Consulting Services For The Design And Implementation Of A Train-the-trainer Program In Care At Pan American Development Foundation

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TERMS OF REFERENCE

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT

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Consulting for the design and implementation of a train-the-trainer program in care for victims of human trafficking for institutional actors in El Salvador

1. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION:

Victim participation in the legal process can be an incredibly empowering and healing experience. However, victims must decide whether they want to participate and must be prepared for the type of testimony or evidence they will have to provide, and what the possible outcomes might be. They also need to trust the people they interact with during the prosecution process.

The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) believes in creating a hemisphere of opportunity for all people. For 60 years, PADF has worked to create opportunities and address challenges affecting the entire region, fostering healthier, fairer, more peaceful, resilient, and sustainable communities. We partner with and empower civil society, governments, and the private sector for the common good of the region.

Within this framework, the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) proposes implementing a project aimed at strengthening access to justice for victims of human trafficking and reducing impunity for perpetrators. The project draws on PADF’s more than six years of experience in Central America in the area of ​​human trafficking, its collaboration with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), and its established presence in El Salvador as a trusted partner in the region.

The project is justified by the urgent need to:

  • Update and harmonize the protocols for care and referral to victims, with a differentiated and rights-based approach.
  • Strengthen inter-institutional and inter-sectoral coordination between the government and civil society.
  • Increase the technical capacity of justice sector operators to investigate, prosecute and punish trafficking cases with a trauma-informed approach.
  • To ensure that survivors of human trafficking have the necessary support to actively participate in legal proceedings and access adequate protection services.

The project aligns with the objectives of the U.S. Integrated Country Strategy for El Salvador and has the potential to directly contribute to reducing irregular migration and weakening organized criminal networks involved in human trafficking. In this sense, it is conceived as a strategic and timely intervention with high potential for institutional sustainability.

2. OBJECTIVE:

Design and implement a training of trainers (ToT) program in care for victims of human trafficking, aimed at key institutional actors, based on the results of the needs diagnosis developed by PADF.

Specific objectives:

  1. Analyze and operationalize the results of the training needs assessment prepared by PADF, translating them into a structured and prioritized curriculum proposal.
  2. Design a training curriculum on care for victims of human trafficking, aligned with the identified needs and validated with the CNCTP.
  3. Develop educational materials and operational tools that facilitate the practical application of victim assistance processes.
  4. Implement training programs aimed at officials from key institutions of the human trafficking response system.
  5. Implement a training of trainers (ToT) program with a selected subset of participants.
  6. Provide technical assistance for the implementation of institutional replication processes that allow training for at least 200 additional people.

This consultancy directly addresses the following activity:

Activity 2.3: Design and implement training on working with victims through a train-the-trainer model.

3. CONSULTANT’S RESPONSIBILITIES:

The consultant will be responsible for providing technical support to PADF, INL and the institutions that make up the National Council against Trafficking in Persons in identifying institutional training needs and developing content proposals for training processes aimed at staff who assist victims of trafficking in persons.

Their responsibilities include:

  1. Analyze the diagnostic results and translate them into applied training content.
  2. Design a training program that includes:
    • General training on priority topics.
    • Training of trainers program (ToT).
    • Guidelines for institutional replication processes.
  3. Design a training curriculum that incorporates:
    • Victim-centered and human rights approach.
    • Trauma-informed approach.
    • Prevention of revictimization.
    • Differentiated attention (childhood, gender, migration, etc.).
    • Referral processes and inter-institutional coordination.
    • Handling sensitive information.
  4. Develop educational materials, including:
    • Training of Trainers (ToT) Manual.
    • Curriculum framework.
    • Presentations and teaching resources.
    • Practical cases and applied exercises.
  5. Design operational tools that facilitate the practical application of the content:
    • Initial interview guides.
    • Victim identification checklists.
    • Referral and registration formats.
    • Guidelines for care without revictimization.
  6. Incorporate competency-based training methodologies (knowledge, skills, and attitudes), including:
    • Case studies.
    • Role-playing games.
    • Simulations.
    • Practical exercises in attention and coordination.
  7. Implement the training process for officials of institutions within the system for assisting victims of human trafficking, including:
    • Development of training sessions.
    • Pre- and post-training evaluation.
  8. Implement the train-the-trainer (ToT) process, including:
    • Development of training sessions.
    • Participant evaluation.
    • Technical support.
  9. Provide recommendations for the implementation of institutional replication processes.
  10. Address technical feedback and make adjustments to products.
  11. Deliver all products in editable format and final version.

4. THEMATIC CONTENTS:

Bidders may propose methodological adjustments or thematic expansions, provided that at least the contents established in this section are covered.

Victim-centered approach, trauma-informed and non-revictimization.

  • Principles: dignity, autonomy, informed consent, confidentiality, minimal repetition, non-revictimization.
  • What is trauma and how does it affect memory, narrative, and behavior (implications for interviews).
  • Common barriers: fear, coercion, dependence, threats, shame, stigma.

First contact with the victim: containment, safety and stabilization.

  • Objectives of the “first 30–60 minutes”: physical safety, emotional containment, minimal information.
  • Crisis management, immediate risk assessment and criteria for activating protection mechanisms.
  • Effective and victim-centered communication: clear, simple and non-revictimizing language, culturally relevant.

Brief and secure initial interview

  • Initial interview with a protective focus, guaranteeing privacy, confidentiality and security.
  • Difference between screening interview vs. extended interview.
  • Brief interview script (safe questions; what NOT to ask; handling silences).
  • Minimum useful record without exposing sensitive data.

Psychological First Aid (PFA) and staff self-care.

