Summary

WFD Maldives invites individual licensed therapists/counsellors and/or mental health service providers to submit technical and financial proposals to:  

1. provide guidance and assist WFD Maldives contextualise the design of the women-only reflection spaces on violence against women in politics (VAWP),
2. assist WFD Maldives facilitate 7 women-only sessions with political parties with an emphasis on creating a safe environment, providing mental health assistance when required, and  
3. provide aftercare tips and assistance to the session participants if required.

Overview  

Westminster Foundation for Democracy (“WFD”) is the UK public body dedicated to supporting democracy around the world. Operating internationally, WFD works with parliaments, political parties, and civil society groups as well as on elections to help make political systems fairer, more inclusive and more accountable.

We are a problem-solving, practitioner-led organisation that offers:  

• Specialist analysis, research, and advice to inform policy makers on a range of democratic governance issues;
• High quality and impactful programmes that directly support the full spectrum of institutions in political systems to develop inclusive political processes, more accountable political systems, protection of rights and freedoms, and more pluralistic societies; and  
• International elections observation on behalf of the UK.  

Aim of this Request for Quotes

WFD is issuing this Request for Quotes (“RFQ”) to a range of potential suppliers of goods and/or services and would welcome a proposal or quote from you/your organisation.

We seek a Maldives-based licensed therapist/counsellor or a mental health services provider to work closely with the WFD Maldives team and international experts to:  

• Provide guidance and assistance in designing a series of safe, women-only spaces that surface lived experiences of violence against women in politics (VAWP).
• Assist WFD Maldives team facilitate secen sessions with women from political parties with an emphasis on creating a safe environment to share experiences, and provide trauma-informed care when required to participants.  
• Provide a way for participants to access support after the sessions, with availability capped at a maximum of seven hours in total across the engagement. 

Quote Submission  

All proposals or quotes should be submitted by 11:00 AM on 15 September 2025 in writing and include:  

• The supplier’s name, status, company number, and registered office address  
• An overview of the supplier’s relevant experience, expertise, capability and capacity (CV or portfolio)
• A transparent quotation of the charge for the good(s) or service(s), in currency of the suppliers bank account, to include: a clear breakdown of all costs; any proposed discount applied for WFD as a not-for-profit organisation; and a separate identification of any VAT charges (and/or any other applicable tax, excise or other charges).  
• We expect proposals to fall within the range of USD 1600 to 1800.  

The proposal or quote should be sent electronically and addressed to: Ismail Humaam Hamid at ismail.humaam@wfd.org and cc-ed to Aryj Hussain at aryj.hussain@wfd.org   

The same email addresses should be used for any questions related to this RFQ.  

WFD’s standard terms and conditions for tendering and key policies are found at Policies | Westminster Foundation for Democracy (wfd.org) and you can find a copy of WFD’s Code of Conduct at Code of Conduct | Westminster Foundation for Democracy (wfd.org). 

Detailed Specification

Objective

This activity contributes directly to Outcome 1 of WFD’s “Commitments to Action on Safe and Inclusive Politics” programme (01 July 2025 – 01 July 2026), which seeks to ensure that political parties embed accountability mechanisms and systemic review processes to address exclusion and harm—specifically VAWP —within their norms, structures, and practices. For this activity, the therapist/counsellor will:  

1. assist WFD Maldives and other workshop facilitators design and create safe, women-only reflection spaces that reveal how VAWP is experienced and reproduced institutionally, and
2. provide mental health assistance and care for participants as required during and following the seven women-only sessions.  

This work builds on a key milestone achieved in 2024, when seven of the country’s nine registered political parties endorsed a Cross-Party Statement (CPS) on women’s political participation. Facilitated by WFD, the CPS marked a shared commitment to addressing VAWP as a significant barrier to inclusive politics in the Maldives.

Scope of work

Working alongside the WFD Maldives team and international experts, the therapist/counsellor will assist design and refine a facilitation methodology, rooted in storytelling, structured analysis, and trauma-sensitive practice, to convene Storytelling Circles with women politicians in Malé. These women-only sessions would be designed to surface lived experience, interrogate exclusionary norms, and map systemic risk factors related to VAWP.  

Next, the therapist/counsellor will provide mental health assistance and care to session participants over seven sessions. The therapist/counsellor will also be expected to provide information on strategies for participants on mental health self-care, especially after sharing of what could be potentially traumatic experiences for participants. Finally, the therapist/counsellor will be expected will be briefly available for session participants to provide aftercare mental health support, if required.  

Deliverables

Key outputs include:  

1. Feedback and input to WFD Maldives team and experts on trauma-informed facilitation methodologies.  
2. Facilitation of a brief session on mental wellbeing, trauma and aftercare during each of the seven sessions.  
3. Being an active presence in all seven sessions and being available to address mental health needs for workshop participants.  
4. Being available following each of the seven sessions to provide additional support and aftercare for participants, as required, with total availability not exceeding seven hours across the engagement.  

Key events:

1. Storytelling circles (women-only spaces) – (one for each CPS signatory political party, seven in total with 10-20 female participants each)

Timeline

The expected start date of the assignment is late September and ending in early October.

Reporting

The Expert is expected to report to the WFD Maldives team after each deliverable and on a regular basis as agreed upon.    

Working arrangements

The Expert will work remotely and closely with the WFD Maldives Country Director, Aryj Hussain.    

Payments

• Any advance payment upon signing shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the contract’s total value.
• Please note that logistical costs for venue hire for workshops and stakeholder consultations shall be borne by WFD and shall not be included in the financial proposal.
• The fixed contract value shall cover all elements of the engagement including aftercare support, which is capped as stated. No additional fees may be claimed for aftercare or other services beyond the agreed scope. Any such additional services will require prior written approval.
• Full breakdown of time and cost estimates for the proposed solution in the currency of the Expert’s preferred accounts payable account, including any daily rate to be applied.  
• Separate accounting of VAT and/or any other applicable tax, duty, or charge.    
• Detailing of any discount applied in view of WFD’s not-for-profit status.    

Minimum experience and expertise

Applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications:  

• Professional experience: 
  • Licensed mental health professional with at least five (5) years of experience in the Maldives in mental health services.  
• Technical knowledge: Proven understanding of:  
  • Trauma informed safeguarding principles and practices – especially in relation to gender-based violence.  
  • Minimum bachelor's degree qualification in Mental Health services or related field.
  • Possess license to deliver mental health services in the Maldives.
  • Strong proficiency in both spoken English and Dhivehi language.  
• Desirable assets: 
  • Awareness of political party context and obstacles to women’s political participation in Maldives.