ABOUT FIRST CONSULT  

First Consult is a leading economic development consulting firm implementing projects in Ethiopia. Founded in 2006, First Consult (FC) has grown to design and implement projects across the agriculture, manufacturing, and service sectors. Our multidisciplinary teams combine a capacity to execute with clarity of the local context. As a result, we have delivered at-scale real impact in terms of job creation, business formation, business growth, and investment attraction and mobilization. 

MESMER PROGRAM 

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Recovery and Resilience Program (MESMER) is a 5-year program launched in October 2022 to support 72,200 MSMEs and 410,800 jobs by creating access to finance for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) to realize their growth prospects and resilience. MESMER works to provide support to MSMEs through business development support, psychosocial services, and technical assistance to financial institutions. MESMER is a countrywide program implemented by Mastercard Foundation in partnership with First Consult as part of the Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy and aiming  to create dignified and fulfilling work for the youth, the majority of them women. 

MESMER is a national scale-up of the existing MSE Resilience Facility launched in 2020 to capacitate enterprises affected by the COVID pandemic. The Programme has  the following  four-pillars/components  driving to meet its objectives: a) Grants and soft loans to MSMEs through a risk-sharing liquidity fund arrangement, b) Technical assistance to financial institutions, c) Business development services and life skills, d) Psychosocial support. The FDRE Ministry of Labour and Skills is the main government counterpart for the program. Other partners include financial institutions (microfinance institutions, banks, and digital financial service providers), BDS, and psychosocial support providers.  

BACKGROUND OF THE ASSIGNMENT  

The MESMER program’s primary objective is to support MSMEs’ bankability and facilitate sustainable access to finance, fueling their growth and unlocking their potential for development and job creation. Psychosocial Support (PSS) is a key component of the MESMER program, aimed at strengthening enterprises by enhancing psychological well-being and business mindset. PSS is specifically designed for enterprises affected by conflict, flood, and drought, to empower them to build resilience.  

With this background, the first phase of the PSS component was finalized and implemented in six regions (Afar, Amhara, Benishangul, Oromia, Somali, and Tigray), targeting 16,000 informal and formal enterprises. By employing different approaches, the component successfully met its targets, achieving meaningful impact and reaching the program’s target.  However, field-level feedback and assessments highlighted the continued need for psychosocial support, particularly in Afar, Amhara, Oromia, and Tigray. These regions have been affected by conflict and recurrent shocks such as drought and displacement, leaving MSMEs and communities vulnerable. Assessments conducted by MESMER revealed heightened levels of stress, trauma, and weak coping mechanisms among MSME owners and workers, factors that directly undermine recovery, adaptation, and long-term business sustainability. 

At the same time, local institutions and PSS providers face capacity constraints that hinder their ability to meet the growing demand for services. To sustain the achievements of the first phase and strengthen the resilience of local actors, MESMER now seeks to engage a qualified service provider to deliver capacity building and certification of Psychosocial Support (PSS)  for experts in the target regions. 

OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT 

The objective of this Terms of Reference (ToR) is to engage a qualified service provider to provide TOT training and build the capacity of 100 local experts to provide effective and sustainable psychosocial support services in Afar, Amhara, Oromia, and Tigray. 

Specific objectives include: 

• Assessing capacity gaps and training needs among experts and regional offices. 
• Enhance the existing PSS training manuals to have a context-sensitive training package. 
• Delivering capacity-building sessions, including training of trainers, for selected participants. 
• Providing technical support, coaching, and mentorship following the training. 

SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES 

The selected service provider will undertake the following activities. 

Rapid assessment and Expert selection  

• Conduct a rapid assessment to identify specific capacity gaps in PSS delivery in Afar, Amhara, Tigray, and Oromia regions. 
• Develop clear selection criteria to ensure transparency, consistency, and quality in identifying ToT participants. 
• Collaborate with regional stakeholders to identify potential experts for the certification program. Regional health bureaus must engage in identifying experts in their structure and be part of the whole process. 
• Screen and select qualified experts who will be receiving the capacity-building training. Special focus should be given to select women PSS providers to the extent possible.  
• Ensure the participation of all three institutes (TVETs, Health Bureau, Universities, and Bureau of Labour and Skill/OSS) in the respective regions to take part in the training  
• Map existing structures and referral pathways relevant to PSS in each region. 

