Call for Application: Engagement of Consultant for Assessment of Peace Architecture Platforms in Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa States

Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is seeking a consultant to conduct an assessment of existing Peace Architecture Platforms in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States for a project which is titled “A Community-Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta”.

1. Context 

In the oil-rich Niger Delta, oil bunkering (also known as crude oil theft), and the related practice of artisanal oil refining, have reached crisis levels, contributing to a 32-year low in Nigerian crude oil production in September 2022. The Niger Delta region, encompassing states like Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta, grapples with a myriad of conflicts that have created a volatile state with dire consequences. These conflicts, ranging from resource-based disputes and environmental degradation to ethnic tensions and political marginalization, collectively contribute to heightened tension. Historical struggles over the ownership and distribution of natural resources, particularly oil, have given rise to armed groups advocating for a return to normalcy, resulting in environmental degradation and widespread socio-economic challenges. Additionally, ethnic diversity, historical tensions, political marginalization, youth unemployment, and inadequate security measures further fuel the unrest, leading to the loss of lives and the destruction of properties. Despite these challenges, the Niger Delta region exhibits resilience, with the presence of peace structures suggesting the potential for stability. These structures serve as vital mechanisms for promoting and sustaining peace amid turbulent circumstances.  

Furthermore, this underscores the importance of establishing robust peace structures, alongside comprehensive early warning and early response mechanisms at all levels in the region, aimed at minimizing the impact of conflicts.

2. The Project

The project is titled “A Community-Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta” and will be implemented by Search for Common Ground (Search), in consortium with Academic Associates Peace Works (AAPW), Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), and Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN). This project, which is funded by the EU will be implemented for 18 months with the overall goal of fostering inclusive community security approaches to address the systemic drivers of violence and criminality in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers States. This project offers a holistic, community-centered approach to addressing core drivers of criminality, violence, and conflict in the Niger Delta region, with a specific focus on the empowerment and inclusion of youth in the security of their respective communities in the Niger Delta.

Specific Objectives (SO) and Expected Results (ER): 

SO1: To empower diverse community actors to address social exclusion, lack of economic opportunity, and environmental degradation 

ER1.1: Local community actors, including youth, are better equipped to jointly address social exclusion, lack of economic opportunity, and environmental degradation

ER1.2: Youth and adult leaders increasingly collaborate to explore and address drivers of division, criminality, and conflict in their communities 

SO2: To strengthen collaboration amongst communities, security actors, and the private sector around preventing and responding to the triggers and core drivers of violence and criminality  

ER2.1: There is greater collaboration between communities and security and government actors around early warning and response to key security issues 

ER2.2: The private sector better collaborates with and responds to the needs of local communities 

SO3: To foster online and offline social cohesion within and between communities in Bayelsa, Delta, and River s 

ER3.1: Target communities have increased positive interactions across dividing lines

ER3.2: Target online audiences have increased access to positive content that fosters social cohesion 

SO4: To foster multi-level dialogue between communities, civil society actors, and government officials in Nigeria and abroad that informs innovative policy development around preventing criminality and violence in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers 

ER4.1: There are enhanced networks and opportunities for actors at all levels to formulate policies that respond to the underlying drivers of violence in the Niger Delta.

3. Theory of Change 

IF communities, especially excluded groups such as women and youth, have the confidence and opportunities to develop relationships and build trust with other communities, government, and security actors; and IF communities, government officials, and private companies have the skills, platforms, and resources to jointly take action against the core drivers of violence and division, and IF there are opportunities for stakeholders at every level of society to jointly explore and develop a new set of inclusive, community-centered policies around preventing violence and criminality, THEN the appeal of criminal and/or violent enterprises like oil bunkering will be significantly reduced, BECAUSE greater opportunities for constructive, multi-stakeholder action-oriented collaboration that responds to communities’ needs will reduce the perceived need for and value of illicit enterprises.

4. Purpose of Consultancy:  

The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of Peace Architecture Platforms existing at the State, LGA, and Community levels in the Project target areas. The assessment is a crucial component of the project titled "A Community-Centred Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta," which aims to “address the core drivers of criminality, violence, and conflict in the region.” with “support the establishment and remobilization of Peace Architecture Platforms for the Project at State, LGA and Community levels. The assessment will be carried out across 3 states, 32 LGAs, and 64 Communities. The project, funded by the European Union, emphasizes a holistic, community-centered approach with a specific focus on empowering and including youth in the security of their respective communities.

