National Consultant for the Darfur Context Analysis Updating

Darfur Community Peace and Stability Fund (DCPSF) was established by late 2007 as a UN Multi-Partnership Trust Fund (MPTF) mechanism that supports community-level peacebuilding activities and fosters social cohesion by drawing diverse communities together through processes of dialogue, mediation, and reconciliation. The rationale of DCPSF is that alongside any progress in the local peace process, there needs to be a community-based, bottom-up approach to the stabilization of Darfur and the creation of conditions for local peace, and equitable and sustainable growth.  DCPSF supports initiatives which aim to restore trust and confidence between diverse communities in Darfur and respond to root causes and triggers of conflict.

DCPSF has made significant progress in promoting conflict-sensitive approaches that seek to engage diverse communities in processes of trust and confidence building. Two central elements of this approach have been through supporting the establishment or revitalization of local mechanisms for resolving and through preventing conflicts and providing tangible inputs which respond to and address root causes and triggers of conflict.

Through this approach, DCPSF-funded activities and processes have enabled diverse communities to coalesce around a common agenda towards reconciliation and peaceful coexistence at a local level. However, the new context requires the addition of  more dimensions to DCPSF interventions. In this new era for DCPSF and Darfur, it is crucial to mainstream gender equality in all project activities, and work in a coordinated manner with all peacebuilding actors, towards a common goal and better results.

A context analysis undertaken in Darfur in 2019 revealed that the conflict dynamics in Darfur revolve around unresolved disputes over land, livelihood, and natural resources, prevalence of weapons, sexual violence, armed group activities, tensions around IDPs and host communities, as well as between returnees and communities, including new settlers. The drivers of the conflict in Darfur are complex, multi-level, politicized and encompass local, national, regional, and international dimensions simultaneously. An understanding of historical causal factors is required since each cycle of conflict has led to the current dynamics in the region

In recent months, there has been an escalation of inter tribal conflict leading to heightened tensions, displacement, deaths and  an enormous humanitarian crisis majorly in West and South Dafur and by extension to the rest of Darfur region. Multiple reasons account for this, including the recent withdraw of UNAMID, there is no timely monitoring and reporting simmering tensions before the degenerate into active clashes.

In this regard, DCPSF would like to hire a national consultant to  undertake a conflict analysis to update the context analysis findings conducted in 2019 to reflect the recent changes in Darfur and to better understand the latent and manifest changing dyanamics/ triggers of the current conflict and use the findings from this analysis to adapt ongoing project implementation being undertaken by DCPSF Implementing Partners.                         

The objective of the assignment is to provide real time context analysis of the changing conflict dyamics in Darfur region and make to DCPSF clear recommendations on how to best respond to the crisis from a peacebuilding and reconciliation lens that compliments ongoing community level peacebuilding work being undertaken by DCPSF and other Actors in Darfur

The objective of this consultancy is to:

• Conduct a context/conflict analysis that describes community relationships, sources of tensions (connectors and dividers) and changing dynamics by agreeing on a common methodological understanding for the Darfur context analysis; develop a workplan and support the implementation of information gathering for Darfur context analysis.
• Working closely with key stakeholders among state and non state actors, produce a revised and updated Darfur context/conflict analysis report  that can be used by DCPSF and other peacebuilding actors to understand the context and prioritise peacebuilding response interventions in Darfur region
• To provide strategic and concrete peacebuilding program recommendations aiming at addressing the short, medium and longterm conglict dynamics.

        Scope of Work:                                                                                                                                                                             

Under the supervision of the Head of DCPSF Technical Secretariat, the consultant is responsible for the following activities that include:

