See terms of reference here: https://plan-international.org/uploads/sites/56/2026/09/4_SMAPS_Consu.pdf
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Mental Health Consulting and Psychosocial Support – Protection of Children in Emergencies | Venezuela Object of the consultancy
Provision of specialized Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (SMAPS) services for girls, boys, adolescents and caregivers affected by the emergency. Technical support area
Humanitarian programs Technical counterpart
Child Protection Specialist in Humanitarian Action Place of provision
Venezuela, with in-person and/or remote services according to the needs of the agreed products Geographic coverage
Carabobo, Yaracuy and Falcón, and other prioritized areas of the response Estimated duration
6 months Expected start date
09/28/2026 Contractual modality
Consulting with independent contractor Preparation date
September 9, 2026
1. The organization
Through its work in 80 countries with developing economies in Africa, Asia and the Americas, Plan International seeks to reach the largest possible number of girls, boys and adolescents, particularly those who are in situations of exclusion or marginalization, through programs quality that generate lasting benefits, partnership work and effective operation.
Plan International promotes the rights of children and is committed to their protection and gender equality. The organization adopts measures so that its interventions and the actions of the people linked to them are consistent with its safeguarding, equal opportunities and non-discrimination policies.
2. Background
The earthquakes that occurred on June 24, 2026 in Venezuela increased protection risks and psychosocial effects for girls, boys, adolescents and caregivers. Plan International requires specialized, time-bound services to implement safe, timely, culturally relevant SMAPS interventions articulated with the Emergency Child Protection response.
3. Purpose of the consultancy
Provide specialized services, with technical and organizational autonomy, to implement and document Mental Health and Psychosocial Support interventions aimed at girls, boys, adolescents and their families, strengthening coping, resilience, protection and emotional recovery mechanisms, in accordance with humanitarian standards. and applicable policies.
INTERNATIONAL PLAN | VENEZUELA
Terms of Reference · Independent product-based consulting
4. Scope of services
Individual and group psychosocial care
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Carry out initial psychosocial assessments and implement individual and group sessions adapted to age, gender, disability and cultural context.
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Facilitate socio-emotional, recreational and resilience-building activities for children and adolescents.
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Facilitate support groups for mothers, fathers and caregivers about stress, positive parenting, self-care and emotional support.
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Apply Psychological First Aid when appropriate and within professional competencies.
Child-Friendly Spaces
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Contribute technically to the installation, adaptation and operation of safe spaces.
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Implement safe, inclusive methodologies aimed at psychosocial well-being and meaningful participation.
Identification and referral
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Identify protection concerns or specialized care needs and activate referral and counter-referral routes.
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Coordinate with case management and other services, guaranteeing confidentiality, informed consent, data protection and non-revictimization.
Community work and family strengthening
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Carry out community actions for psychosocial well-being, violence prevention, stress management and coexistence.
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Develop and disseminate key messages on emotional well-being, self-care, child support and access to services.
Documentation and learning
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Maintain secure records and prepare aggregate analyzes of needs, activities, results, gaps and recommendations.
5. Products and deliverables No. Deliverable Indicative period Acceptance criterion
1
Work plan, methodology, schedule and proposal of instruments for the provision of SMAPS services.
Within the first 10 days
Written approval of the technical counterpart.
2
SMAPS consolidated monthly product that includes: individual, group and community activities developed; aggregate and disaggregated results allowed; assessments and trends without identifiable data; referrals activated; actions in Child-Friendly Spaces; elaborate materials; gaps, recommendations and updated plan for the following month.
Monthly, within the first five (5) business days of the following month
Complete, technically sound product, linked to the agreed scope and accompanied by annexes or corresponding evidence.
3
Consolidated final report, presented as part of the monthly product of the last month, which brings together the products developed, results, pending gaps, learnings, recommendations and organized delivery of files.
With the monthly product of the last month
Written approval of the technical counterpart and complete and organized final documentation.
INTERNATIONAL PLAN | VENEZUELA
Terms of Reference · Independent product-based consulting
6. Modality of provision and technical coordination
The consultant will provide the services with technical, methodological and organizational autonomy, without subjection to working hours or integration into the hierarchical structure of Plan International.
The technical counterpart will review the products exclusively to verify their conformity with these ToRs, the agreed quality criteria and the policies applicable to the service.
