ThaiNGO

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Consultancy for Psychosocial Support (PSS) Partners Mapping

Emergency Response – Thailand–Cambodia Cross-Border Context

Duration:        10 -12 weeks
Location:        Thailand–Cambodia Cross-Border provinces (with coordination with Plan International Thailand team)
Start Date:     March
End Date:       June

1. About Plan International

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child. However, poverty, violence, exclusion, and discrimination often suppress this potential especially for girls.

Together with children, young people, supporters, and partners, we strive for a just world by tackling the root causes of the challenges faced by girls and vulnerable children. We support children from birth to adulthood, helping them prepare for and respond to crises. We influence policy and practice at local, national, and global levels and build strong partnerships to drive long-term change.

Plan International has worked for over 85 years and is active in more than 80 countries. We are committed to a world where we are all equal.

2. Background

The escalation of border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia has resulted in displacement of civilians across affected border provinces. Children, adolescents, and caregivers face heightened psychosocial distress due to exposure to violence, disruption of education, and unstable living conditions.

Multiple actors including NGOs, community-based organizations, and government agencies are providing psychosocial support services. However, limited visibility of service coverage, technical capacity, and referral mechanisms may reduce coordination effectiveness and lead to service gaps or duplication.

Plan International Thailand seeks to commission an external consultant to conduct a structured PSS Partners Mapping to strengthen coordination, improve referral systems, and generate evidence to support future emergency response proposals.

3. Purpose and Objectives

Purpose

To conduct a rapid technical and coordination focused mapping of psychosocial support actors in Thailand – Cambodia cross-border emergency context, and to generate proposal ready evidence and recommendation to strengthen emergency preparedness and referral system.

Objectives

1)  Identify and map key actors delivering PSS and related humanitarian services.

2)  Analyse technical capacity, geographic coverage, and coordination mechanisms.

3)  Identify service gaps, overlaps, and referral bottlenecks.

4)  Develop a partner mapping matrix and strategic recommendations to inform future emergency response programming and funding proposals.

4. Scope of Work

The consultant will undertake the following components:

4.1  Desk review

• Humanitarian situation reports
• Government coordination documents
• NGO/INGO programming reports
• Existing referral and protection frameworks

4.2  Key Informant Interviews (15 - 25 KIIs) Key stakeholders may include:

• INGO and NGOs
• CSOs and CBOs
• CR/CP and MHPSS actors
• Emergency response coordinators

4.3  Psychosocial Service (PSS) Partner Mapping

• Type of PSS services provided
• Target population groups
• Human resource and technical expertise
• Emergency response experience
• Geographic coverage (province/district level)
• Referral systems and safeguarding mechanisms

4.4  GAP and Coordination Analysis

• Identify underserved areas and population groups
• Map formal and informal referral pathways
• Assess coordination bottlenecks

4.5  Validation and Strategic Consultation Workshop

The consultant will design and facilitate one full-day Validation and Strategic Consultation Workshop.

Workshop expected results:

• Validated partner mapping matrix
• Draft referral pathway visualization
• Prioritizes coordination strengthening key actions
• Proposal evidence summary

5. Deliverables

5.1  Inception report: Within two weeks of contract signing, the consultant will submit an inception note outlining the proposed methodology, analytical framework, stakeholder engagement approach, workplan, and data collection tools. The inception note should clearly describe how the mapping will assess service coverage, technical capacity, and coordination mechanisms, and how findings will be structured to inform future emergency response programming.

5.2  Draft Partner Mapping Matrix and Preliminary Findings: The draft should present an overview of key actors, service coverage patterns, coordination arrangements, and emerging gaps or overlaps. The structure and format of the matrix may be proposed by the consultant, provided it enables practical use for coordination and planning purposes.

5.3  Validation and Strategic Consultation Workshop Documentation: The consultant will facilitate one validation and strategic consultation workshop with relevant stakeholders. Following the workshop, the consultant will submit a brief documentation note summarizing validated findings, key coordination challenges, and priority actions identified by participants. The output should reflect practical and forward-looking recommendations to strengthen referral systems and emergency preparedness.

5.4  Final Report and Proposal Evidence Brief: The consultant will submit a final analytical report consolidating validated findings and recommendations.             In addition, a short evidence brief (2–3 pages) will be produced highlighting key service gaps, geographic coverage issues, coordination bottlenecks, and priority strengthening actions. The brief should be structured for use in future emergency response proposals and funding applications.

6. Expected Timeline and Key Activities

The consultancy is expected to be completed within 10 – 12 weeks from the contract start date. A tentative timeline is outlined below:

6. Sampling and Participants

The mapping will adopt a purposive and strategic stakeholder selection approach.

The consultant is expected to propose an appropriate sample size and distribution of key informants sufficient to:

• Capture representation across different actor types (INGOs, national NGOs, CBOs, government agencies)
• Reflect variation in geographic coverage
• Ensure inclusion of actors directly involved in psychosocial support and referral mechanisms

7. Ethical and Safeguarding Considerations

All data collection will adhere to child safeguarding policies, safeguarding risk assessment in MERL standards of Plan International, informed consent procedures, confidentiality requirements, and Do No Harm principles. Parental or guardian consent will be obtained for any child-related activities.

8. Qualifications

The ideal consultant will have:

• Advanced degree in relevant field
• Minimum 7 years humanitarian/MHPSS experience
• Proven experience in partner/service mapping
• Strong analytical and report writing skills
• Experience in cross-border or Thai humanitarian context preferred

10. Reporting and Supervision

The consultant will work under the technical supervision of Plan International Thailand and coordinate closely with project staff and partner organizations. Regular check-ins will be held to monitor progress and provide guidance.

11. Payment

Will be paid in three instalments, subject to satisfactory submission and approval of deliverables by Plan International Thailand, as follows:

• 30% upon approval of the inception deliverables, including the inception note, methodology, and data collection tools.
• 40% upon submission of Draft Mapping and completion of Validation Workshop.
• 30% upon approval of Final Report and all deliverables.

12. How to apply?

We invite interested consultants to submit the following application documents:

• Submit a proposal and a cover letter to Thailand.Procurement@plan-international.org  referencing “PSS Partners Mapping Emergency Response – Thailand–Cambodia Cross-Border Context” by March 17, 2026
• The proposal should include the following information:
  • CVs of team members with relevant qualifications and experience;
  • A brief proposal outlining your approach, availability:
  • Detailed budget for completing the assignment with team members’ daily professional fee rate;
  • 1–2 samples of similar work
  • A fixed price for the assignment;
• The selection of consultants will be done through proposal reviews and candidate interviews. Only the proposals with supportive information mentioned above will be reviewed.
• Interested candidates may request a virtual meeting with the Plan International Thailand technical team to acquire additional information prior to the proposal submission.
• For more information, please call Mr. Preedee Ittipong at Tel. 02 259 8284-5.
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.