• Design a context/conflict analysis methodology and share the inception report detailing proposed approach and methodology, workplan for data collection from stakeholders to update the Darfur context. The workplan should outline data gathering and analysis approaches including factor analysis, stakeholder analysis, and scenarios. The analysis will be conducted on the basis of the CDA framework. The methodology should reflect the specific requirements of the DCPSF to develop and keep updated geographic and thematic information on Darfur.
• Carry out the Darfur based research outlined above, conducting first hand data collection through consultations, interviews and workshops in Darfur; (iii) conduct first hand data collection, as needed, through consultants, interviews in Khartoum’ (iii) carry out analysis of gathered information based on the agreed methodology.
• Based on the research as well as desk review of relevant information, produce a revised and an updated  Context Analysis outline reports in agreed framework for each Darfur state and/or agreed geographic subunit, to support the Darfur Context Analysis report of the Darfur region that can be used by DCPSF and other peacebuilding actors to understand the context and prioritise peacebuilding response interventions in Darfur region.
• 4. Work with DCPSF Technical Secretariat to finalize validation with stakeholders and produce final Darfur Context Analysis report (20-30 pages) that provides strategic and concrete peacebuilding program recommendations aiming at addressing the short, medium and longterm conglict dynamics. This should also entail   identification and mapping of peace capacity at community or state level that  DCPAF can build on as entry point to support long-term coexistence and reconciliation
• Prepare and present the findings of the updated conflict analysis to DCPSF Steering committee members.                                        
  

  Duration of Assignment and Duty Station

  The assignment will include up to 20 fee days to be carried out in the period of 15 March – 30 April 2021. National holidays observed by the UN in Sudan will be non-working days. The primary duty station will be Khartoum, Sudan with travel to Darfur for primary data collection. Institutional Arrangements  Reporting line: The consultant will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Head of DCPSF Technical Secretariat. This will among others include: The consultant is expected to report to the head of the DCPSF Secretariat on the progress of activities and to immediately inform her of any challenges in performing the assignment.    Logistical arrangements: Field travel for data collection UNDP will arrange a flight for the consultant to travel to the fieligh for data collection. UNDP will pay the Consultant DSA during data collection as per the UN rate for location.  Other logistical matters: In the course of this consultancy, the consultant is responsible for providing their own computer as needed.  DCPSF will arrange inception and draft report presentation meetings. Field travel to Darfur Meet all logistical expenses related to data collection exercises. The assignment will include up to 20 fee days to be carried out in the period of 15 March – 30 April 2021. National holidays observed by the UN in Sudan will be non-working days. The primary duty station will be Khartoum, Sudan with travel to Darfur for primary data collection.

  Recommended Presentation of Offer

  The following should be included in the offer.

• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP.
• Personal CV or P11, indicating all experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate and at least three professional references.
• Brief description of why the candidate considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.
• Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.

• Selection criteria and basis of evaluation

  Submissions will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis of the technical evaluation (weight: 70%) and financial criteria (weight: 30%). Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points from the technical evaluation would be considered for the financial evaluation.

              

Education:         

• A masters Degree in Poloitical Science, Peacebuilding, Gender, Conflict Resolution, Development, Social Science, International Relations, Natural resources Management or related fields

Experience:      

• At least 10 years relevant experience in research, proposal reviews and/or project management in the areas of the peacebuilding, social cohesion, early recovery and recovery, agriculture, gender equality/women’s empowerment, pastoral livelihoods, environment, and other related field.
• Extensive experience of research on conflict prevention and peace building in the context of Darfur
• Knowledge of working context, challenges, and capacity development of INGOs/NGOs working in Darfur, and of goals of DCPSF
• Knowledge of or participation in international developments in the field of peacebuilding, early recovery and livelihoods work.

Competencies:

• PROFESSIONALISM: Comprehensive knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights issues related to operational, institution building and accountability of national institutions and actors; very good knowledge of  UNCT structures and mechanisms; very good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines related to human rights in the U.N. system; very good knowledge of national human rights protection systems, including law enforcement and security agencies; strong analytical and research skills and ability to conduct in-depth studies and reach conclusions on possible causes and solutions to human rights problems; ability to develop frameworks, methodological tools and guidelines.
• COMMUNICATION: Excellent communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to convey complex concepts, both orally and in writing, in a clear and concise style. 
• TEAMWORK: Ability to interact and to establish and maintain effective working relations across divisions and with people in a multi-cultural environment.
• JUDGMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Ability to identify the key issues in a complex situation, provide advice on sensitive issues and courses of action.
• PLANNING and ORGANIZING: Proven ability to plan and organize own work and the work of others.

Language Requirements:           

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic