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: Early Warning-Early Response Consultant
Locations: Bayelsa, Rivers & Delta
Job Summary
In addition, the consultant will guide communities in identifying and addressing key environmental and livelihood issues through collaborative initiatives. By supporting the design and implementation of local projects that mitigate environmental degradation and promote sustainable livelihoods, the consultant will help communities develop practical solutions that reinforce trust and cooperation among youth, community leaders, and local authorities.
Furthermore, the consultant will play a critical role in facilitating social cohesion and solidarity activities between communities, government security actors, and other stakeholders.
This includes organizing tailored activities such as dialogues, sports events, and arts-based events in 33 target LGAs to build trust and foster collaboration.
The consultant will also oversee transformative dialogues aimed at addressing intercommunal conflicts and support the implementation of peace initiatives that address common issues and promote sustainable intergroup cooperation.
Through these efforts, the consultant will contribute to creating a more cohesive and resilient community environment across the target regions.
The consultant will facilitate intra-community intergenerational dialogues, support peacebuilding initiatives, coordinate social cohesion and solidarity activities.
Reporting to the EWER Coordinator and working closely with the EWER officers, EWER interns, and other project focal points, the consultant will enhance the effectiveness of community-based solutions and foster sustainable intergroup cooperation across target regions.
Roles and Responsibilities
Additional Activities: The Consultant will also support the implementation of various activities, including but not limited to:
Work closely with relevant stakeholders to collect and analyze early warning data.
Support the dissemination of early warning information to ensure timely responses to potential conflicts.
Community Engagement and Dialogue:
Facilitate intra-community and intergenerational dialogues to bridge gaps between different age groups.
Initiate and support intergenerational economic and livelihood initiatives to promote sustainable development.
Build social cohesion among youth, communities, and government security actors through various activities.
Peace Architecture:
Support the remobilization or establishment of Community-Level, LGA-Level, and State-Level Peace Architecture Bodies (CPA, LPA, and SPAs). Monthly meetings.
Engage in arts- and culture-based inter-community solidarity activities to foster mutual understanding and respect.
Facilitate intercommunal transformative dialogues and peace initiatives to address and resolve conflicts.
Write detailed reports for every activity implemented using the Search’s reporting template and guidelines.
Intra-community intergenerational dialogues.
Intergenerational economic and livelihood initiatives.
Social cohesion building for youth, communities, and government security actors.
Arts- and culture-based inter-community solidarity activities.
Intercommunal transformative dialogues.
Intercommunal peace initiatives.
Engage community networks to carefully monitor indicators of rising dispute/conflict and measures taken to mitigate the crises from escalating.
Work closely with other projects with EWER components to support and strengthen the EWER platform.
Produce periodic Conflict Analysis /trend bulletin on evolving conflict dynamics.
Supervise the Interns in the tracking, triangulation of EW signs and conflict indicators, and keying of data into the SCITAAP.
Coordinate the dissemination list for the EWER bulletins.
Coordinate real-time tracking of incidents, trending online and offline
Track and monitor conflict and security incidents across different credible internal and external platforms across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria
Identify conflict triggers and violence to understand the conflict dynamics and spike in violence over a period of time.
Triangulate information across different platforms and community networks to authenticate information.
Serve as a reference point in providing data (information) for national and international level engagement
Establish a data repository that can provide a platform of harmonized conflict and security information across different credible sources
Carry out any other program related activity assigned
The consultant may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key duties.
Qualification & Requirements
Education:
Bachelor degree or equivalent in Conflict studies, Political Science, Development studies, Statistics or Data Science, Social Sciences
Additional education in conflict management, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution
Demonstrate integrity and promote Search values and ethical standards;
Promote the vision, mission, and strategic objectives of Search;
Demonstrate capacity to adapt to a multicultural context, tolerance, and respect for issues related to gender, religion, race, and nationality;
Proficiency in the use of MS Office, Statistical and analytical tools as well as listening tools
Demonstrate capacity to work effectively under stress, on multiple assignments simultaneously and adapting to changing demands.
Experience:
3 years' experience in the following areas:
Experience in Facilitating Community Dialogues: Demonstrated ability to organize and lead intra-community and intergenerational dialogues, including experience with engaging diverse groups such as youth, community leaders, and local authorities to foster collaboration and empathy.
Expertise in Livelihood and Economic Development Initiatives: Proven track record in developing and implementing local-level economic and livelihood projects, particularly those that address environmental degradation and promote sustainable practices. Experience in working with communities to design and execute conflict-sensitive interventions is essential.
Background in Social Cohesion and Trust-Building Activities: Experience in organizing social cohesion activities that build trust and positive relationships between communities, security actors, and other stakeholders. This includes activities such as sports events, arts-based events, and other community engagement strategies.
Strong Collaboration and Reporting Skills: Demonstrated experience in working closely with various stakeholders, including project teams and local authorities, and in reporting to senior management. Ability to coordinate effectively with different focal points and provide clear, actionable insights based on community engagement and conflict analysis.
Relevant experience working in the non-profit and NGO sector or institutions providing conflict early warning and early response services.
Experience in developing conflict snapshots/ EWER bulletin or a harmonized report of Conflict trends.
Experience in data management and analysis.
Excellent writing, planning and coordination skills, with proven ability to work independently.
Strong command of the English language, with excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal communication skills;
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.
Good understanding and use of analytics and presentation tools especially Excel, Power Bi, and Canva and other statistical tools etc