Training content: 

• Based on the rapid assessment and gaps identified, review and enhance existing (or develop new) training materials.  

TOT Delivery: 

• Deliver three-day training on the subject matter for selected participants, complemented by a two-day Training of Trainers (ToT) focusing on the methodology of service delivery. 
• Facilitate participatory training sessions and deliver training of trainers (ToT) to enable cascading of PSS service within institutions and communities. 
• Ensure inclusivity and gender sensitivity in training methodologies. 
• Conduct baseline data to profile the existing knowledge of the experts to ease the monitoring and evaluation activities. 

Mentorship and Technical Support: 

• Provide post-training mentorship, coaching, and technical guidance to trainees. 
• Establish peer learning and knowledge exchange mechanisms where possible. 
• Certify experts completing the TOT and mentorship program, co-branded with the regional health bureau.  

MERL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning) 

• Align with the program’s MERL framework and provide regular updates. 
• Support surveys, onsite visits, and other data collection exercises as required. 
• Submit weekly progress updates to the MESMER PSS team. 
• Deliver a comprehensive final report capturing methodologies, results, challenges, and recommendations.  

The assignment will be implemented in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders. The service provider is expected to engage with these actors and actively leverage the available resources.  

DELIVERABLES AND TIMEFRAMES  

The deliverables are listed in the table below.  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

The service provider is expected to have; 

• Proven expertise in psychosocial support (PSS), mental health, or related fields, with at least seven years of relevant experience. 
• Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering capacity building or training of trainers (ToT), preferably in humanitarian or post-crisis settings. 
• Strong knowledge of regional context, particularly Afar, Amhara, Oromia, and Tigray. 
• Multidisciplinary team including psychologists, social workers, and experienced trainers. 

  WORKING ARRANGEMENT 

• The service provider will be working under a contract with First Consult Plc. The service provider will report directly to the MESMER PSS team. 
• The service provider is obligated to work within the required deadlines and be available by schedule, which can be adapted at any time as deemed necessary.  

TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL PROPOSAL  

The technical proposal should comprise the following  

• Understanding of the assignment, methodology, and timeframe for delivery of the assignment  
• Dedicated team composition 

The financial proposal should state all costs in ETB and include any taxes. The budget should also indicate the unit cost, quantity, and number of days, with separate options for three-day and five-day trainings. The budget should be presented in a format where cost areas are clearly identified for each activity.  

EVALUATION CRITERIA 

• Methodology: clarity and feasibility of the proposed methodology, including approach to TOT, mentorship, and MERL integration 
• Relevant Experience: in delivering psychosocial support (PSS), mental health, or similar assignments with TOT or institutional capacity building. 
• Team composition: qualifications and experience of proposed team members (psychologists, trainers, and others) 
• Regional Knowledge: familiarity with the context of Afar, Amhara, Oromia, and Tigray. 
• Gender and Inclusion Approach: evidence of integrating gender-sensitive and inclusive methodologies in training delivery.  
• Technical proposals will account for 75% of the overall evaluation, while financial proposals will account for 25%. 
• Candidates who score below 50% on the technical evaluation will not be considered for financial evaluation.  

How To Apply

APPLICATION PROCESS  

Applicants should email their technical and financial proposal separately to bids2@firstconsultet.com with the relevant information detailed in the technical and financial sections of the proposal.   

The subject of the email should be stated as “Certification of Psychosocial Support (PSS) Providers  ”. 

Proposals must be received on or before  October 16, 2025, until 5:00 PM (GMT+3:00).  

INFORMATION:  

For clarification or for any queries relating to this assignment, please contact the focal person below on or before October 14, 2025, until 5:00 PM (GMT+3:00):  

Name: Tirsit Mamuye  

Title: Senior BDS and PSS Officer, MESMER  

Email address: tmamuye@firstconsultet.com  

N.B: First Consult reserves the right to reject the bid fully or partially.