Context:
Bahar Organization is implementing a 12 months’ project aiming to support dialogue and social cohesion in NW of Syria. The project is funded by DRL through IREX and Bahar is the implementing partner. The project contributes to the efforts of addressing the local causes of conflict in NW Syria and seeks to create “safe spaces” for the local groups to discuss their concerns openly and enhance mutual understanding while resolving some of the outstanding disputes.
The project consists of four activities as follows:
· Prepare and apply conflict analysis to understand the drivers of conflict and associated groups, their dynamics of interaction and sources for consensus building.
· Form community representative committees to strengthen collective identity and create in-group cohesion.
· Provide capacity building programme to community representative committees and support them in becoming CBOs.
· Create a conflict resolution network to solve conflicts, to collect information, design social initiatives and coordinate local efforts for reducing tensions.
Information on the analysis to be conducted:
For informing the programming of the project, as a first step, Bahar will conduct a conflict analysis at local level (district), although some aspects might be related to the national level also. The analysis is foreseen to be conducted at the beginning of the project (the first three months), but considering the situation from Syria and the new developments of COVID-19, some elements of the research might be delayed.
The purpose of the analysis will be to understand the context in which Bahar is operating, understand the interaction between the proposed intervention and the context and act upon the understanding of this interaction, in order to avoid negative impacts and maximise positive impacts. The analysis will incorporate a gender based dimension, seeking to include women in the peacebuilding process as guardians of peace talks and conflict resolutions taken.
The results of the analysis results and recommendations will be embedded in the programming of the intervention in terms of activities to be developed and presented to stakeholders.
key analysis themes to be addressed
· the context profile (socio-economic and political information, emergent issues, history of conflict, specific conflict prone/affected areas);
· the causes of the current local conflict (structural, proximate and triggers);
· actors engaged in the conflict (interests, goals, positions, capacities/potential, relationships);
· conflict dynamics (Understanding conflict dynamics will help identify windows of opportunity, in particular through the use of scenario building, which aims to assess different possible developments and think through appropriate responses);
· indicators of conflict’s future trajectory;
· potential sources for consensus building (which actions could convene parties to work together, the so called connecter and dividers).
Additionally, a peace resource mapping exercise will be conducted as an annex to the analysis.
In this context, Bahar is seeking to engage with a consultant for a limited period of time, on contractual basis, to conduct this analysis. The consultant will be supported by two research field staff that can collect relevant information and provide field updates for the consultant.
Responsibilities of the consultant
The Research consultant will be responsible for preparing the methodology, approach and reports associated to the analysis conducted.
1- Plan Research methodology
The Research consultant will design the research methodology for data collection and the approach of synthetizing the data. This includes estimating the amount of time it will take to complete research and creating a basic action plan for collection of the necessary data. Also, in this stage the main stakeholders to be identified and interviewed.
2- Develop analysis tools
Lies in the responsibility of the consultant to develop the tools for data collection. The consultant is encouraged to use already recognised tools for conducting the analysis such as conflict wheel, need fears mapping, multi-causal role model , Inmedio’s conflict perspective analysis or USAID conflict assessment framework. The consultant will deliver a training session for the two research field staff to explain the tools and the data collection process.
3- monitor data collection
The Research consultant along with the HQ MEAL Officer from Bahar will closely work to monitor the data collection process in the field. Based on the agreed tools, the methods of data collection will consist of focus groups discussions or key informant interviews, or any other methodologies that might bring relevant results. In addition, the Research consultant is responsible to collect information from other secondary sources in order to prepare a comprehensive report.
4- Interpret and Analys qualitative data
The Research consultant will interpret and analyze the data received from the field. The data will be contextualized to the respond to the analysis key themes.
5- Write Research Reports
The Research consultant will write the conflict analysis report with peace resource mapping as an annex highlighting and summarizing essential information found through the data analysis. It will also make recommendation regarding the Programme and interventions that should be supported.
6- Present Research
The Research Consultant will present the findings verbally to summarize essential information learned through data collection and analysis. The presentation will take place during a joint meeting between Bahar and IREX.
Deliverables:
• 2 Tools for conflict analysis and peace resource mapping in English and Arabic.
• 1 Report on the conflict analysis conducted
• 1 Annex on the peace resources mapping
Other considerations:
The assignment is to be conducted ideally during April –May 2020, but due to COVID-19 and security situation, might be extended to June also.
The Consultant must be able to access NWS area. It is preferable that she/he is part of the local community and has access to project implementation locations. The exact location of the project will be revealed during the interview.
Working language: English for the reports; to process information, the Consultant must be proficient user of Arabic.
The Consultant will be paid on milestone basis. All milestones will be agreed in the contract, but will include the development of tools, data collection, final report .
Research Consultant Skills and Qualifications:
Relevant bachelor and master’s studies i.e political science, peacebuilding. etc.
English and Arabic Proficiency.
Experience in the Syrian Humanitarians and conflict context, particularly NW;
Previous experience performing peacebuilding researches or conflict assessment exercises, or similar assignments.
The research consultant should have the following skills:
· Strong Research skills
· Analytical thinking
· Team management
· Microsoft Office Proficiency
This vacancy is archived.