Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit organization that promotes peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and a European office in Brussels, Belgium, SFCG’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict – away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. SFCG seeks to help conflicting parties understand their differences and act on their commonalities. With a total of approximately 600 staff worldwide, SFCG implements projects from 55 offices in 34 countries, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States.
The organization is an exciting and rewarding place to work, with a dedicated and enthusiastic staff that is committed to its mission and values. You will be joining a highly motivated staff with a good team spirit and there will be opportunities to grow in the role.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Consultant – Participatory Community Theatre
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Purpose of Participatory Community Theater
As part of programming under Objective 3: To create a conducive environment and community support for the social and economic reintegration and separation of children associated with CJTF and to ensure that target communities understand the effects that violence and involvement in conflict have in children lives, Search will leverage its media and community outreach experience. Our team will identify cultural activities rooted in the target communities and use them to bring different spectra of the community together. Project team will organize three Participatory Theatres or Locally-rooted Cultural Activities per target community or IDP camps to trigger discussions around children’s role in society and raise awareness on the deep trauma that comes with being involved in conflict.
This kind of community outreach activities encourages the spectator to identify with characters in conflict and then asks audience members to step onto the stage and literally fill a character’s shoes. Our methodology allows us to tackle key issues using examples, fictional scenarios, and stories that treat the heart of an issue without ‘pointing the finger’ or creating adversarial situations. We will ensure proper security cautions in organizing such community outreach.
Purpose and Objectives of the Consultancy
- The purpose of the consultancy is to use theatre to depict, directly address and stimulate action around children’s role in society and raise awareness on the deep trauma that comes with involving children in conflict across MMC, JERE and MAFA LGAs of Borno state.
- To develop and perform emotionally powerful stories/content that engage listeners and heighten the awareness to promote a shift in listeners’ attitude towards individuals formerly associated with armed groups and increase children rights’ awareness, contributing to sensitizing vigilante/ militia groups on the effects that conflict has on children and decreasing kids’ engagement in violence in North East Nigeria vis-à-vis promoting and supporting the socio-economic reintegration of children.
- Increase the understanding of the community members on religious and cultural contexts or underlying dynamics that influence societal and individual behaviour and attitudes decreasing kids’ engagement in violence in North East Nigeria vis-à-vis promoting and supporting the socio-economic reintegration of children as a result of performance.
- Increase the understanding of children rights’ awareness, contributing to sensitizing vigilante/ militia groups on the effects that conflict has on children
About the Project
- The overall objective for the “Supporting the Socio-Economic Reintegration of Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups including the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in North East Nigeria” project is to support the long-term reintegration of children associated with vigilante groups (CJTF) in North East Nigeria. The 12 month project, funded by the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), is being implemented in Borno State, Nigeria. It is supported by three objectives:
- Objective 1: To strengthen the resilience of children associated with CJTF in North East Nigeria.
- Objective 2: To empower and support children associated with CJTF for increased employability.
- Objective 3: To create a conducive environment and community support for the social and economic reintegration and separation of children associated with CJTF.
- The project builds Conflict sensitivity and Do No Harm principles into its wider approach. In addition, the project will also be carried out in an inclusive and gender-positive manner by prioritizing full and equal participation for girls and young women in the project activities, identifying gender dynamics of the conflict and the context of the communities, as well as adapting female participation strategies to ensure that girls are fully represented and substantively engaged.
Roles and Responsibilities
Pre-production:
- Develop content and script based on issues affecting children or/and Communities in Maiduguri and Jere and producing a short drama containing the key messages from the information gathered.
- Express ideas and portray characters in the theatre.
- Producing contents in communities within MMC and Jere for Search for Common Ground.
Production:
- Auditioning and identification of actors and all relevant personnel (including community members)
- Provision of all required props
- Coordination of rehearsals and preparation for performance
- Management and coordination of group on performance day to ensure it is hitch free and delivered professionally and to high standard.
- Report to Search’s Senior Media Officer any issue(s) that may arise/emerge in the course of writing the script for each episode.
Post production:
- Support Debrief and reflection of each performance to identify lessons and recommendations for improving subsequent performances
- Review script in line with emerging issues from ongoing community scoping and post-performance reflection meeting and pitch to Search Management for agreement
Methodology
- The production should be research/evidence-based. The development of the production should mimic participatory theatre to the extent to which is realistic in this context; working with the real stories of individuals within CAAGI’s target areas.
- A rapid desk review using project documents in essential as the solutions being depicted should come from a total understanding of the project’s objectives and proposed methods.
Deliverables
- A concept and comprehensive script submitted to and approved by Search For Common Ground before use.
- A pre-performance presentation of the drama to Search For Common Ground staff two weeks ahead to demonstrate readiness.
- A high-quality and professionally presented theatre production to a wider audience in Borno state.
Requirements
The ideal candidate and/ or team will have the following:
- Search is seeking a professional, experienced and already established theatrical group with expertise in popular theatre.
- The theatrical group must have an already existing pool of artists and personnel including costumier, make up, stage manager, script-writer and director.
- The group must have within their pool personnel with experience in script and concept development, stage performance and directing.
- In addition, knowledge of the context of Borno and these issues is desirable.
