Current Recruitment at Search for Common Ground (Search), Sept., 2019

Search for Common Ground (Search) is an international non-profit organization that promotes the peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and Brussels, Belgium, Search’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict – away from destructive approaches towards cooperative solutions. With more than 600 staff worldwide, Search implements projects in more than 30 countries across the globe.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Social Cohesion Project Manager

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Duration: One year

Position Summary
A Social Cohesion Project Manager who is responsible for providing leadership, management, technical and operational guidance to the program teams at the field level. Specifically, s/he oversees the management of the project, its budgets and coordination between program support functions as well as with other different field teams and with local partners who work in the same geographical areas. The position holder will ensure best utilization of resources through implementation of efficient and effective program management and compliance systems and provision of timely support and guidance to project staff at the field level.

In addition, this position will be responsible for ensuring program quality and effective program management, including coherence of programming and implementation of Search’s program principles within the specific program locations; oversight of field operations; representation and liaison with local authorities, partners and communities at the field level.

The position requires an experienced conflict transformation, Peacebuilding or development expert, conversant with project management cycles and relevant experience working in conflict-affected communities.

S/he will work under the direct supervision of the Head of Office, North East and will work closely with the Country Director, DMEL Manager, Country Finance Manager, and other senior managers. S/he will also belong to the Lake Chad Inclusive Economic and Social Recover (RESILAC) Consortium team led by Action Against Hunger (AAH) in Nigeria, and within that structure s/he will report to the RESILAC National Project Coordinator and collaborate with other sector technical managers, leading other components of the project. The position holder will supervise Community Mobilizers, Conflict Analyst, and Psychosocial Support Specialist. This position is based in Maiduguri with frequent visits to selected working LGAs and communities in Borno.

About the Project

• Lake Chad Inclusive Economic and Social Recovery (RESILAC) is a 4-year project developed by Action Against Hunger (AAH) in consortium with CARE and Groupe URD. The project aims to contribute to the economic recovery and to the strengthening of the resilience and the social cohesion of the territories of the Lake Chad basin most impacted by the Lake Chad crisis and climate change
• The project targets four regions (i) Cameroon, the Far North, (ii) Niger, Diffa region, (iii) Chad, Lake region and (iv) Nigeria, Borno State. Search for Common Ground (Search) is an implementing partner to AAH in Nigeria to implement the project’s pillar #1 focused on strengthening human capital, social cohesion and collective and sustainable management of natural resources in selected LGAs in Borno state.

Roles and Responsibility
Program Quality Management:

• Ensure a conscious program approach in line with the “Common Ground” principles.
• Contribute creative ideas for program development
• Lead in the implementation of the RESILAC program pillar #1, providing sound methodological and technical support to ensure use of participatory methodologies, human rights and social cohesion and trauma healing programming approach.
• Promote a participatory approach in programming work and create space in the structure for staff participation and involvement in decision making;
• Oversee and coordinate the project resources to ensure the highest level of project quality and accountability, while fostering continuity through building capacity of local partners and developing innovative program interventions;
• Facilitate trainings, researches, and learning of cross-cutting relevance to the program.
• Ensure that participatory systems and processes for monitoring activities, results and impact assessment at program level are in place and involves the team and partners;
• Provide continuous monitoring and support to field staff, coordinate project reviews, evaluations, and follow up implementation of evaluation findings in close collaboration with the Design, Monitoring and Evaluation (DM&E) Coordinator, key project staff, and the Head of Office North East Nigeria.
• Participate in the follow-up and update of monitoring evaluation accountability and learning (MEAL) tools, put in place by the RESILAC MEAL Manager: indicators and dashboard updates, identification of “Research & Actions” and other evaluations part of RESILAC Pillar 4 transversal activities.
• Coordinate the production of timely and quality program reports in line with Search, Consortium and donor requirements;
• Verify and analyze work-plans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness.
• Ensure close monitoring of the political, social and security environment in project target area.
• Establishes an effective project team to implement the project’s activities, while benefiting from Search core team technical and administrative support.
• In consultation with RESILAC Technical Advisors, transfers project design into a comprehensive work plan outlining main and sub-activities and effectively delegate and manage tasks and coordinate with partners.
• Works with the project implementation staff and the RESILAC National Project Coordinator to build appropriate strategy for the rollout of the project.
• Develops regular and quarterly reports detailing progress in line with funder and Search guidelines and requirements in coordination with the RESILAC National Project Coordinator, Regional Coordination Technical Advisors and the Search Head of Office.
• Follows up and documents success stories and lessons learned and share them with the management on a regular basis.
• Establishes and manages partnerships both at the central and local level.
• Establishes good working relations with relevant stakeholders for the effective implementation of the project including government offices and officials at central, governorate, district and local level.

