Job Title: Consultant 
Field: Protection, Gender, Referral, Mapping 
Reporting to: Project Manager 
Place: Aden 
Deadline: 22 April 2026 

About Afaq Shababia Foundation (ASF)

ASF is a registered national NGO with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, No. 271. Our mission is to contribute to youth and community development by implementing quality programs and building effective partnerships in accordance with best institutional practices. ASF started its work in Yemen in 2013 and has been implementing projects in 4 sectors: capacity-building, peacebuilding, governance, Economic Empowerment, and Protection.

1.    Background

Afaq Shababia Foundation is implementing a socio-economic case management of vulnerable groups activity, which aims to develop an integrated system for managing the socio-economic situations of the most vulnerable groups by addressing the barriers that prevent their access to justice and enabling them to regain a dignified life and economic independence after experiencing traumatic events or situations that threaten their security and rights. The target groups include released women, survivors of gender-based violence, individuals subjected to forced evictions, and people with disabilities. These groups face a series of overlapping obstacles, including social stigma, precarious economic circumstances, lack of legal documentation, weak family and community support networks, and legal and economic barriers that lead to a cycle of vulnerability that perpetuates marginalization.
The activity's methodology is based on activating the role of peer advisors—individuals from the same groups (such as survivors, released women, or people with disabilities)—who are selected and trained to be "empowering role models" who help others facing similar circumstances. The project benefits from the "power of shared life experience," which gives peer advisors credibility and trust that traditional programs cannot provide, making them an effective channel for social support, legal guidance, and building psychological and economic resilience.
The activity also relies on effective economic interventions, including vocational training, life skills, small business management training, business plan support, providing beneficiaries with livelihood toolkits, and providing microgrants to encourage the launch of micro-enterprises that help them achieve sustainable income and reduce dependence on aid. Through this three-pronged approach (legal, social, and economic support), the project seeks to break the cycle of vulnerability and rebuild the capacities of vulnerable groups to achieve independence and integration, while linking peer advisor support to institutional referral mechanisms within the civil and criminal justice system, social protection, and HLP services, to ensure the sustainability of solutions and prevent individuals from becoming vulnerable again. 

ASF is seeking to conduct comprehensive service mapping exercises to identify and document service providers and referral pathways that exist and serve women's protection, health, education, economic, legal, etc. Even if it is government, private sector, or community initiatives, NGOs, and INGOs in Aden governorate, whether it is free services or low-paid services.

2.    Nature and scope of the service:
This consultancy aims to conduct a comprehensive service mapping exercise in Aden governorate to identify, analyze, and document all available service providers and referral pathways that support vulnerable women groups, particularly in the areas of protection, legal, HLP (Housing, Land and Property), health, education, and economic empowerment. The assignment will focus on mapping services provided by government entities, private-sector actors, NGOs, INGOs, and community-based initiatives, including both free and low-cost services, while ensuring strong integration of gender, protection, and inclusion considerations.

The consultancy will also support the development of a functional referral systems framework that enables stakeholders to link vulnerable women to appropriate services effectively through present the mapping result and facilitating a discussion and engagement workshop with the main stakeholders. 

3.    Scope Of Work: 

The Consultant will undertake the following tasks:

3.1.    Prepare a detailed inception report, including methodology, tools, and work plan. 
3.2.     Conduct a desk review of project documents, relevant secondary data, including reference documents and websites. 
3.3.    Share weekly progress update and attend weekly (online or offline) follow-up meeting with the ASF team.
3.4.    Develop data collection tools (mapping templates, questionnaires, stakeholder lists…. etc.).
3.5.    Identify and map service providers for vulnerable women across sectors (legal, protection, health, social, economic, HLP…etc) through conducting field consultations and key informant interviews with stakeholders.
3.6.    Map and document existing referral pathways and coordination mechanisms for providing services for vulnerable women.
3.7.    Conduct orientation of the mapping tools, receive data inputs, and daily follow-up for the nominated field team from ASF, which will help in gathering the field data. (ASF will nominate and pay fees for 16 data collectors to help the consultant in conducting field data collection using the data collection tools prepared by the consultant).
3.8.    Develop a detailed service provider database that includes detailed service provider and services information. 
3.9.    Using the service provider database in point 3.8, develop a short word profile document "Women's Socio-Economic Service providers manual" that includes short information on Service providers, for example, (Entity - Entity logo if any –Type of entity – services provided – Address – telephone – Email).
3.10.    Led the preparation of one day stakeholder's workshop to develop the coordination and referral system of providing services for vulnerable women in Aden governorate using the outputs of mapping for service provider and existing referral pathways and coordination mechanisms, the consultant will lead the implementation of the workshop including preparing the workshop TOR and agenda, facilitating the discussion in the workshop via online or offline, and reporting the workshop outputs. ASF will logistically support the workshop, including the nomination of the attendees, hall, coffee break, stationery, and participants' allowances.
3.11.    Using the service providers' mapping, referral systems mapping, and the workshop outputs, prepare a short report that includes analyzing service availability and referral systems, accessibility, gaps, barriers, proposed framework for referral systems, and recommendations. 

