Research 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: Research Consultant for Retainership for the Conduct of Baseline and Endline Studies for Search Nigeria Projects

Location: Abuja

Goal and Objectives of Study
To achieve the project’s goal, the Consultant shall be guided by the following broad objectives:
The specific objectives of the Consultancy are:

• To undertake desk review of the context of the locations of interest to Search
• To design and implement baseline and endline studies for projects implemented by Search, Nigeria.
• To validate data collected from the field with critical stakeholders
• To produce a concise report for dissemination with partners and relevant stakeholder.

Research Methodology

• The Consultant is expected to use methodologies that are in congruent with Search’s tools and guidelines for baseline and Endline studies, to bring the perspectives of different stakeholders in the project location and scope. This has to be through a participatory and solutions-oriented process that specifically includes women, youth, and other marginalized groups. Search’s Baseline and Endline Studies are usually conducted using a mixed methodology that includes both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods. This will allow for the triangulation of information, allowing for in-depth findings and recommendations. The study, from conception to recommendations, will be grounded in the principles of conflict sensitivity and Do No Harm to ensure that the needs of women and youths are met, in ways that do not entrench dividing lines between various groups in the community.
• Search’s Research usually targets key stakeholders and relevant populations in the locations where the project is being implemented as much as it is logistically feasible, and in line with the security context. Tools for the scan will be developed by the consultant and/ or team in collaboration with Search’s conflict and policy analysis team, research team, and the Project manager. Consequently, Search will remotely oversee the data collection process including engagement of data collectors, administration of tools and transcribing of data for the consultant’s analysis and report writing. The consultant will be required to analyze data and develop the comprehensive report with guidance and reviews by Search’s in-country and Regional staff.

Geographic Locations

• This retainership for Baseline or Endline will involve the entire country and is dependent on the projects won by Search for Common Ground, Nigeria.
• Presently, we are in the North-East, North-West, North-Central and South-South geo-political zones of Nigeria, implementing various projects on peacebuilding and community development.
• Most of these projects cover some Local Governments and local communities in line with the scope, goals and objectives of the project and theory of change.

Deliverables
Search expects the consultant to deliver on the following key deliverables on each Baseline or Endline study:

• Draft and Finalized data collection methodologies and tools
• Carry out comprehensive desk review on how the conflict context and trends has affected the project context and objectives.
• Carry out analysis of primary and secondary data from data collection process
• Develop comprehensive reports based on findings from analysis of data and comprehensive desk review.
• Develop PowerPoint presentation with the study methodology, summary of findings and recommendations for the validation meetings.
• Incorporate feedback from validation meetings and internal review of study report
• Submission of final report (in English 40 pages max in length, excluding appendices) consistent with Search branding and standards for research. The Consultant should ensure that the report:
• Uses the Search assessment template unless otherwise agreed in the contract.
• Fully explains the objectives and research questions of the study, limitations and methodology for analysis.
• Recommendations should be specific, accessible, and actionable.
• Includes clear references to the secondary sources used
• Appendices should include detailed research instruments, terms of references and Consultant’s brief biography.

Note:

• Search’s DMEL team will be available to provide the required support for the Baseline and Endline assessment and development of the report.
• In addition, Search will share the following elements with the external consultant(s): Background materials including the project proposal, log frame, literature, and any other material necessary in the research and develop the comprehensive report with guidance and reviews by Search’s in-country and Regional staff.

Ethical Considerations
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy:

