care and support of OVC in relation to memory work and development of memory books while working with community based organizations..

Expression of interest

Interested persons should send a cover letter detailing suitability for the assignment, , financial proposal and a copy of their CV to: hr@graceafrica .com or graceafricahr@gmail.com by 18th February 2011.