Terms of Reference (TOR) for Hiring Consultant

Activity Title: Capacity Building of DEPD Sindh on Inclusive Life Skills Based Education (LSBE)

Place of Consultancy: Sindh, Pakistan

No. of Position: 01 consultant

1. Background

Aiming Change for Tomorrow (ACT) International, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Department of Special Education (DEPD) – Sindh, is undertaking a strategic initiative to promote inclusive education through the integration of Life Skills-Based Education (LSBE) within the department’s training systems. This initiative recognizes the urgent need to build the capacity of DEPD staff, educators, and parents of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to create more inclusive, responsive, and empowering learning environments. The project will focus on the development of a user-friendly and contextually relevant Training Manual and Reading Material that addresses the unique learning needs of children and youth with disabilities. The consultant will play a critical role in institutionalizing LSBE within DEPD’s existing training curriculum, ensuring its sustainability and alignment with national education standards. In addition, the consultant will provide shadowing support during training sessions to strengthen facilitation practices and enhance learning outcomes.

2. Objectives of the Consultancy

• To develop a standardized Training Manual & Reading Material for DEPD staff and parents of PWDs.
• To incorporate LSBE content into DEPD’s existing training curriculum.
• To provide shadowing support and facilitate training delivery to strengthen the capacity of DPED staff in effectively implementing LSBE-focused training.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will perform the following tasks:

A. Development of Training Manual & Reading Material

The consultant will lead the development of a comprehensive and accessible Training Manual and accompanying Reading Material tailored to the needs of the Department of Special Education (DEPD) – Sindh. This will begin with a structured needs assessment conducted in close consultation with DEPD officials, educators, and parents of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to identify existing gaps and opportunities in current training practices.

Based on the findings, the consultant will design and draft a user-friendly manual in English, Urdu, and Sindhi, covering key themes such as inclusive education strategies, Life Skills-Based Education (LSBE) tailored for PWDs, parental support mechanisms, and effective teaching methodologies for special educators. The material will be aligned with DEPD policies as well as national and international best practices. To ensure relevance and quality, the consultant will organize and incorporate feedback through a series of validation workshops with stakeholders, ensuring the final product is contextually appropriate, practical, and widely applicable.

B. Institutionalization of LSBE in DEPD Curriculum

The consultant will conduct a detailed review of DEPD’s existing training curriculum to identify gaps and opportunities for integrating Life Skills-Based Education (LSBE). The consultant will develop and incorporate age-appropriate LSBE modules, ensuring alignment with DEPD’s educational framework.

This includes designing interactive session plans, activity guides, and competency-based assessment tools for trainers. Emphasis will be placed on gender-sensitive and disability-inclusive methodologies, ensuring accessibility for all learners. The consultant will also facilitate stakeholder validation workshops to refine content and ensure relevance. The final output will be a revised DEPD curriculum with embedded LSBE components, enhancing the capacity of educators to deliver inclusive, skills-based instruction.

C. Capacity Building & Shadowing Support

The consultant will conduct a comprehensive Training of Trainers (ToT) program for DEPD master trainers, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and pedagogical skills to effectively deliver inclusive education and LSBE content. Following the ToT, the consultant will provide on-site shadowing support during the initial rounds of training delivery to ensure quality facilitation, offer real-time feedback, and strengthen the trainers' confidence. Additionally, the consultant will design a practical monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the effectiveness of training sessions, enabling continuous improvement and ensuring that learning objectives are being met across all levels of implementation.

4. Deliverables

1. A detailed inception report outlining the consultant’s understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, timeline, and detailed work plan. The report will also include an annotated outline of the training manual and parent’s guidebook.
2. A comprehensive report summarizing the findings of the needs assessment conducted with DEPD staff, educators, and parents. The report will identify key gaps in current training resources, highlight challenges in inclusive education, and inform the content and structure of the training manual and parent’s guidebook.
3. A draft version of the Training Manual and parent’s guide book in English language, covering inclusive education strategies, LSBE for PWDs, parental support, and specialized teaching methodologies. The materials will be shared in both soft and hard copies and presented during a validation workshop for feedback from DEPD and stakeholders.
4. Incorporating inputs from validation workshops and consultative meetings, the consultant will submit the final, polished version of the training manual and parent’s guidebook in all required languages and formats. The final product will align with DEPD’s existing training standards and best international practices in inclusive and life skills-based education.
5. Documentation of facilitation provided during the training deliveries, capturing qualitative insights, feedback, challenges, and mentoring approaches adopted to support DEPD master trainers in real-time.

1. A comprehensive final report summarizing the entire consultancy process, key accomplishments, challenges encountered, and recommendations for scaling and sustaining LSBE integration within DEPD. This report will serve as a reference for future programming and institutional capacity-building efforts.

5. Duration of Assignment

The period of the assignment is from 20^th May 2025 to 31^st August 2025, expected number of working days is 35 days.

6. Qualifications & Experience

Essential:

• Advanced degree (Master’s/PhD) in Special Education, Inclusive Education, Social Sciences, or related fields.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in developing training manuals for PWDs or inclusive education.
• Proven expertise in Life Skills-Based Education (LSBE) and curriculum development.
• Familiarity with Sindh’s education policies and DEPD frameworks.
• Strong facilitation and training delivery skills.

Desirable:

• Previous work with government departments (Education Sector).
• Experience in parental training programs for PWDs.

7. Reporting & Supervision

The consultant will report directly to the National Project Manager at ACT International and will work in close coordination with focal persons from DEPD-Sindh. Regular progress review meetings, including consultation sessions, validation workshops, and feedback rounds, will be conducted to ensure alignment with project goals and deliverables. The consultant will provide timely updates and submit all outputs for review and approval as per the agreed timeline. Oversight will focus on quality assurance, adherence to national and international standards, and relevance to the needs of PWDs.

8. Payment Schedule

The consultancy fee will be disbursed in four installments, aligned with the timely completion of key deliverables as follows:

• 20% upon submission and approval of the Inception Report, including the detailed work plan and manual and guidebook outline.
• 30% upon submission of the Draft training manual and parent’s guidebook.
• 30% after successful completion of the Validation Workshop, and submission and approval of the finalized training manual and parent’s guidebook.
• 20% upon completion of the training workshops, submission of the training report, an the final consultancy report with sustainability recommendations.

9. Application Process

Interested and qualified individual consultants are invited to apply by submitting the following documents, clearly demonstrating their ability to undertake the scope of work and deliver high-quality outputs aligned with the assignment objectives:

1. Technical Proposal

A detailed proposal outlining the proposed methodology, work plan, and approach for conducting the needs assessment, developing the training manual and parent’s guidebook, facilitating validation workshops, and delivering ToT and shadowing support. The proposal must also include an updated CV of the consultant highlighting relevant experience in inclusive education, LSBE, curriculum development, and capacity building.

2. Financial Proposal

A comprehensive financial breakdown of the consultancy fees, including daily rates, number of working days (maximum 35), and any relevant taxes or administrative costs. The financial proposal should align with the proposed work plan and deliverables as per below given format.

3. Sample of Previous Work

Examples of similar assignments undertaken, particularly in the areas of education, disability inclusion, LSBE, or training manual development.

Deadline for Submission: 
Submission Address: