Consultant at Mercy Corps

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Employment Type: Contract

Project Description

• North-East Nigeria’s Conflict Management and Stabilization (NE-CMS) III programme is funded by Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by four (4) international partners led by Mercy Corps and includes Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), and Okapi Consulting.
• The local organizations Herwa Community Development Initiative, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), and Women in New Nigeria (WINN) are sub-awardees on the Mercy Corps component. Currently, in its third phase, the program builds on the foundation and success of NECMS I and II phases that concluded in March 2017 and March 2019 respectively.
• Phase III runs from 1st August 2019 to 31st May 2021 and is implemented in thirty-one (31) communities and five Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camps in Damboa, Dikwa, MMC, Jere, Gwoza, Konduga LGAs of Borno State. The program aims at improving 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

The consortium aims to achieve these outcomes through a range of activities: engaging government and security forces in capacity building and mentorship, while supporting traditional leaders and communities to conduct advocacy and accountability activities; engaging non-state security forces and communities in dialogue, and self-protection initiatives; encouraging dialogue and psychological trauma healing among diverse stakeholders to generate trusting relationships, nurture reconciliation, and mitigate potential future crises; and establishing parallel safe spaces for women and youth to ensure that they can effectively contribute to peacebuilding.

Purpose

• The purpose of the consultancy is to investigate the effectiveness of previous and ongoing conflict management efforts and structures, and to identify new opportunities to support these.
• Through a participatory research approach and working closely with local and international partners the consultancy will help partners to understand the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of the collective NECMS peace-building approach in Borno state.
• The survey will provide programme and policy recommendations for engagement with key stakeholders, as well as comparative lessons for other conflict management efforts.

The Illustrative evaluation questions that will be considered as cornerstone for this assessment are:

• How relevant, effective, efficient, and sustainable were the different processes, strategies and approaches adopted in the implementation of the project?
  • Relevance will look at the planning, design, implementation and coherence of the programme related to the four outcomes. The endline evaluation will make suggestions and outline the strategies that lead to the improvement of the programme design to achieve the results.
  • Efficiency will look at how the programme is converting inputs in a co-effect manner and with best quality across its outcomes.
  • Effectiveness will examine factors contributing to achievement of the results in time. All lessons learnt at this stage of the programme would be identified by the endline Evaluation.
    • How effective were the adaptations made as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic? Were they more effective for specific population groups (youth, men, women, religious leaders and security actors)?
    • How can the teams further adapt to ensure safe and dignified continuation of programmatic implementation and high level of program quality during these unique circumstances?
  • Sustainability will look at the aspects of the programme which is contributing to the continuation of the results of the programme after its completion.
  • How have the activities impacted the social cohesion of the community, the peaceful environment and wellbeing of project participants?
• What were special inclusive considerations implemented for gender specific activities and community based stakeholders was incorporated throughout the project?
• Examine how women, youth, religious leaders, traditional leaders and security actors are included, consulted, and incorporated in the program at all stages. All lessons learnt at this stage of the programme would be identified by the endline evaluation.
• What is the level of satisfaction of the stakeholders including partners, participants / beneficiaries, and others? Were stakeholders able to provide feedback with ease?

It is expected that the above questions will be adjusted in collaboration with the consultant/service provider.

Key Responsibilities
Scope of consultancy:

• Collaborative design of a mixed method evaluation approach to include a desk review of programme reports as well as research reports, adoption of qualitative and quantitative techniques (surveys, interviews, workshops, etc) to collect primary data across programme sites, analyse and interpret findings using innovative data storytelling techniques and an evaluation report.

Key Tasks:

• Review programme reports, evaluation surveys conducted on NECMS (I, II, and III) and researches conducted.
• Inception report detailing approach, methodology, and specifics of data collection and analysis to be shared with the consortium partners
• Inception workshop for collaborative review of the inception report by the consortium partners.
• Develop tools for the evaluation including adopting and refining the NECMS baseline tools as necessary.
• Fieldwork for data collection and collaboration, including engagement with partners, local communities, and relevant NECMS stakeholders
• Compile and analyse field survey information and data in a clear manner and format
• Submit a final report including relevant programming recommendations.
• Facilitate final endline report dissemination workshop

Methodology:

• Methodology will be discussed and agreed with the program team comprising members of the consortium at the beginning of the consultancy. The consultant’s first task will be to prepare an inception report detailing the approach and methodology sensitive to COVID-19 circumstances, including questionnaires, list of interviewees and field data collection work plan. The consultant will use different data collecting methods such as desk review, direct observation, survey, in-depth interviews with key informants and focus group discussions with potential programme beneficiaries in target locations.
• The methodology must include a key role for project implementing partners in the conduct of the research while respecting government regulations in response to COVID-19 and the generation of the analysis. Gender inclusion and participation of marginalized groups will be emphasized. Care will be taken to ensure that the different stakeholders are free to express their views without interference or concerns of reprisals.

Key Deliverables / Outputs:

• Inception Report
• Inception Workshop; updated and final inception report submitted after incorporating key action points from workshop.
• Data collection Tools for Endline Evaluation
• Detailed Field Itinerary to include mitigation plans for possible risks such as COVID-19
• Complete data collection
• Raw and clean data set from survey including audio files and transcripts
• Completed informed consent forms from participants for pictures and audio files as applicable
• Analysis framework for qualitative and quantitative analysis as applicable
• Evaluation Report
• Dissemination Workshop

***Consultant may also recommend additional outputs and deliverables

NECMS Responsibilities
Mercy Corps as the consortium lead will be the contracting authority for the survey. The arrangements and logistical support for the fieldwork will be facilitated by NECMS consortium and its local partners. The NECMS Consortium will therefore be responsible for:

• Covering the costs of and arranging for the consultant’s travel and accommodation to and in the field.
• Provide ongoing security advice and support as necessary for travel to field sites.
• Facilitate engagement with key stakeholders.
• Provide all necessary project documents.

Reporting Arrangements:

• The consultant will report to the Consortium Manager while working very closely with the Consortium Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Advisor.

Duration of Assignment:

• 30 Days.

Expected Profile of Consultant

• Excellent understanding of conflict thematic issues around, good governance, community dialogues, alternative narrative messaging and Media (social media and radio) in peacebuilding as well Civilian and Military protection issues.
• Strong and proven participatory research skills and experience
• Strong understanding of the context in north-eastern Nigeria, especially Borno state
• Willingness and ability to travel to NECMS field locations
• Good communication skills, including report writing in English

Terms and Condition

• The consultant must abide by all of FCDO (NECMS Consortium) standard procedures, including the Code of Conduct and confidentiality policies. All data and information collected, and any reports, as well as the methodology of the Conflict Assessment will be the property of NECMS Consortium (FCDO).