PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: o/a February – o/a April 2016
LEVEL OF EFFORT: 40 days
Project Background:
Under contract with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), AECOM International Development (AECOM) is implementing the Somalia TIS+ Project in order to promote good governance and community cohesion. USAID/East Africa’s Somalia Office anticipates that the need for quick impact stabilization activities will continue given the fragile nature of the nascent government and the existence of an insurgency in parts of South Central Somalia. At the same time, Somalia, particularly under the New Deal and the new internationally recognized government, is looking to move from crisis and stabilization to medium and longer-term development. The objectives of this contract are to: 1) Increase confidence in governance based on equitable participation in decision making and management of community assets. 2) Empower community and government representatives to engage with private sector and development actors in a collaborative process for community growth. 3) Increase Somali engagement in creating a more stable future. 4) Support inclusive, sustainable development by reducing gender gaps in stabilization and development.
Role:
Much of the work conducted by TIS+ will emerge from the development of community consensus groups at the district or community level. These consensus groups will be representative groups of all community stakeholders, including government, private sector, civil society, religious and clan groups, women, youth, and other marginalized populations. These groups will receive training and support from TIS+ facilitators to go through a consensus planning process that involves community assessments, selection of activities that support community stability, implementation/monitoring/evaluation of activities, and strategic communications with the community and other levels of government.
The Consensus Process Advisor will work in close coordination with TIS+ staff in designing and developing aConsensus Process Guidebook that is informed by best practices and lessons learned from other programs, as well. The guidebook will include approaches to consensus group formation; development of Letters of Commitment with communities; conducting and analyzing community assessments; conducting consensus planning (including guidance on ensuring inclusivity and achieving community-supported decisions); communications activities (across all levels of TIS+ engagement in a community, plus developing activity-based communications plans); community contracting; M&E; and how a gender lens is applied to all phases of this process, including the role of both the female and male facilitators. The guidebook will also include approaches to working with higher levels of government in this consensus process.
Primary Responsibilities:
· Conduct a review of similar consensus processes undertaken in Somalia and elsewhere, to date, including formal evaluations of these processes;
o Read consensus process operating guides, reports, and evaluations;
o Interview key staff and consultants of other programs that have implemented similar consensus processes,
o Place particular focus on best practices and lessons learned for integrating women, youth and other marginalized groups into decision making and informational processes;
o Place focus on best communications practices between consensus groups and communities, as well as between consensus groups and other levels of government;
o Review the community contracting processes that have been implemented by other programs to identify best practices and lessons learned;
· Work closely with the TIS+ DCOP, Senior Activities Officer and Program Development Officers, with likely travel to Mogadishu, Somalia from Nairobi, Kenya in discussing all areas of the consensus process, and how each area can be operationalized;
· Draft a Consensus Process Guidebook that operationalizes the step-by-step process of undertaking a TIS+ consensus process. The document will ideally be used as a guide by Somali civil society organizations, government offices, and other stakeholder groups for undertaking future consensus planning work.
· Train the TIS+ Program team on the guide and select number of government officials. The training will also provide an opportunity to tweak the guide further.
Deliverables:
· Production of a Consensus Process Guidebook draft after 20 days
· Final Consensus Process guidebook promptly after the training exercise.
Qualifications:
· Experience developing or facilitating local consensus processes in Somalia or similar contexts;
· Experience producing instructional materials or guidebooks for international programs;
· Excellent written and oral English language skills;
· Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, journalism; or related field.
· Strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team;
· Somali language skills a plus.
HOW TO APPLY:
Applications with a detailed CV will need to be sent by the 15th February, 2016. Send your Cover Letter and CV to recruitment@somtisplus.com (Clearly state Consensus Process Advisor Application on the Subject Line). Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.