Coordination and Representation:

• Coordinate regularly with ACF and the RESILAC consortium for program strategy, synergy, coordination and effectiveness of program implementation and results.
• Participate inter-pillars meetings put in place within the RESILAC national unit.
• Develop and maintains proactive, positive, and professional relationships with partner organizations, other NGOS, donors, clients, and key government officials, local authorities, and civil society working on relevant issues to the project.
• Represent the Head of Office North East on various INGO, Government and stakeholder meetings or platforms whenever assigned to do so.
• Maintains regular written and oral reporting to the Head of Office on key country, project, security and staff issues.
• Oversees general project HR affairs in line with Search-Nigeria guidelines and in coordination with Search Country HR and the RESILAC HR Guidelines.

Team Management and Human Resources:

• Provide leadership and oversight to program staff and all partners charged with implementing the program.
• Manage an operational team to supervise project’s activities implementation in the target area in compliance with local laws and organizational policies and procedures, including the management and evaluation of a diverse staff.
• Ensures the implementation of project on-time and within budget.
• Ensures compliance with Search Operations Manual policies and procedures.
• Provide Coaching and Counseling advice to staff when necessary and lead initiatives to develop staff capacity.

Financial Planning, Management and Compliance:

• Oversees the management of project budgets, ensuring timely grant reporting and compliance with contract and donor guidelines in coordination with Head of Office- North East, Admin and Procurement Manager and the Country Finance Manager.
• Ensure effective implementation and compliance with the overall finance and guidance manual and compliance with procedures required by grant or contract agreements;
• Carry out monthly budget versus expenditures analysis, make budget projections and keep up with the targeted burn rates for the project.
• Ensure that adequate internal control mechanisms are in place for the specific project.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key duties.

Qualifications
Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related area required, while a Master’s Degree in Conflict Resolution, International Relations, or related field would be an added benefit;

Required Experience:

• At least 3-5 years of experience in managing Social Cohesion, Peacebuilding, conflict transformation, psychosocial support and human rights advocacy programs
• Previous experience in managing psychosocial programs with a special focus on addressing trauma in conflict settings
• Experience working in a diverse team and with community-based organizations.

Skills Required:

• Good knowledge of the country context and ability to network with both civil society and public sector
• Ability to review and analyze and interpret financial reports, budget versus actual, financial projections and procurement documentation;
• Good interpersonal and networking skills, as well as the ability to conduct professional working relationships;
• Analytical capacity, including ability to analyze and articulate peace, human security and conflict issues;
• Ability to work with people at all levels, ranging from high-level national officials to community leaders;
• Experience in setting performance objectives of teams and leading a team.
• Willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the human rights and peace-building fields;
• Good knowledge of North East, including the political, economic and social dimensions;
• Basic computer skills (Microsoft Office Suite) and other software
• Detail-oriented with ability to meet deadlines, both prescribed and self-imposed
• Willingness and desire to learn while demonstrating self-initiative
• Ability to adapt to new cultures and work in diverse environments

Added Advantage:

• Language Skills: (Native/Fluent/Basic)
• English Language (Fluent)
• Hausa (an added advantage)
• Kanuri  (an added advantage)
• Shuwa Arab (an added advantage).

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

 

Job Title: Project Coordinator

Location: Bayelsa
Duration: One year

Position Summary
Search for Common Ground, with support from the Department of States of the United States government is implementing the Election Violence Prevention Project to contribute to peaceful off-season gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa state. Towards a successful implementation, Search seeks experienced and highly motivated individuals to serve as Project Coordinator to support implementation of the project strategy in the state and contribute to realization of Search’s program mandate towards peaceful elections in Bayelsa state and the Niger Delta region.

