Joint UN Peace and Conflict Analysis, International Consultant Level II, Addis Ababa 1
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CONTRACTUAL INFORMATION
JOB TITLE: Joint UN Peace and Conflict Analysis Consultant
CONTRACT TYPE: International Consultant, Level II
UNIT/DIVISION: Programme & Policy
DUTY STATION: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with travel to Amhara, Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz
DURATION: 84 days in 6 months
ABOUT WFP
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.
BACKGROUND & PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
Ethiopia is undergoing a period of heightened volatility and fragility as it navigates its various political, economic, demographic, and environmental transitions. A major challenge in Ethiopia’s recent political trajectory is ongoing political contestation that have resulted in a number of different violent conflicts. Conflicts ranging from low to severe scale happen in various parts of the country. However, the three major conflict hot spot regions in the country are primarily Amhara and Oromia, with Benishangul-Gumuz closely implicated as well.
The Amhara region has been facing several violent conflicts during the past years, including local inter-ethnic conflicts, regional and international border disputes, and the war in the north. The region contains various elements of conflicting socio-economic and political dynamics, including rising ethno-nationalism and a violent territorial agenda. In recent years, ethno-nationalist sentiments have been gaining ground in the region, with a discourse that includes both issues of power balance between elites, territorial claims, and marginalization in all its sense. Regional forces and militias have been fighting alongside government forces against Tigrayan forces for over two years, with some militias taking strong stances on contentious issues underpinning the conflict. During the last years, violent clashes and attacks on civilians have also increased, particularly in areas inhabited by ethnic Amharas living in the areas bordering other region. Deep-rooted conflict occurs frequently on the border areas between Oromia and Amhara, between Benishangul-Gumuz and Amhara, and in the Oromo Special Zone within the region itself. Similar conflicts with a lesser degree happened along the bordering towns of Amhara and Benishangul Gumuz Regions. The region has also been a conflict hotspot of the border dispute between Sudan and Ethiopia for the last 2-3 years.
At the same time, the Government of Ethiopia has undertaken a number initiatives aimed to promote sustainable peace in the country. These include: the appointment of a National Dialogue Commission (NDC) and process to be launched in 2023; signing a Peace Agreement with the TPLF on 2 November; a costed Recovery and Resilience Plan aimed to support conflict-affected regions, including Tigray, Afar, Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz and to some extent Oromia; and existing processes aimed at promoting accountability and transitional justice, including the joint EHRC-OHCHR investigation and follow up by an Inter-Ministerial Commission.
In light of these challenges, opportunities and their implications for the sustainable development and peace of Ethiopia, the United Nations seeks to undertake a peace and conflict analysis of the national context, with a focus on Amhara and Oromia regions, as well as conflict issues in contiguous areas of other regions, including Benishangul-Gumuz and possible extension to other regions. The purpose of this research and analysis is to support the UN in developing more risk-informed and conflict sensitive strategies, programmes, partnerships and operational approaches and to identify entry-points for supporting social cohesion and peacebuilding to support resilience, diversity management issues and put in place peace structures and SDG implementation in these regions.
The analysis will be undertaken under the aegis of a One UN approach to engagement in the context and will inform the work of the UN across its humanitarian, development, and peace pillars as well as HPD nexus collaboration, especially at the sub-national level.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)
The International Consultant will work with a national consultant to deliver a quality analysis meeting the above-mention goals. In particular, the IC will be expected to:
1) Conduct a comprehensive peace and conflict analysis with verifiable data and evidence based on primary and secondary data collection, including stakeholder consultations, and with clear and actionable recommendations for UN strategic engagement and programming
2) Design relevant consultation workshop and final validation workshop
3) Work as a team with the National Consultant on the development of the overall analysis
Key issues to be covered:
• Identification and mapping of conflicts and trends and patterns of social and political tensions in the three regions
• Identification and mapping of key conflict and peace actors in each region (to be defined but including women and youth) – their world views (including views on how the country is governed), narratives, motivations, and relationships (including a political economy analysis of major stakeholders)
• Analysis of perceptions of key stakeholders in each context on conflicts, fault lines and future trajectories of each regions and between regions, including cross-border dimensions
• Analysis of root and proximate causes and conflict dynamics of different conflicts in each region and across regions
• Mapping of ongoing peacebuilding and social cohesion interventions by UN and partners
• A set of considerations on the way forward for UN engagement, including entry-points for: strengthening conflict sensitivity; social cohesion, conflict prevention and peacebuilding; improving humanitarian access; monitoring human rights and grave violations against children and violence against women.
• Develop a set of possible scenarios and risks for each region, including suggestions for how to monitor evolution of these risks.
• Identification and mapping of peace capacities of both state and non-state actors operating in the regions.
The consultant is also expected to assist in designing and participating in a validation workshop for the analysis.
STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Advanced university degree in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, law, international development, public policy, or other relevant social science fields.
Work Experience:
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience working in surveys, conflict analysis, peacebuilding, conflict prevention and management, or related fields.
• Experience in working/advising national-level state institutions and security structures, including oversight bodies;
• Solid understanding of conflict analysis and peacebuilding issues and solutions to promoting and sustaining peace;
• Experience in working with the United Nations is desirable;
• Proven track record and experience in assessment methodologies and drafting of analytical research reports;
• Strong experience in project management cycle including development project design, monitoring, and evaluation
• Experience in crisis and post-crisis environments is essential;
• Experience in facilitated research and presentation skills;
• Experience of working in the African Region especially east Africa including Ethiopia is highly desirable; and
• Proven research and analytical capacity
Competencies:
Corporate Competencies:
• Ability to lead the design and implementation of peace and conflict analysis
• Excellent writing, speaking, and communication skills in English
• Excellent time management and ability to produce outputs as per agreed deadlines
• Ability to work seamlessly in a multi-cultural environment
Technical / Functional Skills and Knowledge:
• In-depth practical knowledge of programmatic issues regarding transition from crisis to recovery/resilience
• Strong familiarity with UN country operations and programming, especially in conflict and crisis settings
• An understanding of the current political and economic context in Ethiopia
• Understanding of the region, history and cultures, and economic conditions
• Strong knowledge of community-based economic development and poverty-related issues and approaches
• Strong analytical report writing, presentation skills
Managerial:
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and liaison skills
• Ability to work under pressure and travel to multiple sites in remote locations
• Good participatory skills, including the ability to foster team building and facilitate meetings or workshops.
• Ability to work in harmony with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds.
Language: Fluency in English with excellent written and oral communications skills. Proficiency in Amharic or another language spoken in Ethiopia is an advantage.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
10 July 2023
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WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment
WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.