The aim of the assessment are multi-faceted and include identifying existing peace architecture platforms at state, LGA and Community levels existing peace architecture at the state, LGA, and community level. This involves conducting a thorough review of existing literature and reports on community dynamics in the target states. The assessment will extend to field visits covering 64 communities across 32 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States. Through engagement with key stakeholders, community members, leaders, and existing groups, the consultant will gather the information that will inform the project’s deliverables of establishing/remobilizing 3 state-level, 32 LGA level, and 64 community-level Peace Architecture which will inform the project’s deliverables of establishing/remobilizing 3 state level, 32 LGAs, and 64 communities.

5. Objectives of the Assessment:  The objectives of the assessment are as follows: 

1.  Identify existing Peace Architecture Platforms at the State, LGA, and Community levels. Provide an overview of the composition of each platform identified in terms of its leadership and membership structure.

2.  Provide an analysis of the thematic focus of each identified platform along with its funders and support mechanism.

3.  Provide an analysis of the extent of functionality of the platforms and how Search and its consortium partners can leverage its project to strengthen the platforms.

4.  Provide recommendations for engagement of the platforms by Search and its consortium partners in terms of remobilization or establishment of completely new platforms.

5.  Provide an overview of the composition of each platform identified in terms of its leadership, structures, and dynamics

Deliverables - The consultants will be expected to deliver the following:

• Submission of inception report and data collection tools 
• Submission of draft assessment report covering existing peace platforms in the target 3 states, 32 LGAs for each of the 64 communities, the composition of the platforms, the extent of functionality, thematic area of focus, and recommendations for engagement 
• A Comprehensive assessment report covering existing peace platforms in the target 3 states, 32 LGAs 64 communities, the composition of the platforms, the extent of functionality, thematic area of focus, and recommendations for engagement.
• A detailed mapping of the peace platforms, contacts of focal points, and recommendations for engagement
• Submission of final assessment report covering existing peace platforms in the target 3 states, 32 LGAs for each of the 64 communities, the composition of the platforms, the extent of functionality, thematic area of focus, and recommendations for engagement

Scope of Work - The scope of work includes, but is not limited to:

•  Review of existing literature and reports on peace platforms in the 3 states, 32 LGAs, and 64 communities.
• Field visits in 3 states, 32 LGAs, and 64 communities featuring data collection with relevant stakeholders.
• Engagement with key stakeholders, community members, leaders, and existing groups to gather relevant information.
• Analysis of social, economic, and political factors influencing peace dynamics in the communities. 
• Facilitation of stakeholder meetings in 32 LGAs to discuss the establishment of Peace Architecture Platforms.

Geographic Locations - This assessment will be conducted within the following scope:

• Bayelsa State: (7 LGAs): Southern Ijaw, Brass, Ogbia, Ekeremor, Sagbama, Nembe and  Yenegoa 
• Delta State (12 LGAs): Burutu, Udu, Ethiope East, Warri North, Bomadi, Warri Southwest,  Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Isoko North, Uvwie, Warri South, Sapele 
• Rivers State (13 LGAs): Andoni, Emohua, Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Gokana, Khana,  Ogba/Egbemar/Ndomi, Eleme, Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru, Ahoada west, Ahoada east, Okirika 

Duration

• The consultancy is expected to be completed within 30 days effective from the commencement date.

Logistics

• The consultant(s) will be responsible for organizing their own logistics for data collection (vehicles, fuel, and drivers), and this must be budgeted into the study. In addition, Search will share the following elements with the external consultant: background materials including the project proposal

Budget

• A detailed budget should be provided, including daily rates for personnel, and costs related to data collection (per total number of people sampled, sites for collection, etc.), analysis, and production of deliverables. This budget should include all planned costs for the study as no additional costs will be borne by Search

Qualifications - The following skills and experience are expected by Search for this assessment

• Proficiency in English and local languages (written and spoken); 
• More than 7 years of experience in conducting conflict assessment, and project evaluation, including collecting data in interviews, surveys, and focus groups;
• Experience in conflict analysis and working with religious, human rights activists, and civil society sectors; 
• Experience working with international organizations; 
• Experience conducting quantitative surveys and analysis; 
• Evaluation methods and data collection skills; 
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills 
• Familiarity and experience with contextual challenges in the geographic location(s) where the study will take place. 