The Project Coordinator will take the lead in project management roles in line with technical focus of the project in the state through delivery of technical activities such as training workshops- conflict transformation and election violence prevention and Common Ground Journalism Training. The candidate will specifically support mapping of participants; provide logistics support to facilitators of proposed workshops; implementation of action plans; oversee the implementation of CSO component and partnership activities; monitor and manage state level media activities as well as manage relevant budget and be responsible for technical reports including narrative and financial reporting.

Under the supervision of the Head of Office, the project coordinator will oversee other project staff and work in close coordination with regional programs and resources including Search for Common Ground’s Media team and sister projects in Bayelsa state and the Niger Delta region to effectively advocate for a peaceful electioneering process

About the Project
With prolonged history of election violence in the Niger Delta, concerns over conduct of peaceful elections in the region remain high every election season. In the build up towards the 2019 general elections, the region recorded huge fatalities in the states which were linked to elections, just as violence also affected smooth conduct of elections in parts of Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta.

In this light, the Bayelsa Election Violence Prevention Project seeks to mobilize stakeholders including Women And Youths (WAY Ambassadors) in a locally-led model comprising community led events, media activities and trainings, formation of Peace Architecture Dialogues, Community Security Architecture platforms etc; to promote wide acceptance of peaceful participation in the Bayelsa gubernatorial elections in November 2019.

The project capitalizes on its existing conflict prevention programming in Bayelsa State, to elevate women and youth as leaders of peace and security in their communities. They will be supported with the capacity, platforms, and key relationships to lead early warning and early response processes in collaboration with other stakeholders; facilitate peace and dialogue activities to sensitize communities for peaceful elections and to build community resilience to violence

Additionally, the project seeks to build stakeholders’ consensus for peaceful post-election activities to reduce violence and improve participation in the governance process in the state.

Roles and Responsibilities
Program Management:

• Organization of training workshops on Conflict Transformation and Election Violence Prevention; and Common Ground Journalism Training.
• Work with Community Security Architecture Dialogue (CSAD), Peace Architecture Dialogue (PAD), Community Response Network (CRN) and other participants in the implementation of action-plans.
• Work with identified government and non-government actors to respond to pre-election threats, including political thuggery and cultism
• Manage and support the implementation of CSO led component of the project
• Track the dynamics of election at state level and contribute to the development of peace messages.
• Work with the Conflict Analyst to identify conflict scenarios and prioritize geographic areas and demographic groups that are most at risk with history of violence in the state.
• Manage the activities of the media network and provide necessary support for the implementation of state level National Peace Media Day.
• Work closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation team to monitor and track project’s progress and draw out results, success stories and lessons learned;
• Manage project activities including administrative tasks relate to planning, budgeting, executing, monitoring on project related activities
• Develop and lead the effective and strategic use of traditional and new media and other communications to advance and achieve Search’s strategic goals
• Develop and coordinate actions among development partners in the state
• Lead in organization of situation room with CSO and relevant actors as well as Early Warning Early Report activities
• Build and maintain working relationships with both government and key project stakeholders at all levels in order to strengthen opportunities for advocacy and higher visibility;

Financial Management:

• S/He will ensure successful management of the budget for state level activities:
• Financial request for state level activities
• Retirement and financial report.

Documentation and Reporting:

• Produce activity, monthly and quarterly reports.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key duties.

Qualifications
Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science, Arts, Development Studies or a related field;

Required Experience:

• At least 5 years of professional experience in project cycle management, coordinating project activities, outreach, and/or advocacy;
• Substantial experience working in election and/or Peacebuilding projects will be an added advantage;
• Past working experience in the project states with CSOs and relevant state actors
• Previous experience with Search will be an added advantage.
• A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and a diverse workplace; and
• Ability to prioritize, plan and organize workflow to tight timeframes, handle multiple tasks, and be flexible with changing priorities.

