Consultants at Search for Common Ground (SFCG)

About the Project

• The overall objective for the “Deepening Peace in the Niger Delta” project is to support an inclusive, multi-level dialogue process to peacefully address governance and resource issues driving conflict in the Niger Delta.
• The 8 month project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, is being implemented in Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states, Nigeria. It is supported by three objectives and five expected outcomes:

Objective 1
Strengthen linkages between citizens and local authorities in the Niger Delta to respond to drivers of violence in the region.

Expected outcomes of activities under this objective are:

• People of the Niger Delta, including militants and ex-militants, feel that cooperation between them and local authorities is strengthened;
• Platforms for collaborative response to underlying conflict issues by communities, government, and security are established in eight LGAs.

Objective 2
Amplify the voices of key stakeholders, particularly women, youth and marginalized groups to contribute to discussions around regional conflict issues and promote peace in the Niger Delta region.

Expected outcomes of activities under this objective are:

• Journalists and civil society organizations increase their capacity to report on elections and manage rumors;
• Increase in the number of voices of women, youth and marginalized groups contributing to discussions on regional conflict issues in the Niger Delta; and
• Increase in public awareness and support for peace in the Niger Delta.

Collectively, the activities support the project's objectives and outcomes and contribute to a more inclusive, grassroots-informed dialogue process aimed at addressing conflict issues and vulnerabilities to violence. Search believes that this will support a community-owned peace architecture that will contribute to long-term peace and stabilization in the region beyond the lifespan of the project.

The project builds on the peace architecture laid during Search’s previous work in the Niger Delta in eight LGAs across three states in the South-South geopolitical zone: Rivers State (Okrika, Gokana, and Port Harcourt LGAs), Bayelsa State (Southern Ijaw and Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA), and Delta State (Warri North, Warri South West, Isoko South LGA).

The community members, along with their local government officials, security sector actors, and civil society organizations in the region will be the target groups of the project. Media outlets and journalists will also be targeted for project activities as their role in election coverage and rumor management is a vital part of mitigating potential drivers of violence. Within these groups, women and youth will be especially targeted for engagement.

Purpose of Survey

• As part of programming under Objective 2 of the project: To amplify the voices of key stakeholders, particularly women, youth and marginalized groups to contribute to discussions around regional conflict issues and promote peace in the Niger Delta region, Search will produce and broadcast a weekly talk show.
• Using Search’s proven “Radio for Peacebuilding” tools and methodology, the show will bring different stakeholders together for a solutions-oriented dialogue and raise the voice of community led change agents, including women, youth, and other marginalized groups.
• In particular issues brought up in the pre-election period that are seen to be driving conflict will be addressed through public campaigns for non-violence to promote peace in each of the target LGAs.

The objectives of the survey are to determine:

• The reach and preferred radio station of listeners in different locations in Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states
• The listening habits of the audience in Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states including prime times and days of radio listenership, preferred format and length for radio programmes, and preferred language for radio programmes, among different demographics and in different locations in the states
• The preferred methods of publicity of the radio program, and feedback mechanisms among different demographics and in different locations in Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states
• The perceptions and attitudes regarding governance and resource issues driving conflict in the Niger Delta
• Relevant themes relative to the goal and objectives of the project which could be included in the radio programmes

Findings from this listenership survey will be used to inform programme planning and implementation, shared widely with project participants and partners, and presented during SFCG Nigeria programs. The listenership survey report – with sensitive details redacted – will eventually be published on SFCG’s website and shared with other learning networks in order to enhance the broader field of peace-building in Nigeria and the world.

Methodology

• The listenership survey will adopt a mixed approach methodology, comprising of both qualitative and quantitative methods. The listenership survey will primarily utilize a community-based survey; however for triangulation and in-depth understanding of the findings of the survey, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews will also be utilized.
• In order to gather data that allow for commensurability across SFCG’s research on radio programming, the questionnaire for the survey will be developed by the candidate and/ or team in collaboration with SFCG’s staff. The inception and final reports will also be developed by the consultant and/or team with SFCG’s input. The tools will be administered in the identified communities and the data analyzed by the candidate and/or team chosen to perform this research.
• The listenership survey will target community residents in the locations where the project is being implemented, as well as other prime locations in Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states, as listed above and as logistically feasible.

Deliverables
The listenership survey deliverables are:

• An inception report detailing the proposed method, study matrix, and work plan. It is to be approved by SFCG before starting data collection;
• Research tools (developed by the candidate and/or team with the input of SFCG) and are to be approved by SFCG before starting data collection;
• Draft report for review by SFCG staff and other stakeholders;
• Final Report (maximum 30 pages, excluding appendices), consisting of but not excluded to: Executive Summary, Methodology, Findings and Analysis, Conclusions, Lessons Learned and Recommendations. The report should be structured according to the evaluation questions;
• All data collected for this research including audios and transcripts for all interviews, and quantitative data entered in a template;
• A 3-pages summary with key findings and recommendations;
• Appendices, including data collection tools and list of interviewees;
• A power point presentation of the report.