Evaluation Criteria - Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevant experience and expertise of the consultants. 
• Methodology and approach to conducting the assessment. 
• Cost-effectiveness of the proposed budget. 
• Quality of proposed methods, conflict sensitivity approaches, and quality control measures. 
• Qualifications of the candidate(s). 

career portal

1.  Curriculum vitae and one example of a past assessment and evaluation/baseline conducted;

2.  A technical proposal proposing a methodology for the assessment together with a financial proposal for the completion of the deliverables mentioned above and a short cover letter. 

Applications must be submitted on or before 31st December, 2023,

 

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Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please. Please see our website for full details of our work.  All Search Employees must adhere to the values: Collaboration- Audacity - Tenacity - Empathy - Results. In accordance with these values, Search enforces compliance with the Code of Conduct and related policies on Anti Workplace Harassment, Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Conflict of Interest, and Anti-fraud. Search is committed to safeguarding the interests, rights, and well-being of children, youth, and vulnerable adults with whom it is in contact and to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for children, youth, and vulnerable adults.   Search for Common Ground does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.  View our code of conduct here  here .

Les descriptifs de pouvant ne pouvant être exhaustifs, le titulaire du poste pourra être amené à entreprendre d'autres tâches qui correspondent globalement aux responsabilités clés ci-dessus.

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Seuls les candidats invités à un entretien seront contactés. Pas d'appels téléphoniques s'il vous plaît. Veuillez consulter notre site Web pour tous les détails de notre mission.

Tous les employés de Search doivent adhérer aux valeurs de Search : Collaboration- Audace - Ténacité - Empathie - Résultats. Conformément à ces valeurs, Search fait respecter le code de conduite et les politiques connexes sur la lutte contre le harcèlement au travail, la protection contre l'exploitation et les abus, la protection des enfants, les conflits d'intérêts et la lutte contre la fraude. Search s'engage à préserver les intérêts, les droits et le bien-être des enfants, des jeunes et des adultes vulnérables avec lesquels elle est en contact et à mener ses programmes et ses opérations d'une manière qui soit sûre pour les enfants, les jeunes et les adultes vulnérables.

Search for Common Ground ne fait pas et ne doit pas faire de discrimination fondée sur la race, la couleur, la religion (croyance), le sexe, l'expression de genre, l'âge, l'origine nationale (ascendance), le handicap, l'état matrimonial, l'orientation sexuelle ou le statut militaire, dans aucune de ses activités ou opérations.

Consultez notre code de conduite ici et notre politique de confidentialité ici.

Dado que la descripción de funciones no puede ser exhaustiva, el titular del puesto puede tener que realizar otras tareas que coinciden en líneas generales con las responsabilidades clave mencionadas.

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Sólo se contactará con los candidatos invitados a una entrevista. Se agradece no recibir llamadas telefónicas. Consulte nuestro sitio web para conocer todos los detalles de nuestro trabajo. Todos los empleados de Search deben adherirse a los valores de la organización: Colaboración - Audacia - Tenacidad - Empatía - Resultados. De acuerdo con estos valores, Search hace cumplir el Código de Conducta y las políticas relacionadas con luchar contra el acoso en el lugar de trabajo, la protección contra la explotación y el abuso, la protección de la infancia, los conflictos de intereses y la lucha contra el fraude. Search se compromete a salvaguardar los intereses, derechos y bienestar de los niños, jóvenes y adultos vulnerables con los que está en contacto y a llevar a cabo sus programas y operaciones de una manera que sea segura para los niños, jóvenes y adultos vulnerables.  Search for Common Ground no discrimina ni discriminará por motivos de raza, color, religión (credo), género, expresión de género, edad, origen nacional (ascendencia), discapacidad, estado civil, orientación sexual o condición militar, en ninguna de sus actividades u operaciones. Consulte nuestro código de conducta aquí y nuestra política de privacidad aquí .