Terms of Reference for Social Movement Mapping Consultant

Terms of Reference for Social Movement Mapping Consultant

ActionAid International Somaliland

Assignment Title

Social Movement Mapping Consultant

Location

Somaliland

Duration

15 Days

Reporting To

ActionAid Somaliland Programme Team

Type of Assignment

Consultancy

Languages Required

English and Somali

Location

Somaliland

Application Deadline

4th June 2026

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1. Background

ActionAid International Somaliland (AAIS) works to advance social justice, youth engagement, gender equality, climate justice, humanitarian action, and locally led development through partnerships, movement-building, and community-led approaches. Through the Strategic Partnership Agreement II (SPA II) and Global Platform (GP), AAIS has expanded its engagement of young people, youth hubs, activists, and community-based structures working on issues such as climate justice, peacebuilding, governance, humanitarian action, and civic participation across Somaliland.

Recognizing the growing role of social movements and informal collective organizing in influencing social change, AAIS seeks to better understand the landscape of existing social movements, grassroots initiatives, and informal organizing structures operating across Somaliland.

The Social Movement Mapping exercise aims to identify key movements, understand their priorities and organizing approaches, assess their strengths and challenges, and explore opportunities for collaboration and solidarity between AAIS and social movements.

The mapping exercise will contribute to the development of a contextualized Social Movements Engagement Framework for AAIS and strengthen future movement-building and youth engagement strategies.

2. Objective of the Assignment

The overall objective of this assignment is to engage a consultant to conduct a Social Movement Mapping exercise in Somaliland.

The assignment specifically aims to:

1. Identify and map existing social movements, youth collectives, activist networks, grassroots initiatives, and informal organizing spaces operating across Somaliland.
2. Assess the thematic focus areas, operational locations, and organizing approaches used by identified movements.
3. Examine the opportunities, challenges, and sustainability factors affecting social movements and grassroots organizing efforts.
4. Assess strengths, support needs, and capacity gaps related to organizing, mobilization, advocacy, leadership, and sustainability.
5. Explore opportunities for collaboration, solidarity, and engagement between AAIS and identified movements/collectives/networks.
6. Generate recommendations to inform AAIS’s future movement-building and social movement engagement approaches.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for undertaking the following tasks:

1. Conduct mapping and identification of social movements, youth movements, informal activist networks, grassroots initiatives, and community organizing structures across Somaliland.
2. Assess the organizing models and approaches used by identified movements, including leadership structures, membership approaches, mobilization tactics, communication channels, and decision-making processes.
3. Analyze the thematic focus areas of movements, including but not limited to:

      Youth engagement.

      Climate justice.

      Peace building.

      Governance and civic participation.

      Gender justice.

      Humanitarian action.

      Human rights and social justice.

1. Document the societal contribution and influence of identified movements in promoting social change, community engagement, advocacy, or collective action.
2. Assess the challenges, risks, and barriers affecting movement organizing, sustainability, safety, participation, and growth.
3. Identify movement support needs and opportunities for strengthening organizing capacity, collaboration, and solidarity.
4. Facilitate consultations and introductory engagement sessions between selected movement representatives and ActionAid focal persons where appropriate.
5. Produce a comprehensive mapping report with findings, analysis, and recommendations for ActionAid Somaliland.

4. Methodology

The consultant is expected to apply participatory and qualitative approaches throughout the assignment to ensure inclusive engagement and contextual understanding of social movements and grassroots organizing structures across Somaliland.

Suggested methodologies include:

• Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with movement leaders, activists, youth groups, civil society organizations, and relevant stakeholders.
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with selected movements and community actors.
• Stakeholder consultations and engagement meetings.
• Desk review and secondary data review.
• Movement ecosystem and stakeholder analysis.
• Observation and contextual analysis where applicable.

The consultant is expected to apply feminist, inclusive, conflict-sensitive, safeguarding, and do-no-harm approaches throughout the assignment process.

The mapping exercise should ensure representation of diverse movement types, thematic focus areas, and geographic locations where feasible, including youth-led initiatives, women-led movements, informal activist networks, grassroots organizing structures, and marginalized groups.

5. Expected Deliverables

The consultant shall deliver the following:

1.      Inception report outlining the methodology, workplan, and approach for the assignment.

2.      A comprehensive Social Movement Mapping Report including:

ü  Identified movements and profiles.

ü  Thematic focus areas.

ü  Geographic operational areas.

ü  Organizing structures and approaches.

ü  Opportunities and challenges.

ü  Capacity gaps and support needs.

ü  Recommendations for AAIS engagement.

3.      A movement database/contact list of identified movements and key focal persons (where consent is provided).

4.      Presentation/debrief session with AAIS team on key findings and recommendations.

Deliverables Timeline

Deliverable

Timeline

Inception Report

Within 2 working days after contract signing

Draft Mapping Report

Within 7 working days after submission of inception report

Final Mapping Report

Within 6 working days after feedback on draft mapping report

6. Duration of the Assignment

The assignment is expected to be conducted within 15 working days from the date of contract signing.

The consultant shall submit the final report within the agreed timeframe.

7. Reporting and Supervision

The consultant will work closely with the designated AAIS focal person and shall report directly to the Programme Team.

AAIS will provide necessary coordination support relevant to the assignment.

8. Ethical Considerations

The consultant shall ensure confidentiality, informed consent, and safe handling of sensitive information throughout the assignment.

The consultant is expected to apply conflict-sensitive, safeguarding, feminist, and do-no-harm approaches during engagement with movements and participants.

Consultant Qualifications and Experience

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

v  Degree in Social sciences or related field

v  Must be locally based in Somaliland and available to carry out the assignment within the agreed timeframe.

v  Demonstrated experience in social movement mapping, grassroots organizing, community mobilization, or movement-building work over the last 5 years.

v  Strong understanding of youth-led organizing, activism, and civic engagement in Somaliland or similar contexts.

v  Experience conducting qualitative research, stakeholder mapping, or ecosystem assessments.

v  Strong facilitation, communication, and report-writing skills.

v  Demonstrated understanding of feminist and inclusive approaches.

v  Fluency in Somali and English languages.

v  Experience working with marginalized groups and community-based structures is an added advantage.

10. Payment Terms

Payment shall be made based on successful completion and approval of agreed deliverables as follows:

• 25% upon signing the agreement
• 35% upon submission and approval of the inception report.
• 50% upon submission and approval of the final report.

Specific payment arrangements will be agreed upon between ActionAid Somaliland and the selected consultant before commencement of the assignment.

11. Ownership of Data and Information

All reports, data, materials, and information generated under this assignment shall remain the property of ActionAid International Somaliland. The consultant shall not share, reproduce, or distribute any information related to the assignment without prior authorization from ActionAid Somaliland.

Application Submission

Interested consultants are invited to submit:

1. Technical proposal outlining understanding of the assignment and methodology.
2. Financial proposal.
3. Updated CV/Profile.
4. Examples of previous similar assignments.

Applications should be submitted to: [email protected]

Deadline for submission: 04th June 2026