• Search for Common Ground (Search) considers all forms of abuse towards children, youth and vulnerable adults to be unacceptable. Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy set out the measures we will take to safeguard children, youth, and vulnerable adults. This includes proactive actions to prevent situations of abuse and harm occurring, and reactive actions to respond to situations where a child, youth or vulnerable adult is, or may be, suffering abuse.
• Who is a child? A child is any human under the age of 18 as stipulated by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989.
• Who is considered youth? Youth is the transitional period between adolescence and adulthood, for this policy we focus on the group of individuals ages 15 to 25 years old.
• Who is a vulnerable adult? A person who by reason of disability, age, gender, social and economic status, illness, or the context they are in, may be unable to take care of or protect him or herself against abuse, harm or exploitation.
• As part of our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, it is a requirement that all staff including but not limited to all permanent and temporary members of staff; Community based staff or incentive worker; Volunteers and interns; Consultants; Translators; Search’s Board of Directors; Invited visitors (including donors/ funders; media/ journalists); Partner organisations; Third-party contractors (i.e. supplies, builders, etc); Members of research bodies, academic institutions, associates, and all Search’s affiliates, agree to abide by the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and have signed it before commencing any work with the children. The umbrella term ‘Search affiliates’ will be used to refer to all people associated with Search. It is a Mandatory requirement that any form of unacceptable behaviour which breaches this safeguarding policy must be reported. In the case of situations which are not covered by the safeguarding policy, Search expects its representatives to apply common sense whilst focusing on the “child’s best interests”.
• Due to the complex and sensitive nature of the assessment, the data collection process should respect strict rules of confidentiality and ethical guidelines. The Consultant will take as many precautions as possible to be in line with the ethical considerations below:
  • 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.
  • Transparency and accountability: Consultant should be transparent with all stakeholders included in the process of creating the toolkit. Participants should be made aware that their tools, activities and ideas may be used in the toolkit, with reference, and the consultant should be accountable to them.
  • 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.
  • Gender and Cultural Sensitivity: The consultant should be gender and culturally sensitive in its data collection methods and segregate all data by sex and age. Further, the consultant should ensure women are interviewed by a female enumerator. The consultant must ensure that the team is culture-sensitive, respectful and adheres to all cultural pointers.
  • Safeguarding: Search will support the consultant in training data collectors on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) safeguard principles. However, the consultant should ensure safeguard principles and practices are observed and respected throughout the assignment.
• To ensure quality, all deliverables will be reviewed and approved by our Country office and Regional Program Manager/Institutional Learning Team prior to acceptance of the final product.

Data Quality Assurance and Management:

• Search has high standards for data quality and has put into place several quality assurance mechanisms. Search’s research approach is largely guided by its Common Ground Approach – a set of principles and tools that have been applied across over 33 countries around the world.
• Search’s toolkits provide guidance on various aspects of assessments.

Timeline:

• The timeline for any baseline or Endline study is dependent on the scope of the research and the urgency attached to the deliverables.
• A scope of work with clearly agreed upon timelines will be signed with the successful candidate prior to any research engagement.

Budget:

• The Consultant and Search will agree on a detailed budget for each Baseline or Endline Study based on the scope, context, deliverables and duration of the research.
• Each line item shall be budgeted for, separate from the consultancy fee. It should be noted that the budget shall hinge upon the economic realities of the time of the research

Requirements of Consultant
To ensure quality, all deliverables will be reviewed and approved by our country office and regional program manager/Institutional Learning Team prior to acceptance of the final product. The following skills and experience are expected by Search from the Research Consultant for this project:

• Proficiency in English language (written and spoken).
• More than 5 years of experience in qualitative and quantitative data analysis and report development, review of secondary data and conducting interviews and surveys.
• Experience in Baseline or Endline Assessment and working with community and civil society actors .
• Experience working with international organizations;
• Experience conducting quantitative surveys and analysis;
• Experience working with SPSS;
• Similar studies done in the past within the regions
• Familiarity and experience with contextual challenges in the geographic location(s) where the study will take place.

Selection Criteria:
Consultant proposals will be selected for:

• Relevance of approach to data collection, confidentiality, gender inclusiveness, Do No Harm principles, and the process for using these tools.
• Quality of proposed methods, conflict sensitivity approaches, and quality control measures.
• Qualifications and experience of the candidate in conducting research, data collection, data analysis and report development.

Application Closing Date
25th November, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates (individuals or teams) should:
Click here to apply online

Candidates (individuals or teams) should submit the following two documents:

• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• A technical proposal proposing a methodology for data analysis, report writing and report development.
• A short cover letter.
• The proposal should also highlight examples of similar assignments undertaken in the past.

Note: Selection of suitable candidates will be on ongoing bases.