Country: South Sudan
Closing date: 23 Feb 2016
Saferworld, the Collaborative for Development Action (CDA) and swisspeace are collaborating on a Conflict Sensitivity Resource Facility (CSRF) in South Sudan.
Saferworld is an independent international organisation working to prevent violent conflict and build safer lives. We work with local people affected by conflict to improve their safety and sense of security, and conduct wider research and analysis. We use this evidence and learning to improve local, national and international policies and practices that can help build lasting peace. Our priority is people – we believe that everyone should be able to lead peaceful, fulfilling lives, free from insecurity and violent conflict.
CDA Collaborative Learning Projects (CDA) is a non-profit organisation that is committed to improving the effectiveness of local and international actors who provide humanitarian assistance, engage in peace practice, support sustainable development, and conduct corporate operations.
swisspeace is a practice-oriented peace research institute. Our mission is to contribute to the improvement of conflict prevention and conflict transformation.
All three agencies are international NGOs with peacebuilding and conflict prevention mandates, committed to working for the best outcomes for people living in conflict-affected contexts. For more information, please see our respective websites: www.saferworld.org.uk; cdacollaborative.org; and www.swisspeace.ch.
Saferworld has an ongoing programme of work in South Sudan on community security, small arms control, peacebuilding and conflict sensitivity and is operational in ten locations across eight states (Central, Western, and Eastern Equatoria, Northern and Western Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap, Lakes and Jonglei). The programme works with communities, government and civil society actors, connecting analysis and practice to policy and decision-making at state and national level.
CDA and swisspeace have both conducted research, analysis and capacity-building work in South Sudan and for international actors working in the country. This has included lessons learning exercises, collaborative research projects with South Sudanese researchers and training on conflict-sensitive practice.
CSRF project description
The United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Switzerland and Canada (hereafter, collectively referred to as the Donors) agreed to develop a “shared resource” through a Conflict Sensitivity Programme (CSP) that will be implemented through a Conflict Sensitivity Resource Facility (CSRF) in South Sudan from 2016-2018. The purpose of the CRSF is to establish, monitor and disseminate conflict sensitive practices among donors and implementing partners.
The CSP will also have the Conflict Sensitivity Forum (hereafter referred to as the Forum) , which is a policy and influencing body for providing common basis for consistent strategic parameters for conflict sensitivity. The Forum will adopt common approaches to conflict sensitivity, advocate for conflict sensitivity in interventions and programming, and promote and generate demand for CSRF services.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Background
Saferworld is an independent international organisation working to prevent violent conflict and build safer lives. We work with local people affected by conflict to improve their safety and sense of security, and conduct wider research and analysis. We use this evidence and learning to improve local, national and international policies and practices that can help build lasting peace. Our priority is people – we believe that everyone should be able to lead peaceful, fulfilling lives, free from insecurity and violent conflict.
We have a strong thematic focus to our conflict prevention work prioritising: people’s security and access to justice services; gender norms that cause and perpetuate violent conflict; the impact of external conflict drivers including weapons flows; conflict-sensitive political, economic, development, and security engagement; and inclusive and accountable governance and peacebuilding processes. We work in or on more than 25 countries and territories; we currently have regional and country programmes in Central and South Asia, the Caucasus, Eastern Europe, the Horn and Great Lakes regions of Africa, and the Middle East and North Africa.
Saferworld has been working on and in Sudan and South Sudan since 2008, including on issues of community security, small arms control, and conflict-sensitive development. Since 2012, we have implemented a Netherlands-funded Community Security Programme, through nine local Civil Society Partners, now in ten locations across eight states (Central, Western, and Eastern Equatoria, Northern and Western Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap, Lakes and Jonglei). The programme works with communities, traditional leaders, civil society, and state actors (including the South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS)) and non-state security providers. The programme also includes peacebuilding and reconciliation activities and an increasing focus on gender and sexual-based violence through our community security work and targeted programme interventions.
Saferworld also works closely with the South Sudan Bureau of Community Security and Small Arms Control (BCSSAC) on small arms policy and legislation. We provide conflict-sensitive assessments and information to international organisations and donors, and the private sector, including working closely with Chinese think tanks and companies to conflict-sensitise their engagement in South Sudan.
Job Purpose:
The Senior Adviser will provide high quality technical input on conflict sensitive programming in South Sudan. Activities are expected to be mainly in Juba, with occasional travel to other South Sudan states as necessary. Key functions are:
• Technical leadership and strategic input
• Capacity-building design and delivery
• Activity and budget management
• Representation and beneficiary relationships
• Safety, security and risk management
• Cross-consortium and multi-donor relations
Key Areas of Responsibility:
- Technical leadership and strategic input
• Lead on overall technical design of CSRF services and outputs, serving as the most senior expert on conflict sensitivity.
