Call for Consultant – Regional GBV Toolkit and Capacity Building At ABAAD – Resource Center for Gender Equality

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Strong rights, holistic protection: Improved standards for GBV survivors in the MENA region – BMZ

Position: Regional GBV Toolkit and Capacity Building Consultancy

Requirement: Regional Assessment, GBV Resource Toolkit Development, and Capacity Building for Safe Spaces in the MENA Region

Location of implementation: Beirut-based with travel to Jordan, Tunisia, and Morocco

Duration of assignment: 18 months (approximately 60 working days, non-consecutive)

About ABAAD

Established in 2011, ABAAD Resource Center for Gender Equality is a UN ECOSOC accredited civil society organization that aims to achieve gender equality as an essential condition for sustainable social and economic development in the MENA region. ABAAD advocates for gender-sensitive policies and legislation that promote the active participation of women and their equal access to justice. ABAAD works to eliminate gender-based violence through a holistic care model that provides direct services in specialized shelters and accommodation, combining gender-specific and gender-transformative approaches to bring about long-term social change.

ABAAD operates primarily in Lebanon and has expanded its work since 2018 to the broader MENA region, including Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Sahel countries. ABAAD supports national and sub-national actors, including the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Internal Security Forces, with capacity-building initiatives to improve mechanisms to combat violence against women. ABAAD is an active member of various coordination bodies at national and regional levels, co-chairs the PSEA Network in Lebanon, represents local organizations in the Humanitarian Country Team, and is a member of the CHS Alliance, CIVICUS, and ICVA.

About the project

Under the BMZ-funded project “Strong rights, holistic protection: Improved standards for GBV survivors in the MENA region”, implemented in partnership with Terre des Hommes Deutschland E.V., ABAAD is seeking an external consultant/team of consultants to lead the regional component of the project, focused on improving the quality of services in GBV shelters across five MENA countries: Lebanon, Jordan, the Occupied Palestinian Territories (West Bank), Tunisia, and Morocco.

Overall goal of this assignment

The overall goal of this consultancy is to lead the design, development, and delivery of a regional capacity-building initiative aimed at improving the quality and consistency of services provided in GBV shelters across five MENA countries (Lebanon, Jordan, OPT/West Bank, Tunisia, and Morocco). This includes conducting a comprehensive needs and capacity assessment of regional GBV actors, developing a standardized resource toolkit, delivering tailored training, and supporting the activation of national coordination networks for GBV safe spaces. To ensure the highest quality of care and protection, all assessment, consultation, toolkit development, and capacity-building activities under this initiative shall be strictly conducted in accordance with survivor-centered, do-no-harm, confidentiality, safety, and ethical principles consistent with international GBV standards and guidance.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Conduct an in-depth assessment of the priority needs, gaps, and capacities of regional GBV actors operating shelters for women and girls in the five target countries, building on prior consultation meetings conducted by ABAAD.
  • Develop a GBV Resource Toolkit containing standardized operational and programmatic guidance that supports a survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and inclusive approach to shelter management, while remaining flexible enough for country-specific adaptation.
  • Develop five tailored capacity-building plans corresponding to the identified gaps, existing capacities, and prioritized needs of GBV actors in each target country.
  • Deliver training workshops for approximately 75 staff members (90% women, 10% men) of regional partner organizations across the five countries, covering the toolkit content and its practical application.
  • Support ABAAD in activating or strengthening national-level networks for GBV safe spaces in each target country, facilitating improved coordination and mutual referral among shelter actors

Scope of Work and Description of the Assignment

The consultant/team of consultants will carry out the following interconnected workstreams in close collaboration with ABAAD’s programme team and regional partners.

Regional Needs and Capacity Assessment

The consultant/team of consultants will conduct a thorough assessment of regional GBV actors operating shelters for women and girls in the five target countries. The assessment will build on consultation meetings previously conducted by ABAAD and will cover:

  • Analysis of existing shelter operations, service delivery models, staffing structures, and referral mechanisms in each target country.
  • Identification of gaps and inconsistencies in protection measures, definitions and classification of GBV, and service provision across the five countries.
  • Assessment of institutional and technical capacities of each organization, including training levels of staff, availability of specialized services (mental health, legal, medical), and accessibility for women with disabilities or complex needs.
  • Review of the legal and policy environment governing GBV shelter operations in each country, including coordination mechanisms between government agencies and civil society.
  • Documentation of existing good practices and resources that can inform the toolkit development.
  • ABAAD will share previous reports and documents relevant for the assessment.

