Program: Better Care Program (funded by UNICEF, implemented by Partnerships for Every Child - P4EC).

Partner: Ministry of Labor and Social Protection (MLSP) of the Republic of Moldova.

Duration: September 15, 2026 – November 30, 2026.

Location: Chisinau, Moldova (with remote desk-work option for International Consultant).

I. Background and Rationale:

The Republic of Moldova is actively strengthening its national child protection system, placing a growing emphasis on preventing family separation and enhancing support for children with complex emotional and behavioural needs, children without parental care, and children in conflict with the law.

While significant progress has been made across the country in expanding family-based care services, social work practitioners and allied professionals require updated, high-level competencies to consistently apply trauma-informed approaches and manage increasingly complex cases. The need for this expertise is also supported by lessons learned from UNICEF's previous  initiatives on trauma-informed practices that highlight a shortage of specialized professionals, particularly practitioners equipped to support children affected by trauma and those presenting complex emotional and behavioural needs.

To address these evolving workforce needs, international expertise will be deployed to assess and enhance the existing trauma-informed capacity-building framework by building upon the current trauma-informed training manual, developed with UNICEF support for specialized foster care placement. This initiative will review and adapt the programme to integrate core and specialized advanced modules, addressing both prevention and practical work with the most complex cases.

This capacity-building programme aims to equip professionals with a deeper understanding of the impact of psychological trauma on children and families. By institutionalizing trauma-informed practices in daily operational workflows, the initiative will strengthen overall case management and boost early preventive interventions—ensuring that children remain safely within their family environments whenever possible.

II Specific Work:

The primary purpose of this consultancy is to support the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection (MLSP) in reviewing, updating, and expanding the existing trauma-informed training manual—originally developed with UNICEF support for specialized foster care placements—into a standardized, institutionalized capacity-building package for a larger group of professionals working within the child protection and social assistance system. The adapted module will be provided to family support service managers, personal assistant service managers, child protection specialists from STAS, psychologists from STAS and community child protection specialists.

The activity will result in a coherent capacity-building package composed of two interconnected parts:

• Core Trauma-Informed Module: Designed for frontline professionals across prevention, family support, child protection, and alternative care services.
• Specialized Advanced Module: Focused on the management of complex cases, high-risk family environments and specialized interventions. .

An international consultant will bring specialized expertise in trauma-informed practice and complex-case intervention, helping to ensure that the revised programme aligns with international and European child rights standards, as well as Moldova's broader EU integration commitments.

The national consultant will adapt the content to the national context, develop practical tools and case-based exercises, and prepare the training materials for delivery to practitioners.

The consultants are expected to work as a team. However, the technical and financial offer might be submitted individually by either of the consultants.  

1. 3. Tentative task distribution

1. 4. Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge/Experience Required:

International Consultant

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, Social Work, Child Protection, or related Human Services disciplines.
• Minimum 5+ years of international experience developing trauma-informed curricula, training programs, and clinical practice guides in child welfare.
• Demonstrated expertise in complex case management, alternative care, and European child rights standards.
• Excellent command of English (written and spoken); knowledge of Romanian or Russian is an asset.

National Consultant

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Law, or Social Sciences.
• Minimum 5+ years of practical experience within Moldova’s social assistance and child protection system (STAS, family support services).
• Proven experience in adapting training modules, drafting case studies, and understanding national social work legislation/protocols.
• Fluency in Romanian (essential); working knowledge of English required for collaboration with the International Consultant.

1. 5. Additional Requirements

Please note that P4EC has a zero-tolerance policy on any conduct that is abusive, discriminatory, demeaning and/or disrespectful, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination on any grounds against any child or adult. We are committed to ensure the protection and safeguarding of all children and adults. Therefore, any individual or entity working in our name has direct or indirect contact with our beneficiaries are expected to undergo thorough reference checks and will be required to provide a clear criminal record certificate from authorities.

1. 6. How to apply

The application pack will include the following:

• The Technical and financial proposal;
• CV/CVs of the consultant/s that will directly work on the developments above, including 3 professional referees including one former client who knows your work
• An example of the consultant/s work (This will be treated in confidence)

Qualifying individuals or legal entities are invited to email their applications to P4EC on vpostolaki@p4ec.md by 5pm Moldovan time on September 14^th , 2026.

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