Other Relevant Requirements:

• Excellent working knowledge in English with excellent written and oral communication skills
• Knowledge of any of the local languages such as Ijaw and pidgin English is an added advantage.
• Attitude for teamwork and good leadership skill
• A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and a diverse workplace
• Ability to prioritize, plan and organize workflow to tight timeframes, handle multiple tasks, and be flexible with changing priorities.
• Attention to detail:  The ability to process detailed information effectively and consistently
• Collaboration: The ability to work effectively with others in order to achieve shared goal
• Learning Ability: The ability to absorb new information readily and to put it into practice effectively
• Adaptability: The ability to remain fully functional by adapting to changing circumstances (environment, procedures and people)
• Demonstrate character and readiness to be part of a dynamic and highly evolving team working to promote peace in conflict prone environments in Nigeria, contributing to conflict stabilization, peace and security of human lives in Nigeria .

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

 

Job Title: Evaluation Consultant

Location: Abuja, Nigeria

Purpose of the Evaluation

• To both inform and evaluate the project which has already been in implementation for eleven months, Search needs to undertake two comprehensive and cost effective external evaluations – a context analysis and project end line evaluation
• The context analysis seeks to gain a better understanding of the legal frameworks that exist regarding blasphemy and religious freedoms in Nigeria, as well as how these are being implemented
• The end line evaluation, which will be conducted at the end of the two year period, seeks to determine to what extent the project has been able to advance the protection of religious freedom and tolerance among select religious communities in Nigeria
• Key approaches and principles that will drive the design of these evaluations are the Common Ground Approach, as well as Conflict Sensitivity, and Do No Harm principles.

Context Analysis
The objectives of the context analysis are to:

• Identify what human rights protection laws and frameworks exist in the formal justice system, and to what extent these have been able to protect people accused of blasphemy and challenge violations to religious freedom;
• Identify what levels of collaboration exists among religious stakeholders, policy makers, civil society, and citizens in promoting religious freedom and interfaith tolerance at the community, as well at legislative level;
• Identify community, state, and national-level platforms, and media platforms available for conversations that challenge violent narratives and promote tolerance and positive perception of other faiths;
• Identify opportunities for program implementation, aimed at achieving the project outcomes and goals;
• Document lessons learnt from implementation so far that should be factored into future project implementation.
• Findings from this analysis will be used to inform future program planning and implementation. As such, clear and actionable recommendations are expected, in light of data collected through desk reviews and on site.

End Line Evaluation
The objectives of the evaluation are to:

• Determine how much the project has enabled lawyers and advocates know about, and effectively use human rights protection laws and frameworks in the formal justice system to protect people accused of blasphemy and challenge violations to religious freedom, as well as educate others on their rights;
• Determine how much the project has contributed to collaboration among religious stakeholders, policy makers, civil society, and citizens in promoting religious freedom and interfaith tolerance at the community, as well at legislative level;
• Determine how much the project has supported community, state, and national-level platforms, and media platforms to engage in conversations that challenge violent narratives and promote tolerance and positive perception of other faiths;
• Identify new/emerging opportunities for program design and implementation aimed at advancing the protection of religious freedom and tolerance among religious communities
• Document lessons learnt from implementation that could be factored into future project design and implementation.
• Findings from this evaluation will be used to inform future program design, planning and implementation. The reports will be shared widely with project participants and partners, and presented during Search Nigeria programs
• The reports – with sensitive details redacted – will eventually be published on Search’s website and shared with other learning networks in order to enhance contributions to religious tolerance programming and the broader field of peace-building in Nigeria, regionally, and in the world.

About the Project
ART. 38 is a 24-month project with the overall goal of advancing the protection of religious freedom and tolerance among religious communities that reduces vigilante justice tied to blasphemy and apostasy laws in Nigeria. The overall goal is supported by two specific objectives and three expected results, which will guide the ART. 38’s actions:

• Objective 1: To enable lawyers and advocates to effectively use human rights protection laws and frameworks in the formal justice system to protect people accused of blasphemy and challenge violations to religious freedom, as well as educate others on their rights;
• Result 1: Lawyers and advocates have an increased knowledge of international human rights norms and mechanisms and they effectively use them to address human rights violation in Nigeria.
• Objective 2: To mobilize religious leaders and policymakers to jointly counter violent rhetoric through positive public messages of religious pluralism and respect of human rights;
• Result 2.1: Improved and positive collaboration among religious stakeholders, policy makers, civil society, and citizens in promoting religious freedom and interfaith tolerance at the community, as well at legislative level.
• Result 2.2: Increased community, state, and national-level platforms, as well as media platforms are available for conversations that challenge violent narratives and promote tolerance and positive perception of other faiths.

