Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Research Consultant at Mercy Corps

Background

• Mercy Corps has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on humanitarian assistance, economic development, and conflict mitigation With the ongoing insurgency in Northeast Nigeria causing the displacement of millions, Mercy Corps started its humanitarian response in 2014 to address the rising humanitarian needs
• As the crisis persisted, Mercy Corps’ strategy expanded to address the root causes of the conflict and to build long-term community resilience with integrated programs focusing on governance, livelihoods, social cohesion and social protection, youth empowerment, and local conflict management.

Program / Objectives:

• The Northeast Conflict Management and Stabilization (NE-CMS) Program is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) to reduce violence and insecurity in Borno State
• The program started in August 2016 and is set to continue until July 2021
• It is currently being implemented by a consortium of national and international partners, including the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), and Okapi Consulting, with Mercy Corps as the lead.

The NE-CMS program seeks to improve peace and resilience among communities in the face of drivers of conflict and violence in Borno State. As such, the program envisions the following underlying results:

• Citizens are more civically engaged, and civilian government and security forces are more transparent and inclusive in addressing community needs around service delivery and protection
• Communities and citizen security forces have improved capacities to protect civilians in conflict
• Communities demonstrate improved trust and social cohesion within and between actors at the local level
• Local decision-making spaces and peacebuilding processes are equitable and inclusive of marginalized social groups, especially youth and women

Consultant Objectives:

• With the ongoing formal and informal reintegration of individuals associated with armed opposition groups (AOGs) into communities across Borno State, the Nigerian government and international actors are increasingly investing in ‘demobilization rehabilitation reintegration and reconciliation’ (DRRR) mechanisms and approaches, such as Operational Safe Corridor and radio messaging programs to promote returns
• Nonetheless, these programs have largely failed to consider local community perspectives and tend to prioritize de-radicalization and rehabilitation, while sidelining important processes around transitional justice and reconciliation
• As such, Mercy Corps is conducting research to assess community expectations associated with transitional justice practices
• The findings will inform overall policy advocacy at the state and national levels on issues of transitional justice and are likely to serve as a roadmap for future programming on peacebuilding and reconciliation by the NE-CMS consortium partners or other actors.

Specifically Mercy Corps expects this consultancy to:

• Assess community perceptions of existing government and NGO-sponsored DRRR and justice mechanisms for individuals associated with AOGs, and those associated with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and other civilian security groups
• Understand how communities expect existing and planned DRRR and justice mechanisms will affect their communities
• Understand community attitudes towards different retributive and restorative justice approaches, and how they would like them to be implemented in their communities
• Assess community perceptions on the preconditions for reconciliation with individuals associated with AOGs
• Identify prospects for addressing trauma alongside DRRR and justice mechanisms, and what additional approaches (including radio programming) may need to be integrated to ensure that both social cohesion and psychosocial health are nurtured in the long-term.

Consultant Activities
The Consultant will:

• Consult with the NE-CMS team to clarify objectives, scope, and methodologies
• Conduct a desk study of existing research on prospects for transitional justice and reconciliation in Borno
• Develop relevant qualitative data collection tools and approaches aimed at promoting the established objectives
• Conduct fieldwork to collect data, including visits to the LGAs
• Report on findings and analysis, including a briefing presentation to Mercy Corps staff and consortium partners

Deliverables

• Kickoff Report (6th Jan)
• Summary Report of Desk Study (10th Jan)
• Final Assessment Methodology, including Data Collection Tools and Work Plan (14th Jan)
• Field Work (31st Jan)
• Preliminary Analysis Presentation (5th Feb)
• Draft Report (14th Feb)
• Final Report, approximately 30 pages, plus annexes (21st Feb)

Total Level of Effort:

• Estimated 32 days.

Required Experience & Skills
The ideal Consultant will have the following experience and skills:

• Advanced Degree in Development, Social Sciences or other related fields
• 5-10 years of experience conducting social research, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa or other developing country contexts
• Demonstrated skills in applied research and qualitative research methods
• Extensive experience working for international non-governmental organizations
• Extensive experience working in and conducting research in conflict contexts
• Deep knowledge of transitional justice and DDR literature and practices
• Experience working in rural areas in Nigeria, particularly in the northeast
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently without close supervision, but also cooperatively with team members
• Demonstrated ability to explain research findings, both visually and in writing
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Good organizational skills and ability to work under time constraints
• Fluency in written and spoken English; proficiency in Hausa or Kanuri strongly preferred

The Consultant will report to:

• Program Manager, NE-CMS

The Consultant will work closely with:

• NE-CMS Consortium Partners.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and Cover Letter indicating the following below to: mdg-procurement@mercycorps.org using the Job Title as the subject of the email.

• Technical Proposal
• Statement of Technical Expertise, including descriptions of 3 similar past projects (no more than 2 pages total)
• Proposed Methodology, including recommended assessment tools and methods
• Proposed Work Plan
• CVs for Key Personnel
• Cost Proposal, detailing daily consultant fees and other required costs.