Research Consultant

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Research Consultant

Introduction

Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is a global civilian protection agency (NGO) based in humanitarian and international human rights law. NP’s Mission is to protect civilians in violent conflicts through unarmed strategies, build peace side by side with local communities, and advocate for the wider adoption of these approaches to safeguard human lives and dignity.

NP in partnership with United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is implementing a research project entitled: Community Engagement in Atrocity Prevention.

The research will focus on the extent to which community early warning mechanisms in the Mindanao region of the Philippines are sufficient to identify and alert communities to the risk of

mass atrocities. The research will consider the pathways of information that flow through the early warning systems, how that information is communicated through community networks, and the roles of different stakeholders in the early warning process.

Objectives

The research project will answer the following research questions:

1. What are the challenges and opportunities for community-based mechanisms to prevent atrocities to make people safer?
2. Are community early warning mechanisms sufficient for identifying and alerting communities to the risks of mass atrocities?

This research will focus on a community-based organization based in Mindanao known for its early warning, early response (EWER) mechanism aimed at mobilizing its civilian peacekeeping monitors to detect timely signs of conflict escalation (early warning) to initiate preventive measures (early response/action) for the safety and protection of communities.

Scope of Work

The research will use a case study approach to study the pathways of information that flow through community-based organization’s early warning system, how that information is communicated through community networks, and the roles of different stakeholders.

The research builds on previous research conducted by NP Philippines that delved into the inclusion of official civilian monitoring teams in peace agreements and its contribution in maintaining and sustaining peace. This will also look into studying the wider patterns and networks that mean an early warning system works to prevent atrocities, or that works to alert communities on risks so they can take action to make themselves safer.

The research will use a feminist and participatory research approach to gather stories and data from those with direct experience. This data will be compiled, analyzed, and presented through a report that will include a component of recommendations for improving community engagement.

The research consultant will:

1. Develop a detailed research methodology to provide USIP with a comprehensive overview of how information will be collected, coded, analyzed, and presented, as well as the sequencing of project activities.
2. Conduct community workshops to learn about how communities gather, analyze, and share information when threats are present and how this process affects communities’ ability to respond. Community workshops will be co-designed with the identified community-based organization.
3. Conduct community mapping and networking exercises to understand how communities communicate to gain an understanding of how different community protection and alert systems work together.
4. Organize interviews with key stakeholders to understand their role in the early warning mechanisms and to assess the effectiveness of the mechanisms.
5. Collect documentation to place findings in the context of the ways in which communities respond to different types of threats, and in particular to the threats of atrocities.
6. Collect, anonymize, and code the data to draw out key themes. The analysis will be carried out in collaboration with the investigators overseeing the project. The themes identified through the analysis will be shared with the communities who participated in the workshops for their reactions and contributions.
7. Produce a final report to present the findings revealed through data collection and analysis. USIP will review the report, provide comments, and ask clarifying questions on the draft report one time before it is finalized. The report will be considered final after USIP’s questions and comments are reflected in the document.
8. Produce a booklet of findings that may be shared with the communities to promote their awareness of the findings of the research.

Deliverables and Payment

The assignment will run for 8 months. The research consultant will be paid on a monthly basis.

Skills and Experience

The Consultant, must have the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in research or similar field
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of research methodologies and processes.
• Proven track record in technical writing and producing knowledge products;
• Skilled experience developing and administering quantitative and qualitative research protocols
• With relevant working experience in BARMM.
• Attention to detail and exceptional written, verbal and communication skills
• Proven ability to manage highly confidential and sensitive information through a protection lens.

Requirements to be submitted

• Technical Proposal
• Consultant profile including 1 document of past achievement
• Current CV of the consultant
• Cover Letter

HOW TO APPLY

• Candidates meeting the above requirements are requested to submit the above-mentioned requirements.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• The closing date for applications is Saturday, 30 October 2021 
• As part of the recruitment process, shortlisted candidates may be asked to complete a written assignment and if successful, participate in an interview process.

SPECIAL NOTICE

Nonviolent Peaceforce is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff at all levels. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. However, all qualified applicants regardless of their gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, or age, will be considered for this opportunity.

Nonviolent Peaceforce acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of employees, contractors, volunteers, interns, beneficiaries and other stakeholders and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice in the Humanitarian and Development sector.

NO FEE  

PLEASE BEWARE OF FRAUDULENT JOB OFFERS. NONVIOLENT PEACEFORCE DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE OR ASK FOR FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (INCLUDING APPLICATION, INTERVIEW, MEETING, TRAVELING, PROCESSING TRAINING, ETC). NONVIOLENT PEACEFORCE WILL NOT REQUEST INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.