The project beneficiaries are religious leaders, religious organizations such as CAN, JNI, and their women wings, leaders of youth associations, academics, policy makers, civil society, and legal practitioners across the 14 Northern states in Nigeria. While the project is implemented in these 14 states, engagements with these stakeholders are at three levels – national, zonal and state. These engagements include High Level Technical Meetings to provide guidance on religious engagements on a Zonal level and Zonal meetings with the purpose of guiding the development of Action Plans for Religious tolerance engagement activities within each state. The meetings have held in Abuja, Bauchi and Plateau and Kano states.

Methodology
The proposed methodology for each study is to be clearly stated in the technical offer, detailing why the methodologies are preferred and their relevance to the locations, beneficiaries and purpose of the studies. In addition, the technical offer should include details on logistics and roll-out of the studies: who the target respondents will be and why, how they will be identified or recruited, how data collection and data quality assurance will be carried out, as well as how data analysis will be done for each study.

The studies will target select stakeholders across three levels – national, zonal and state as listed above and as logistically feasible. For each study, a minimum of one state per zone will be selected by the consultants, with clear justification as to why these states are selected for the studies. Tools for the studies will be developed by the consultant and/ or team in collaboration with Search’s DMEL and the ART38 project staff. The inception and final reports for each study will also be developed by the consultant and/or team, and will be reviewed and approved by the Search team. The tools will be administered in the identified communities and the data analyzed by the consultant and/or team chosen to perform this research.

Deliverable
The context analysis assessment deliverables are:

• An inception report detailing the proposed method, study matrix, and work plan. It is to be approved by Search’s DMEL and ART38 project staff before starting data collection.
• Research tools (developed by the candidate and/or team with the input of Search’s DMEL staff)
• Draft report for review by Search 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 analysis objectives. A template for research within Search will be provided.
• 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.
• Appendices, including data collection tools and list of interviewees
• A PowerPoint presentation summarizing the report’s findings

Required Profile
Education:

• Graduate Degree in Conflict Studies, Social Work or other relevant Degree is an added advantage;

Experience:

• 5 years or more of experience in evaluations and qualitative and quantitative studies with international organizations;
• Demonstrated experience in leading research in the specific context of Northern and Central Nigeria, including ability to recruit a research team locally as needed;
• Experience in evaluating programs relating to religious freedoms, legal systems, community development, peace building, and conflict resolution;

Other Relevant Requirements

• Strong analytical skills;
• Excellent written communication and report writing skills in English;
• Knowledge of languages indigenous to Northern and Central Nigeria such as Hausa will be an added advantage;
• Ability to be 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.);
• Access to activity reports from Search engagements, and engagements from the primary project partner
• Access to participants and key stakeholders
• Availability of meeting rooms in Abuja, as required
• All logistic costs, including of transportation and lodging will NOT be borne by Search and should be included in the proposed budget.

Time frame:

• The context analysis will take place between September and October 2019, with the final deliverables due latest October 31st, 2019
• The end line evaluation will take place between July and August 2020, with the final deliverables due latest August 30th, 2019.

Budget and Terms of Engagement:

• All production costs incurred will be covered from the consultancy fee.
• 5% withholding tax will be deducted at source from the total cost of the consultancy fee for a firm.
• 40% of the consultancy fee will be paid when initial the contract is signed, 30% will be paid upon submission of initial findings and the remaining balance of 30% will be paid on final completion and submission of satisfactorily deliverables.

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.

In addition, the Consultant will respect SFCG’s evaluations standards, to be found in SFCG’s evaluation guidelines: https://www.sfcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/SFCG-External-Evaluation-Guidelines-FINAL.pdf

Deadline: 20th September, 2019.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Application Instruction
To apply, interested candidates should send the following below:

• Current resume
• Cover Letter (which includes expectations of compensation and projected start date)
• Please note that the system only has the functionality to upload two documents per application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Note: Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.