Who are we ?
Libraries Without Borders (BSF) is an international non-profit organization that strengthens the capacity to act and the autonomy of vulnerable populations through access to information, education and culture.
Since its creation in 2007, BSF has deployed selected and adapted resources, tools, and content tailored to the needs of the public, supporting those working on the ground. In particular, BSF develops innovative cultural, educational, and learning spaces that can be used in contexts of crisis, displacement, low connectivity, or limited access to essential services.
The Ideas Box is a mobile, self-contained, and modular multimedia center designed to provide a space for learning, information, creativity, and community support. When properly equipped and staffed, it can contribute to the creation of safe, inclusive spaces adapted to the needs of girls and women, particularly in the areas of education, health, psychosocial support, prevention of gender-based violence, economic empowerment, and civic participation.
1. Project Context and Presentation
BSF wishes to adapt the Ideas Box 4 Women program to the context of the Democratic Republic of Congo , a set of educational resources designed to strengthen the inclusion, safety, autonomy and leadership of girls and women in Ideas Box spaces and within communities.
The Ideas Box 4 Women program is structured around five educational kits:
- Making the Ideas Box a safe space for girls and women;
- Violence against girls and women;
- Women’s health;
- Entrepreneurship and financial independence;
- Leadership féminin.
Each kit includes, in particular, teaching guides, activity sheets, training materials and, where applicable, additional resources for project teams, facilitators, local partners and beneficiaries.
To ensure the relevance, ownership, and effective use of these resources in the DRC, BSF is seeking to recruit a consultant, or a team of consultants, specializing in gender, with excellent knowledge of the Congolese context. Particular attention will be paid to experts based in the DRC, of ​​Congolese nationality, or with significant experience working with the communities, local organizations, and institutions concerned.
The consultancy aims to adapt the five Ideas Box 4 Women kits to the social, cultural, linguistic, legal and operational realities of the DRC, and then to ensure their translation into Lingala and Swahili , in order to facilitate their use by teams and partners in the field.
2. Objectives of the consultancy
General objective
Supporting BSF in the contextualized adaptation of the five Ideas Box 4 Women kits to the Congolese context and in their translation into Lingala and Swahili, in order to guarantee relevant, gender-sensitive, culturally appropriate educational content that can be used by field teams, partners and target audiences in the DRC.
Specific objectives
The consultancy will pursue the following specific objectives:
- analyze the five existing Ideas Box 4 Women kits in order to assess their relevance, cultural sensitivity and suitability to the realities of girls and women in the DRC;
- identify the elements requiring contextualization, reformulation, adaptation or replacement, particularly in relation to social norms, gender dynamics, protection frameworks, linguistic realities, institutional references, examples, case studies and proposed activities;
- adapt teaching guides, activity sheets, training materials and related resources to the Congolese context;
- ensure that the content is aligned with the principles of protection, inclusion, non-discrimination, safeguarding, participation of girls and women, and prevention of gender-based violence;
- translate the validated content into Lingala and Swahili, ensuring a clear, accessible, gender-sensitive translation adapted to local usage;
- propose, where relevant, additional resources or useful local references to strengthen the implementation of the kits;
- produce transfer tools enabling BSF teams and partners to understand adaptation choices and use resources consistently.
Priority areas
The consultancy will cover two complementary aspects:
Contextual and pedagogical adaptation : analysis, revision and contextualization of content, activities, examples, scenarios, terminology, facilitation guidelines and practical recommendations for the DRC.
Translation and linguistic accessibility : translation of finalized content into Lingala and Swahili, with particular attention to clarity, accessibility, gender and protection terminology, and suitability to the linguistic practices of the targeted intervention areas.
3. Expected Results and Deliverables
The consultancy should result in the following deliverables:
Deliverable 1 – Scoping Note and Work Plan
A short note specifying the understanding of the TdR, the proposed methodology, the analysis tools, the coordination methods with BSF, the validation steps, the detailed schedule and the potential risks.
Deliverable 2 – Analysis of the relevance and contextualization of the five kits
An analysis document presenting, for each of the five kits:
- directly reusable elements;
- the elements to adapt;
- sensitive elements or elements potentially unsuitable for the Congolese context;
- proposals for reformulation, replacement or enrichment;
- areas of focus related to gender, protection, gender-based violence, health, leadership, economic empowerment and social norms.
Deliverable 3 – French-adapted version of the five Ideas Box 4 Women kits for the DRC
A revised and contextualized version of the five kits in French, including teaching guides, activity sheets, training materials and any other associated document identified with BSF as being within the scope of the mission.
Deliverable 4 – Translated versions in Lingala and Swahili
The translated versions into Lingala and Swahili of the content validated by BSF, in an editable and structured format. The translations must preserve the pedagogical meaning of the content, while using accessible, natural language adapted to the target audiences and facilitators.
Deliverable 5 – Trilingual Terminology Glossary
A French-Lingala-Swahili glossary of key terms related to gender, protection, women’s health, gender-based violence, entrepreneurship, financial empowerment, and women’s leadership. The glossary should indicate, where necessary, sensitive terms, recommended translation choices, and formulations to avoid.
Deliverable 6 – Final Capitalization and Transfer Note
A final note summarizing the work carried out, the main adaptation choices, any limitations, recommendations for the use of the kits in the DRC, points of vigilance for field teams and avenues for future updates.
4. Methodology and coordination
The consultant will adopt a participatory, practical, and iterative approach, working closely with the relevant BSF teams. The methodology must allow for the progressive validation of adaptation and translation choices.