3.    Purpose of the service:
The purpose of this consultancy is to support in developing a structured, inclusive, service mapping and referral system that promotes access of vulnerable women to services.

Specific Objectives:

•     Identify and document available services, service providers, and referral systems across sectors in Aden governorates for vulnerable women.
•     Strengthening coordination and referral pathways between service providers.
•     Develop a practical framework and recommendations to promote access of vulnerable women to services. 

4.    Methodology

4.1.    Consultancy Methodology Description: 
The consultant will apply a structured, evidence-based, and participatory methodology. This methodology will combine desk review, stakeholder engagement, and analytical tools to ensure an accurate and inclusive mapping. The approach will include:
Desk Review: Reviewing the project's core documents and any relevant documents or websites, and secondary data to establish a thorough understanding of the overall mission framework.
Stakeholder Engagement: Holding consultative meetings with the Afaq project team to ensure that actions align with the objectives and with key stakeholders as needed.
Data Collection: through any tools needed, such as Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) (if applicable), Surveys, and mapping tools. 
Mapping & Analysis: Analyze and categorize services, identify service gaps, analyze accessibility, document existing referral pathways, identify gaps and inefficiencies, propose improved referral mechanisms, and develop recommendations. 
Reporting: Preparing the periodic and final Reports, submitting them to the ASF project team for review and approval.
 
4.2.    Ethical Considerations: 
1.    Ensure confidentiality and sensitive institutional information. 
2.    Apply Do-No-Harm and conflict-sensitive principles. 
3.    Maintain neutrality, transparency, and data protection standards.

This methodology ensures institutional ownership, sustainability, and practical applicability of all developed policies and systems.

5.    Deliverables, timetable, and budget

5.1. Deliverables, 
1.    Comprehensive inception report and mapping tools. 
2.    Detailed database for Service providers for vulnerable women. 
3.    Short word profile document on service providers.
4.     Short Report on Available referral pathways and coordination mechanisms related to providing services for vulnerable women through referral. 
5.    The TOR and Agenda of the stakeholders' workshop.
6.    stakeholders' workshop Report. 
7.    Short report that includes analyzing service availability and referral systems, accessibility, gaps, barriers, proposed framework for referral systems, and recommendations.

5.2. timetable: 
The consultant is required to implement the required tasks and deliverables according to this advertisement before 31 May 2026.

5.3. Deliverables Review and Approval Process
All deliverables will undergo the following cycle:
1.    Draft submission.
2.    Review by ASF.
3.    Revision by consultant.
4.    Final approval.

5.4. Proposed Budget
1.    The service provider must submit a detailed financial proposal in US dollars.
2.    The service provider must specify the total financial offer for each task as outlined in Section 3 of these Terms of Reference (TOR).
3.    The financial offer must be valid for 90 days from its date.

6.    Qualification criteria for suppliers

6.1. Qualifications 
1.    Previous experience in the related field.
2.    Experience working with international and national organizations, including INGOs and UN agencies.
3.    In-depth knowledge of the local context, community structures, and local frameworks.

6.2. Compliance requirements
The service provider must adhere to the following:
1.    A policy for protection against exploitation and abuse (PSEA).
2.    Anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, and anti-bribery policies.
3.    Compliance with all applicable local laws.
4.    Provision of valid IDs or legal documents.
5.    Sign a "Supplier Code of Conduct" before starting work.