TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR) for Translation, Cultural Adaptation and Audio Recording of the WHO Self-Help Plus (SH+) Manual and Audio-Recorded Stress Management Course into Somali (Somaliland Context)

assignment.

2. Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of this assignment is to produce a linguistically accurate, culturally appropriate, and field-tested Somali-language version of the SH+ programme materials (written and audio), suitable for use by community-based facilitators and beneficiaries across Somaliland.

Specific objectives:

1.  Translate the SH+ Facilitator Manual, Participant Workbook/Illustrated Guide, pre/post assessment tools, and related job aids from English into Somali.

2.  Culturally adapt language, examples, illustrations references, idioms and metaphors so that content resonates with the lived realities of communities in Somaliland, while preserving the fidelity of the original therapeutic content and core techniques (e.g., grounding, unhooking from difficult thoughts, acting on values, being kind).

3.  Conduct back-translation and quality assurance review to confirm conceptual and semantic equivalence with the original English version.

4.  Record high-quality Somali-language audio versions of the five SH+ audio exercises (and any introductory/orientation audio), using professional voice talent appropriate to the target audience.

5.  Deliver final, print-ready and broadcast-ready Somali versions of all materials, together with a glossary of key terms and a report documenting the translation and adaptation process.

Required Qualifications and Expertise

The assignment may be undertaken by an individual consultant team or an institution/agency, and the combined team should demonstrate the following:

Translation Team

•     Native or near-native fluency in both Somali and English, with demonstrated professional translation experience, ideally in health, psychosocial, or social science content

•     Familiarity with Somali dialects and registers relevant to Somaliland, and ability to produce text accessible to low-literacy audiences

•     Prior experience with back-translation and WHO or similar translation/adaptation protocols is an advantage

Mental Health / MHPSS Expertise

•     At least one team member with a background in psychology, psychiatry, social work, or MHPSS programming, ideally with familiarity with SH+ or other WHO low-intensity psychological interventions (e.g., Problem Management Plus)

•     Understanding of local help-seeking behaviours, stigma around mental health, and appropriate, non-stigmatizing terminology in Somali

Audio Production

•     Access to professional or semi-professional audio recording and editing equipment/software

•     Experience selecting and directing voice talent for educational or therapeutic audio content

Other Requirements

•     Proven track record of working with communities in Somaliland, including IDP and host community populations

•     Strong project management and timely delivery record

Application Process

Interested individual consultants or agencies should submit the following by 18 September to [email protected] :

a)  A technical proposal (max 5 pages) describing the proposed methodology, team composition and CVs, and indicative timeline

b)  A financial proposal disaggregated by milestone, in USD

c)  Sample of previous translation work (English Somali), ideally in the health or social sciences sector

d)  At least two references from previous clients for similar assignments

12. Annexes (to be attached by the requesting organization)

•     Annex A: English-language SH+ Facilitator Manual and Workbook and SH+ audio exercise scripts (English): https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240035119