Consultant/Facilitator, Workshop on Identifying Signs of Radicalization for Religious and Community Leaders at Mercy Corps

Locations: Damaturu, Yobe & Maiduguri, Borno
Proposed Start date: 6 August 2018
Workshop date: 27 August 2018
Reports directly to: Manager Conflict Management Programs
Works closely with: Mercy Corps, Conflict Management Team

Consultancy Summary

• We seek a highly motivated individual/team who believes deeply in Mercy Corps’ organizational mission and who can display a record of results and achievements, providing programs with technical guidance and support in preventing violent extremism, preferably in the local context of Northern Nigeria.
• The identifying signs of radicalization workshop is about preventing and stopping young people from being drawn into extremism activities.
• This workshop is intended to provide religious and community leaders with information about early warning signs or concerns relating to this and build understanding of how young people can become radicalized and be vulnerable to extreme views and actions which could lead to acts of violent extremism.
• Current realities require a range of stakeholders to be aware of the signs of extremism and radicalization. This workshop will provide religious and community leaders with the tools to be able to identify early warning signs or concerns relating to this.
• Through the workshop the religious and community leaders working with young people will become aware of changes and signs that might indicate the early stages of vulnerability to extremism. Extremism in itself is not illegal but local leaders need to be aware of potential signs that may be part of a pathway to terrorism.
• The participants at the workshop will learn and apply the skills to recognize signs, and to know what action to take in response to concerns.
• The Consultant/team will be responsible for the production and adaptation of all training materials that will be used for the identifying signs of radicalization workshop in close consultation with Mercy Corps conflict management program staff and representatives of religious institutions.
• The consultant(s) will serve as the lead trainer at the workshop and will be supported by representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam.
• He/she will provide technical support in the form of step-by-step guidance for subsequent follow-up coaching and monitoring sessions with parents from their communities, which will be led by religious and community leaders from the trainings.

Consultancy Outcomes
From the workshop the participants should:

• Gain an understanding of the Mercy Corps Nigeria NE CMS and TARE programs’ agenda and be able to identify their individual and collective roles within it
• Recognize signs that a Young Person may be vulnerable to radicalization
• Receive a clear picture of the risks and threats both nationally and at a local level
• Develop knowledge and confidence to discuss grievances
• Gain a raised awareness of the key issues and how these can be tackled by all stakeholders
• Increase communities’ capacity to prevent violent extremism.

Basic Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Strong interpersonal, communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of sub-groups.
• Ability to develop strategies for effective communication. Must reflect on previous experience
• Vast knowledge of a variety of P/CVE concepts, practices, and procedures.
• Ability to address diverse groups and individual interests; provide feedback and listen displayed through multiple facilitation exercises carried out
• Ability to identify problems and work quickly to develop possible options and solutions.
• Ability to make independent judgement, critically assess ever-changing situational conflict dynamics and make the necessary referrals where required.
• Rely on extensive experience and judgement to plan and accomplish goals.
• S/He must have facilitated same or similar trainings multiple times within the past 2 years
• S/He must be fluent in Hausa and Kanuri.

Deliverables:

• Conduct a review of background literature on MMC and Jere Local Government Areas in Borno State, to identify specific training needs, requirements and expectations of the participants to attend the workshop.
• Develop training materials with close support from CAN and JNI and carefully adapt them to suit specific community needs. ALL training materials developed will subsequently become the property of Mercy Corps.
• Provide a selection criteria and a support guideline for parents, for a cohort of religious and community leaders, who will attend the workshop.
• She/he will be the lead trainer for the workshop for the religious and community leaders. In addition, she/he will give specific coaching tips to support parents in their local communities.
• The consultant will adopt an effective facilitation approach that creates an inclusive and learning environment for the participants at the workshop.
• Participates in the development of cross-learning opportunities and makes recommendations for procedural improvements.
• All within the contractual periodic, she/he will provide regular remote technical support to the participants, to clarify any approaches, procedures, and practices.