Terms of Reference (TOR) For Curriculum Development (Specialized Leadership Curricula)

Terms of Reference (TOR)

Title: Curriculum Development (Specialized Leadership Curricula)
Duty Station: Kismayo, Somalia (with possible remote engagement)
Duration: 3 months
Type Consulting: firm/experienced indivitual
Reporting to: Executive Director of National Leadership Academy (NLA) with a technical alignment to the Senior curriculum Advisor of NLA.

A. Background

The National Leadership Academy (NLA) is a semi-autonomous national institute mandated
to develop a new generation of Somali leaders equipped with the skills, values, and
competencies needed to advance national development and uphold high standards of public
service. It was established to promote a peaceful, united, and prosperous Somalia, NLA
promotes homegrown leadership solutions, and is headquartered in the coastal city of Kismayo,
southern Somalia.

NLA seeks to address persistent gaps in leadership and governance, strengthen national
capacity, promote ethical and accountable leadership, and foster inclusive participation across
government, civil society, and the private sector.
In a country still recovering from decades of conflict, Somalia continues to face deep and

complex governance challenges, including weak strategic planning, inconsistent decision-
making, limited institutional capacity and the underrepresentation of women, youth, persons

with disabilities, and marginalized groups in leadership and decision making roles. These
challenges continue to weaken institutional performance and constrain the country’s ability to
deliver effective, accountable, and citizen-centered governance.

In response to these challenges, NLA is designed to provide structured leadership
development pathways for entry-level, mid-career, and executive leaders. Through these
programs the academy seekls to enhance strategic thinking, promote ethical and accountable
leadership, and build the competencies required to navigate Somalia’s evolving governance

Educational Qualifications and REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:
The National Leadership Academy (NLA) seeks a consulting firm whose experts collectively form a team with competencies in leadership development, curriculum design, research, and gender equality. The required qualifications collectively cover a broad spectrum of competencies; therefore, consulting team is expected to meet these requirements jointly as a team, rather than individually.
• PhD/master’s degree in social science studies or relevant fields from a repute university with proven experience in:
• Curriculum Design & Leadership Training Experience: Proven experience (minimum 7 years) in curriculum design, leadership training, or institutional capacity development, including executive and professional education programs.
• Competency-Based Training Design: Experience in designing competency-based training programs for diverse target groups and leadership pathways (e.g., emerging leaders, mid-career professionals, senior executives).
• Training Needs Assessment (TNA) & Curriculum Development: Experience conducting training needs assessments and translating findings into structured, evidence-based curriculum frameworks.

• Research & Methodological Expertise: In-depth knowledge and practical application of research methodologies and approaches relevant to leadership development and institutional reform.
• Public Sector & Government Experience: Proven track record of working with public sector institutions, government agencies, or national capacity-building programs.
• Fragile and Developing Country Context Experience: Experience delivering assignments in developing countries, preferably in fragile or post-conflict environments.
• Experience integrating gender-responsive leadership competencies into curriculum design is an added advantage.
• Digital Education

Core Skills

The consulting firm and its core team must demonstrate the following skills to ensure high- quality curriculum development and delivery:

• Analytical and Research Skills: Strong ability to conduct research, analyze data, and synthesize complex information into practical, competency-based curriculum content and actionable recommendations.
• Ability to integrate gender analysis and inclusive governance considerations into curriculum content.
• Curriculum Design and Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to develop clear, structured curriculum documents, training materials, facilitator guides, and high-quality technical reports.
• Ability to design gender-responsive and inclusive training materials.
• Quality Delivery and Time Management: Proven ability to work under tight deadlines, manage multiple deliverables, and produce high-quality outputs in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

Language Requirements
• English (Mandatory): Fluency in English is required, with excellent drafting, reporting, and curriculum development writing skills.
• Somali (Desirable): Working knowledge of written and spoken Somali is an asset and will support effective contextualization, stakeholder engagement, and localization of training materials.

Interested consulting firms are required to submit the following for their proposed curriculum development team:
1. Updated CVs/Resumes of the core team, clearly highlighting relevant qualifications and experience.
2. A Technical Proposal outlining:
• Understanding of the assignment
• Proposed methodology and approach
• Work plan and timeline
3. Financial Proposal indicating the total cost of the consultancy
Application Deadline: 25th June 2026
Submission email: [email protected]