Consultancy Opportunity: Mediation Skills Training for Female Youth in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Background

The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace, and humanitarian service. Guided by the Quaker belief in the divine light of each person, AFSC works with communities and partners worldwide to challenge unjust systems and promote lasting peace. AFSC has more than 100 years of experience building peace in communities worldwide and works in the following ways: bridging and convening, community organizing and civil society strengthening, advocacy, research, and analysis. It seeks to change situations and systems that lead to violence. Much of AFSC's work includes support to opportunities for dialogue and capacity building led by the affected communities.

About the Somalia Program

AFSC believes that young people can positively transform the prevailing context of violent conflicts in Somalia into more secure, productive, and just places. Consequently, AFSC is implementing a peacebuilding program in Somalia targeting the youth, with the approach of empowering them with peacebuilding, leadership, and advocacy skills.

In Somalia, AFSC works in Mogadishu, Kismayu, Bosaso and Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya that hosts 97% refugees of Somalia origin.

Young women in Mogadishu are increasingly called upon to prevent and resolve conflicts within their families, peer groups, and communities, yet often lack adequate knowledge and skills in mediation and safe spaces to practice them. AFSC therefore seeks to engage a qualified consultant to train 20 female youth in Mogadishu on mediation skills while strengthening their capacity to prevent, manage, and peacefully resolve conflict in their community.

Overall Objective

To equip 20 female youth trained in Alternative to Violence Program (AVP) in Mogadishu with practical mediation skills and strengthen their capacity to prevent, manage, and peacefully resolve conflicts within their families and communities.

Specific Objectives

The consultant is expected to:

• Develop training materials, and a facilitation plan tailored to the Mogadishu context and the needs of young women.
• Conduct a five-day, in-person training for 20 female youth in Mogadishu on mediation skills.
• Provide participants with handouts, case studies, tools, and templates for future reference.
• Submit a comprehensive training report including outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations.

Scope of Assignment

The consultant is expected to train on mediation covering aspects including and not limited to:

• Introduction to conflict, conflict analysis, and conflict dynamics.
• Principles, approaches, and stages of mediation.
• Core mediation skills ; active listening, neutrality, reframing, and negotiation.
• The role of young women as mediators and peace agents within families and communities.
• Communication and de-escalation techniques.
• Practical mediation role plays and simulations using real-life scenarios.
• Referral pathways and linkages to formal and informal justice, protection, and support mechanisms.
• Developing a personal/community mediation action plan.

Facilitation Expectations

• Use participatory, adult-learning, and gender-sensitive methods.
• Provide Mogadishu/Somalia-specific examples and case studies.
• Include practical role plays, simulations, and group exercises.
• Create a safe, inclusive space for young women to build confidence and practice mediation skills.
• Provide a training report.

Expected Outcomes

• Deliver clear and easy-to-understand mediation skills training to the 20 female youth participants.
• Participants demonstrate increased knowledge and practical mediation skills.
• Participants provided with reference materials and tools.
• Comprehensive training report with recommendations shared with AFSC.

Duration of the Assignment

Participants: 20 female youth (Mogadishu)

Training dates: 23rd – 27th August 2026

Location: Mogadishu

Level of Effort: Approximately 8–10 consultant days (including preparation and reporting)

Desired Qualifications:

AFSC is seeking a qualified, experienced, proactive, and dedicated expert with vast knowledge on mediation and conflict resolution.

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences, peace and conflict studies, law, human rights, or a related field.
• At least 5 years proven experience in designing and delivering mediation or conflict resolution training, particularly with youth and/or women.
• Experience in peacebuilding work in Somalia or a similar context.

Key Skills and Competencies:

• Proven experience in designing and delivering training programs on mediation/alternative dispute resolution.
• Strong understanding of the Somali/Mogadishu context and cultural sensitivities.
• Strong facilitation and training skills using participatory, adult-learning methods.
• Demonstrated expertise in gender equality and youth/women's empowerment.
• Experience working with young women and delivery of culturally appropriate, trauma-informed approaches.
• Language: Excellent written and spoken English (Somali an added advantage).