• Collaborate with Saferworld’s Senior Advisers in London to draw on Saferworld (and partners’) existing methodologies and experience on conflict sensitivity.
• Support the Donors in developing joint guidance on conflict sensitivity for their work in South Sudan.
• Identify policy lessons and develop strategies for disseminating these to donors in South Sudan and internationally (in collaboration with CDA).
• Support swisspeace in identifying key research topic areas central to conflict-sensitive international engagement in South Sudan.
- Capacity-building design and delivery
• Lead on design and delivery (with relevant Saferworld/CSRF staff) of conflict sensitivity capacity-building processes for CSRF donors and their implementing partners.
• Deliver high quality trainings, mentoring and accompaniment activities on conflict-sensitive programming for targeted donors and implementing partners (with national advisers).
• Provide guidance and support to the national advisers and in-country partners in research and capacity-building activities.
- Activity and budget management
• Act as budget holder and oversee relevant activity expenditures and financial reporting in line with Saferworld’s organisational policies and procedures.
• Manage high quality delivery of capacity-building and other activities
- Representation and beneficiary relationships
• Represent the CSRF at Management Committee, Forum or other external meetings in the absence of the CSRF Director.
• Raise the CSRF’s profile among the donor community and international partners in South Sudan (and internationally as appropriate).
• Potentially represent the CSRF at international policy and/or lessons learning events.
- Safety, security and risk management
• Ensure that project activities and collaboration with partners adheres to Saferworld’s safety and security policies and procedures.
• Identify potential Conflict of Interest risks that may arise, and work with the CSRF Director to mitigate or otherwise address these.
• Identify potential risks to the CSRF, staff or partners in relation to the relationships with donors, their implementing partners or the Government of the Republic of South Sudan. Work with the CSRF Director to mitigate or otherwise address these.
- Cross-consortium and multi-donor relations
• Together with the CSRF Director, establish collaborative working relationships with the donors and their implementing partners, consortium partners and Saferworld’s existing South Sudanese partners.
• Coordinate the inputs of staff from other Saferworld teams, notably the Senior Policy Adviser/s supporting the CSRF activities.
• Support the sharing of lessons, analysis and skills development opportunities between CSRF staff and other Saferworld staff in South Sudan.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Knowledge
A post-graduate degree in international relations, conflict/peace studies or a similar discipline, or equivalent professional experience
Knowledge in the areas of peacebuilding, conflict prevention, conflict sensitivity, especially in relation to applying this to development and humanitarian sectors; conflict and political analysis; governance;
Knowledge of the relevant international discourses, policies, and actors on conflict sensitivity, peacebuilding, and conflict-affected and fragile states.
Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation, particularly in relation to conflict sensitivity and/or gender, would be an advantage
Experience
A minimum of 7 years’ relevant experience in providing technical advice, capacity-building and support on conflict sensitivity, peacebuilding, conflict prevention and related issues.
Proven experience in conducting high quality social research on issues related to conflict, security, justice, gender equality and/or governance, and knowledge of relevant research methodologies
Experience of working on conflict, gender equality, security, justice, human rights and/or governance issues in the East/Central Africa region
Experience of working with national governments, international organisations, the corporate sector and/or large multi-mandate development NGOs, in particular in conflict-affected and fragile contexts
Experience in providing professional advice, including on a consultancy basis to the private sector and/or governments would be an advantage
Commitment to improving international engagement in conflict affected contexts and experience-based ideas as to how this can be achieved.
Skills
Exceptional facilitation, training and capacity-building skills
Rigorous analytical skills and proven ability to write policy papers, briefings and articles
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
Proven ability to work alongside, and to learn from, a wide range of people, including South Sudanese partners
Creativity, flexibility, self-motivation and the ability to prioritise workloads to meet deadlines
Ability to lead/substantively engage in lessons learning processes
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Location: The position will be based in Juba, South Sudan
Salary range: A competitive salary, depending on experience, plus benefits.
Holidays: 28 days per year, in addition to agreed South Sudan public holidays
Hours: Standard working week is 37.5 hours a week (Monday-Friday)
Probation: There will be a probationary period of three months.
How to apply:
To apply:
Please send your most recent CV and a letter detailing how you meet the selection criteria to Marie Aziz at recruitment@saferworld.org.uk (please use subject heading: Ref: CSRF Dir). We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Deadline for applications: 23 February 2016. It is anticipated that selected candidates will be interviewed on Thursday 25 or Friday 26 February 2016.
Saferworld is an equal opportunities employer