The assessment methodology should include desk review, remote and/or in-person consultations with regional partners, key informant interviews, and where feasible, site visits. ABAAD will facilitate introductions and access to regional partners. The consultant/team of consultants will produce a comprehensive assessment report with clear findings and recommendations that directly feed into the toolkit design.

Development of the GBV Resource Toolkit (Measure 1.2)

Drawing on the assessment findings, the consultant/team of consultants will develop a GBV Resource Toolkit that provides structured, standardized guidance for shelter operations. The toolkit will:

  • Establish standardized procedures for case management, risk assessment, confidentiality protocols, safety planning, and meaningful involvement of GBV survivors in service design.
  • Incorporate a survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and inclusive approach that addresses the diverse needs of women and girls, including those with disabilities, mental health conditions, and survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse.
  • Provide operational guidance on shelter management, including intake procedures, documentation standards, staff roles and responsibilities, and quality assurance mechanisms.
  • Include tools and templates that shelter staff can directly apply in their daily operations.
  • Remain flexible enough to allow for country-specific adaptations while maintaining core standards aligned with international frameworks such as the IASC Guidelines and the SDGs.

The consultant/team of consultants will work with ABAAD to ensure the toolkit is designed, translated as needed, and formatted for printing and distribution.

Capacity-Building Planning and Training Delivery (Measure 1.3)

The consultant/team of consultants will develop tailored capacity-building plans for GBV actors in each of the five target countries and deliver training workshops. This workstream includes:

  • Development of five country-specific capacity-building plans based on the assessment findings, addressing different levels of expertise and organizational roles among partner staff.
  • Design of training curricula, materials, and tools aligned with the toolkit content and adapted to each country context.
  • Delivery of training workshops in Tunisia, Morocco, and Jordan. For participants from the Occupied Palestinian Territories, training will be conducted either in Jordan or Lebanon due to travel restrictions. Training in Lebanon will be conducted locally.
  • Pre- and post-training assessments to measure knowledge improvement among the participants.
  • Training reports documenting attendance, content delivered, assessment results, and recommendations for follow-up.

Support to National Network Activation (Measure 1.4)

The consultant/team of consultants will support ABAAD and regional partners in strengthening coordination at the national level for GBV safe spaces. This includes:

  • Mapping existing national-level networks and coordination mechanisms for GBV shelters in each target country.
  • Where networks exist, supporting regional actors in activating them to ensure effective coordination and mutual referral among shelter operators.
  • Where networks do not exist, advising on the feasibility and approach for establishing national GBV shelter networks, including proposed governance structures and coordination modalities.
  • Documenting network activation progress and providing recommendations for sustained coordination beyond the project period.

Deliverables and Timetable

Phase 1: Inception and Assessment (Months 1 to 4)

Deliverable 1: Inception Report covering the proposed methodology, analytical framework, data collection tools, detailed work plan, and any scope clarifications. This should include a proposed approach for engaging regional partners in each of the five target countries. Due: end of Month 1, specifying that the Inception Report should include a detailed assessment methodology, sampling strategy, to be used throughout the assessment process.

Deliverable 2: Regional Needs and Capacity Assessment Report presenting findings from the assessment of GBV shelter actors across Lebanon, Jordan, OPT (West Bank), Tunisia, and Morocco. The report should include an analysis of gaps, capacities, good practices, legal and policy environments, and clear recommendations that will inform the toolkit design. Due: end of Month 4.

Phase 2: Toolkit Development (Months 5 to 8)

Deliverable 3: Develop a GBV Resource Toolkit containing standardized operational and programmatic guidance for GBV shelters, including case management procedures, risk assessment tools, confidentiality protocols, and practical templates. The draft will be submitted for review and validation by ABAAD. Due: end of Month 6.

Deliverable 4: Final GBV Resource Toolkit incorporating feedback from the validation process, delivered in print-ready format for design and production. Due: end of Month 8.

Phase 3: Capacity-Building Planning and Training Delivery (Months 6 to 16)

Deliverable 5: Five tailored capacity-building plans, one per target country, based on the assessment findings and aligned with the toolkit content. Each plan should specify training objectives, target participants, methodology, session plans, and pre/post assessment tools. Due: end of Month 9.

