Participatory Theatre Consultant at Search for Common Ground (SFCG)

Search for Common Ground (SFCG) 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: Participatory Theatre Consultant

Location: Maiduguri, Borno

Purpose of the Consultancy
As part of the project’s community strengthening objective, the aim of participatory theatre is that target communities in North East Nigeria have increased positive attitudes, knowledge and behaviour with regards to children formerly associated with armed groups and recognise their roles as agents of peace.

A participatory theatre organisation will be engaged to support community outreach and engagement by performing plays in an interactive manner within target communities to raise awareness of key themes around reintegration, challenging stigma and discrimination, the importance of protecting children, and the negative impact of conflict on children and communities, among other areas, to provoke discussion, and enable communities to address key issues in a safe space.

The theatre organisation will perform 30 participatory theatre performances over a period of up to 10 months. Initial discussions and consultation will be held with the project team to build on the themes developed and performed in the previous project phase.

About the Project
In May 2018, Search began implementing the UNICEF-funded project “Supporting the Socio-Economic Reintegration of Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups including the CJTF in North East Nigeria.” This project aimed to ensure that children verified and separated from armed groups in three local government areas (LGAs) received a comprehensive child protection package including psychosocial support and socio-economic reintegration, and that their communities understand the importance of their separation and reintegration. The first phase of the project demonstrated the success of this holistic approach to reintegration, and furthermore, there is an increasing number of children that need to be reached by such programming.

In order to effectively and efficiently address the effects of the insurgency and break the cycle of violence, it is necessary to meet the physical, psychosocial and emotional needs of children in the North East who are growing up in a context of protracted conflict. As UNICEF’s verification process for the children separated from armed groups continues, there is a need to expand the project to engage newly verified children, and other vulnerable children. By increasing the resilience, acceptance, education and skills of children associated with armed groups, this project will facilitate lasting reintegration of these children and amplify positive narratives around their role in communities as productive civilian actors and agents for peace.

Objectives

• Objective 1: Psychological reintegration- To strengthen the well-being and resilience of children formerly associated with armed groups, and other vulnerable children, in North East Nigeria.
• Objective 2: Social reintegration- To support children formerly associated with armed groups, or other vulnerable children, resume or return to school and become ambassadors for peace.
• Objective 3: Economic reintegration- To empower and support children formerly associated with armed groups, and other vulnerable children, for increased economic reintegration.
• Objective 4: Community strengthening- To create a conducive environment and community support for the social and economic reintegration and separation of children associated with armed groups.

Methodology
Pre-production:

• Develop content and script based on issues affecting children and communities in Maiduguri and Jere. Produce a short drama containing key messages from the information gathered.
• Liaise closely with Search project team to ensure key learnings and messages are integrated into script development.
• Express ideas and portray a range of representative characters in the theatre.
• Producing content in communities within MMC, Jere, and Mafa, pending security assessment, for Search for Common Ground.

Production:

• Identify all actors and relevant personnel to deliver performances.
• Provide all required props and high quality equipment including microphones, speakers, and costumes.
• Coordinate rehearsals and preparation for performances.
• Ensure techniques used to attract communities e.g. games for children.
• Manage and coordinate group on performance day to ensure smooth running and professional delivery to a 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, with actors and Search project team, 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 the project’s target locations, pending security assessments.
• A rapid desk review using project documents is 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.

Reporting Line:

• Functional Line Manager: Deputy Project Manager. Direct Line Manager: Child Protection Manager.
• Working Relations: Media Coordinator, Community Mobilising Officers, Deputy Project Manager, and Child Protection Manager.

Required Profile Applications
Essential:

• 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, director and actors.
• The group must have within their pool personnel with experience in script and concept development, stage performance and directing.
• Previous experience of delivering performances per the above specifications desirable.
• The group must have high quality equipment to deliver performances including speakers and microphones to enable clear transmission of messages for participants and audience members.
• Familiarity with Search For Common Ground Participatory Theatre Methodology.
• In addition, knowledge of the context of Borno and these issues related to reintegration of children formerly associated with armed groups.
• Fluency in Hausa and Kanuri languages.

Timeframe

• The consultancy will be 30 performances over 10 months, from January, 2020 - October, 2020.

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 completion of 70% of performances, 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:

• Accountability: Being accountable and passing on accountability for one's own actions and those of colleagues and the organization.
• Attention to detail: The ability to process detailed information effectively and consistently
• Collaboration: The ability to work effectively with others in order to achieve a shared goal – even when the object at stake is of no direct personal interest possibilities.
• Creativity: The ability to come up with original and innovative ideas and solutions, to adopt points of view outside the usual parameters.
• Focus on Quality: Setting high quality standards and striving for continuous improvement and quality assurance.
• 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).

Application Closing Date
19th November, 2019.

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

Note

• The Application should consist of an up to date organizational CV and cover letter, detailing all relevant experience, in addition to a costed proposal. Successful organisations will then be contacted in due course to proceed with the recruitment process with an interview
• Candidates may be reviewed and contacted on a rolling basis.
• The system only has the functionality to upload two documents per application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Only established theatrical group with expertise in popular theatre are needed to Apply for this Position
• Only organisations invited to proceed to interview will be contacted.