Background:
The Multi-Year Resilience Program (MYRP), implemented by Mercy Corps in partnership with Public Aid Organization (PAO), Iraqi Alliance for Disability Organization (IADO), and Save the Children (SCI), aims to ensure continuous, inclusive, and gender-responsive education services for girls and boys aged 7-15 in crisis-affected communities. The program promotes holistic development by strengthening protection systems, referral mechanisms, and school-based resilience platforms (such as Child Clubs), thereby contributing to the safety and social-emotional well-being of learners.
To further enhance the impact of these efforts, Mercy Corps is seeking to engage a qualified consultant to support the design and rollout of structured, extracurricular recreational activities within Child Clubs. These activities will focus on promoting peace education, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and climate education, with the aim of fostering students’ social-emotional learning, environmental awareness, and conflict-resolution skills. The consultant will also provide technical guidance and capacity-building sessions for implementing partner staff to ensure effective adoption and delivery of the curriculum
Objectives:
The primary objective of this consultancy is to design a comprehensive set of structured, extra-curricular recreational activities for students engaged in Child Clubs across the MYRP target areas. These activities will be tailored to promote peace education, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and climate education, with an overarching goal of strengthening students’ resilience through social-emotional learning, environmental awareness, and conflict-resolution skills.
Specifically, the consultant will:
• Develop a complete curriculum package of structured recreational activities aligned with the MYRP’s thematic focus areas.
• Ensure the curriculum is age-appropriate and inclusive, covering the diverse developmental needs of children and adolescents aged 7-15.
• Contextualize content for implementation across Duhok, Sulaymaniyah, Kirkuk, and Ninawa
• Facilitate orientation sessions and provide technical support to implementing partner (IP) staff to ensure proper understanding and delivery of the curriculum.
• Incorporate strategies for inclusive participation and gender responsiveness in all activities and training content.
Scope of work/ Key responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:
1. Needs Assessment & Planning
o Review relevant program documents, Child Club structures, and existing materials (if any) to understand the context and needs.
o Conduct initial consultations with Mercy Corps and implement partners staff to align on expectations, target groups, and thematic priorities.
2. Curriculum Design
o Develop a structured curriculum consisting of extra-curricular recreational activities promoting:
Peace education and conflict resolution
1. A peace education and conflict resolution training for students should help them understand the roots of conflict, the value of peaceful dialogue, and the importance of empathy and cooperation. It should equip students with practical skills to manage disagreements, communicate respectfully, and resolve conflicts non-violently in their daily lives. The training should also encourage critical thinking about prejudice, discrimination, and stereotypes, promoting respect for diversity and inclusion with special focus on acceptance of Children with Disabilities (CWD). Through interactive activities, role-plays, and group discussions, students should learn to build trust, listen actively, and become positive contributors to a peaceful school and community environment.
Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS)
1. A mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) awareness for students should help them understand emotions, cope with stress, and support one another in healthy ways. It should create a safe space to talk about mental well-being, build self-esteem, and encourage help-seeking behavior. The training must be inclusive, using accessible and sensitive approaches so children with disabilities feel supported and involved. Through age-appropriate activities and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), students should learn how to manage anxiety, build resilience, and foster a caring, respectful school environment where everyone’s mental health is valued.
Climate education and environmental awareness
1. Climate education and environmental awareness for students should teach them about the causes and effects of climate change, including local environmental challenges. It should focus on practical actions they can take to reduce their environmental impact, such as waste reduction, energy conservation, and sustainable practices. Through hands-on activities and group discussions, students should develop a sense of responsibility for the environment and be empowered to advocate for climate action in their communities.
o Ensure activities are age-appropriate, inclusive, gender-responsive, and adaptable for students aged 7-15.
o Provide facilitator guidelines/manuals and lesson plans for each activity.
3. Review and Validation
o Present draft materials to Mercy Corps and key stakeholders for feedback.
o Revise and finalize the curriculum package based on feedback received.