The mission will include the following steps:
- kick-off meeting with BSF to confirm the scope, target audiences, priority language areas, schedule, deliverables and validation procedures;
- documentary review of the five Ideas Box 4 Women kits and supplementary documents provided by BSF;
- contextual analysis of the relevant Congolese framework: social norms, gender issues, protection, women’s health, female entrepreneurship, leadership, community participation and linguistic dynamics;
- identification of content requiring contextualization or special attention;
- regular exchanges with BSF to validate the main adaptation guidelines;
- drafting an adapted French version of the five kits;
- integration of BSF feedback;
- translation of validated content into Lingala and Swahili;
- quality review, terminology harmonization and finalization of documents;
- Final handover and transfer to the BSF teams.
Coordination will be provided by BSF’s project and teaching teams. Regular progress meetings will be held to ensure alignment with expectations, adherence to the schedule, and integration of feedback.
5. Monitoring, quality assurance and evaluation
The quality of the consultancy will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- relevance and feasibility of the proposed methodology;
- quality of contextual analysis and understanding of Congolese realities;
- appropriateness of the proposed adaptations with regard to the issues of gender, protection, inclusion and safeguarding;
- clarity, coherence and educational usefulness of adapted content;
- linguistic quality, accessibility and terminological consistency of translations into Lingala and Swahili;
- adherence to agreed deadlines and formats;
- ability to integrate feedback from BSF;
- Clear documentation of choices, limitations and recommendations.
Monitoring indicators may include:
- validation of the framework note;
- validation of the relevance and contextualization analysis;
- validation of the adapted versions in French;
- validation of translations into Lingala and Swahili;
- quality and usability of the trilingual glossary;
- BSF teams were satisfied with the clarity and relevance of the deliverables.
6. Indicative timetable
The indicative duration of the mission is estimated at approximately 8 weeks , starting from the date of contract signing. The exact schedule will be proposed by the consultant and validated by BSF during the scoping phase.
Approximate duration
Phase 1 Kick-off meeting, literature review, scoping document and work plan: 1 week
Phase 2: Analysis of relevance and contextualization of the five kits: 1 week
Phase 3: Adaptation of the five kits to the Congolese context in French: 2 weeks
Phase 4: BSF review, integration of feedback and validation of the French version: 1 week
Phase 5 Translation into Lingala and Swahili, terminological harmonization: 2 weeks
Phase 6 Finalization, glossary, transfer note and final handover: 1 week
Some phases may take place in parallel, subject to validation by BSF.
7. Desired Profile
The consultant, or team of consultants, will need to demonstrate:
- proven expertise in gender, gender equality, empowerment of girls and women, protection or prevention/response to gender-based violence;
- an excellent knowledge of the social, cultural, linguistic, institutional and humanitarian context of the Democratic Republic of Congo;
- significant experience working with local organizations, communities, adolescents, young women, women, survivors of violence or protection actors in the DRC;
- a good understanding of approaches sensitive to gender, age, disability, protection and safeguarding;
- experience in instructional design, design or adaptation of training modules, facilitator guides, activity sheets or community materials;
- excellent writing skills in French;
- excellent command of Lingala and/or Swahili, ideally within a team covering both languages;
- an ability to produce translations that are accessible, culturally appropriate and adapted to field uses;
- an ability to work remotely, meet deadlines and incorporate feedback within short timeframes.
Prior experience with BSF, Ideas Box, offline educational tools, humanitarian projects or women’s empowerment programs is an asset.
Applications from Congolese consultants, based in the DRC or with extensive and recent experience in the DRC, will be particularly appreciated.
8. Budget and payment terms
Candidates are invited to submit a detailed financial offer, indicating the total cost of the service, daily or fixed fees, any associated costs and the proposed breakdown by phase or deliverable.
The maximum budget available for this consultancy is €8,000, all costs included. Payments will be conditional upon formal validation of the deliverables by BSF.
The selected consultant must be able to issue invoices that comply with BSF’s administrative requirements. The precise payment terms will be defined in the contract.
9. Final Provisions
The consultant agrees to comply with BSF’s policies and ethical principles, particularly regarding data protection, gender equality, inclusion, non-discrimination, safeguarding, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, and protection of vulnerable populations.
The consultant will need to ensure that all adapted and translated content is culturally appropriate, conflict-sensitive, respectful of individuals, and compliant with the principles of do no harm.
BSF reserves the right to cancel or modify the consultancy in the event of force majeure, lack of suitable offers, financial constraints or changes in project priorities.
How to apply
Interested candidates must submit an application including:
- a technical proposal presenting the understanding of the TdR, the proposed methodology, the work stages, the tools envisaged and the timetable;
- a detailed financial offer;
- the CV(s) of the consultant(s) involved;
- references or examples of similar missions, particularly in content adaptation, translation, gender, protection, GBV, women’s empowerment or training;
- an indication of availability and possible start date;
- where applicable, details on the distribution of roles within the proposed team, particularly for gender expertise, pedagogical adaptation, Lingala translation and Swahili translation.
Applications should be sent to: consultance.inter@bibliosansfrontieres.org;
Email subject: IDB4Women DRC Consultancy – [Name of consultant or organization]
Submission deadline: July 22, 2026
Incomplete applications or those submitted after the deadline may not be considered.
The proposals will be evaluated according to the following indicative criteria:
Technical quality of the proposal, understanding of the Terms of Reference, and relevance of the methodology: 30%
Expertise in gender, protection, empowerment of girls and women, or prevention/response to gender-based violence: 25%
In-depth knowledge of the Congolese context and relevant experience in the DRC: 20%
Linguistic skills and demonstrated quality in translation/adaptation into Lingala and Swahili: 15%
Experience in instructional design, training, or production of training materials: 5%
Consistency and competitiveness of the financial offer: 5%
BSF may arrange interviews with shortlisted candidates. BSF reserves the right to verify references and examples of submitted work.