Project Location, Timing and Level of Effort:
- The theatre will take place in MMC, JERE and MAFA Local Government Areas of Borno State starting from 1st September, 2018.
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.
- 50% of the consultancy fee will be paid when the contract is signed, and the balance paid on final satisfactory performance.
Deadline: 3rd September, 2018.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online
Note
- The title of the application should be: “Consultant-Community Participatory Theatre: Supporting the Socio-Economic Reintegration of Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups including the CJTF in North East Nigeria” and the application should hold attachments as below:
- A not more than 2-page overview of applicant’s relevant experience and expertise, showing evidence of being an already established theatrical group with key personnel who have relevant experience.
- Proposed methodology, work plan and budget
- If available, include links to previous work or reviews of previous work as relevant
- Preference will be given to applicants who include at least an executive summary or abstract of a similar work conducted.
- Please compile your writing sample and resume into one document as the system only has the functionality to upload two documents per application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
- Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please. Please see our website: www.sfcg.org for full details of our work.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Country Director
Location: Abuja
Position Summary
- The Country Director manages the overall program in Nigeria from a programmatic and operational perspective, as well as leading on fundraising and donor relations.
- He/she leads the Leadership and Management Team (comprised of key senior staff) and leads the team in ongoing improvements.
- This position reports to the Regional Director for West Africa and collaborates closely with various Washington and Brussels-based divisions of Search, including the Africa Team, the Institutional Learning Team, Communications, Finance and Operations.
- The position is located in Abuja, with substantial travel to the other field offices as well as other states around the country.
Key Responsibilities
Program Development and Implementation:
- Define programme priorities, plans and long-term strategy (in close collaboration with the Search Regional Director)
- Oversee implementation of funded projects, collaborating with donors, partners, and other staff
- Manage the country program with the highest quality standards and with well-documented results
- Ensure sharing of results across different offices of Search Nigeria, across Search and with external stakeholders.
- Responsible for ensuring lessons are learned and applied to future programming
- Ensure that program planning and management effectively utilize available resources, and respond to gaps with fundraising and/or operational adjustments as needed
- Report to donors according to contractual deadlines with quality narrative and financial data
- Contribute analysis and programmatic capacities to the implementation of programming in Nigeria and other countries in the region as appropriate
- Stay abreast of the international conflict transformation field to ensure that the program’s work remains innovative and professional
- Be directly engaged in the continuing development of the organization, its mission and its staff, through the sharing of experience and knowledge, particularly contributing to its Institutional Learning efforts
- Strengthen existing funding relationships and identify and pursue new potential donors in collaboration with headquarters in Washington, DC and Brussels, Belgium.
Financial Management:
- Directly oversee and manage the country Finance Directors, ensuring financial compliance both with Nigerian laws, donor requirements and Search procedures across the organization.
- Maintain regular communication with regional and HQ finance focal points on finance issues and ensure that the organization is ongoingly audit-ready
- Identify potential shortfalls and strategize with the organization’s senior management as necessary to ensure the program’s financial sustainability.
Staff Management and Development:
- Develop and manage a team of diverse senior staff members (expatriate, national and third country nationals) modelling effective communication and collaboration
- Participate in the recruitment and selection of highly qualified staff, onboarding and ensuring ongoing staff opportunities for capacity development
- Ensure adequate mechanisms for staff appraisals, staff feedback, and review of HR/operational issues
- Strengthen the capacity of national staff and partners, contributing to Search’s legacy strategy of conflict transformation in Nigeria
- Ensure compliance with Search Operations Manual policies and procedures
- Ensure that country policies, contracts, and disciplinary procedures and processes conform to local labor laws
- Ensure an updated security and evacuation plan is in place for all offices
Organizational Representation:
- Serve as Search’s country representative
- Develop and maintain proactive, positive and professional relationships with partner organizations, other NGOS, donors, clients, key government officials, civil society groups, etc.
- Maintain responsible media coverage of program events and issues related to Search mission
- Maintain regular written and oral reporting to Washington and Brussels on key country, regional, program, security and staff issues
- Establish a direct line of communication with other African Country Directors in the region for program guidance toward strategic initiatives and staff cross-fertilization opportunities
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, Minimum Skills and Experience
Education:
- Degree in relevant field (e.g. conflict transformation, security studies, media and communications, sociology, political science, or related fields)
Experience:
- Experience in managing large projects of at least $5 million, with multiple grants and donors
- At least five years’ experience working overseas, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa
Skills and Competencies:
- Understanding of the conflict dynamics of Nigeria
- At least ten years’ experience in program management, both programmatically and operationally, preferably on media and/or conflict transformation-related issues
- Experience in managing diverse inter-cultural teams
- Track record in successful fundraising
- Experience with compliance to US government and EU donor rules and regulations
- Experience in capturing results and overseeing reporting, monitoring and evaluation systems
- Experience in managing multi-cultural teams, preferably in Africa
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
- A problem-solving approach to challenging situations
- Ability to multi-task while leading a complex team
- Fluent spoken and written English.
Deadline: 12th September, 2018.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online
Note
- Interested candidates will send the following items to our employment portal:
- Current resume
- Cover letter
- Writing sample
- Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please
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