Deliverable 6: Training delivery across the five countries, covering approximately 75 staff members over 8-day training workshops per country cohort. Training will be conducted in Tunisia, Morocco, and Jordan. For OPT participants, training will take place in Jordan or Lebanon. Training in Lebanon will be conducted locally. Due: Months 10 to 16 (rolling, per country schedule agreed with ABAAD).

Deliverable 7: Training reports for each country, documenting attendance, content delivered, pre/post assessment results, participant feedback, and recommendations for follow-up support. Due: within 2 weeks of each training completion.

Phase 4: Network Activation and Final Reporting (Months 10 to 18)

Deliverable 8: National Network Mapping and Activation Report documenting existing coordination mechanisms for GBV shelters in each target country, actions taken to activate or establish networks, and recommendations for sustained coordination beyond the project period. Due: end of Month 16.

Deliverable 9: End-of-assignment report consolidating all workstreams, summarizing key findings, outcomes of training and network activation, lessons learned, and strategic recommendations for the remaining project period. Due: end of Month 18.

Skills required

The consultant/firm must demonstrate the following qualifications and experience:

  • Advanced university degree in a relevant field such as gender studies, social sciences, international development, public health, human rights, or a related discipline.
  • A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in GBV programming, including both prevention and response, in the humanitarian or development sector.
  • Demonstrated expertise in GBV shelter management, service delivery standards, and survivor-centered approaches, with direct experience in at least two of the five target countries (Lebanon, Jordan, OPT, Tunisia, Morocco).
  • Proven experience conducting institutional and capacity assessments of civil society organizations, preferably in the GBV or protection sector.
  • Demonstrated experience developing operational toolkits, standard operating procedures, or programmatic guidance documents for GBV or protection actors.
  • Proven track record in designing and delivering capacity-building programmes, including training curricula development, facilitation, and post-training mentoring.
  • Strong knowledge of international GBV frameworks and standards, including the IASC Guidelines on GBV, the GBV Minimum Standards, and survivor-centered approaches.
  • Familiarity with the legal, institutional, and socio-cultural contexts governing GBV response in the MENA region, including the role of state and non-state actors in shelter provision.
  • Experience working with or coordinating among multiple country-level partners in a regional programme context.
  • Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills in English. Arabic fluency is required. French is a strong advantage.
  • Ability to travel to the target countries for assessment, consultation, and training delivery.
  • If applying as a firm, the proposal should clearly indicate the team composition, roles, and relevant experience of each proposed team member.

How to apply

Proposals should be sent to the email: careers@abaadmena.org by July 20, 2026 with the email subject line “Call for Consultancy – Regional GBV Toolkit and Capacity Building”

Documents requested to apply

Interested consultants/team of consultants are invited to submit the following documents:

Technical Proposal (maximum 5 pages, excluding annexes) including:

  • Understanding of the assignment and the context of GBV shelter services in the MENA region.
  • Proposed methodology and approach for each workstream (assessment, toolkit development, capacity building, and network activation), including data collection methods, stakeholder engagement strategy, and quality assurance processes.
  • Proposed work plan with timeline and milestones aligned with the deliverables outlined in Section 5.
  • Team composition (if applying as a team), with clear designation of the team lead and the roles and responsibilities of each team member.

Financial Proposal including:

  • Detailed budget breakdown by deliverable, specifying daily rates, number of days per activity, and any other associated costs.
  • Travel costs to MENA countries should be excluded from the financial proposal as these will be covered directly by ABAAD.
  • All costs should be quoted in US Dollars
  • The financial proposal should be submitted in a separate sealed envelope or as a separate file from the technical proposal.

Annexes:

  • CVs of the proposed consultant(s) or team members, highlighting relevant experience in GBV programming, toolkit development, capacity building, and regional work in the MENA context.
  • At least two samples of previous relevant work (e.g., assessment reports, toolkits, SOPs, training curricula). Confidential documents may be redacted.
  • At least two professional references from organizations for which the consultant/firm has undertaken similar assignments.

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Technical proposal: 70%, weighted as follows:
  • Relevant experience and qualifications of the consultant/team: 30%
  • Understanding of the assignment and proposed methodology: 25%
  • Quality and feasibility of the proposed work plan: 15%
  • Financial proposal: 30%

Applications received after closing date will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidate will be contacted