Requirements
The ideal candidate and/ or team will have the following: 

Education

• Graduate degree in Conflict Studies, Social Work, Communications or other relevant degree;

Required Experience:

• 5 years or more of experience in evaluations and surveys with international organizations;
• Experience in evaluating programs relating to social behavior change communication, peacebuilding, conflict resolution and governance; 
• Experience with mixed methods; Experience with qualitative research and analysis 

Other Relevant Requirements:

• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent written communication and report writing skills in English
• Prior work experience in North East Nigeria 
• Ability to communicate fluently in Hausa and Kanuri
• Ability to be Gender Sensitive and flexible with time and work schedule

Logistical Support:

• SFCG will provide the following logistical support to the consultant;
• Transmission of background materials (project proposal, meeting notes, etc.);
• Availability of meeting rooms in Abuja and Warri, as required.

Timeframe:

• The listenership survey will take place between Mid-December, 2018 and January, 2019, with the final deliverables due Mid- February, 2019.

Budget:

• The budget earmarked for this assessment, inclusive of all costs is one million, five hundred thousand naira (N1, 500, 000) only.
• 5% withholding tax will be deducted at source from the total cost of the consultancy fee for a firm.
• 60% of the consultancy fee will be paid when the contract is signed, and the balance paid on final satisfactory performance.

The consultant is required to respect the following Ethical Principles:

• Comprehensive and systematic inquiry: Consultant should make the most of the existing information and full range of stakeholders available at the time of the review. Consultant should conduct systematic, data-based inquiries.
• He or she should communicate his or her methods and approaches accurately and in sufficient detail to allow others to understand, interpret and critique his or her work. He or she should make clear the limitations of the review and its results.
• Competence: Consultant should possess the abilities and skills and experience appropriate to undertake the tasks proposed and should practice within the limits of his or her professional training and competence.
• Honesty and integrity: Consultant should be transparent with the contractor/constituent about: any conflict of interest, any change made in the negotiated project plan and the reasons why those changes were made, any risk that certain procedures or activities produce misleading review information.
• Respect for people: Consultant respect the security, dignity and self-worth of respondents, program participants. Consultant has the responsibility to be sensitive to and respect differences amongst participants in culture, religion, gender, disability, age and ethnicity.

go to method of application »

About the Project

• The overall objective for the “Deepening Peace in the Niger Delta” project is to support an inclusive, multi-level dialogue process to peacefully address governance and resource issues driving conflict in the Niger Delta.
• The 8 month project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, is being implemented in Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states, Nigeria. It is supported by three objectives and five expected outcomes:

Objective 1
Strengthen linkages between citizens and local authorities in the Niger Delta to respond to drivers of violence in the region.

Expected outcomes of activities under this objective are:

• People of the Niger Delta, including militants and ex-militants, feel that cooperation between them and local authorities is strengthened;
• Platforms for collaborative response to underlying conflict issues by communities, government, and security are established in eight LGAs.

Objective 2
Amplify the voices of key stakeholders, particularly women, youth and marginalized groups to contribute to discussions around regional conflict issues and promote peace in the Niger Delta region.

Expected outcomes of activities under this objective are:

• Journalists and civil society organizations increase their capacity to report on elections and manage rumors;
• Increase in the number of voices of women, youth and marginalized groups contributing to discussions on regional conflict issues in the Niger Delta; and
• Increase in public awareness and support for peace in the Niger Delta.

Collectively, the activities support the project's objectives and outcomes and contribute to a more inclusive, grassroots-informed dialogue process aimed at addressing conflict issues and vulnerabilities to violence. Search believes that this will support a community-owned peace architecture that will contribute to long-term peace and stabilization in the region beyond the lifespan of the project.

The project builds on the peace architecture laid during Search’s previous work in the Niger Delta in eight LGAs across three states in the South-South geopolitical zone: Rivers State (Okrika, Gokana, and Port Harcourt LGAs), Bayelsa State (Southern Ijaw and Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA), and Delta State (Warri North, Warri South West, Isoko South LGA).

The community members, along with their local government officials, security sector actors, and civil society organizations in the region will be the target groups of the project. Media outlets and journalists will also be targeted for project activities as their role in election coverage and rumor management is a vital part of mitigating potential drivers of violence. Within these groups, women and youth will be especially targeted for engagement.

Purpose of Assessment

• As part of startup processes for the project, an initial conflict assessment is planned to determine current conflict dynamics in the target LGAs, LPCs' level of functionality, and opportunities for synergy and collaboration with other initiatives in the region.