4. Capacity Building
o Design and deliver orientation sessions (in-person and/or virtual) for implementing partner staff.
o Provide clear guidance on how to implement the curriculum effectively, including student engagement strategies and monitoring tips.
5. Technical Support
o Offer remote follow-up technical support to implementing partners during the initial rollout phase.
o Address challenges, clarify curriculum components, and suggest adaptations as needed.
6. Reporting
o Submit a final consultancy report summarizing completed work, challenges encountered, lessons learned, and recommendations for sustainability.
Deliverables:
The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:
1. Inception Report
o Summary of initial consultations, approach, proposed structure of the curriculum, and work plan with timelines.
o Due: 25 June 2025
2. Draft Curriculum Package
o A set of structured, extra-curricular recreational activities covering peace education, MHPSS, climate education, and SEL.
o Age-appropriate content for children and youth aged 7-15, including facilitator guides and session plans.
o Due: 15 July 2025
3. Final Curriculum Package
o Revised based on feedback from Mercy Corps and partners.
o Ready-to-use version in both Arabic and Kurdish, including any required visual or instructional materials.
o Due: 25 July 2025
4. Delivery of Orientation Sessions
o Facilitation of orientation sessions (online and/or in-person) in Duhok, Sulaymaniyah, Kirkuk, and Ninawa
o Due: 27 July to 1 August 2025
5. Final Consultancy Report
o Summary of activities completed, key outcomes, feedback received, and recommendations for future implementation.
o Due: 1 August 2025
Timeline and duration:
The consultancy is expected to commence on 15 June 2025 and conclude by 1 August 2025, for a total duration of two months.
The anticipated timeline for key deliverables is as follows:
Deliverable Due Date
Inception Report 25 June 2025
Draft Curriculum Package 15 July 2025
Final Curriculum Package 25 July 2025
Delivery of orientation Sessions 27 July – 1 August 2025
Final Consultancy Report 1 August 2025
Reporting and supervision:
The consultant will report directly to the WASH and Climate Advisor at Mercy Corps. The advisor will serve as the primary point of contact, providing strategic guidance, technical feedback, and oversight throughout the consultancy period.
Regular coordination meetings will be held to review progress, address challenges, and ensure alignment with program goals. The consultant is also expected to coordinate with the Education Team and implementing partners — Public Aid Organization (PAO), Iraqi Alliance for Disability Organization (IADO), and Save the Children (SCI) — to ensure the curriculum is contextually appropriate and meets the needs of targeted learners.
Final deliverables will be reviewed and approved by the WASH and Climate Advisor in collaboration with relevant program stakeholders.
Required qualifications and experience:
Education and Technical Background
• Advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Education, Psychology, Social Sciences, Environmental Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, or a related field.
• Specialized training or demonstrated knowledge in curriculum development, social-emotional learning (SEL), peace education, MHPSS, or climate education is highly desirable.
Professional Experience
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience designing and implementing education or psychosocial support programs for children and youth.
• Proven experience in developing age-appropriate extracurricular or non-formal education curricula.
• Experience in facilitating training and capacity-building sessions for educators, NGO staff, or community workers.
• Familiarity with the education and child protection context in Iraq or similar crisis-affected settings.
• Demonstrated ability to design inclusive, gender-responsive, and culturally relevant learning content.
Language Requirements
• Fluency in Kurdish Sorani , Arabic, and English is an asset (spoken and written) is required.
Other Competencies
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and adapt materials to local needs.
• Excellent writing, documentation, and presentation skills.
Interested candidates should apply before the deadline indicated below on the below email:
ALL APPLICATIONS/ CVs SHOULD BE RECEIVED BY 1st of June , 2025
Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for potential interview.
Any documents submitted will remain with Mercy Corps and will not be returned to candidates.
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer. Females are highly encouraged to apply.
Female Candidates are encouraged to apply for This Position. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global Impact.
Mercy Corps Iraq offers a variety of arrangements that enable women to excel in their careers. Mercy Corps Iraq ensures a safe and inclusive working environment for women and men through field security training and measures to provide secure working arrangements on-site and in the office.