Coordination meetings will be agreed based on the deliverables and will not involve attendance, schedule or subordination control.
The consultant will organize the means and methodology necessary to produce the deliverables. Any resource that Plan provides must be documented and used exclusively for the contracted benefit.
The consultancy does not grant authority to hire, commit funds, issue employment instructions, approve expenses or assume obligations on behalf of Plan International.
Any substantive adjustment to the scope, products or deadlines must be formalized in writing between the parties.
7. Standards and technical references
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Minimum Standards for the Protection of Children in Humanitarian Action (CPMS).
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Sphere Manual and humanitarian principles.
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Plan International policies on safeguarding, PEAS, AAP, equality, inclusion, data protection and action without harm.
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Venezuelan regulatory framework applicable to the protection of girls, boys and adolescents and the secure processing of information.
8. Required profile
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Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and current professional association.
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Specialized training in SMAPS in emergencies, trauma, crisis intervention or care for children and families.
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Minimum three (3) years of experience in psychosocial intervention with children and adolescents and families.
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Experience in humanitarian responses, disasters, displacement, human mobility or crisis contexts.
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Experience in group and community activities and identification and referral of protection cases.
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Knowledge of CPMS, SMAPS, safeguard, PEAS, AAP, humanitarian principles and applicable Venezuelan frameworks.
9. Technical and economic proposal
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Technical proposal that describes the understanding of the service, methodology, work plan and availability to meet the deliverables.
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Economic proposal broken down by monthly product, indicating the value of each monthly fee and including fees, taxes and any costs necessary to provide the service.
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Updated resume and relevant professional references.
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If applicable, samples of similar previously developed products.
INTERNATIONAL PLAN | VENEZUELA
Terms of Reference · Independent product-based consulting
10. Fees, payments and expenses
The fees will be established in the contract and will be paid in monthly installments, upon delivery and written approval of the consolidated monthly product, upon presentation of the corresponding tax documentation.
One (1) payment will be made for each month of consulting once the corresponding monthly product is approved. Last month’s payment will include approval of the final consolidated report and organized delivery of all products and files.
Each payment will correspond to the approved monthly product, not to attendance periods, days or hours worked. The specific deliverables of the schedule must be incorporated as annexes or components of the corresponding monthly product.
Essential travel expenses must have prior written authorization from Plan International and will be managed in accordance with the contract.
The consulting person will be responsible for their tax, administrative and social security obligations as an independent contractor, in accordance with applicable regulations.
eleven. Safeguarding, conduct and confidentiality
The consultant must comply with Plan International’s policies and codes of conduct applicable to third parties, including safeguarding, PEAS, fraud prevention, data protection and information security.
All information obtained during the consultancy will be confidential and may only be used for the fulfillment of the contracted products.
Access to information for girls, boys, adolescents and families will be limited to what is strictly necessary, applying data minimization, consent, security and action without harm.
The products and materials will be delivered without personally identifiable data, unless expressly authorized and there is a legitimate basis for their processing.
12. Level of contact with girls, boys and adolescents
Consulting implies the level of contact indicated in the scope and in the initial sheet. All interactions must be carried out in accordance with Plan International’s safeguarding, equality, gender and inclusion policies, PEAS and reporting procedures.
13. Product ownership
The ownership, use and delivery of the developed products will be regulated in the contract. The consultant must declare any pre-existing or third-party material incorporated and ensure that it has the necessary authorizations.
14. Nature of the contractual relationship
The contract will be civil or commercial in nature, as determined by the applicable contract, and will correspond to an independent, results-oriented service. These ToRs do not by themselves create an employment relationship, position, position, working hours, exclusivity, reporting line, disciplinary power or right to labor benefits. The practical execution of the service must be consistent with this nature and with the signed contract.
INTERNATIONAL PLAN | VENEZUELA
Terms of Reference · Independent product-based consulting
15. Indicative criteria for evaluating proposals Indicative weighting criterion
Experience and technical knowledge
40%
Quality and relevance of the technical proposal
35%
Coherence of the work plan and availability
15%
Economic proposal
10%
How to apply
Proposals must be sent to [email protected] until September 20, 2026 at 5:00 pm Venezuela time, indicating in the subject: “Consulting in SMAPS and Protection of Children in Emergencies – Venezuela”.