The objectives of the assessment are to:

• Determine current context and conflict dynamics in the target LGAs including types of conflict, conflict dynamics and key driving factors for conflict and peace;
• To identify opportunities for peace, capacities for responding to conflict, spaces for dialogue between community leaders and government stakeholders, and provide recommendations on Conflict Sensitivity strategies for programming;
• Identify gender and youth dynamics of the conflict and potential female and youth participation strategies that ensure women and youth are fully represented and substantively engaged on the project, while upholding the principles of Do No Harm;
• Map and assess the capacity of Local Project Committees (LPCs) and Information Resource Centers (IRCs), and of local organizations, including those that previously worked with Search, and their relationship with communities, and to identify capable potential partners for future programming in the region;
• Identify opportunities to link community local initiatives to Nigerian government initiatives in the Niger Delta aimed at fostering regional dialogue and ensuring peaceful elections;
• Identify points of collaboration and opportunities to foster synergies with other projects and local initiatives in the area to avoid duplication and ensure complementarity.

Findings from this assessment will be used to inform programme planning and implementation, shared widely with project participants and partners, and presented during SFCG Nigeria programs. The assessment report -with sensitive details redacted - will eventually be published on SFCG’s website and shared with other learning networks in order to enhance the broader field of peace-building in Nigeria and the world.

Methodology

• The proposed methodology is to be clearly stated in the technical offer, detailing why the methodology is preferred and its relevance to the region and purpose of the assessment. In addition, the technical offer should include how the methodology will be implemented, who the target respondents will be and why, how data collection and data quality assurance will be carried out, as well as how data analysis will be done.
• Tools for the assessment will be developed by the candidate and/ or team in collaboration with SFCG’s staff. The inception and final reports will also be developed by the consultant and/or team with SFCG’s input. The tools will be administered in the identified communities and the data analyzed by the candidate and/or team chosen to perform this research.
• The assessment will target community residents in the locations where the project is being implemented, as well as other prime locations in Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states, as listed above and as logistically feasible.

Deliverables
The conflict assessment deliverables are:

• An inception report detailing the proposed method, study matrix, and work plan. It is to be approved by SFCG before starting data collection;
• Research tools (developed by the candidate and/or team with the input of SFCG) and are to be approved by SFCG before starting data collection;
• Draft report for review by SFCG staff and other stakeholders;
• Final Report (maximum 30 pages, excluding appendices), consisting of, but not exclusive to: Executive Summary, Methodology, Findings and Analysis, Conclusions, Lessons Learned and Recommendations. The report should be structured according to the evaluation questions;
• All data collected for this research including audios and transcripts for all interviews, and quantitative data entered in a template, based on the methodology used;
• A 3-pages summary with key findings and recommendations;
• Appendices, including data collection tools and list of interviewees;
• A power point presentation of the report.

Job Requirements

Education:
The ideal candidate and/ or team will have the following:  

• Graduate degree in Conflict Studies, Social Work, Communications or other relevant degree;

Required Experience:

• 5 years or more of experience in evaluations and surveys with international organizations;
• Experience in evaluating programs relating to social behavior change communication, peacebuilding, conflict resolution and governance;  
• Experience with mixed methods; Experience with qualitative research and analysis 

Other Relevant Requirements:

• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent written communication and report writing skills in English
• Prior work experience in North East Nigeria  
• Ability to communicate fluently in Hausa and Kanuri
• Ability to be Gender Sensitive and flexible with time and work schedule

Logistical Support:

• SFCG will provide the following logistical support to the consultant;
• Transmission of background materials (project proposal, meeting notes, etc.);
• Availability of meeting rooms in Abuja and Warri, as required.

Timeframe:

• The listenership survey will take place between Mid-December, 2018 and January, 2019, with the final deliverables due Mid- February, 2019.

Budget:

• The budget earmarked for this assessment, inclusive of all costs is one million, seven hundred thousand naira (N1, 700, 000) only.
• 5% withholding tax will be deducted at source from the total cost of the consultancy fee for a firm.
• 60% of the consultancy fee will be paid when the contract is signed, and the balance paid on final satisfactory performance.

 The consultant is required to respect the following Ethical Principles:

• Comprehensive and systematic inquiry: Consultant should make the most of the existing information and full range of stakeholders available at the time of the review.
• Consultant should conduct systematic, data-based inquiries.
• He or she should communicate his or her methods and approaches accurately and in sufficient detail to allow others to understand, interpret and critique his or her work.
• He or she should make clear the limitations of the review and its results.
• Competence: Consultant should possess the abilities and skills and experience appropriate to undertake the tasks proposed and should practice within the limits of his or her professional training and competence.
• Honesty and integrity: Consultant should be transparent with the contractor/constituent about: any conflict of interest, any change made in the negotiated project plan and the reasons why those changes were made, any risk that certain procedures or activities produce misleading review information.
• Respect for people: Consultant respect the security, dignity and self-worth of respondents, program participants. Consultant has the responsibility to be sensitive to and respect differences amongst participants in culture, religion, gender, disability, age and ethnicity.