  • PAPS: basic actions, “do no harm”, role boundaries, clinical referral.
  • Managing acute stress and preventing empathy burnout (self-care and supervision).

Differentiated care and safeguards.

  • Childhood and adolescence (NNA): best interests, adapted interview, accompaniment, alerts.
  • Women: Equality and intersectionality approach (disability, migration, linguistic diversity, etc.).
  • Protection against retaliation, re-contact by the trafficker, and coercive re-linking.

Referral, protection and follow-up of the case

  • Referral criteria (health, protection, shelter, legal assistance, urgent measures).
  • Coordination with institutions/CSOs: roles, timelines, minimum documentation.
  • Follow-up plan: basic milestones and secure communication.

Ethics, confidentiality and management of sensitive information

  • Application of ethical principles guaranteeing confidentiality, respect for dignity, autonomy and the principle of non-revictimization.
  • Data protection and safeguarding, consent, risks of data leakage, implementation of security measures in information handling.
  • Data protection, consent, risks of data leakage.
  • “Necessary and sufficient” information according to role.
  • Inter-institutional coordination without unnecessary exposure.

5. PLACE(S) OF ASSIGNMENT:

This consultancy will be carried out remotely and will require some face-to-face activities for consultation and product presentation within Salvadoran territory, as established by government institutions.

6. CANDIDATE PROFILE:

The ideal candidate should possess the following:

Academic background:

  • University degree in Legal Sciences, Social Sciences, Psychology, Social Work, Human Rights, Public Policy or related fields.
  • Postgraduate training in teaching, adult education, human rights, victim support, access to justice or related areas will be valued.

Professional experience:

  • At least 5 years of proven experience in victim support and design of training processes in institutions within the justice sector.
  • Technical knowledge of the crime of human trafficking and informed trauma care.
  • Mastery of the national and international regulatory framework on human trafficking, due process, victims’ rights, and criminal investigation standards.
  • Ability to design training content adapted to different institutional levels.

Key knowledge and skills:

  • Up-to-date knowledge of the Salvadoran and international legal framework on human trafficking, protection of victims and human rights.
  • Ability to apply rights-based approaches, non-revictimization, trauma-informed care, and a differential approach in training processes.
  • Assertive communication skills, empathy and active listening, especially when interacting with survivors or frontline actors.
  • Ability to engage with government actors, international organizations and civil society, with a collaborative and diplomatic approach.
  • Proficiency in systematization tools, document analysis, and clear and structured presentation of results.

Other requirements:

  • Availability for face-to-face and virtual meetings with PADF and government institutions.
  • Organizational skills, adherence to schedules and deliverables.
  • Desirable: knowledge of the Salvadoran context and previous experience with projects funded by international organizations.

7. CONTRACTUAL MECHANISM:

The maximum budget for this consultancy is $8,000 US dollars. The deliverables are presented below:

Milestones/Deliverables Calendar:

  1. Estimated completion date: May 27, 2026
    • Milestone: Approval of the work plan and detailed consultancy schedule.
    • Deliverables: Consulting work plan and methodology.
    • Percentage of total: 15% of the total
  2. Estimated completion date: June 18, 2026
    • Milestone: Delivery of the technical report with findings and training needs.
    • Deliverables: Curriculum design document based on the diagnosis, with prioritization of content and training structure
    • Percentage of total: 30% of the total
  3. Estimated completion date: July 15, 2026
    • Milestone: Delivery of content and methodology proposal for training processes.
    • Deliverables: ToT Manual, curriculum map, presentations, methodological guides, and case studies
    • Percentage of total: 35% of the total
  4. Estimated completion date: September 13, 2026
    • Milestone: Development of the train-the-trainer process and delivery of the final consolidated report
    • Deliverables: Consolidated report with results and recommendations
    • Percentage of total: 20% of the total

The consultant must provide a pricing model for each deliverable listed in the table above.

8. PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED:

  1. Please attach your curriculum vitae (CV) to demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the terms of reference.
  2. Include descriptions of similar projects or assignments and at least three client references.
  3. Letter of interest.
  4. Technical and economic proposal.

9. CONTRACT DURATION:

The estimated start date of the contract is May 13, 2026. The contract will have an approximate duration of 4 months from the date of signing.

10. PARTICIPATION DATA:

  1. Applications must be received no later than April 17, 2026 (the original closing date was April 13, 2026). All application materials should be sent to hbolanos@padf.org following the guidelines outlined in these Terms of Reference.
  2. Amendments: At any time before the deadline for submitting proposals, PADF may, for any reason, amend the Terms of Reference document by means of an amendment that will be posted on the PADF website and/or communicated by email.
  3. Clarifications: Questions can be sent to hbolanos@padf.org. The email subject line should include the reference number and title.

11. TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

Award result

These Terms of Reference (TOR) do not obligate PADF to execute a contract, nor do they commit PADF to pay any costs incurred in preparing or submitting proposals. Furthermore, PADF reserves the right to reject any and all proposals if such action is deemed to be in PADF’s best interest. PADF will select the winning proposal at its sole discretion and is under no obligation to share the results of the individual evaluation.

Confidentiality

All proprietary information provided by the bidder will be treated as confidential and will not be shared with potential or existing bidders during the bidding process. This includes, but is not limited to, price quotes, cost proposals, and technical proposals. The results of PADF’s evaluation are confidential.

How to apply

Applications must be received no later than April 17, 2026 (the original closing date was April 13, 2026). All application materials should be sent to hbolanos@padf.org following the guidelines outlined in these Terms of Reference.

The tender can also be found here: Procurement and Grant Opportunities – Pan American Development Foundation